1924

Classes started today (April 1, as I write). No fooling. And for those who remember mud-time, there are no duck boards ... no one wears the time-honored galoshes, buckles worn off . . . and the Alumni Fund is off to a fast start, for which I'll only say "Get with it." (I'll reserve other thoughts for the Class Letter, space permitting; and hopefully some more pictures—including one of Dick Morin and Jim Rutherford, out in Japan as paths crossed there.)

Outstanding news this month, by any standards is the announcement of the retirement come June of one of our Trustee-classmates: Frank Harrington. We were happy to be included in a party for Frank and Louise before the Class Officers weekend. We all wish them joy in the retirement years, with more time to enjoy their summer home on the Maine coast. Very few have done as much, no one more, for both College and Class than Frank; we hope to see more of them both here.

The next Class Letter, the last for the academic year, may have one or even two surprises for you. Don't miss it. Meanwhile, many thanks to those who have been replying to the birthday cards more than in the past. One tradition, speaking of cards, has been established over the years: BillMcNiff, fellow professor, now retired from Miami University (Ohio), has been sending me whimsical St. Patrick's Day cards for several years, after my reminder of the passing years to him. In his retirement, he and Faith are studying Mormonism and recently drove out to Utah; he wrote his doctorate thesis on that fascinating subject (come up here, Bill, and see the excellent museum-memorial for founding-father Joseph Smith—nearby in Vermont), and plans to develop his ideas in book form now. As I write, they're preparing a trip to India ... in sharp contrast to the open spaces and big sky of Wyoming-Utah.

Among many other similar news items, we read Ted Lamb's remarks to the Nevada National Bank, where he is chairman of the executive committee; also at Hofstra University, at a meeting sponsored by the Fund for New Priorities in America ... the economic and social consequences of conversion from a wartime to a peacetime economy, including the statement "I disagree with the conclusion that our economy will be more stable or that employment will pick up substantially with the mere ending of the war in Southeast Asia ... there are so many concrete chores waiting to be done."

Travelers far and near: Ted andHarriet Nilsen from Antigua "for a few weeks"; Howard and Charlotte Clark off to visit their grandchildren in Europe on lovely Lake Garda, from also-lovely Carmel, Calif, (where they live) and Monterey (where he has his "polite little practice"— smog-free); Ash Castle sailing and winning the mid-winter races in his class back in February when none of us over here were even plowed out—much less "plowing the seas."

Before I go up-street to the campus ... still with piles of dirty snow, remnants of the Carnival statue (a full-rigged ship), but no duckboards or even muddy paths ... I'll share the philosophizing of two retirees. Anonymous quotes: Says one good friend who feels great, keeps as busy as ever, and for whom the days fly by, "I see Life as something that happens to you while you are making other plans": "You are as young as your Faith, as old as your Fear, as young as your Hope, as old as your Despair." And the other sends me an ancient toast: "May you reach Heaven, not too soon, but 15 minutes before the devil knows you're dead."

Secretary, 2 Brewster Rd. Hanover, N. H. 03755

Class Agent, Box 58, Warwick, N. Y. 10990