Present at our 60th Reunion: Florence Carmine Bankard, Amelia Benson Bielaski, Emilie Doetsch, Alice Dunning Flick, Eda Briggs Frost, Clara Robinson Hand, Charlotte Abbott Jones, Edith Powell Pringle, Anna Slease, Mary Abercrombie Verner.
What follows is not news for most of our classmates; some of you may be hearing it for the first time. Charlotte Jones had a bad accident the first night of our reunion, when she tripped and fell in her room at Alumnae House. The next morning she was taken to Union Memorial Hospital where x-rays revealed a broken femur. This is not as bad as a break in the joint, but it will keep Charlotte in the hospital for about five weeks. She was doing well after the operation and faces her enforced rest cheerfully. It is a happy circumstance that her brother, John Wynne Jones, lives in Baltimore. We grieved over her unhappy experience following another confining sickness (phlebitis) not long ago, and we lamented our own loss of her company at reunion events.
She would have loved our Saturday lunch with Anna Slease and her niece, Virginia Slease Kirchhof '32. A rare June day lived its hours there in Virginia's lovely home, which now is Anna's too, as you know. We were quite interested in the new setting for the alumnae dinner, which was the open court of the College Center. Tables were set on the wide promeade around the central, sunken garden, where the fountain sparkled. Voices of the speakers were carried quite clearly across the open court; a good dinner was served promptly and efficiently. No complaints. Our class gift, made in memory of Thyra Crawford Burton, amounted to $2, 120.
At our class meeting, lasting well after midnight, we read letters from absentees, examined old photographs and other mementoes. We decided to give them all to the Records Committee with directions to keep what they deemed worthwhile. We were interested in the trowel, that Dr. Shefloe later had nickle plated, with which our ivy was planted so long ago, at the entrance of old Goucher Hall. Also ina photograph of a scene from "As You Like It," our Sophomore play and the first Shakesperean performance given at the College. Other mementoes were pictures, the slides which illustrated our prophecy and our class book. Emilie read the minutes of the last meeting which seemed to shorten the time between unaccountably.
Milly Benson Bielaski has been much too busy to become acquainted with old age and somehow or other I think she will dodge him altogether. Florence Carmine Bankard, too, wears her 60 out-of-college years as lightly and indifferently as if they were only 10. Emilie Doetsch doesn't like to walk much, but if you don't talk too much yourself, she will talk well and wisely. Alice Dunning Flick evidently expected to pick up a pair of seven (or seventy) league boots at College to see her to New York, Punxsutawney, Winchester, Detroit, Morristown, and Des Moines, while sombody said "Jack Robinson." But she was not so rushed that she ommitted any of the pleasant things on our program. Many times I ponder on the amazing perspicuity we possessed when, as girls, we chose her to be our life-long president, warm-hearted, efficient, patient and modest. Clara Robinson Hand has recovered surprisingly from a severe, long illness and a light stroke. She has always been generous of time and money to the College; what a joy to see it so flourishing, and she did indeed enjoy it. Edith Powell Pringle still has her music, her family, church, and some travel to fill her time. Limitations of space and time limit her body, but not her active, observing mind. Anna Slease is settled happily with her niece in Towson, with her treasures around her in a pretty, cheerful room. One might almost tell what sort of person she is by taking a look about. She still makes aprons. Mary Abercrombie Verner's hands are never idle. She brought us souvenir daggers, carved from various California woods; that is another of her skills. While we chatted and loafed, Mary's hands were busy knitting squares for an elaborate bedspread.
We were much disappointed because some, whom we confidently expected, could not come - Mary Beavers and Mary Bunting were absent. They wrote interesting letters but that did not satisfy us quite. I shall speak to them. But one can't grumble when she knows they would come if they could. Margaretta Reynolds Neumann had half expected to join us to meet her mother's classmates; reading her letter, one might guess that it was from Mary Taylor Reynold's daughter, and we were much disappointed when she could not come. Speaking of Taylors - we met another one for a brief exchange, just in front of the new chapel; this was Hattie Taylor Channell's daughter, Betty Channell Wood '33, with her two handsome sons and pretty daughter.
