1900

For "Cut" and Bessie Tirrell April 7, 1960 was a golden day. It happened that this was the 50th anniversary of their marriage, and too, very conveniently, it was Bessie's birthday. The happy couple received more than fifty golden wedding cards; ten floral pieces made up of yellow roses, carnations, and chrysanthemums; and they were the star guests at a sumptuous dinner given in their honor. To accommodate many friends who were unable to come in on the 7th, their son and his wife gave an elaborate tea on Saturday. The tea gave an added bit of gaiety to this momentous anniversary. In "Cut's" words: "A wonderful time was had by all." Although a little late, 1900 extends to "Cut" and Bessie heartiest congratulations.

On last report, Betty Redington, widow of Paul Redington, was leaving Waukegan, Ill., the middle of May, and she was hopeful of establishing a home of her own in San Diego, Calif. For a number of years she and Paul were residents of California, and so this move means to her a return to familiar scenes. In San Diego she will be near her son Edward and his family. It is also possible that Paul Jr. (Jackie), with whom she has recently been living, may leave his present business in Illinois and join the other members of the family in the San Diego area.

During their vacation in Florida, BenPrescott and Arthur Wallace called on EdJonakowski in Sarasota and John Warden at Daytona Beach. We are indeed sorry to learn from Ben and Arthur that both Ed and John are in such poor physical condition. Ed has all but lost his eyesight, and John is very frail and confined to his" bed in the sanatorium where he now lives. It must have been a real occasion for Ed and John to have even this brief chat with these 1900 classmates.

Charlotte Sanborn, widow of Chan. Sanborn, has very kindly typed and made available to me parts of letters written from Rome by Francis Bradley. Francis was a brilliant student at Dartmouth, and a much beloved and respected classmate. These letters are dated 1904, and were written while Francis was doing graduate work at a Catholic College in Rome. Letters such as these seem like a breath of long ago from far-away places.

Francis' day at the college was a rigorous one; up at 5:30 in the morning and busily engaged with class and religious activities until ten in the evening. Holidays gave opportunities for long walks and visits to places of interest in Rome and the vicinity. He speaks of seeing more than one hundred churches, the catacombs, Forum, Imperial palaces, the Vatican Picture Gallery, Hadrian's Villa, one of the most extensive and interesting ruins in all Italy, and of an excursion to Tivoli. "The falls of Tivoli," he says, "are the handsomest bit of nature I have ever seen; and I do not forget what I have seen in the White Mountains of New Hampshire." His college schedule called for classes every day in Logic, Ethics, and Metaphysics. Lectures were given in Latin at a phenomenal speed. Examinations were oral and in Latin. Francis says he dreaded these examinations, as well he might, since he had to answer all questions asked him in Latin. In a letter dated March 26, 1904, Francis speaks with deep regret of the loss by fire of Old Dartmouth Hall, and in a wistful mood he adds: "I wonder if I could have learned Greek and Latin in any other building." At this great distance, it may be safe to say that some of his worthy classical classmates could not even learn the dead languages in Old Dartmouth.

"Broc." Gilson's daughter, Mrs. Elmer Emery of Woodstock, Vt., reports that her daughter Maryanne is "expecting" in June. Elizabeth and her husband are much excited over the prospect of being grandparents. And so it is that staid, conservative Woodstock seems to follow the modern population trend.

Hilda Salinger, Vic. Salinger's widow, tells the exciting news that her daughter Catherine and husband have recently been in the Hawaiian Islands to see their new grandson. Thus Hilda at long last has caught up with some of the other members of the 1900 Family, and has joined that charmed circle of "The Greats."

"Cap." Jenkins picks up my challenge in the Christmas Letter on "gerontology." He thinks it might be interesting at some time to learn how to grow old gracefully. As it is "Cap" is altogether too busy to think about the calendar. What with walking a mile each day, driving a car for a friend twice a week, and reading books which range all the way from Asche (Shalom) to Shakespeare he just has no time to think about the vicissitudes of age.

Secretary, 3 Pleasant St., Hanover, N. H.

Class Agent, 34 Carruth St., Dorchester, Mass.