1905*
Rufus Day was in Boston January 17 to attend the annual Cornell alumni luncheon. His time on this trip was so limited that there was no opportunity to stage a get-together with the local fellows, but he expects to be this way again a little later on. Rufus said he had about six weeks more of itinerant eating; then he expected to return to home cooking in Ithaca for the remainder of the academic term.
This is the year that the class expect the honorary Ph.D.'s from Cornell, and it is to be hoped that there will be sufficient lei- sure in the spring months to prepare all those impressive sounding citations that accompany such awards.
Reports continue to come in concerning effects of the hurricane and tidal wave last fall. Tabor Academy suffered extensive damage, and Fred Weston's summer cottage at Wareham was a total loss; what was left of it had to be torn down.
Midge Reid's latchstring was out over the holidays, as attested by visits betimes from Sliver and Mrs. Hatch, Marl and Mrs. Taylor ('08), Jake Smith, and Ray Root. Southern eggnog featured the menu and required three brewings to slake 100%.
After proposed alterations on his house are completed, Midge has hinted at the possibility of holding a class outing in his neck of the woods with one of those famous Ipswich fclam chowders as the magnetic pole to steer for. He is ready to toss his hat in the ring, challenge and meet, catch-as- catch-can. Monsieur Besse to settle once and for all the controversial question whether New England clam chowder or clam chowder Manhattan style is the supersupreme. The best two out of three chowders for the championship.
M. Besse is the celebrated chef, the head chef, of the chowder kitchens of the Dartmouth Club of New York City. There is no doubt that the challenge will be accepted, and the bout should be a sporting event of first magnitude, as neither contestant will pull his punches. A packed stadium is predicted.
In line with the subject of outings, don't forget that the next one is booked for some time in May under Sliver Hatch's fig tree in West Newton. Definite notice will appear in the May number of this MAGAZINE. And now Elsie Grover has gone Daniel Boone and is building a log cabin this spring in the primeval forest near Athol, Mass. After it is finished, he has invited the class to hold an outing there, and we shall hear from him again as to when and how to get there. Those attending will have to provide their own coonskin caps and flint- locks.
George, Mrs. Proctor, and Betty had a delightful month abroad during the Christmas season. They landed at Genoa, visited Florence and the Riviera in Italy, thence to the French Riviera, Cannes, and Monte Carlo. No comments about the latter, either way. George said that the weather was extremely cold for the season at the Riviera, the coldest, in fact, for fifty years. As to the international situation, the people of both Italy and France do not want war; nevertheless they expect it in the near future. Rates at hotels and for travel are so reasonable as to be astonishing.
The class attendance at the Boston alumni dinner, February a, was rather disappointing. Only six were present, namely, Chamberlin, Clough, Harding, Newick, Proctor, and Weston. It was a pleasure to have three members of '04 with us at the table,—Bullock, Robinson, and Sexton,— also Joe Clough '32. Midge Reid, down with grippe, wired regrets.
Hoppy was greatly missed, yet the meeting was one of the best, and the speakers all had something definite to say and said it interestingly. With Newick driving up from Providence, Weston from Middleboro, and Clough coming down from New Hampshire to attend, there should be cause for a little bench polishing by those who live within easy distance.
Barney writes from the University of North Carolina as follows:
".... .My oldest son, Winfield Jr., is now a North Carolina insurance examiner and is right now in Richmond, Va., for a few weeks. My second son, Marshall, married Mary Swett of Southern Pines, N. C., and is settled in Raleigh, where he is assistant manager of the Social Security Bureau. John Ervin is working for the Jefferson Standard Life Insurance Company here in Greensboro.
"We brought him back home from the hospital this morning after a serious case of influenza and bronchitis. He goes in for company athletics, is their tennis champion, captain of their basketball team, etc. He has recently been elected president of the Jefferson Club, which is a great honor for one of his age and brief service. My fourth son, Francis, works for a local drug company. Mary Elizabeth at eleven is in the sixth grade, and is the only one who shows signs of being a teacher. Except as mentioned, we are all well and fairly happy. An enforced trip to Boston on the occasion of my brother-in-law's death, an accompanying automobile accident, the preparation of a French textbook which Prentice-Hall is to publish, presidency of the local Civilian Club, etc., have kept me only too well occupied, but I am always in- terested in Dartmouth communications."
Secretary, Rm. 703—52 Chauncy St., Boston
* 100% subscribers to the ALUMNI MAGAZINE, on class group plan.
