1900
It is always a pleasure to hear of a happy, active and successful family. Olivia Alleway, Olive Foster's daughter, in a sparkling Christmas letter reports the rewarding activities of the Alleways for the year 1963. During the summer the three children, at least by their enthusiastic attendance at odd times, helped powerfully to construct a new grade school building around the corner from their home in Santa Barbara, and, in the fall, proved their competency in various school activities. Father Bill has had an exciting, eventful, and strenuous year of travel in connection with the Education Abroad Program of the University of California. His journeyings took him around the world once, three times to Africa, and four times to Europe. The net result of these trips was the establishing of three centers with 5 professors and 170 students in European college towns, and other commitments in foreign areas which will more than double the number of professors and students enrolled in the program. New installations are to be made in such diverse places as Tokyo, Nairobi, Leopoldville, Accra, and Madrid. This is all a tremendously interesting and challenging experiment in international education. In the meantime Mother Olivia keeps the homefires burning. She finds plenty of important, useful, and sometimes alluring things to do which help keep her out of mischief. She has the thrill of Bill's travels along with the stories and exciting mementos he brings back from far-away places. Besides the normal, exacting duties of a busy household and the mothering of three active children, she finds time for significant church and community services. In all particulars the Alleways appear to be doing a very commendable job of living in this twentieth century.
Betty Redington, widow of Paul Redington, is in excellent health for one of her years, and she finds keen enjoyment living in southern California. Last July her two sons, Edward and Jackie, with Jackie's wife, Barbara, took her on a trip to the Yosemite where, near the foot of Bridal Veil Falls, they set up camp. Quite an experience for an elderly lady! During August she had a splendid visit with the only other living member of her large family, a sister 82 years old, who lives in Marin County, north of San Francisco. In November she had a memorable birthday celebration. On that day, Nov. 28, she had a telephone conversation with each of her three children living m Virginia, Illinois, and California. Then the frosting to her cake of birthday joy was a delicious dinner, and a choice conversation about books and sundry matters with a long time friend who is also nearing the charmed octogenarian circle.
Martha Fowler, Alvah Fowler's widow, suffered a painful accident in September! She had the misfortune to break her ankle and this has seriously crippled her normal activities. A letter in December brings the good news that she is well on the road to complete recovery. In this letter she recalls the fact that 14 years ago she attended with Alvah our 50th reunion in a wheel chair on account of an accident she had had some days prior to the reunion date. In a quite facetious vein she tells of having a door of Baker Library removed so she could be rolled into the lobby to see the 1900 memorabilia which were displayed in the cases on Wall. Well, Martha> the class is so glad that you can again enjoy your normal activities, and we shall hope to hear from you about the burgeoning political activities of the Capital.
I have news from a devoted friend of Mrs. Jonakowski, widow of Edmund Jonakowski, that, despite a hospitalization of over three weeks in July, she is now in better health than she has been in the past two years. This friend has taken Mrs. Jonakowski under her wing, and visits her at the Sarasota Home several times each week. Such devoted friendship is certainly a most fortunate and happy arrangement for this 87-year-old member of the 1900 family.
In a letter received from Arthur Roberts, soon after the funeral service held for the late President Kennedy, there were carefully worded statements about the political after-effects of the tragedy which overwhelmed this nation. These show Arthur's optimism and sound faith in the future of our democracy. He says: "Much as I join in the general sorrow, I realize that our country is strong and will go on to new power and virtue under a capable follower." And a little farther on in the letter: "Well, let's be thankful that we can be proud of our leaders. And let's be sure we deserve good men to lead us." This last, it seems to me, is vitally important for the people of this' country to remember. How true it is that oft-times in a democracy we get better leadership than we actually deserve!
Secretary and Treasurer Box 714, Hanover, N. H.
