1900
It is a matter of interest that the BillStickney collection of Arctic artifacts has been displayed for several weeks in a case in the main corridor of Baker Library. Here faculty, students, and visitors have had an opportunity to see this attractive collection which Bill gathered on his trip to Greenland during the summer of 1897.
This year the winter colony of members of the 1900 family at the Vinoy-Park Hotel in St. Petersburg, Fla., consisted of HodCristy and wife; Ned Bigelow and wife; Mrs. Barrows, widow of Nat Barrows, and her son. Hod and his wife had quite a rigorous experience in reaching their Florida destination. Flying conditions were not of the best the day they chose to make the trip; low ceiling caused by rain and fog made the first part of their journey a hazardous venture. From the Boston airport they flew by circuitous ways, and finally reached Tampa, somewhat shaken, but still intact, during the wee-small hours of the morning. They heaved a big sigh of relief when they reached their hotel room at 3 a.m. According to a verifiable statement it took Hod four days of recuperative effort to get back to normal condition; that is, whatever may be normal for a gentleman of 86 years.
Sidney Phillips, son of Dago Phillips, has, temporarily at least, severed his connection with Syracuse University. He and his family have moved to the Far East and are now settled in Karachi, Pakistan. Sidney is serving with a U.S. government educational organization and has been assigned to the Institute of Business Administration at the University of Karachi. The period of adjustment has been stimulating and has led to some laughable situations. One day he and an American friend decided to try deep sea fishing. They hired a fine, large fishing boat, and, equipped with elaborate fishing tackle after the best American pattern, they chugged out of port accompanied by a small Urdu boy. The lad was lured on this expedition by the promise of a splendid big fish for supper. Casting out into the vasty deep, they fished patiently and hopefully for eight hours, but caught exactly nothing. As they came back to port they saw native fishermen standing on the breakwater, equipped with nothing better than a thin line, a small hook, and a few shrimp for bait, hauling in fish in in considerable numbers. Thereupon, in the eyes of the Urdu boy, American methods and American piscatorial prowess lost face. He decided on the basis of the day's evidence that after all Amerikees are not so good. On such trivial incidents does American prestige and diplomacy sometimes rest in remote parts of the world. In spite of such moments of frustration, Sidney finds life in Pakistan exciting and challenging.
Harold Hastings has sent me a card on which is a picture of a lovely New England house nestling beside a gently flowing brook. The place is appropriately and poetically named "Tumbling Brook Farm." Harold reports himself in fair condition. Last summer he planned to make the long trek to California to visit his son, Lem, and family, but when the time came such a long trip seemed unwise and was given up. Now his hopes are pinned on the coming summer. Even with octogenarians "Hope springs eternal in the human breast."
Out of New York comes an interesting story. Just before Christmas Vice-President Orton Hicks '21 was on a business trip to the great metropolis. Arthur Virgin invited him for lunch at a well-known Italian restaurant. The restaurateur, among other accomplishments, is an amateur acrobat, and he put on a special show for Ort's benefit. It happens that the daughter of the restaurant owner is Mrs. John Huston. Mr. Huston and his wife were present in Hanover on the occasion of the inauguration of Hopkins Center in November. Producer-director John Huston came up to be present at the premier of his film "Freud." He was introduced to the audience in Spalding Auditorium by Vice-President Hicks.
Secretary and Class Agent Box 714, Hanover, N.H.
