1900

During the Christmas season just past Harold Hastings had a surprise package. His niece and her husband from Costa Rica arrived to spend the holidays with him and other relatives. They brought with them as a present for Harold a seven-months-old Costa Rican edition of a Boxer pup. Whether it measures up to the conventional remark about some Christmas presents, "Just what I wanted," has yet to be proved. And what old, faithful, mongrel "Wooz," Harold's longtime walking companion, is thinking about the invasion of his near monopoly of the highways and byways of the Hastings menage is certainly a big question mark. How will a sedate old canine take to this vigorous young upstart and his playful eccentricities? It is plain that Harold has his work cut out for him to keep peace, tranquility, and the good neighbor policy in his household.

Marion Atwood, Chels Atwood's wife, bemoans her elderly state and lack of news. Yet, completely unknown to your secretary until a recent confession on a most welcome Christmas card, she, last March, flew away, motored away, or railroaded away — no details given - to our sister republic, Mexico. Moreover, during the summer, she allegedly burned up the roads all over New England visiting relatives, and, as an added attraction, kept open the homestead, Chels' birthplace, in Chelsea, Vt. On this momentous Christmas card Marion parenthetically remarks that she has no immediate plans for flying to Europe or even to Florida. What is coming over these octogenarians or near octogenarian.' Is it possible that some of us are approaching the longevity recounted in the eleventh chapter Of Genesis?

And speaking of Europe, Mrs. Mary Branliere Bill Stickney's sister, flew away to England in July. There she visited Jean Stickney, Bill's wife, who lives on the outskirts of London in a charming old Tudor house with a lovely garden. On the return trip Mary flew over the lower tip of Greenland where, in 1898, Bill spent the summer as a member of the Peary expedition ol that year. And Mrs. Branliere exclaims: "Imagine what a thrill!"

Among other European travelers were Mrs. Edward R. Hodgkins and Mrs. Fernald R. White, daughters of Lem Hodgkins. Along with their husbands they spent a month in the spring touring England, Scotland, and Ireland. Although no details were given, it must be inferred that they had a fine time together, and thoroughly enjoyed the history-laden centers and the surpassing beauty of the nooks and corners of Merry Old England, the bonny braes and glens of Scotland, and the fair, rolling countryside of the Emerald Isle During the summer Ruth and her husband occupied their cottage at Kennebunk Beach. Christmas this year was spent with Mr. Hodgkins' mother in Phoenix, Ariz. So you see the second generation of Hodgkins appears to be quite on the move to fai-away places. However, in this jet age no place on earth seems to be far away. In a phrase made famous by Wendell Willkie we appear, in a geographical sense at least, to be living in "One World."

Charlotte Sanborn, widow of Chan Sanborn, evidently is of the explorer type like Daniel Boone and Henry M. Stanley. She, her daughter, and family, made a first tour of the recently opened Kancamagus Highway which leads from Lincoln over a mountain shoulder and down the Passaconaway valley into Conway, N. H. In good weather it is a very scenic drive and offers thrilling views of sturdy mountains, green forests, nestling valleys, and swift flowing streams. Without doubt it is one of the most scenic highways in New England. As cited by Charlotte there are no blatant advertising billboards along the highway to mar the enjoyment of the eye-pictures which Nature lavishly offers. Would this were true of the many other scenic spots m the U.S.! Advertising has its place in our economy but our highways, and particularly those which lead in and through the National Parks and mountain areas, are, in the opinion of the writer, no places for such commercialism.

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

treasure, 20 Chapel St., Brookline 46, Mass.