1894

As inheritor of the mantle of the late C. C. Merrill, veteran secretary of '94, with over 65 years of uninterrupted service to his credit, the present writer the other day received a welcome letter from Eddie OsgoodGrover, on his 91st birthday anniversary. Eddie is probably the most distinguished member of our "tattered remnant" - now reduced to seven or eight, and merits more than a passing notice of his long career in the field of arts and letters, which some years ago won for him an honorary degree from Rollins college in Winter Park, Fla., where he had been teaching courses as "Professor of Books," and also served as vice president of the college. The title of "Professor of Books" is probably almost, if not completely, unique, and is not restricted to giving instruction as to what is in the books, but includes their printing, binding, marketing, housing, and collecting. Eddie gave abundant evidence of his literary talents in his college days, through his contributions in prose and verse to the old Dartmouth Literary Monthly, and served, also, as its editor. The excellence of his verse has made him the class poet laureate, which he still is, and he is relied upon to produce poems suitable to any occasion. He also has his own publishing house, and has produced several small volumes of collections of his writings, which reveal a steady growth of his talents.

In his earlier years he was instrumental in advancing the efforts of his classmate, the late Alfred Bartlett, starting with his microscopic publishing establishment in Cornhill, Boston, where he pioneered the field of the now gigantic greeting card industry. Alfred, who was permanently lame, and painfully shy, probably deserves the name of "father of the greeting card business" which has engulfed the world. Eddie Grover was for some years Alfred's editor and was the man who really started the Christmas card ball rolling. Neither man has yet been recognized for the part in promoting this activity, which now covers all the world. It is a pleasure to give this little push toward a wider recognition. Unhappily, Alfred Bartlett did not live to see the full fruition of the seed which he planted. Here's a skoal to them both!

President, 84 Fairmount St., Lowell, Mass.