1912

It's a bit odd how it takes Christmas to bring to light the mishaps of some '12ers. It seems that Bertha (Quech) French fell on her front lawn in October and sustained a bad ankle fracture necessitating 11 days in the hospital. Almost three months later Quech is still doing all the household chores, including cooking while Bertha gets around with the help of a walker. About the first of December ElizabethPark was hospitalized for removal of another gallstone which followed a previous operation. This did not limit the function of her pen-hand for, no sooner out of the hospital than she sent out 84 Christmas cards to 1912 widows! She has accepted Sam Hobbs' invitation to be chairman for Memorial Gifts to the 1912 Alumni Fund. What a loyal worker!

We are fast becoming a Class of limited action. Henry Stevens has had to restrict his driving to short distances by daylight. Edith andDutch Waterbury had to give up their South and Central America trip in March because of Dutch's accident in February. Ev Gammons is still in a nursing home but gets out for a ride now and then. Herb Lombard says he is in better shape than he might be. He recently passed his 85th birthday with knees "which don't function at all well" and arthritis limiting his handwriting. He proudly announces the fact that his daughter is about to publish a book in the health field. John Brewster has found it more comfortable to stay put, so didn't go to his summer abode in Dallas, Pa., as usual. The Tobeys, Edith and Ray, spent 1974 staying home, the only time they left the State of Maine being to attend a grandson's graduation from Worcester Academy. Ray is becoming historically minded now that the Town of Fairfield has been celebrating its Bicentennial.

Your secretary received many lovely Christmas cards, not the least coming from some of our class widows: Alma White from North Carolina; Leona Richmond from Oskaloosa, Iowa; a sweet note from Dorothy Shapleigh who has found the difference between being alone and being lonely; another one from Jo Adams, and a happy card from Grace Burnham. The bonus - a group picture of Fletcher andMarguerite Clark's eight out of ten grand-and great-grandchildren. How many have you?

Regretfully we report the death of JohnMcCarthy at Silver Spring, Maryland, on September 16, 1974. Our sympathy goes out to his two sons and their families.

Secretary, 15 Gloucester Lane West Hartford, Conn. 06107

Treasurer, 4 Bank Building Middleboro, Mass. 90346