1888

The death of Leon Viau came as a surprise to the secretary, who did not know that he had been living in Paterson, N. J. The few facts available are recorded in IN MEMORIAM. Leon is remembered as a genial friend and one of '88's most capable athletes both in baseball and football.

Keay has spent his life in Rochester, N. H., and has filled responsible offices, but the latest honor bestowed upon him is a fifty-year medal from Humane Masonic Lodge of that city.

A quick glance at the outline cut of the moon over the observatory, that breaks page 12 of the January MAGAZINE, has awakened the writer's old fondness for the observatory. ... a fondness which he cultivated under the tutelage of Winfield Ross '87. We both roomed at Rood House, now the site of Webster Hall; and Ross, having some knowledge of astronomy and a key to the observatory, proposed that we go up to the observatory and locate the asteroid Ceres by making an astral map of a certain area, and Ceres would be the small star that changed its relation to the fixed stars. I knew nothing of astronomy but soon learned to manipulate the beautiful old telescope under his direction, and we worked for weeks at the fascinating problem during the winter. The library under the observatory dome was a warm and homey room, but the dome was a cold place in a Hanover winter. As together we pulled the dome around on its cannon-ball bearings, and cranked the slide open to glorious winter heavens, we worked clad in heavy clothing, ulsters, caps, gloves and ear protectors. After a protracted series of studies and comparing our various maps, as I recall it, one pin-point got left behind or went ahead, and this variant we unanimously pronounced Ceres. Ross hinted at hayseed in her hair, as she was the goddess of agriculture, but in looking up Ceres as I write, I find a classic statue, crowned with as modern a hair-do as our most up-to-date ladies now require. From his heavenly studies Ross may have drawn the inspiration for his beautiful illuminated texts that have made him world famous; for myself I recall the rare evening of pleasure I gave my parents and friends with the telescope at our 'BB Commencement, thanks to his instruction.

Remember the dates of the Sixty-year Reunion, June 11-13.

Secretary, 135 Summer St., Maiden, Mass. Class Agent, 32 Chaflin St., Milford, Mass.