1919

Spider and Bea Martin have gone off to Arizona to look for some balmy weather, but they will be back again before you read this. I'm in charge again here, but without much news.

I talked with Jim and Mary Davis recently and found them very chipper survivors of this severe winter in Massachusetts after several warm winters in Florida. In fact, I think I detected that they are sort of happy to be back in New England, near family again, despite the cold.

Nock Wallis reports that he has had a recent bout with the surgeons, but he is all well .again and as busy as usual.

Spider and I concocted a plan a while ago to try to help Nock increase our class participation department. We wrote letters to several who had not been heard from recently, and I'm glad to report that we have had several replies

enclosing checks, no less. Dartmouth ranks number one nationally in participation in alumni giving, with a rating of 65 per cent, and this year '19 hopes to reach 100 percent. By the time you read this, the 1982 campaign will be under way, so if you have missed for a year or two (or even more), come on in and participate. It will be good to see your name on the list.

Mary recently dug out of a chest in which she keeps her treasured possessions, a copy of Life magazine dated December 1978 which contains an article by Malcolm Cowley entitled "The View From 80." Malcolm is a contemporary of ours, Harvard '19. The subtitle of the article is, "A distinguished man of letters one of the 4.8 million octogenarians in the nation - finds that old age can be faced with wit and a portion of joy." How true! The article is full of good humor and wisdom, and I recommend that you read it if you can find it in your local library. It will make you feel good.

Among other things, he quotes the Catholic poet Paul Claudel: "Eighty years old! No eyes left, no teeth, no legs, no wind! And when all is said and done, how astonishingly well one does without them."

And don't forget to make early reservations for our fall reunion, Septemer 17-18.

NICHOL M. SANDOE '19

402 Lincoln House, 85 Grove Wellesley, Mass. 02181