1912

This is being written soon after Christmas to meet the deadline for the February issue and before us is a pile of cards from Classmates across the country - Mark Allen in Washington, Roy Frothingham and Sam Hobbs in California, to many nearer home. Several included messages. For example, Marian and Harold Belcher brought us up- to-date with the unusual happenings in the Belcher clan. Unfortunately Marian had to spend a month in the hospital again but good progress is reported with help from a Red Cross nurse and a physiotherapist. BossGeller made the Cornell game in Hanover via plane to Lebanon. He looked for the two Welds but he's a better man than the latter, scared off by the weather man. Boss reported seeing Eddie Luitwieler and BillShapleigh at the game. Syd Clark's card enclosed a beautiful view of the nursing home where Mardi is convalescing, enclosed on three sides by towering trees with water beyond in two directions. The Sun City, Ariz., card lived up to its usual beauty with a view of the church Edith and DutchWaterbury attend each Sunday, fascinating with its unusual architecture. Dutch writes: "We are well although my eyes, ears and teeth aren't what they were (whose are?). Still don't take off any wooden legs or arms at night."

Yes, Bertha and Quech, we looked for you on the Island this summer but in vain. Try to make it in 1970. Harry Barnett sent along with his card a detailed account of their travels the past year; a four-day trip to Northern Michigan; a 5700-mile drive to Abilene, Kansas, New Mexico, Salt Lake City, and Yellowstone Park; and a trip to New England to visit Harry's old home in Newbury, Vt. The latest was a planned cruise to the Caribbean in January. One interruption - Harry joined the hospital procession for an operation last April with 100% results.

Dr. Herbert Lombard added to his Christmas card a long letter filled with regrets that he had let our reunions slip by without his joining in. Now retired, Herb is puppy sitting for his daughter and on the side studying his family tree. Says he hasn't found a horse thief or a bank president as yet. All of this research enabled his niece to make the Daughters of the American Revolution. For all the other lovely cards, our thanks.

Cap Allen called the other day and we learned he spent Thanksgiving with eight grandchildren in Millinocket, Me., Christmas with his sister in Philadelphia, and this month is off to Germany to visit his daughter. Bill Shapleigh is already making plans for our 58th reunion, June 15-18. Mark it down on your date book. At 80 Nelson Doe is still at it working on a project for the Washington, D.C., airport. He celebrated his birthday in November with a family dinner one evening and a big luncheon the following day at the Aviation Club where about 40 gathered from different airlines and related groups.

Mina Chase sent us a very appreciative note for the Memorial Book placed in Baker Library to honor Harrie. Guy Swenson has passed the 81st milestone and with his usual pluck gets about with the aid of two canes and his son David. He met up with Elizabeth Park last summer at Rye Beach, N.H. From Ev Gammons we learn he is slowly regaining his equilibrium which he lost last summer so now he can navigate "without bumping into everything." We surmise much credit for his improvement goes to his new wife.

An autographed copy of "The Moon Also Rises," Elliott White's latest production of poems, arrived on our doorstep not long ago. Here's a sample, so apt as we look out on a December snowstorm:

No chance for boredom when the weather scene, Dramatic, splendid, is daily shifted.

Bright stage or dark, the play goes on — Terror of storm or genial calm, Suspense each hour in cloud or sun.

We are developing some real poets, not so?

From our Class Widows' Chairman we learn of Jo Adams' misfortune when her home was burglarized and she lost many antiques, rugs, linens, etc. Our sympathy to Jo with this new blow for we know from personal experience how deep it cuts. OliveKent sent along a newspaper clipping of the Dartmouth Bicentennial celebration at Columbia, Conn., last May at which LeeWhite represented 1912. In spite of her arthritis Emma Pettingell gets about with the help of her two daughters, Helen and Jane. She glories in her six grandchildren, four girls and two boys, ranging from four to fifteen years. Sam Hobbs didn't tell us about his accident last summer but now Marion lets us in on it. They were over at the Isle of Shoals (N.H.) when Sam missed his footing and fell backwards, down on to a stone ledge below. No bones broken, just scrapes and bruises plus a tendonitis in one shoulder. Lucky man, we'll say! Snowstorms in Maine and Connecticut delayed Edith and Ray Tobey's Christmas letter to arrive at the end of the year. We are grateful just the same, especially for the picture of the old barns on Pine Cone Farm destroyed by Are 18 years ago. The Tobeys were present at the funeral of Edmund Freeman '13, one of Ray's old friends at the Good Will Schools for whom Edith and Ray stood up at the time of Edmund's wedding.

Secretary, 15 Gloucester Lane West Hartford, Conn. 06107

Treasurer,4 Bank Building, Middleboro, Mass. 20346