1905

A sad necessity compels the casting of a tone of gloom over this month's column for our class. On January 4 Walter Nourse died of a heart attack. He and Mollie had been in the new home they had built in Baldwin Hills, a part of Greater, Los Angeles, when this sudden attack occurred.

The very day following, at the other extreme of the country, Bob Harding was struck down by the same malady. This blow, though not entirely unexpected, for Bob had had a previous onset, is especially hard for Maude, because she has not been in good health herself.

On January. 13, after a long, losing battle, Frances, Roger Brown's wife, passed away. A loyal, devoted adherent of the Class of 1905, Frances had added much to the pleasant atmosphere of our reunions with her charming and enthusiastic presence.

We shall miss each of these three very much. It is a happy thought that Bob and Maude, and Roger and Frances had attended our fiftieth with real pleasure, and so, too, Walter and Mollie, the previous reunion. Our deepest sympathy goes to each of the bereaved.

In attendance at Bob's funeral were RogerBrown, Fletcher and Alva Hatch, Ida Parkinson (Royal found it impossible to attend), and Sam and Mary Wilkins. This same group, with the addition of Allen and Margaret Smith and Royal Parkinson, were present at Frances' obsequies.

Meanwhile, for those left behind, life goes on. Roger Brown left soon for Florida, where he was to be with his two brothers in Anna Maria (if I understood the name correctly). Roger gave your scribe a ring from New York en route and we had a pleasant chat.

The Allen Smiths, back from their European trip, were planning to start soon for Jamaica and later to visit Japan. Real world travelers!

The Hatches, too, ere this appears in print, will have sailed for Colombia, and, on the way, Guatemala, Honduras and Costa Rica. Bon voyage! It is hard to see how they can .spare Sliver from Natick. Having made such a success as chairman of the committee which constructed their grand new high school, he has been appointed chairman of a committee to build a new grammar school. In addition, he will be a candidate for Commissioner of Public Works in his town.

Ed Gilbert, very active at 80, has sent me, as he may very likely to many of you, a copy of a booklet entitled, Cancer as I Have Seen It. We sincerely wish Ed success in his search for a means to stop that dread scourge.

From Dunedin, Fla., Fred Chase writes of having had a call from John Tuck and his wife, who were on their way to St. Petersburg, and Ellinor Village, on the east coast, where they were last year. By the way, a picture ot their son, Ensign John, appeared in the press recently with some of his trained huskies. Mention was made previously in this column of his appointment aboard the icebreaker Edisto, bound for the Antarctic.

Cohasset, Mass., would seem to be as well prepared as might be for any attack. We have received a carefully worked out pamphlet on survival, captioned Cohasset Civil Defense Bulletin #15. We only hope that Walter Lillard's painstaking work as director of Civil Defense, good as it is, may never have to be put to the test!

The latest news from Harold Haskell was that he was keeping as busy as he cared to be in adding various finishing touches to his new home in Nashua.

Percy Ladd, who is staying on in his home in Burlington, visited his daughter, who lives just outside the District of Columbia, in the fall. He writes, "Her little daughter, four and a half, personally conducted me about many places of interest."

Dick Tolman was planning to start for Clear-water Beach, Fla., with Mabel. This will make their eighth year there.

"Paene" Moore, from the dry warmth of McAllen, Texas, in the Rio Grande Valley, rejoices that he does not have to face the icy blasts of our northern winters. This is their fourth year in this locality.

From "Jacarlene Farms," Selfner, Fla., CarlPreis writes that he is busier in retirement than ever before, trying to get permanently settled. He hopes to be at liberty to be with us next July.

Henry Thrall has suffered another set-back and has not been so well since. He finds enjoyment in TV, especially the football games. He has been unable to take the trip to California this winter.

Mildred and I had a pleasant little visit with Gene Musgrove recently. The occasion of our call upon him and his wife was that I might present in person to Gene a copy of the music which C. A. Pierce '06 had composed to Gene's sonnet If Only We Have Mountains, which appeared in our column in the November issue, of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE. In spite of Gene's not quite assured handling of the piano accompaniment and my somewhat less than perfect rendering of the air, we found the piece very charming, with melodious harmonizing.

Make your plans and reservations for the Reunion at the Hanover Inn next July 13, 14, 15.... '05 Up, ladies and all!

Secretary, 358 North Fullerton Ave., Upper Montclair, N.J.

Treasurer, 8027 Seminole Ave., Philadelphia 18, Pa. Bequest Chairman,