Class of 1894
The sympathy of the class goes out to Q. Blakely, whose older sister Ellen died in California last month. She was for many years a highly successful missionary in Turkey, but since her retirement has been living with his other sister Bertha. The latter retired last June from the position of librarian at Mt. Holyoke College after a long and honorable service.
As the Secretary has been away from his office all of February and the first nine days of March, he can perhaps best speak about the '94 contacts he has had during this period. The expected happened in Florida. Eddie Grover acted as the Secretary's guide, philosopher, and friend during a four weeks' stay at Orlando, a suburb of Winter Park, as Eddie would say; and while Eddie arranged for his "Animated Magazine" to come off on the rainiest day of the month, if not the season, he managed it with his usual eclat, using three auditoriums to accommodate the crowd. Eddie is fortunate in having his two sisters to keep house for him, and as the only Professor of Books in captivity and the producer of Rollins College promotional literature he seems to be having the time of his young life.
Vero Beach, on the Florida east coast, contains the winter quarters of Billy Ames, and the Secretary went over to inspect the same. He found Billy developing a twenty-acre orange grove and hoping that from the proceeds he could in due time not only finance the class of '94 but provide for the education of his grandchildren as well as for his declining years. Billy's years have not yet begun to decline, judging from the example he set to the five or six men who were at work in his orange grove. Vero Beach is in the Indian River country, which other people than Billy say is the best citrus land in Florida.
While in Florida, the Secretary received a letter from Matt Jones, in which he mentioned the forthcoming marriage of his daughter Catherine, and spoke about the progress Phil Marden is making with his broken ankle. It is strange how Phil could find ice enough anywhere in Massachusetts to break his ankle on. There might be sons of Belial who would suggest that Phil didn't watch his step enough in running for the office of alumni trustee, not being sure that his plans for staving off all other candidates would succeed (as apparently they have).
Another part of the Secretary's Florida correspondence was an interchange of letters with Gibbon. Knowing that Gib's home at Rolling Fork, Miss., was not too far from the Father of Waters, the Secretary wrote him as to the prospects. Gib replied that he didn't expect the flood would reach him (as apparently it didn't), but he had a boat in his attic equipped for emergencies. He allowed that he must stick to his job, flood or no flood, lest he might not find it there when he got back. In short our old Gib has his fighting togs on.
On the way down, the Secretary had time in Washington for a word over the telephone with Billy Wallis. Being in. quired of concerning his colleagues in Washington, John Henry Bartlett and Walter Merrill, Billy averred that he hadn't seen them for some time. Which ought not to be. "'94 up" in Washington!
On the way back, a call was made at Ajax Rollins' office in New York. Ajax was out, it being alleged that he was attending some kind of a meeting with the Presbyterians—as if the Congregationalists of New York state and city weren't enough for him to look after. He had also instructed his office force to say that his annual junket to his old church in Waterloo, lowa, was taking place later than usual this year, that is, in March. The third item that his office force divulged was that Ajax was in excellent health.
Lest it be thought that the Secretary is contesting a blue ribbon prize for modesty with B. Smalley, let it be finally said that the Florida trip has done him lots of good; that he is indeed pretty well, thank you, and with a good deal of zest will tackle again the job of dealing with the world, the flesh, and the devil, especially in himself.
Secretary, 14 Beacon St., Boston
