1885*

The recent outstanding event of our college, as you know, has been the Richard Hovey Birthday Memorial, and we of his own class have deeply and proudly shared in the great interest aroused by the widespread celebrations on May 4 of the 75 th birthday of our beloved and illustrious classmate. The memorial celebration in which our class was invited to take part was held at Hovey's grave in the Ridgewood Cemetery at North Andover, Mass. It was an appropriate and dignified service in charge of Rev. Clinton W. Carvell of the class of '18, who presided.

Of our 17 surviving graduates, 6 of us were in attendance, namely: Austin, Bayley, Briggs, Floyd, Mooers, and Whipple and as a part of the services, we jointly placed at Hovey's grave, directly in front of his monument, a large, beautiful wreath of purple Florida statice, having an inside border of white, with a photograph of him, taken at the time of our graduation, framed under glass and attached in the center; the wreath rested on an easel, with a broad Dartmouth green ribbon at the base of the wreath, inscribed "Classmates •85."

At the invitation of our college and of Mr. Carvell, and as representing our class, the Secretary gave a fifteen minutes' address on the life of Hovey.

An audience of about a hundred was present, among whom from the families of our class were Mrs. Henry Austin, Mrs. Walter Mooers, and Lyman Armes, Dartmouth '12, son of our deceased classmate Azra; among other alumni present were Sidney Junkins '87 and Philip Patey '98.

It is unnecessary, in these notes, to go further into the details of the services, as they were quite fully and very torily reported in the Lawrence (Mass.) Evening Tribune of May 5, together with much additional information regarding the life of Hovey and the great literary distinction which he attained, and, as I am sure you will be interested, I am glad to send each of you a copy.

The Secretary has the sad duty to report to you that during the month of April two of our classmates left us, Wilbur Rockwood, who died on April 9, and Richard Currier, who died on April 18. They were both very loyal to our class and our college, and we shall sincerely miss them. The Secretary, in behalf of the class, sent flowers for the funeral of each and has prepared obituaries which will appear under "Necrology" in this issue of the MAGAZINE.

Ed Allen, having reached the prescribed retirement age, resigned on May 1 as chief medical director of the John Hancock Life Insurance Cos. of Boston. He was assistant to the medical director from June 15, 1890, to January 1, 1917, when he became assistant medical director, and since March 12. 1924, he has held the position of chief medical director, which makes his term of service with the company cover the long period of 49 years. We all join in good wishes to him in his retirement, which in consequence of his excellent health he can fully enjoy.

The Secretary is pleased to report the joyous event which has come to our worthy treasurer, Henry Austin, and his good wife, who on May 2 reached the golden anniversary of their marriage. Most 50 year-married-couples are happy enough to have one golden anniversary celebration, but Henry and his wife, to meet the demands of their own family and of their many friends, were honored with a double celebration (although not 50 years apart). One occurred on May 2 at the home of their son, Herbert S. Austin, Dartmouth '14, and his wife, at 11 Leighton Road, Wellesley Center, Mass., in which town Henry and his wife formerly lived for many years, and the other was on May 6 at their home in Webster, N. H., in which town Henry was born and where they now reside, except when spending their winters in St. Petersburg, Fla. Both these celebrations were well attended, and the Secretary and Mrs. Bayley were happy to be among their host of well-wishers at the one at Wellesley. Henry's enviable youthful appearance and characteristic "chuckle" were in full evidence, and the presence of their children and grandchildren and other immediate relatives, as well as the attendance of so many of their old friends made both celebrations unusually happy and memorable. In recognition of this joyful event, the Secretary sent them, with the congratulations and best wishes of all the class, a bouquet of 50 yellow roses, noting on the card the lines, "After the lapse of 50 years the honeymoon again appears." The secretary has just received the sad news of the death of our classmate, Walter Mooers, who died on May 14 after only a few days' sickness. His obituary will appear in a future issue of the MAGAZINE.

Secretary, Kimball Bldg., Tremont St., Boston

* 100% subscribers to the ALUMNI MAGAZINE, on class group plan.