1931

With seven weeks of miserable weather behind us, Trudy and I are in the midst of packing to leave for St. Croix for two months. Probably spring will show up here the day after we leave. Nonetheless, we will be out of town until April 1, but not incommunicado like last year. All mail will be duly received so don't forget to write.

Last evening we were enjoying pre-dinner drinks at friends of ours here on the island who have retired here from Barrington, R.I. I took a shot in the dark and asked Bart and Marjorie Curit is they knew George Hawkins in Barrington. "George Hawkins!" they said, "He lived across the street from us! The handpainted glass in your hand which you have been admiring was painted by Marney Hawkins!" So the shot in the dark paid off. Marney does exquisite work on glass, in oils. These paintings were of the Curit's old house in Barrington. They further told me that George is taking life easy in retirement because of some heart problems, but he plays a mean game of horseshoes. I was glad to get some news about George, who used to dun me for the Alumni Fund years ago.

I have to say it one more time - Bill Wendell is doing a marvelous job with the Newsletter. We are indeed fortunate.

Doug Woodring had his January 10 committee meeting on the great 45th Reunion, but without my presence. Rest assured that we're going to have a great affair next June 14-16. Doug is a very able administrator.

Florida is teeming with '31 activity. Witness this letter from Alice Loveland: "We sepnt Thanksgiving with Bernie and Betty Boyle after having been head over heels getting settled in this place (Marco Island), getting the outside finished, landscaping, having the pool finished and screened in. Now we can really live outdoors." Later at Christmas time Alice writes again: "We had a ball with the Boyles and with the Jim Purdy's. Bernie has been very generous in giving us all kinds of plants and trees to halp us landscape. Got a card from Lee and Bill Schuldenfrei telling us they would be in the Naples area in December, so we invited them and the Naples thirty-oners for dinner. Made all kinds of plans to join the East Coasters February 11. P.S. (To Shep) if you pass this news on to Rog tell him David wrote it so he won't be mad!" Shep Wolff queried me: "What's this all about?" Fact is that David, in my 11 years as secretary, has never written a line. It has been Alice that did all the work. I've come to the conclusion that Dave Loveland is illiterate. If I ever get a handwritten note from him, you all will be the first to know!

A note from Roly Peterson: "Planning to make the 45th. Am still Red-Crossing; last week little old Walpole (Mass.) bled out 567 pints of the precious fluid. John and Marion Boermeester had a little sail with us this summer up at Rockport. When Janet retires in another year we are planning to settle up there."

Via Beany Thorn, the following comes from John Feltner: "Barbara and I returned last winter to the Alps. My cross-country training here and there allowed me to be the only American representative in the Engadine Ski Marathon - 20-odd nations, 27 miles, 6,000 entrants. I completed the course, although far behind those speedy Finns and others, but what an event! Son Roland is in Dartmouth, will spend the winter term in France. Together we plan to enter the big event in March. How the years fly by! Five of our eight are married and we are proud grandparents. Our biggest event of the year is the completion of our Alpine chalet (in western New York), about one hour from here, at 220 feet. Deer play outside."

Latest word on Billy Alton is that he presented an open lecture in the DCS lounge in College Hall, presented by the Dartmouth Christian Science Organization. His topic was "How to Love and Be Loved," explaining the practicality of the Golden Rule in every day experience.

See you later.

Secretary, R.F.D. Box 15 Chebeague Island, Me. 04017

Treasurer, Woods End Rd., Etna, N.H. 03750