Mrs. Rogers has dedicated a book of his poems to the memory of her husband, Dr. Franklin Norwood Rogers. The dark blue binding is lettered in gold and the frontispiece is an excellent likeness of the genial Doctor whom we enjoyed when he spoke briefly at the Family Dinners. The first poem is “Pilgrim Philosophy” that appeared on the first page of the Clough Bulletin in November, 1949. Every line of his verse expresses the “Skill of a man whose profession as a doctor was livened by a keen sense of poetic genius” as stated in a tribute by Horace Blake Williams. His deep religious and sympathetic understanding of human life are expressed in the “mystic voices that spoke to him.”
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Mrs. Emery Clough of Tolland, Conn., writes that their Connecticut Branch did not meet this past summer because of the illness of their President. Their annual picnics have been well attended, especially by their young members. Also, to our Reunions, the members have driven the many miles to meet with us and we look for them again at Manchester.
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From Florida, a surprise letter at Christmas told that Lucy Clough Patterson and husband Fred have sold their home in New Britain, Conn. and purchased a seven room house at 136 W. Seminole Drive, Eustis, Florida, where they are permanently settled in the South. Only 21 miles separates them from Tavares where they go on shopping tries and call upon Clarence and Ethel.
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Clarence wrote, “This has been a winter in Florida that we all won’t forget in a long time. Already used $62.00 worth of heating oil before March first, usually only ten or twelve dollars worth.” Almost all of their shrubs have frozen and the fruit on their two orange trees also, but they hope the trees have survived. Ethel was so ill that they did not take trips during the winter. The good news is that if Ethel is improved in health, they will attend the reunion in Manchester with their eldest son and wife accompanying them.
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From Bradenton, Florida, a letter from “Farmer Fanny” Williams reports that Cousin Frank has not improved in health and she now drives the car from their daughter’s home in California to Marysville, Kansas, over the Rocky Mountains and then to Florida. Last fall she attended a Writers Work Shop at the University of Kansas with Cousin Erma Tebben. Through the past winter Cousin Fanny has continued to write her newspaper columns and has been assistant bookkeeper and sales lady at a furniture store in Brandenton and “finds the extra work most interesting.”
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A postal card was sent by Cousin Signe from Mexico City, where she and Cousin Benjamin were enjoying a trip in the middle of the winter. Another card from his nephew Archie and wife in Spokane described their busy life in work for their church and the Eastern Star. Their trip to Maine last summer and the autumn in New England was a happy memory. We wish that the four would return to Phillips, Maine, and lead a Clough Reunion to the many landmarks where their ancestor Moses lived, and they have thoroughly explored.
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From Las Vegas, Nevada, Cousin Pauline Foutz told of the Christmas with the two daughters at home from the University and the son from Chicago where he is a student. Daughter Pauline Marie has been the regional Vice President of the Children of the American Revolution this past year and will be in Washington as we go to press attending the annual D. A. R. Continental Congress and the C. A. R. Conference.
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Our California cousin, Lillian Reed is happy in a new house that they have built on the site of their orchard. The fruit trees ceased to be a paying proposition and the entire 240 trees were uprooted. Their oldest, aviator son is now flying four motor planes instead of jets and is stationed in Smyrna, Tennessee. His squadron flew the paratroopers to the disturbance at Little Rock last fall. Son Joseph is with the California highway department.
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From Seattle, Cousin Mildred, wife of our late Dr. Ray Clough, sent the good news that her seriously injured knee is well healed. Her older son, Ralph, is now Director of the Office of Chinese Affairs at the Pentagon in Washington. Ray, Jr., and family have returned from Norway to their California home at the University and Daughter Phyllis and her husband expect to return from his station in Iceland in April. Daughter Harriet now lives only fifteen miles from Seattle.
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While reading Vermont Academy “Life” magazine, the news was learned that the Charles Seavers closed their home in Chicopee Falls, Mass., the day before Christmas, spent the holidays with their children and then left for Rockport, Texas, on Arkansas Bay, two hundred miles north of the edge of Mexico. There the climate is mild in winter except “when a northeaster comes down there with wind and waves.” Cousin Georgi-ana is secretary of her class at V. A. for 1896 and surpasses all of her contemporaries in collecting alumni funds.
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Dr. Elsa P. Kimball of Canterbury and Jacksonville, Illinois, retired last June from her position at MacMurray College where she has filled the chair of Professor of Sociology since 1938. She received an ovation at Commencment “in appreciation of her outstanding service to the college and to the community,” to quote from the “Jacksonville Journal.” With an aged friend, she is often at their cottage at Ogunquit, Maine, in the summer.