1878*

Hayt reports that the Pow-Wow was a great success. As to the game, the combination of sweating and yelling on the bleachers proved too much for his amplifying outfit, and he narrowly escaped pneumonia. One suspects that Hayt in his enthusiasm forgot to claim the handicap of years, and entered too fervently into the cheering contest. No doubt he gave the youngsters around him a run for their money, too. But it took him time to recover, and at last accounts he has confined to the house, and was denied the Christmas high among the mountains to which he had aspired. Reflecting upon the game, he is strongly of opinion that it was a mistake to give the team a period of "acclimatization" before playing. Thinks that period proved one rather of enervation and loss of pep. A veteran horseman of his acquaintance confirms him in this view, affirming that horses brought to California for the races from a more rigorous climate do better if raced immediately upon arrival while fresh from their eastern training. May be so.

Hurricane stories are quite out of date, but Parkhurst has one that is more a hero story than one of disaster. It is of his apple tree that went down in triumph with its load of fruit -after having borne from three to seven barrels of apples every year for forty-nine consecutive years. That old tree is surely entitled to the distinguished service medal. Incidentally the hurricane provided Parkhurst with abundant supplies for his favorite winter recreation of sawing wood. He may even entertain a guest or two at it.

Parkinson is highly gratified at reading a friendly reference to his father in one of the letters of the two Barrows "undergraduates of 1840" printed in the recent interesting bulletin of the Baker Library. He remembers the survivor of the Barrows classmates (one died at 25, the other at 82) as a lifelong friend of his father. As a youngster he called upon the gentleman at his father's instance, and was cordially received. It was a habit of his father to send his sons to call upon his classmates when they happened near, and not a bad habit either. They were always welcomed.

The children of this Mr. Barrows, who are the donors of this collection of letters, have all made places for themselves. The son was for many years associate editor of the Boston Transcript. He also served on the staffs of Governors Coolidge and Cox of Massachusetts. One daughter was a pioneer in the teaching of home economics, was a lecturer at Chautauqua and at Teachers College, Columbia University, and was for a long time, if not now, secretary of the American Home Economics Association. The other daughter, Wellesley '90, for a time did editorial work on the Congregationalist and on the American Kitchen Magazine, and later established a publishing business in Boston which she still maintains. Both ladies have been largely influential in educational counsels.

This item seems to belong in the notes of the class of 1843 instead of those of 1878, but perhaps both classes may as well be put under a heading of antiquities.

Secretary, 321 Highland Ave., Fitchburg, Mass.