1895

I have something very important and interesting to extend to the Class this time as you will see.

Of course all '95 men knew TommyThompson when he was with us in Hanover. We all have seen him marching up and down the streets of Hanover like a soldier. In fact his father was a General in the U.S. Army. I have known Tommy well all these years. He and I have been real chums, but in spite of all this, Tommy would never come to a reunion of the Class of '95. I have teased him and prodded him many a time during the past sixty years, but it was always "Nay, nay, I am not coming to the Reunion." He has been to my house to visit me, meantime, and he has been spending his summers in Rockport, Mass., by the seaside. To my gratification and delight, he recently wrote me the following letter from 105 East South Temple St., Salt Lake City, Utah:

"Sorry to have been so slow in responding to your card re the 60th reunion of what remains of '95, but the excerpts from our classmates as conveyed in your 'special issue of the DARTMOUTH ALUMNI MAGAZINE' were so generally pathetic that I didn't think I ever could respond. However, the Christmas Spirit seems to have given me new life.

"From the reports in your pink issue, it doesn't sound like we would have much of a 60th, but I still hope to be there. I appreciate that this may be somewhat of a shock in view of my past record, but after I learned from my son of the life you were leading in the Mary Hitchcock Hospital I gained added courage and am hoping to return in June, provided you can get me quarters at least as delightful as your own and with equally attractive nurses. I may even bring my son and grandson along, but I cannot bring my great grandson because 'he' happens to be a girl (born October 24) and a bit too young even for our 60th.

"Thus far I haven't reached the stage where I need to go to Florida for my health but the time may come. If so I certainly hope that Austin, Harley, Lord, Cleaveland, Baketel and you will still be around. From their replies it sounds as though reunions would be better attended if held in Florida, but never having been to one I wouldn't know for sure. Anyway, if everything works out as I hope, maybe I can break my long standing record and show up although you must admit from the answers already received, it sounds sort of grim even for a youngster of only 83.

"Of course I too have had my operations, in fact Sliver can have nothing on me at this point, with my mere 125 pounds. But we seem to be able to still 'take it' out here in the glorious wide open spaces (even without the help of Florida) and if I can find the strength come June to make it back to Boston you may be seeing me, if any of you are by then still around. Frank Austin's depressing response gives me added strength, and unless one of his 'commitments' is with the Lord, I hope that he and you and I will be on deck to greet several more decrepit, stumbling, invalided, bifocaled refutations to that necrology curve of his.

"Best wishes of the Christmas season to you. You have been a great Class Secretary over all these years.

"Vigorously yours, J. Walcott Thompson."

I regret to admit that I am due once more to endure a surgical operation on January 14 at Dick's House in Hanover. I am receptive to class news byway of letters.

Here is a welcome note from Dud West:

"Thanks for your note, and am glad your health is better; at least isn't worth mentioning. We had an unusually quiet holiday season. Peggy came down from Wilmette with her two youngest boys, and we always enjoy them. Dud and Olga had us all out to their home for dinner and we had another big feed at Margaret's brother's, and through all M. was quite well. She is still too weak to do the acts necessary to preparing meals, so I have lunch at the Elks and we help each other get dinner at home. I hope that she will be strong enough to go to meals with me at hotels and other places, but she always says she can't think of eating out. I send you a cody of the MolineDaily Dispatch. It is a larger than usual edition, but has some pictures and articles about Moline that might interest you."

Secretary. White River Junction, Vt.

Treasurer, Eagle Hotel, Concord, N. H.

Bequest Chairman,