1895

"Willie" Wilson and Mrs. Wilson had plans for a trip to Italy this spring, but due to the European situation they did not take the trip. This is the first time in several years that they have remained at their home in Hartford all winter.

Dr. Baketel was elected recently first vice president and chairman of the board of trustees of the Columbia University College of Pharmacy. It was established in 1829, and is one of the oldest institutions of its kind in the United States. "Sherry" has been a member of the board for some time, and his elevation to the leading executive office in the College of Pharmacy came to him as a complete surprise. He and Mrs. Baketel have made two trips to their plantation in Charleston, S. C., this year. Dr. and Mrs. Baketel are looking forward to a summer's vacation in Canaan at their summer home.

Dr. and Mrs. Jesse K. Marden are expected to arrive in Boston on May 15th on the Ex-Cambrian of the American Export Line. They will visit friends and relatives in New England sometime in August. Jesse writes: "It would be great fun to visit you and take a trip over to Hanover at least and perhaps St. Johnsbury. We could go to our old tramping grounds together, and perhaps see a few of our friends of nearly fifty years ago.—ln view of my sister's poor health we shall have to go out to California instead of Chautauqua this summer, as we had hoped."

Mr. and Mrs. Holden have been traveling all winter. I quote from a letter received in April. "Mrs. Holden and I are enjoying our trip very much. We landed in Rotterdam, Holland, on December 19, 1938, during a very cold spell. Found snow there and in Antwerp, Belgium, where we stayed for a few days. From December 27 to January is we were in Paris, and among other enjoyments, went to several operas at the Opera and Opera Comique. From then to January 25 we were in Avignon, Nines, Aries, Marseilles, Saint Raphael, and Nice. Saw many interesting Roman ruins and enjoyed a spectacular motor bus ride from Marseilles to Nice.

"On January 28 we went to Pisa with its leaning tower and fine cathedral. Pisa is a most interesting city. It was interesting to look from the window of our room to the boats going down the Arno and then to see them being towed by man power up the river and against the current caused by the contraction of the waterway at the bridges. Then we went to Sicily. We enjoyed Sicily, its temples, churches, works of art, oranges, donkeys, donkey carts, etc.

"Since being in Italy except for a day or two now and then my winter overcoat has been very comfortable.

"After Sicily we enjoyed a week at Sorrento, the partially excavated cities of Herculaneum and Pompeii, took the spectacular Amalfi drive, and spent three days at the Island of Capri with its manycolored cliffs and waters of the sea varying from an intense blue to greens.

"Then we spent a few days in Naples and Rome. From there we went to the hill towns of Viterbo, Orvieto, Assisi, Perugia, and Siena on the way to Florence. We saw beautiful churches and paintings, sculptures and woodwork in them, and museums as well as old palaces. At Perugia, which is higher than the other towns, when we were there on March 19, there were between 6 and 7 inches of snow. It would leave soon. At one part of the trip yesterday from Florence to Bologna the country was covered with several inches of snow.

"We go from here to Ravenna, Ferrara, Padua, and Venice. We expect to be in Florence from April 6 through May 1, Rome through May a to 9, Parma May 11. From Parma make a side trip to Mantua, Verona, and Lake Garda. In Milan May 18-20. Then take a week's trip through the Italian Lakes region (Lakes Como, Lugano, Maggiore). Then a day or two at Montreux, Lake Geneva, Switzerland.

"We expect to spend the month of June in and around Paris. Our itinerary is subject to many changes."

Fred and Mrs. Cleaveland spent most of the winter in St. Petersburg, Fla. Mrs. Stevens and I called on them there. Their son Paul has done notable work on the Yale Law Review and has made a fine record in the law school. He will graduate in June and is assured a position in one of New York's well known law firms after graduation.

Mrs. Stevens and I fled from Vermont's slushy, biting March weather and motored to Florida, going down the East Coast to Miami, then over the Tamiami trail to Fort Myer, Sarasota, Bradenton, and St. Petersburg, returning in April only to find winter still lingering in the lap of spring. While in Washington, homeward bound, I tried to get in touch with "Gerry" at the Library of Congress, where he is doing special research work; but he was temporarily absent.

Secretary, White River Junction, Vt.