1919

Bob Stecher sends his thanks for his birthday card from the Class. He says the illustration depicts a condition which contributed largely to his income through the years and seems very appropriate. And Bill McMahon writes Spider Martin commenting on the famous picture of Whistler's Mother. "I'm sure from what I can guess that Mrs. Whistler has always felt wonderment not knowing where young Whistler was all those evenings, come sundown. Hope you don't let any of your visiting firemen there in Arizona sell you any of their bottled tonic for errant golfers—don't forget, when you shoot over 100, you get more for your greens fee, besides being tired."

We are sad to report the death of PaulHalloran in mid-February. Paul was among the most dynamic of all nineteeners, interested in and involved in a great range of significant activities. His obituary will appear in the "In Memoriam" columns as soon as it can be handled.

As tersely as ever, Martin writes from The Casa Blanca Inn in Arizona 1. That he has heard from McCrea. This we knew. 2. That he is taking golf lessons with no improvement. The last part of that is obviously a handicapping fiction. 3. That Rock Hayes is burning up the golf course. This seems unlikely. Henry Clay, much of whose strenuously active retirement program we have already noted, writes that he is greatly enjoying bell-ringing. These are hand bells such as we have heard since a small child on Beacon Hill each Christmas Eve. His group consists of eight people and a director. They rehearse every week and occasionally put on a concert for some social club. He has also been developing his ukelele technique. "It is a baritone instrument that makes real music. Classical and operatic as well as folk music." Sometimes he sings. We have owned a baritone, or bull, ukelele for years which never issued forth anything more complicated than Show Me the Way to go Home." We always sing or you'd never know. From Cotty Larmon comes word that he was in the hospital recently. It had something to «o with his heart but does not seem to have done any great damage. A silver lining, maybe: he has been forbidden smoking and has been made to lose 17 pounds. It's barely possible that might be a great thing if it doesn't improve his golf too much.

And speaking of golf, for a year and a naif we have been playing with failing eyes, one eye, no eyes or mending eyes. It has been as fine an alibi as a man could ask fora great salve to the shattered ego. Now with 20/20 restored, what happens? re worse than we ever were. In fact the damn fool can't even putt. Would anyone care to trade a pool-sized lounge chair for a set of Wilson clubs? The putter will not be mcluded. We wouldn't do that to our worst enemy. Besides, we plan a big party at which we shall destroy it with a meat axe and a vengeance. Whoa, hold everything! Since we wrote the above, those fine old clubs have done a round in the low 90's. And only 31 putts. What a putter!

Secretary, Box 122, Chandler Rd. Wilder, Vt. 05088

Class Agent, 63 Perry Hill Rd., Shelton, Conn. 06484