1902

Two months back I included in my notes Duckie Drake's observations about his trip to Europe and his opinion regarding the friendliness of Adenauer for the U.S.A. This month came a letter from George Elderkin, written in Venice, Fla. (Darn him, if he doesn't come to see me), in which he bitterly attacks Drake's views on Adenauer and says, "Somebody has taken our Duckie for a ride." I straightaway scented an opportunity to stir up a real discussion for our class notes. So I wrote Frank Drake that I would welcome a rebuttal of George's remarks from him and wrote George that I would welcome an enlargement of his statements after we have heard from Duckie. The latter's secretary wrote me that he is in Florida and that my letter had been forwarded to him. Personally I would welcome any discussion from any of our classmates. It would help to prove that in spite of our advanced age — did you get that? advanced? — we are not hardening above the shoulders.

In December came a fine letter from Howard Harris, enclosing a communication from Roy Hatch and a poem written to Roy in August by S.M.S. Who the heck is S.M.S.? I dunno. However, he or she must have a sense of humor, for the poem closes with this postlude:

Roy, when next you leave us And we feel melancholic, We'd much prefer to have just you Than your spirit alcoholic.

Howard adds the unnecessary admonition, "I would not want you to get the idea that our always temperate Roy had been running a quiet little still up there in those delightful Princeton Hills." I think you all know that Roy has a summer home in the Massachusetts hills at Princeton.

Two letters have come from Herman Farwell. In one he expresses the belief that an informal gathering of the class next June would not be a success, though he highly approves of the idea in principle.

For Herm's benefit and that of other doubtful classmates I would add that when Percy wrote me in November, the following had engaged accommodations at the Norwich Inn: Farwell and wife, Moore and wife, Elderkin and wife, Plumer and wife, Dorr and wife, Briggs, Drake, Harris, and Studwell. Of course to that number of attendants can be added Watty and Mose Perkins, and Charlie Dudley. I hope and almost pray that my name will appear at a later time. Just now I can see little chance that I shall be well enough to attend.

May I add some family news, to this column?

On December 23 our granddaughter, Margaret Clapp, was married to Irving Warren Holcomb at her parents' home in Weston, Conn. On January 23 our grandson, Thomas Barnes Clapp '53, was married in Wheeling, W. Va., to Dorothy Reed. And Stella and I could not be present at either ceremony. Darn surgeons and hospitals and sickness!!

We had a good letter from our Roy last month written in Albuquerque, N.M. Any day now we expect to look out and see him driving into the yard.

You will all feel a wave of sadness as I tell you that our dear Ben Stevens has passed on. I have asked his wife for any information she may wish to have included in his obituary. No word has come from her so the obituary will appear next month.

Secretary, 210 Columbus Avenue, Coronado Station, New Smyrna Beach, Fla.