1895

In June, 1920, our Class issued a book entitled Class Letters from Members of '95. Frank Austin's letter was the first one in the book. He therein states:

"Important changes in the College plant are being made continuously and the entrance applications have now been stopped at 800 freshmen.

"A new Clinical Laboratory is now assured, and a Stadium is coming. The new dormitory, Topliff Hall, that will accommodate 160 students, is being roofed over."

Austin then lists 19 other items telling of his inventions, book published, war record, etc., and ends the impressive list as follows:—"Numerous Lectures on 'Experimental Science,' before teachers and pupils in the public schools."

Since 1920, his brain has kept on inventing and he has been as busy as his notorious hives of bees. Austin now has started to raise grapefruit trees. He wrote me the day before Christmas as follows:

"Many thanks for your Christmas card and your good wishes. It is reassuring that friendships, initiated so many years ago, still continue and even grow stronger as time goes on.

"Under separate cover I am sending to you, partly as a token of the Dartmouth spirit, but perhaps more significantly as a demonstration of agronomical development and achievement, a grapefruit I picked while standing at the top of a long ladder from a tree grown from a seed I planted about six years ago. The tree is about 25 feet tall with a trunk measuring 26 inches around its base. Scientific tree raisers have stated they never knew it was possible to raise fruit of such high standard from a seed. Moreover fruit so true to form or type. The method employed in obtaining such gratifying results is as interesting as the fruit is delicious and appetizing. The rapid and sturdy vegetable growth of the tree is due to the unconscious daily contributions of the now deceased Kangaroo Katy, the world-famous high-jumping hen. During two years and longer Katy was underneath the tree, domiciled in a wire cage to protect her from wild animals at night and from snakes, hawks and eagles during the day.

"At intervals, Katy and her cage were moved in a circle about the trunk of the tree to insure a distribution of a very potent and effective fertilizing material. (In high-brow literature this is the Figure of Speech called Euphemy.) In addition, Katy, while in training for her high-jumping publicity stunts, thoroughly cultivated the soil around the tree, consumed seeds of undesirable weeds, and the larvae of noxious insects. Today the $64 tree stands as a living memorial to a faithful domestic friend, and a mute testimonial to the Biblical statement, 'after his kind.'

"While wise ones are saying, 'it can't be done,' along comes a fool and does it. Seeds are planted by fools like me; But only a hen can grow a tree. Apologies to God and Mr. Kilmer."

WILLIAM A. MESERVE '96 whose career since college days is sketched in the class column.

Secretary, White River Jet., Vt. Treasurer, PROF. Eagle Hotel, Concord, N. H. Bequest Chairman, 615 7th St., N., St. Petersburg, Fla.