Mollie Cullom Walker's light stroke earlier this year made her trip to Baltimore out of the question. Mollie was quite serene about her infirmity, thankful for her good care and pleasant home. She was so active in Sunday School work - its organization and teaching - that it will be hard to imagine her in a less active role. But she loves her Florida home, seems quite serene, and grateful for all that has made her life happy.
Marion Dibert Suppes was to make a June trip to Madison, Wisc. where her granddaughter, a PhD from Yale, is teaching at the University. Later she was to drive to Martha's Vineyard to visit her daughter Margaret. Letitia Ricaud, who lives at the Church Home, has been hospitalized and was not at all well when she wrote. I hope for better news when she next writes. Claire Ackerman Vliet could not come to reunion because stepping up or down was too difficult. Stepping up never bothered you, Claire, when faced with a difficulty and I never knew you to step down when so faced, so of course you can't do it. You are a dear, Claire, and you have always been useful, too. Ergo, you were missed on two counts! Sara Leutz Key still does some volunteer work in the hospital and works in her garden but not too strenuously. Lyda Norris Bailey tells us of five eye operations in 10 years which have saved just 10% of the sight of one eye, enough to make her way about the house and to do a very little writing. She pays a beautiful tribute to her husband, who has been her eyes for so long. Mabel Day Parker drives her car for short distances and is thankful that she is not completely shut in, but finds walking too hard. She agrees that "East or West, home is best." She has cut down on both her genealogical research and church work though not altogether. She pays a loving tribute to her daughter Jessie who lives at home with her and seems to be everybody's helper. Luella Eakins Merry finds it difficult to write but did write briefly that she was unable to travel to Baltimore- knew that it would be interesting. And so it was, Luella...
...I saw Allie Mann's picture in a recent issue of the National Retired Teachers' Association as president of the Georgia branch. Considering her 33 years of service in the schools as teacher, principal and board member in Atlanta, no one could be better qualified for that place than she. But Allie has had so many interests other than teaching that one can't htink of her just as an educator. She has sold Nunnally's candy throughout the South and organized its sales program, has farmed, has seen most of the habitable world and will see more. At present she is engaged in a rather large real estate development of the Emory section of Atlanta. She has done camp work and taught for a time at Oglethorpe University. This absured summary needs your imagination to fill out the story of a wonderfully full and admirable life. Thanks for your fine letter and congratulations for your achievement.
Another story that should never be shortened is Nancy Nulton Larrick's long fight against what seems to be an odd form of polio which paralyzed her hands and wrists and her feet and legs up to her knees. It has taken the most determined and persistent effort to regain control of those affected parts, but Nancy's penmanship is as neat and legible as ever. Her hands have responded more quickly than her feet, which are still heavy, she says. Nancy enjoys her friends' visits and loving attention, glows in the successes and happiness of her daughter, Nancy Larrick Crosby '30. Her many civic, cultural, and church activities have been curtailed, of necessity, but not her interest in them. We salute, with loving pride, that indomitable and cheerful spirit.
Carrie Fehr and Nancy Catching Shields are unable to write, each one doing what she can to regain some lost controls. Our prayers and good wishes are with them both. Lottie Magee must be up at Hot Springs, for I have had no word from her and have had no answer to my telephone calls. She and I are suffering from the same complaint - renovation or almost building right over our heads. I can only think that she ran away as my sister and I did. We spent twelve days in a hotel; came back to more of the same. "They" start on the kitchen tomorrow.
We were pleased and touched to receive greetings from Mr. George Burton, Thyra's husband; from William Turner, Laura Washington Turner's son, and from Richard Mertz, Rosa's brother.
Our thanks go out to the Reunion Committee for all they did for us; they were perfect in their arrangements for our comfort and in their gracious welcome. Something else helped to fill our cups - the presence of some others of the younger generation whom we were glad to see: Robert and Frances Flick, Amelia Dodson Bielaski '33, Virginia Slease Kirchof who entertained with her Aunt Anna Slease, Elizabeth Abercrombie Shinn, Mary's niece, and Dorothy Pringle, '30. The last three were indefagitable in their attention.
Let's have another 60th Reunion! And God Bless Goucher!
Last Updated 10/12/99.