1900
The secretary has received a copy of the December issue of Red and Gray, the journal of the Fitchburg High School, which is dedicated to the late Frank M. Howe, "devoted teacher, adviser and friend to the pupils and teachers of the Fitchburg High School." The article, headed by an excellent portrait of Frank, points out in an effective way his salient qualities as they appealed to the students in the School: his love for and skill at teaching, his painstaking habits, his friendliness for all, his interests in dramatics, his love for scholarship and reading, his faith and belief in his students—a most admirable and touching tribute to "Pop" Howe.
Mrs. Gilbert Balkam, now living on Cape Cod, is flying back with her son Gilbert Jr., to California for a stay of two months. Mrs. Chelsea Atwood is also enjoying a trip to that region. More permanent residents of the state are Mrs. Drew, Mrs. Wing, Mrs. H. S.Fairfield, Mrs. Salinger, Mrs. Morse, as well as George Tong and his family. Mrs. Morse, however, is soon to return to her home in Goffstown, N. H. In Florida this winter we find, for stays of various length, Prouty,Bigelow, Hodgkins, Warde?i, Proctor, Marshall, Cristy, Teague, Miss Hildreth, Mrs. Buckley, Mrs. Clark, Mrs. J. A. Brown (Conner's sister), Mrs. F. W. Jenkins and Mrs. Eaton. Jonakowski is, of course, a year-round resident. Mrs. Sanborn is visiting her daughter in Texas.
Harry Marshall reports that his oldest grandson entered Harvard last fall. Mrs. Marshall has just completed a second book with a biblical background, Esther, For Sucha Time as This. Her previous work of a similar character, Ruth, was very successful. Harry is doing different odd jobs of writing and speaking to various clubs and conducting radio work, such as the daily Pastor'sStudy.
Mrs. Rogers has suffered recently a stroke of paralysis from which she is slowly recovering. Mrs. Sprague is making good progress from the severe operation of some months ago. Mrs. Hadley has changed her address from Wareham to 105 Highland Avenue, Onset, Mass.
Mrs. Snow is still at her old address at Willimantic, Conn., where she has been joined by her son Walter R., long a newspaperman in New York, but now a free lance magazine writer. In January Walter and his wife became the parents of their first child, a baby girl, Elaine Walker Snow.
More trouble for the secretary in the Clarence Paddock—Arthur Wallace imbroglio concerning family size, reported (erroneously, it is to be feared) in the February issue. The secretary, relying on his memory rather than his records, credited Arthur with 17 descendants, 15 of whom are alive; Clarence with 16, all alive. Getting his wires crossed with memories of John Ash, he credited Arthur with five children, one of whom he then killed off. Arthur now protests that he had but four, all alive. That was the secretary's fault and not that of his records. But, in addition, Arthur now, following, the Paddock example, suddenly advances 3 .claim to a fourth great-grandchild, previously unreported, born last December. That makes 18 descendants, 17 of whom are alive and puts him, upon any basis of computation, clearly ahead of Clarence, until the latter shall advance a new claim of previously unreported grandchildren or great-grandchildren, which, under the stress of competition, probably he soon will do. The secretary thinks that it would be courteous of his classmates so to manage their affairs that the size of their families would conform to his statistics, rather than the opposite. As it now is, Arthur is not only second to John Ash in all-over totals, but is clearly champion great-grandfather with 4, thus exceeding Smith with 3 and an unnamed classmate who reports excellent prospects, not yet realized, 1.
As of March 1, returns from President Rankin's questionnaire indicate the attendance at the fiftieth of 39 members of the class and 35 of their families. But in the final event we will have more than that. At the last moment you cannot possibly keep away. Please, however, aid the committee by responding promptly to all questions that may be sent to you. Also search your attics and barns to bring to light memorabilia which may be a part of the exhibit always a Baker Library feature of the 50th reunion of each succeeding class.
Secretary, Hanover, N. H. Treasurer and Class Agent212 Mill St., Newtonville, Mass.
