1957

That other Barnes—Jim Barnes—has finally surfaced! His letter of January 27 reads as follows:

"After reading the January issue of the Alumni Magazine, I am inspired to bring the third Barnes of our class out of several years of seclusion. I suppose the thing that prompted my letter are two reports in the Class Notes." In the '56 column, the letter from Ed Scovner struck a note by the similarities and yet dissimilarities of his actions to mine; and the activities of PeteBarnes paralleling my former life.

"After returning from the Navy in 1960, I went back to my home town in Oklahoma and started doing exactly what is expected of young executives on the rise. The hours spent on my business, civic activities, church functions, politics and charitable organizations were many and long. The hours spent with my family and for relaxation were few and superficial. Ten years of this was enough, there had to be a better life.

"There was, and I found it! I sold my business, left everything and moved to Idaho. I bought a small acreage in the country to keep my promise to myself to have some horses and lessen the temptation of getting back in the same rut. I started my own insurance agency in Boise, but have kept my perspective. Almost without exception, I have a four-day work week, 9 to 5. I'm not making the money I did, but I'm living better. I've experimented at growing a beard. I seldom wear a coat or tie. I don't care that people are talking about me, or what they say. I'm home every night for dinner, and I put my kids to bed. Although my kids are young, we ski as a family; we camp as a family; and we sightsee as a family. I may be wrong, but I have confidence that my kids will get through the difficult teenage years with a minimum of problems, and they will know what really counts in life.

"Since coming to Idaho I have become aware of our land, and what is happening to it across the country. Here my heart throbs with excitement watching herds of 30 to 50 deer struggle against the heavy snows of winter just to find enough food to survive; flight after flight of ducks and geese (there were over one million in southwestern Idaho a few weeks ago) leaving the sanctity of the refuges in search of their evening meal; a pair of bald eagles hunting a river together, or a prairie falcon diving on its prey. This doesn't happen in many places across this country anymore. (Keep your eyes open for a television rerun of "The Eagle and The Hawk" which is narrated by Joanne Woodward. It was filmed close-by—in fact, the veterinarian in the show is my next door neighbor). Maybe the "thing" in my future will be ecology and preservation of the environment. Who knows?

"Many of our classmates will feel I am copping out on myself and society. Maybe —but I am truly happy, and my family is happy and content. Can other classmates say that? Best regards, Jim."

Secretary, 125 Witch Lane Rowayton, Conn. 06853

Treasurer, 4523 Drexel Ave., Minneapolis, Minn. 55424