1938

The result will be bad for the readers of our class notes, but there's a happy reason why they're not being written by Brother Briggs. As a logical and undoubtedly delightful follow-up to his study in an undergraduate class in Italian here in Hanover last year, Jim is in Florence to see what he can do with what he's acquired, and to study further. Jim plans to stay for about three months. He should have a fine travel report for us in the spring.

There was a Briggs family event that must have been a topflight send-off for Jim. The January 8 issue of the Portland Press Herald has a page 1 article and accompanying picture about Jim's daughter Jessie being nominated to be a judge in Maine's 13th District Court. Jessie is a trial lawyer and the newspaper headline made it clear that she calls herself a limited libber. "I've never felt discriminated against and it's hard to understand some complaints," she was quoted as saying, as she also said she didn't like the designation of Ms. Her nomination was made by James B. Longley, Maine's Independent Governor.

And further news of 1938 in the world of law is word from Rochester that former class president, Paul Urion, has been confirmed as a member of the New Hampshire Judicial Council.

In mid-winter, it's especially easy to see across the green and, from within Baker, Professor Emeritus Stearns Morse can be seen approaching the Library where he's a frequent visitor. It seems appropriate to mention him because his picture appeared on page 7 of the January Magazine amidst a grouping of some of the lords of Main St.

Though it's been so long since 1938, several of our professors were seen occasionally in Hanover up to five years ago. It was a surprise and a delight to come across them, usually on Main Street. But, of course, they began disappearing. One of them was Professor Unger (zoology) and his obituary appeared quite recently.

Professor Morse might be referred to as a "last leaf." But he seems like more of a rock. An intellectual, talented rock, but still a rock. In freshman English he stuck very close to the subject. But he did digress occasionally. And when he did, he often talked about cigarettes. Or, more accurately, against the cost of them. He beefed about that and smoked the very aromatic Wings, which cost less than Chesterfield in grocery stores. He may have talked about quitting, too, but that may be speculative.

He's close to Baker's main entrance now, white-haired and with an air of affability and pleasant determination. A long, smoking cigarette is in his mouth.

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