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NEWS FROM THE CLASSES AND CLUBS 1875 In New Haven I had a pleasant afternoon with Pierce, who laughingly forgave me for chronicling his death in the April Class Notes. It was good to find him well and hearty. I am too far behind the times to appreciate shutting out the sunlight from the new Yale eight million dollar library and dormitories about which Pierce asked me to explain. Two days later in New York, I hit on the regular Technology luncheon and I was the guest at the Engineers Club, Philadelphia at a Technology get-together which I greatly enjoyed. I attended the monthly luncheon of the Washington Society of the M.I.T., three days after the announcement of the appointment of Dr. Compton as our new President. Having looked him up, I was able to answer questions eagerly asked. At this meeting I joined the Society, and was greeted as the oldest alumnus. Dr. Newell '85 had been dean for ten years and in welcoming me as a member spoke of my returning him back among the youngsters. In and near the District of Columbia are 300 Technology men helping the good cause. My quest for a home, now that it is ended, adds to my joy. Easter Sunday I was the guest of the Hibbards, and made good a promise to attend service at the First Parish Church in Dorchester. The legend on the calendar reads: "Church formed in Plymouth, England, under the guidance of Rev. John White of Dorchester, England, 1630. Present building the sixth, erected 1896." This was the first Congregational church ever organized. The entire membership crossed the ocean and formed the settlement of Dorchester in the spring of 1630. Three years later the larger part of the congregation, opposing the wish of Governor Winthrop, migrated through the wilderness to Windsor and established the First Church in Connecticut. Both churches celebrated their tercentenaries this spring. Hibbard and Dorr are members of the First Parish Church in Dorchester. On May, 15 I took a train from Boston for Puget Sound, making stops along the way, not to return until the last October. My first visit was with the Prentiss' at Holyoke, a delightful two days. This rest haven is a happy reminder of home. On this reunion there was much to go over, the reawakening of Technology, their Florida bungalow, and our travels. Arriving in Chicago, where I was to tarry ten days, I was whisked away on short notice to occupy a seat in a Buick for a two weeks' congenial lark among the lakes of Wisconsin. We were in advance of the season, arriving before the resort places were opened; the more enjoyable in escaping crowds, but a bit roughing it for sleep and eats. This is written at the Dells of the Wisconsin River, at the eleventh hour and later, to connect with the going to press for the Class Notes. Few sounds are more happy than those of rain on the roof at night, when rains are needed. There was a nippy frost for two nights. I occupy a summer cottage, the only warmth being an oil stove. Some chilly for an ancient on pleasure bent! Howsoever, fortune smiles our way, the sun has broken through the clouds, the forecast says fair and warmer, and all outdoors is on gala parade. The Glacier National Park season of 1930 opens June 15, and I am to join friends in Minneapolis to make the rounds among the first. From Glacier my itinerary covers two weeks in Spokane, then Seattle, Portland, Victoria, Vancouver, Jasper Park, the new resort of the Canadian National Railways, returning via Prince Rupert, then steamer to Vancouver - a matchless outing. I am booked to report in Washington, D.C., September 15. During July and August letters will reach me promptly addressed to College Club, Seattle, Wash. On November 1, I am to report in Boston to remain two weeks. Note my new home address. - HENRY L. J. WARREN, Secretary, 4700 Langdrum Lane, Chevy Chase, Md. 1876 Notice has been received of the death of Arthur D. Hopps '76 on January 16, 1930, at Lamoille, Ill., at the age of seventy-eight years. He leaves a widow aged seventy-eight. Mr. Hopps had wonderful health throughout his life, never having known a day of sickness until his last illness. His career was a remarkably interesting one as to the methods by which he thoroughly enjoyed life while acquiring wealth and influence among a large circle of friends. Our Class graduated at a time of great activity in railroad building. This attracted Hopps, who became a member of a locating party on the building of what is now the Santa F[[?]] Railroad across Arizona. After one or two years of this experience, he abandoned engineering as a career, and turned to farming, because, as he told the writer, on looking over the field of engineering, there were many men among the railroad engineers whom he believed possessed greater technical ability and greater readiness in absorbing the intricacies of design than he could ever hope to have, and that after thinking this over for a long time, he concluded he should make more of a success and have a more enjoyable family life than that falling to the lot of a construction engineer, by getting into a line where he possessed better education and ability than his average competitor. He, therefore, persuaded his father to assist him in the purchase of a large farm within easy shipping distance of the Chicago stockyards, on which he could fatten steers for the Chicago market. He had been raised on a farm, had skilled judgment as to values, was a shrewd trader, and worked on the principle of rushing his shipments into the market when prices were at their best. Meanwhile he retained his transit and level and occupied his leisure working out the possibilities of draining cheap swampy lands not far away, which he would then purchase, improve, and sell. A few years ago, he moved to the neighboring city, firs providing each of his sons with an excellent, well-stocked farm. At the time of his retirement he wrote the Secretary telling that he believed his philosophy of life had been sound, because as proof of it he was then in possession of a thousand acres of as good land as could be found in the state, owed no man a dollar, and had enough coming in from loans to others, to relieve him of all worries. - JOHN R. FREEMAN, Secretary, 815 Grosvenor Building, Providence, R.I. 1881 Classmates and many friends were shocked by the sudden death of Major Frank H. Briggs, Secretary of our Class. This occurred on April 2, 1930. He had had luncheon as usual at his hotel, and was purposing to go to his office afterwards, but not felling up to the mark, did not go. This was April 1. That afternoon he was taken with double pneumonia and died at seven o'clock the next night, having been mostly unconscious until his death. He was born February 26, 1860, thus being in his seventy-first year. He started his career after graduation as assayer and mine agent in Colorado, 1881. He came to Boston in 1882 and purchased an interest in W.L. Montgomery and Company, importers and dealers in hides, skins, and tanning materials. Later he purchased the Montgomery interests and has continued the business ever since, but retired from active work some years ago. He has lived at a hotel in Boston during the winter and his place on Cape Cod during the summer. On February 5, 1884, he became a private of Company K, First Regiment of the Massachusetts militia; on March 6, 1884, Sergeant Major; on April 11, 1884, Second Lieutenant; on April 11, 1884, Second Lieutenant; on May 6, 1885, First Lieutenant; on May 27, 1885, Captain; and on January 2, 1896, Assistant Inspector General of the First Brigade with rank of Major, later on retiring as a Major. He was a member of Winslow Lewis Lodge, the Royal Arch Chapter of Boston, the Boston Council of Royal and
