1918

1918 will want wholeheartedly to support Charles Hood '51, son of Harvey and Barbara in his new job, Alumni Fund Head. Congratulations to all the Hoods individually and collectively on this great honor and responsibility.

Time's a-wastin'. Got to get going now that Tom Bryant has rescued me with hard news, some of it conveyed from the "Ancient Mariners." Here goes:

Frank Fiedler: "Just returned from California and Nevada. Spent Thanksgiving on the ranch where my daughter and her husband live, south of Carson City. Two grandsons and a five-year- old granddaughter. Other daughter lives with husband and one daughter in Illinois and one son working for a ski resort in Vail, Colo. They lost their second son in an auto accident this fall." That last sentence really gets me. I know how much those grandsons mean. Our sympathy goes out to you, Frank.

Just received a card from Walt Wiley. Crosby Hall tried to move them to Warrensburg, N.Y.; but they would have none of it. He says, "Drove east in September and October but are back here at the old stand. Don't know how our daughter's address got stuck to us. ... I may have sent in a check while we visited her a couple of weeks. Edith is getting back tomorrow after a little car crack up after we got back; but our pocketbook is flat." Best wishes, Edith. "Gene and Betty Clark dropped in last month."

Now for the news from Tom Bryant: "Tomorrow I will play Santa Claus to five grandchildren, for my daughter has elected to have the gift opening Christmas Eve as well as dinner. ..."

Ed Felt refers to Ed Booth's death; then goes on, "As Stod says there's mighty few of us left and we'd better make the most of it. ... Right now Clara and I are planning a short jaunt into Mexico to the neighborhood of Tampico on the Gulf. Clara thinks Uvalde is too cold." I would think the ghost of Texas Jack would keep that town het up. "It really isn't. It's a beautiful sunny day, 70 degrees F. but it was 38 or so last night and we have frequent 'northers' when it will be 40 or so all day and the houses are not built to be kept warm. Being a resident janitor and repair man can get pretty exasperating; but I admit that some physical activity (involving close attention) seems as much of a necessity to ward off senility as mental activity. I give Bob Fish the highest marks for all he does and fighting off the most serious arthritis for forty years at the same time. He really is a smartie and undefeatable." We say amen to that. Take a bow, Bob. "Bob says our greatest pleasure these times is to see our children doing well. Ours are scattered from Buffalo to San Diego and that's one of the reasons for our travel. ... The Stoddards had been planning a trip to Australia and New Zealand; but the costs are prohibitive and they are not going. They are going to spend March and part of April in Arizona; and we are planning to join them and the other 'Ancient Mariners' for a couple of weeks." Arizona will never be the same again. Suggest you all stay out of Linda Wright's Nevada, where they shoot first and ask questions later.

The Moreys are migrating to Florida January 4 to be gone until April.

Fergy Ferguson mentions possible arrangements with 1919 (Spider Martin) for Brae Burn Club and Harvard Stadium next fall. This is uncertain at present.

I am grateful to Stump Barr for keeping me up to date on things in Hanover which can be important for the column or a memorial write up.

Just yesterday a letter came from Mrs. G.P. St. Clair with the news of Guilford's death the first part of December. I am grateful for the very good obituary which accompanied it. Our numbers are being depleted entirely too rapidly.

Secy.. 1820 Lewis Lane Joliet, Ill. 60432

Treasurer, Old Coach Road Norwich, Vt. 05055