Class of 1907
This letter from Dick Lane indicatean auspicious beginning for an extenden period of travel to interesting places.
"March 20, 1938.
"Dear Charles:
"lust eight days have elapsed since we Id from New York. They have not been exciting until yesterday, but delightful and Peaceful and wholly satisfying Weather has been nearly perfect and I should think much better than usual in any crossing of the Atlantic, especially in March. The second day out we ran into a heavy ground swell, which we were later told was the aftermath of a blow which we missed by twelve hours or so. It sent some passengers below, but not many. Ever since each day has been sunny, with gentle winds, and a very smooth ocean. Swimming on deck has been popular (with some) for several days. My favorite pastime has been being completely lazy-and liking it.
"We go to Sicily for some time and then we go north to Naples, Rome, Florence, Venice, and the Italian lakes, then across France and home, sailing about May 17.
"Yesterday we arrived at Funchal, Madeira Islands, at seven. When we arose, at about six-thirty, we saw the Islands near at hand and the sun just rising behind the main island, which is really a mountain, some 3000 ft. high. It was a beautiful sight. We went ashore in a tender at eight, were met by bullock carts with sled runners instead of wheels, and were dragged about town over cobblestone pavements,—but surprisingly smoothly. First stop was a big Madeira winery, where we took on board samples of the product. Then, by oxcart to a cog railway and up the mountain, with one stop halfway up, to view the view—some lovely gardens and a cathedral. At this point, you could travel by hammock carried by two natives if you wished—some did. Then, at the summit, after a short stop, we engaged a wooden sled with wooden runners and two attendants—and slid down the 3000 ft., again on cobbled paths. That was novel and very exciting. We went fast—but strangely enough, most comfortably. The stones are laid, a la mosaic, in such a way as to give a very regular surface for the runners of the sled—and of course they have gradually been worn pretty smooth. What amazed me was that the guides ran, pushed, or pulled us down the mountain and seemed to be quite dry and cool at the end—and the temperature was about 70°.
Then we ambled about the town for an hour or so, and were driven, again by oxcart, to the chief resort hotel, Reid's, located most dramatically on a cliff on the coast near the harbor. The luncheon was Very satisfactory, but the view was extraordinary—blue ocean, high rugged mountain peaks, and the whole city spread out before us. We spent several hours in and near the hotel. The flowers were lovely, and in full bloom, though some of the trees were just beginning to leaf.
"Today we're on our way to Gibraltar, where we land for half a day tomorrow morning. Then Algiers, for a day, and Bizerta in Tunis, near old Carthage, and Tripoli, Malta, and Messina, where we land.
"After we've seen the African cities, I'll write you again—at least, I'll write you again sometime.—If you can get anything out of this that you can use for class notes, you're good. But perhaps Sarah and the children and you will understand and appreciate what an enjoyable vacation the Lanes are having so far and with what anticipation they are awaiting the coming eight or nine weeks.
"My thanks to you for assuming the secretarial burden.
"Sincerely, "DICK."
In early April the sport pages revealed the first "hole in one" of the season—it was one of Bill Smart's foursome at Oakley's sixth hole.
Congratulations to Norman Cushman's son Robert, who has been elected captain of the swimming team. After an interval of several years the Cushmans return to Rye Beach for the summer, where they will have the cottage once occupied by James Roosevelt's family.
Harry Pelren, who did not go to Bermuda this winter for the first time in twenty years, may enjoy an especial interest this spring in following Andover's baseball team, as his son Robert remained on the squad trying for first base after the squad was greatly reduced by the first cut at the opening of the spring term.
Secretary, 80 Federal St., Boston
