1941

"Am getting over further surgery and should be as good as new by May/' writes Steve Winship from North-of-Boston country. "Being bedridden has given opportunities to order everyone around and time to read Proust.

"Last fall while walking along Front Street in Hamilton, Bermuda, with" Ed and BettyMcMillan, we ran into Art and Libbie Hills, there for the big fall tennis tournament.

"We have also been with Ez and EllieCrowley, Bob and Dode Rainie, and Frankand Shirley Simpson. The latter are turning over Dexter's Inn to their daughter and her husband, who have had innkeeping and restaurant experience. Have heard recently from George and Millie Thompson and John andPat Twist. All are fine."

A couple of reports from out West: Jim Eckels, who operates out of Salt Lake City, represented Dartmouth at the inauguration of a new president at the University of Utah last November. And Les Davis says Mort McGinley came down from Colorado Springs to visit for a few days in Cimarron, N.M., with the Da vises. "He's looking great and into all kinds of activities besides the legal profession. Theatrics, cattle, etc."

Bill and Cary Clark were in North Carolina (Pinehurst, I presume) in December, returned to Vermont for the holidays, and were due back in N.C. at the end of January. Bill says he played golf and saw the HughKenworthys.

Then a note from Bill Hammond in Inverness, Fla.: "Evelyn and I went to Longboat Key last week to visit Phil and Shirley Hall for two days. We've built a small log cabin in Maine (with modern outhouse and straw roof) and plan to move in come May. Summer only, though. Florida is now our permanent home."

A copy of the Asian Studies Program news letter, a Dartmouth departmental periodical, has come to hand, with an item indicating that Professor Charles McLane is starting to wind down toward at least semiretirement. Charlie's newsletter note said: "In anticipation of reducing teaching to two-thirds next year, my research interests have taken a local turn (colonial and post-revolutionary settlements on Maine coastal islands). It is eastern Maine, but this is about as 'oriental' as my research goes. Government 43, 'Far Eastern Politics,' will be taught after this year by my replacement."

It was predicted in this space a few months ago that Wes Harper would retire from the Revere Corporation in January, and sure enough, he did. To confirm and celebrate the event, Bill Broer and I convened a meeting of the Central Connecticut Luncheon and Bagpipe Society and invited Wes. He's thriving and says his chief post-retirement activity so far has been cleaning his desk; from his description, it should keep him busy for the rest of the decade.

Now that the subject has come up, I realize that just about every missive remaining in the pile here has something to do with retirement, past or planned.

From Cohasset, Mass., for example, a note from Dave Chittim: "Have been retired from New England Telephone for the past two years. Active as Dartmouth district enrollment director and in my town as library trustee and CATV committee member. Tried my hand as consultant and college instructor. Enjoying the time for my own pace in life no commuting is great, too."

Jim Morgan reports that he and Mary have been "busy moving to the hills of West Virginia, so missed our annual trip to the Hanover Plain. Decided to retire after 41-plus years with DuPont to enjoy the better things in life." The note came from Cranbury, N.J., so whether they've made the move yet, and where in West Virginia they're settling, I can't tell you.

Then there's Dick Jachens in Virginia Beach. "Keep active in retirement but at a leisurely pace. Tennis, swimming, visiting grandchildren, Elderhostel summer sessions and installing vinyl siding on our house single-handed!"

There's, more, but I'll have to break here and get these dispatches in the mail forth with, since Barbara and I are about to enjoy some of that good retirement stuff ourelves. We're off in the morning for a few weeks of heavy golf and loafing at Jekyll Island, Ga.

Box 331 Essex, CT 06426