1876*

The information the Secretary has gathered in recent months does not indicate that members of '76 were going about very freely during the summer. Hill came into the Secretary's yard at Dublin, N. H., accompanied by two daughters, in mid-summer. A little later Newton '86 stopped for achat. In Sept. Herman Foster, a younger brother of John Foster '76, made a call; and later in the month Gertrude Bridgman, Bridgman's sister, called. G. R. Clark and Mrs. Clark made an enforced midsummer trip to Ohio under distressful conditions, and were relieved to be back, after several weeks' absence, in their home at Davenport, lowa.

A year ago while visiting his classmate Tripp at his home in Fairhaven, Mass., the Secretary had seen in Tripp's yard a cement bird-bath which was a perfect success. The bath was circular in shape, three feet across, and about six inches in height. The water was two inches deep at the center of the bath and grew gradually shallower to the margin, with an inch or two of standing room for the birds at the edge. The birds hopped into the water, more or less as suited them, fluttered their wings and splashed the water in a fashion it was a delight to behold It occurred to the Secretary, late the past summer, that he would do well to reproduce Tripp's birdbath. He had learned the technique of cement mixing years ago. He first made a circular mold in wood somewhat less than a yard across and about five inches deep. He also made a mixing box. When the cement, sand, hydrate of lime and water, in the riht proportion (the proportions may be somewhat varied), were thoroughly mingled, he poured the mass into the mold. Atthe proper stage of consolidating the cement was scooped out to a depth of two inches at the center, and gradually less to the margin. Near the outer edge the words crane's s Beach were carved; this carving to be a reminder that a considerable portion of the sand in the composition of the bath came from Crane's Beach, Ipswich, Mass., and also to suggest a visit that had been made to crane's Beach one spring day at sunset when the sublimities of sea and sky were had from the vast ridge of sand dunes lining the shore. Since leaveng his summer home at Dublin the Secretary has been in formed that as many as twenty chickadees have been seen in the bath at one time.

Secretary, 411 High St., West Medford, Mass.