1897

Billy Balch writes on a Christmas card that in Latin America there are no gifts at Christmas, that that comes later, and that it is "Los Reyes" (the wise men) who bring the gifts, but you have to put a bunch of hay and some water for their horses, or they pass you by.

Sibley petitions that his name in the class records be changed from James Otis Sibley to John Otis Sibley, which is what appears in the family Bible. You should in my class report, and in Butter's 1933 report, change James to John, and I infer that his son's name is John Otis Sibley Jr., instead of James Otis Sibley Jr. So in both draw a line through ames and substitute ohn. I regret the error. Nevertheless not failure but low ames is crime.

Henry Schwann writes "Merry Christmas" from 193 Sayer Street, Rochester, New York, saying that he is just home from a month's sojourn at the hospital. It is nice to get a peep out of Henry. May he recover his pep and continue his peep! Write down his address in your copy of the report.

Anson Brown's brother, Louis, and McCornack's wife, write very appreciative letters that they were remembered with a copy of the class report.

The figures showing that the Phi Beta Kappas have averaged to outlive their classmates have provoked much interest. Heald writes that he has a theory for it in addition to the ones suggested by me, but he has not submitted it. Hiram complains that the faculty underrated his scholastic ability. Gib comments that originally Phi Beta Kappa was purely a social club, and only in 1826 became based on four years' grade standing. The class secretary of '98 at Williams writes that 29% of his class is dead, but that no Phi Beta Kappa has died.

Secretary, 53 State St., Boston, Mass.