ABSTRACTS FROM the address of Edwin . A. Bayley 'B5, secretary of Richard Hovey's class, at the memorial services in North Andover, Mass., commemorating the poet's 75th birthday anniversary, follow:
"We have come together to pay our tribute of love and respect to the memory of a friend, who in his brief life of 35 years achieved rare literary immortality.
"I have the honor of taking part in these services as the official representative of our college and also as the secretary of the class of 'B5 of which Hovey was a member, and I am pleased to add that of the 17 surviving graduates of our class, six of us are here today
"During his course with us at college, he lived an industrious, happy and profitable life, joining in such college activities as suited his tastes.
"I would describe him during those years as having unusual poise and dignity of bearing, gifted with a mental ability and ease of manner which won the attention of all who came in contact with him. He was the most brilliant student of his class and also of the college of his time. Nevertheless, he was neither a prig nor a prude, he had a strong sense of humor, he sincerely loved his friends and enjoyed companionship. I have never heard of his having been called to account for any breach of conduct during his entire college course—this should conclusively forestall any rumors or legends which often, unfortunately, arise regarding the early life of those who subsequently attain distinction.
"He was kindly and friendly disposed to all and in spite of his marked intellectual superiority, he rarely if ever used it for the humiliation or discomfort of others. He was free from all traits of smallness or meanness. His undergraduate course inspired in him an absorbing loyalty and devotion to our college which his graduate life only served continually to increase."