Greetings to 1903!

Perhaps some of my classmates remember my sister Virginia class of 1901. At present I am sitting on the porch of her summer home in Arlington, Vermont, with an exquisite view of the Green Hills, glancing up from time to time at great locust trees years and years old. It is a quiet Sunday morning, few sounds except chickens, birds, and the usual country sounds. Peace and rest just what I need after a sudden upset caused perhaps by too much hustle and bustle.

Unfortunately for me I have no children to recount their many talents and ambitions, just myself to give an account of, so bear with me if 'I' figures conspicuously.

For the past few years, I have given a great deal of my time to Women's Clubs, was President of the one in my own town, Forest Hills, Long Island, a club approximately 400 women. Since that office I have been interested in the New York City Federation of Women's' Clubs and at present am holding the office of First Vice Pres. of that organization. It is an interesting and inspiring work and through it I make many delightful contacts. If, by any chance, any of you listen to the club talks twice a month on WNYC, this fall you may hear the voice of your old classmate as I am scheduled to give a short talk on Club.

Last September my husband had to make a business trip Manila so he extended the trip to around the world and I went with him. We were gone four months and spent all the time in the Orient.

Perhaps the broadening experiences of such a trip will help to build for me the foundations of an old age rich and beautiful. Nina's grandmother or rather her mother should be an inspiration to us all and I feel if while we are young enough, and really although fifty five years old I still feel that youth is *** we have the intelligence and character to build for ourselves a good firm foundation of unselfish interest in our fellow man, an understanding of the struggles and aspirations of others as well as our own, we may radiate some kind of joy to others that will be of enough value, to have our own being born to have been worth while. Excuse the digression from the actual events of the march of time but after visiting the Orient, thinking on the problems they confront, their religions, their misery, their every day life, it cannot help but make one stop and ponder over things more important than daily or even yearly events in our own lives of privilege.

This recent trip made the memory of dear Ruth Haslup more alive with me, for in 1928 I had a most delightful and happy summer with her on a Norway, Sweden, Med. Cruise. I often thought about her during this past winter and wished she might might have been enjoying it, for I know no one who wanted to see the world more than Ruth.

The sky is blue, the sun is shining, the bees are buzzing, the birds singing and all is well with the rural spot I am in at present and I wish for one and all sweet entertainment and all the good things each may be striving for in this hurly-burly world of ours!

Affectionately yours,
Lyda Norris Bailey