1905

The passing of Robert Frost reminds us of the fortuitous connection of the life of this beloved poet with that of Edgar Gilbert. In the lean years when both of these men were struggling to make a meagre living, they took jobs at a woolen mill in Lawrence. Mass., and were together there for some little time. Some of us recall seeing Ed and Robert Frost, that good friend of Dartmouth, reminiscing happily together in the lobby of the Hanover Inn. It was, I believe, the last reunion of our class that Ed attended before he was laid low by that most unfortunate accident which has so pitifully incapacitated him in these recent years. It was, of course, those early years of work to raise funds for his college education which caused Ed to enter Dartmouth at a considerably older age than most of the class.

Four score years or 80, either way, that is an age which used to be regarded as a somewhat awesome achievement. Now, what with gerontology, vitamin pills and all that, those of our number who have reached that stage take it in stride and claim as great vigor, as, say, twenty years ago. Nevertheless our relatives and friends deem the eightieth birthday as worthy of celebration. So in the case of Roger Brown. On lanuary 10 about 45 relatives and close friends gathered at the home of Roger Ir. in West Medford to celebrate the auspicious day. Present were Roger's four children, noteworthily daughter Elizabeth and her husband Hugh M. Snider from Alaska, his brother Whittemore and sister Carol and assorted grandchildren, cousins and in-laws. Special mention should be made of the presence of one of Roger's high school teachers, now 90 years old. The birthday cake was a masterpiece. On it were depicted various of Roger's accomplishments, such as buildings and trucks, with the whole surmounted by a large number 80. There was a second party, more informal, at the Cambridge office of Roger's trucking concern attended by former and present employees. Hearty congratulations, Roger!

Roger is now in Florida, not, at the time of writing, enjoying the weather, which was cold, rainy, foggy. He reports seeing FredChase, who had a cold, doubtless caused by that not so good weather. Bob and EdnaFalconer had called on Roger. They were on their way from Key West and were heading for Clearwater, where they expected to see Charlie and Ruth Goodrich; then back to Tryon, N. C.

I am indebted to that keen watcher of the affairs of Class and College, Tub Besse, for the news that we have a class grandson in the freshman class at Dartmouth. He is Robert Spence of Wilton, Conn., the grandson of Walter and Ethel Conley. He is enrolled in the Navy R.O.T.C. How delighted Walt would be, if he could have lived to have this gratification. I had a pleasant telephone conversation with Ethel. Her health is apparently reasonably good. As to Tub himself, he keeps going, but was laid up for a while at Christmas time from going out on a raw, cold day to attend a party at his old office.

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

Treasurer, Box 91, Cambridge 40, Mass.