1908

You will be interested, I know, in reading Larry Symmes' travelogue covering his recent trip to Rio, which story was promised last month. It follows, dated October 29:

"Last week Dorothy and I returned from Rio de Janeiro and way-stations. We flew down on September 29 with a group of doctors who were having a convention in Rio. We left New York at midnight, flew to Miami, arriving at 4:00 A.M., left Miami at 7:00 A.M., and reached Rio at 10:30 the next morning. It sounds easy when you say it, but it's a hard job when you fly 26 hours straight.

"We were in Rio for almost two weeks, and four or five days in Sao Paulo and Santos, 300 miles to the south. I learned a lot about Brazil, and found the visit full of interest. Generally speaking I liked Rio better than Sao Paulo, because Rio is a foreign city with a beautiful harbor and dramatic mountains surrounding it. Sao Paulo on the other hand might be Kansas City, with its skyscrapers, and if it weren't for the signs in Portugese, one might well be mistaken as to where one was.

"General Knox helped me out by giving me a supply of cruzieros to have in my pocket when I arrived, and he also made suggestions as to where I might find interesting entertainment. During the visit we went to Copacabana Beach, and the hotel of the same name, where Ben stayed on his last tour of duty in Rio. Our home while we were there was the Gloria Hotel, which is near town and a really fine establishment.

"The flight up and down was the most interesting experience I have ever had - with eight hours over the jungle, eight hours along the coast at the top of the continent, and eight from Caracas to Miami over the Carribean Sea. In retrospect I think our South American trip was the most interesting we have ever taken, especially if we look upon it for what it was, namely, a 21-day trip of nearly twelve thousand miles."

And speaking of letters, here's another which you will be glad to see, coming from Howard Cowee, who up to now has been playing the role of The Silent Man in these columns. It's good to hear from him.

"Probably the sale of my Cape Cod summer home last January is the big event of 1954. The loss of all my tall pines in '44 and a rapidly changing neighborhood plus the chance to take out more money than I thought wise to keep tied up in a place I used only for about three months in the year influenced me to let it go. The buyer is going to erect a motel on the premises.

"This past season I rented a house on Bass River and enjoyed the change to a location nearer the village and one where a safe anchorage was only a short row from the end of the pier. Last April I took a short trip south, spending most of the time at Sea Island, Ga., and Tryon, N. C., and short stops at Ashville, and Ledgefield, N. C., and Hershey, Pa. I can recommend the Cloister at Sea Island as tops for spring vacation.

"At the three games I took in this fall in Hanover, String Hale was the only '08er I met. Had a card from Stan Tappan, who is in California, and spending some time with Web Evans. If he fails to give you an account of the trip, put on the pressure, as I am sure he will have a lot to tell about '08ers in California. He spent the summer as usual at Chatham.

"The local scene runs the usual course. Seven to eight hours a day at the office, most evenings at home except for a concert, lecture and a movie now and then. Hope this finds you in your usual good spirits."

Now wouldn't you think that Ted Barnes would have sent to your editor such important news as appeared in a New York trade paper, along with his picture? Well, he didn't, and it remained for a clipping service and two or three classmates to reveal what modest Ted wouldn't tell. There seems to be no doubt that Ted is running the show, as the following article relates. Congratulations, Ted, from all of us. You done fine.

"Arthur B. Barnes, who has served as president and treasurer of Ponemah Mills, was elected chairman at a meeting of the board of directors. . . . Mr. Barnes has been with Ponemah since 1938, having formerly been with American Printing Co. and Shawmut Mills."

A Christmas card from Serena reveals the fact that Art Rotch has been having another argument with his ticker and at last reports was winning it, for which we are thankful.

The Hanover Inn register reveals the fact that Tat Badger was in Hanover the early part of December.

There is a change of address for FrankCook, who can now be reached at 714 W. Callender, Livingstone, Montana.

Always something doing with the Stearnses. Listen. Malcolm Stearns Junior has been appointed Acting Dean at Wesleyan where he is instructor in history and assistant librarian. A brilliant student like his father, he was Phi Beta Kappa at Amherst and a regular fellow right through.

It now appears that Mike and Annis are leaving early in January for a trip to Colombia, South America, also going inland to Bogota. They go and return by boat after a month there. Upon return, they will ready themselves for a trip to Vero Beach where they will be on the porch to greet the reuning ought-eighters.

As we go to press, I am in receipt of a letter from Larry Treadway of the Royal Park Inn at Vero Beach stating that the doors will open for the Dartmouth gang on March 15 and continue open until April 15, same containing a special reduction of 331/3% in accommodations, which I avow from experience are good, and with food that is the best on the North American Continent, and if that isn't big enough, call it the world. As previously suggested, it will be helpful all around in stimulating interest if those who expect to be there will let me know. Will you? I can promise that you will have a good time and Larry guarantees that you will live longer. What more do you want?

Notes Editor, 119 Parker St. Newton Center 59, Mass.

Secretary, 115 Broadway, New York 6, N. Y.

Treasurer, Taftville, Conn.

Bequest Chairman,