1931

Anne and George Conklin sent a copy of the published memoirs of George's mother, written by her in the last decade of her life—September 1872 to December 1955. Since they covered only her first 20 years George added fore and after chapters to what was an astonishing tale. She had traveled extensively in North America and the Caribbean, and before transatlantic commercial air flights, had made 36(!) trips to Europe, where Bill was born in Lugano and George in Rome. She had made acquaintances and friendships with numerous high dignitaries on both sides of the Atlantic.

Came the always welcome annual report from Connie and Chas O'Neill, this time centered on the usefulness of the woodchuck to humanity. Alf Jones, also a recipient of that report, remarked that Chas has mellowed. Agreeing with that assessment I replied to Chas, telling him of Pennsylvanians' reverence for Groundhog Day when we lighten up for a change in mid-winter's gloom and doom. I told him that on Groundhog Day 61 years ago Vance Dickerman, Pete Evans, Herm Schneebeli '30, Hal Smith '33, I, and assorted Princetons, Wisconsins, Harvards, and Ohio Us threw a party in a house we had rented in Philadelphia, resulting in a visit by the constabulary and a request that we relocate.

Sarah Lilja '82 notified me of the death of her grandmother, Ruth Slaughter, on November 28, and also that a great-grand-son, Frederic Lilja, had inherited Fred's cane and freshman beanie.

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