1899

A June birthday rose with cordial felicitations to Chase, Kimball, Miller, Smith and Varney.

Hawley Chase spent four weeks during April in Hanover while Mrs. Chase was in Hitchcock Memorial Hospital undergoing treatment following an eye operation. Hawley ornamented the Hanover Inn porch and, when not conversing with others, indulged in day-dreams and nostalgic memories of his undergraduate days, attended spring football practice, lectures on the prolongation of life by certain newly discovered medical aids, student practices on "dates", student reactions to alcohol, student attitudes on the philosophy of Karl Marx, etc. He also enjoyed visits to the Baker Library and talks with Bob Leavens 'Ol, doing research work in Hanover.

Joan E. Wiggin, daughter of our Exeter philosopher, is a member of the graduating class of the high school in that town.

The Secretary neglected to mention that Mary Greenwood sent him a clipping some months ago reporting the death of Rita, widow of Percy Drake. Mary said that she reads the class notes in the ALUMNI MAGAZINE every month and sent best wishes to all tor a happy 50th Reunion. In behalf of the class and recalling her gracious social amenities at previous '99 reunions, the best wishes of all are hereby transmitted to her.

The following is from the Manchester(N. H.) Union of April 6:

PLYMOUTH, April s—The5—The story of pottery as it used to be made in Plymouth 100 years ago or more was told Monday night at a meeting of the Pemigewasset Woman's club at the Methodist church vestry The guest speaker, GeorgeClark, first presented pictures of Plymouth as it appeared many years ago. He then told how pottery was made from the oldfashioned kilns in West Plymouth and explained the remarkable display of pottery which has been well preserved through the years, showing many types of pottery which came into every-day use in those days.

We don't know how we missed it, reading as widely as we do, but there only recently came to our attention an article in The NewYorker magazine several months ago about the annual meeting of the American Shakespeare Fellowship, the counterpart of the Shakespeare Fellowship, an organization founded in London in 1922. The meeting was addressed by Louis P. Benezet, President of the American Shakespeare Fellowship. There was considerable comment in the article about Benny and his remarks. As we well know, he is an ardent champion of the belief that the works of Shakespeare were written by Edward de Vere, the seventeenth Earl of Oxford. Following are some quotes from the New Yorker story:

"We are trying to break down the fairy tale of the Stratford romance," President Benezet continued, his Phi Beta Kappa key gleaming, "but the vested interests are against us. We are upsetting the applecart, if I may descend into the vernacular. I outlined our findings to a prominent publisher, and he said, 'Our firm has three hundred thousand dollars tied up in Shakespeare plates. If you are right, that would be so much junk.' The facts are there, friends. They are there for the digging. Every time we get five hundred dollars for research, we examine more papers and get more proof. Little by little, the truth, crushed to earth, will rise again." . ,

A tall man in a wing collar stood up from the audience. "Could I say a few words?" he asked politely. "No," said Dr. Benezet, who obviously knows a heckler when he sees one. His interlocutor nevertheless proceeded to identify himself as a cousin of Myron C. Taylor, and pointed out that Mr. Taylor is a former president of the Genealogical and Biographical Society. "I have an original bill of sale of the Underhill house Stratford to Shakespeare," he continued. Dr. Benezet interrupted him to say that the program permitted no outside speakers. "I have lectured on this matter from Maine to Florida," said President Benezet. .... "We're making headway. Four professors of English have come out as Oxfordians. Most English professors have a vested interest in Shakespeare, but I have yet to meet one who can put me in the hole."

Word has just been received that CharlesI. Risley died on March 18 at his home in Pleasantville, N. Y.

'99 was marked present when your Secretary attended the annual meeting of alumni class secretaries and Phil Winchester attended the meeting of class agents at Hanover May 6 and 7. Mrs. Winchester was with him and we enjoyed a pleasant visit together.

If you have not sent your Alumni Fund contribution to Phil he is avidly looking for it. Don't disappoint him if you can help it. Warren Kendall went to Hanover in April especially to check on Reunion arrangements.

This concludes five years' service as your Secretary, during which there has been news of the class in this column every month without exception and, alas, eighteen articles in the In Memoriam columns of this MAGAZINE about classmates who have gone to fairer fields. All of the writings are preserved in a scrapbook which will become a part of the class annals.

'99 MARCHING TO COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES 50 YEARS AGO THIS MONTH

THE ARTHUR S. KIMBALL ('00) SANITARIUM in Battle Creek, Michigan, which has a record of 25 years of successful TB treatment. Medical Director, Arthur S. Kimball Jr., is son of the leading founder.

Secretary The New York Times 229 West 43rd St., New York 18, N. Y.

Treasurer, 34 Brighton Rd., Worcester 6, Mass.

Class Agent, 659 Allen St., Syracuse 10, N. Y.