1898

Classmates:

At our 60th, in line with a practice begun in 1928, the following officers and alternates to fill vacancies were elected: Bart Sett, reelected President; Eckstorm, alter- nate. Chandler, reelected Class Agent; Tabor, alternate. Williams, elected Secretary (vice Lord, resigned); Seelman, alternate.

By succession, Ekstorm is now President and Seelman, Secretary. For the first time your secretary lives outside New England. 98 graduated 71 men, the second smallest group in a century. Only twelve remain whose average age is 85. We may well be proud of our record. Our contributions to the College have been constant if not large, and to science, industry and the professions, significant. At the reunion dinner the keynote was not of the past but of the future. Well might we say with Tennyson's Ulysses:

"That which we are, we are, One equal temper of heroic hearts, Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will

To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield."

As your servant I shall strive to weld more closely the ties which bind us; to seek from you and yours and the families of our departed news of life and achievement, bringing pride to us and honor to the College; to find, with your help, the way to our goal — our 65th in '63.

Ida V. Bennis, sister and constant companion of our late classmate, Frederick V. tennis, died on May 15, after a long illness, at Lakeland, Fla. Interment was at Sullivan, Me. Fred and she attended all our reunions. Her gentle graciousness and friendly smile will long be remembered. Her interest in '98 and the College was only exceeded by her devotion to Fred. His estate will, I be- lieve, ultimately pass to the College.

Carl Robert Ahrens, Wesleyan (Conn.) University '60, our grandson, was killed in 1959. He was captain-elect of the varsity football team and the leading varsity utility baseball player. The student body created a memorial fund from the income of which an annual trophy would be awarded. On May 24 at Downey House the President of the University presented the first award. The program, with Carl's picture, reads:

"The Carl R. Ahrens Memorial Trophy is being awarded to a Wesleyan senior 'who has exemplified the qualities of skill, spirit and leadership' demonstrated by Carl '60, captain-elect of the 1959 Cardinal football earn, who was killed in an automobile accident Feb. 28, 1959. The recipient of the trophy is elected by the letter winners of all sports. Funds for this award were contributed by the students."

It is a deep solace to the Ahrens and Seelman families that Carl's memory will be so worthily perpetuated.

The obituary of Chester F. Williams will be published later.

Secretary and Treasurer 50 Court St., Brooklyn 1, N. Y.