1919

My friends in Hanover are very kind to older alumni. My notes in the March issue are far longer than the space normally allotted to me. I'll try to cut back for a while and give you what should be a welcome vacation. These notes feature a letter from "Henry" Clay, Framingham, Mass., and is quoted here: "We, too, have been enjoying that glorious winter climate, complete, with snow. So far our low point has been -19°; merely sharp by Hanover standards. Because the snow has been dry, removal has been no problem. I am not under pressure to go anywhere, so can take my time with the shovelling.

"At the moment I am engaged in preparation for a once-in-a-while activity: appearance in court as expert witness. This is something most doctors prefer to avoid, but I have found court experience interesting, sometimes even amusing. On one occasion my testimony was to be used for qualifying a medical book for admission for use in cross-examination. Books that doctors recognize as authoritative can be introduced and used in that way in civil cases in Massachusetts. preparation consisted of getting acquainted with the book I was told would be used, and ascertaining that about 600 copies had been distributed. The editor and the authors of the several chapters were M.G.H. senior staff members, whom I knew, all experts in their fields. No problems. The questions and answers went smoothly at first, but when counsel started questioning me about a second book, he was in trouble. At the end of his questions about a third book, which I had also not read, the judge suggested, 'ask him if he has read Fanny Hill.'

"Archives and students' tours, formerly the principal reasons for return visits to the Hospital have been passed to others. The tours were a pet project for nearly 15 years, starting with a small special science class from a suburban high school. Each tour started with a half hour of background briefing; Hospital history, activities (care of patients, education, research), sociology, and economics, - a little of each. It ended in the Hospital bakery with a fresh homemade cookie for every student. In between we visited a dozen departments and laboratories, with explanations of what they did, and how. The theme was, 'Sciences at work for people.' To teachers and students it was an interesting field trip, staged well over 200 times for a total of about 3,500 students from more than 50 schools and colleges.

"To me this was a recruitment pitch. I have no way of knowing how many subsequently took up health-care careers. I heard of only a few. One student, later a teacher and head of her science department, now sends a class regularly. But it was a good try, and my contribution to education. I have always been interested in this. Father was a superintendent of schools. One of his school-houses actually was little, and red. His pupils ended the ninth grade able to read, write, and do ordinary arithmetic. I often wonder . . . !

"So how have I been using the rest of that leisure I now enjoy? Well, travel, to a modest extent a couple of times a year. Like to the interior of Maine for fishing (days) and Bourbon and music (evenings), to Vermont for the Tunbridge Fair, to New Hampshire for reunions and to see those old familiar mountains, to Western Maryland for the Autumn Glory Festival and a visit to my son and his family, to New York City for an unforgettable 75th birthday luncheon party with my classmates. Not to Florida; I lived there for a while. You can have it.

"At home I take care of the grass, leaves, snow, swimming-pool, bicycle, car, and travel trailer. This last doubles as spare bedroom when grandchildren visit during the. summer. I also help with the garden. I say 'help,' because it is Phyllis who has the green thumb. We are just today finishing the last of our carrots. We still have some spaghetti sauce, stewed tomato, and string beans in the freezer. We have lovely plants, too, on tables, a window sill, the mantel, and in hanging pots. Her other hobby is recipes; old New England type, not Julia Child. This keeps me in peril of a malady known as Shrinking Belt. Maybe you have heard of it. At the moment I am holding it off fairly successfully, 'fairly' means within the first hole.

"While both of us enjoy reading, and to some extent T.V., music makes a substantial contribution to my pleasure. It includes singing in choir, hand bell practise and concerts with a group of eight ringers, mandolin (see 'B & M', above), and baritone ukulele. Since that time at Sunapee Traumerei, the Largo movement from New World Symphony, Mon cour S'ouvres ATa Voix, and a number of English, Irish, and melodies have been added to the repertoire.

"And once in a while I write a letter, - which brings us back to you again. How are you, anyway, and what are you doing? Your letter didn't say. How about visiting Phyl and me when you are up this way? We can put you up without resorting to the trailer. Cordial invitation. We could go to see Nocky, who lives a couple of miles from here, and Spider, too.

"Best regards, and again my admiration for your production of "Smoke Signal" all these years."

Secretary, Box 393 Salisbury, Conn. 06068

Class Agent, 405 Edmands Road Framingham Center, Mass. 01701