1895

In the '95 necrology column of this issue appears an obituary of our classmate, Dr.Jesse K. Marden.

As soon as I was notified of his death, I notified members of the Class. I think many of the Class have received from Mrs. Marden a printed letter which I herewith include.

"Dear Friends: "It is now more than three weeks since the Home-Call came for my husband on March 21st. The many letters and messages which are coming touch us deeply, and my desire is to write to each one an expression of thanks. Since this seems impossible, will you pardon this printed reply?

"While his life was one of high attainments, there were many frustrations. The manner in which he met these disappointments, and unembictered, rose above them and pressed on toward the next task, ever characterized him. The things of the spirit were ever present and ever led him on and up, making the losses steoping-stones to higher things.

"As most of you know, he was born in Aintab, Turkey, a true son of New England in background and character, as his parents were missionaries. In his education he culled the best from St. Johnsbury Academy, Dartmouth College and the University of Michigan. He had the rare ability of seeing and grasping _ the essentials, and of emphasizing always the importance of selection. This, coupled with his knowledge of the work of the churches in Turkey and Greece, and his acquaintance with leaders, made his judgment highly valued.

"It is often said that the beautiful hospital in Merzifon is a monument to his ability. But it should be emphasized _ that he regarded it as a means toward his main aim, which was wider service to suffering humanity.

"The loss of his sister on August 14, 1948, may have accelerated the progress of his_ weakness. The brother and sister, both born in Turkey, were rarely congenial. His illness of three months was brightened by the presence of my sister Bertha, who flew to our relief on January 17 from Cleveland, Ohio, and has been a tower of strength to us both.

"My sister and I love to recall the courage and sweetness of his last days. Being a physician, he undoubtedly knew that recovery from cerebral thrombosis was not to be expected; and he faced the inevitable undauntedly.

"The funeral service was held on March 24th, and was beautiful in every detail. The three ministers who shared in the service, Rev. Neff of our local church, Rev. Carl Gates who is a life-long friend, and Rev. Levonian of Los Angeles, all spoke with rare sympathy. Rev. Lebonian was also a native of Aintab, Turkey, and represented the Armenian people on both sides of the Atlantic. Then on April 11, the Clubs of which Dr. Marden was a member, united in a suitable and touching memorial service.

"We love to think of the happy reunion over there with our son William, who was taken from us at the age of four, and to whom he re- ferred repeatedly during this last illness.

"With gratitude for our forty happy years to- gether, with rededication to the service of the Master whom he served so unstintedly, and with a quickened sense of the significance of Easter,

Very sincerely, Lucy H. Marden,

Mrs. Marden's letter will be of interest to many friends and acquaintances not connected with our Class.

From the Salt Lake Tribune of November 6, 1948, I gleaned the news that "Tommy"Thompson has been signally honored by St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral of Salt Lake City. For 47 years he has been identified with the Cathedral. He retired as senior warden a fewmonths ago. I quote from the Tribune: "J. Walcott Thompson began working for St. Mark's Cathedral in 1899 and in 1948 retired as senior warden. To honor him and his 47 years of labor, the Episcopal Church conferred the title of 'senior warden emeritus', the first time such a title has been given an Episcopalian in Utah."

The following 1895 notes, written for theMarch issue, somehow failed to reach theireditorial destination and to see the light ofprint. Although three months old, they areprinted in this issue, the last regular one ofthe current publication year. I talked over the telephone recently (January) with John Hayes. He told me he was to go immediately to the Deaconess Hospital in Boston for an operation, and at this writing John was a patient there. A letter addressed to him at Barrister's Hall, Scollay Square, Boston, Mass., will reach him and be welcome.

I'm sure we are all interested to know that Barbara Lane, our Dr. Walter's daughter, graduated with Phi Beta Kappa rank at Smith College last June. She fittingly wears her father's P.B.K. key. Mildred is now taking a business course at Harvard and is one of eleven so-called graders there. Her brother, Walter, is now a junior at Dartmouth.

Joel Harley and wi£e are wintering at Winter Park, Florida. So are "Sliver" Rice andwife. I heartily wish that Roland Stevens andwife were also in Winter Park.

When I was in Winter Park last spring,our Classmate, Austin, was preparing to opena Nature Studio and now he's done it. I havebefore me a clipping from the Orlando Postwhich announces the opening of this interesting studio in the following words and figures with pictures of Austin and his buzzingbees.

"F. E. Austin, 70, a retired electrical engineer from New Hampshire, has turned his hobby into a vocation and on Feb. 14 will open Orlando's newest tourist attraction, the Nature Studios op Lakemont Avenue, just north of the Air Force Base. Dedicated to kids 'from 4 to 104,' the studios will feature 'Honeyville' and the Austin Ant Palaces, in addition to many other nature subjects, mathematical and geometric models and some Biblical data. Honeyville comprises an entire room with bee hives set on window ledges where visitors can observe the home life of these busy insects through magnifying lenses. Austin's Ant Houses, which he had patented and copyrighted back in 1925, are ingenious devices for exposing to view the industrial activity of ants. They are made of two sheets of glass, half filled with sand topped by a fanciful superstructure with passageways and turrets for the ants to occupy. In a recently started Ant Palace, the occupants already have begun to dig their main tunnel. In a few days the entire sand area will be honeycombed with such tunnels.

"Mr. Austin, who moved to Winter Park in 1940, is associated in the Nature Studio with A. D. Thayer, of Winter Park. They hope especially that school children will take advantage of the project."

Secretary. White River Jet., Vt.

Treasurer, PROF Eagle Hotel, Concord, N. H.

Class Agent, 1591 Mizell Ave., Winter Park, Fla.