Former President Brother Charles Hodges and Mrs Hodges are receiving congratulations upon the arrival of a daughter to brighten their already charming home. The happy event of welcoming the most recent Delta Phi Epsilon sister occurred on July 22nd. The best wishes of Beta Chapter is hereby extended to our most worthy brother and his family for every prosperity and enjoyment.
Brother L. Park Benjamin is now the president of Beta Chapter. Brother Francis G.. Schmid, Jr., was obliged to resign the presidency on account of the lingering illness of his mother. Brother Benjamin has been a member for about three years, during which time he has been vice-president, secretary and chairman of the membership committee. He is in the steamship department of W. R. Grace & Co.
Brother E. C. Forbell is vice-president of the Chapter, Brother R. P. Fenton, Treasurer, and Brother W. J. Bugge, Secretary.
Brother and Mrs. Ray Baxter are being congratulated on the arrival of a fine, bumping boy.
Several weeks ago we had a meeting with a real foreign trade flavor. The speaker was Capt. Carty, for years skipper of a wind jammer in the Australian trade. The Captain later went into steam and during his years at sea visited practically every port in the world. After a number of years as surveyor to the Board of Underwriters at New York, Captain Carty retired to devote his time to his curios and notes on other times and other climes.
Another speaker was Mr. Percy S. Bullen, United States representative of the London Daily Telegraph.
Brother Henry Bayer afforded the Chapter an interesting evening that carried the brothers back to their school days in the lower classes. Brother Bayer gave a summary of his new book dealing with the early settlements of New York and vicinity, which we have referred to in previous issues of The GALLEY. Brother Bayer will be very glad to autograph any copies the brothers desire. The name of the book is "The Belgians, First Settlers in New York and In the Middle States."
It is hoped to resume publication of The MANIFEST as a weekly.
Brother K. E. Canfield of Alpha was with us for a few days. Brother Edgar Williams, another Alpha visitor, is still on deck - in fact, he is one of the big supports of the deck of our new house.
Alpha will also be interested in knowing that the stork has made a visit at the home of Brother and Mrs. Ray Tower.
Brother "Ma" Curran, Alpha's sea-going member, was with us at a meeting and gave a short but interesting talk on "Conditions in the Near East".
Our new house is still going strong. A number of social affairs at the house have enabled us to swell the furniture and fixtures account.
The Chapter's wanderer, former President Andrew Sutherland has pulled up stakes and is now in Saskatchewan. When he left, Andy was uncertain as to what he would do, but felt it would be something connected with agriculture. He has an ambition to visit Australia - "the coming country", as he calls it - but inasmuch as he has prospected in Colorado, California and Alaska, there is no telling just where in the world he will turn up.
Brother Franklin T. Cleverley embarked on the good ship " Matrimony " on April 9. We wish Frank a voyage of calm seas and fair winds to the Land of Happiness and Content, with the former Miss Mary Underwood of Brighton, Mass.
While on the Pacific Coast attending the DPE National Convention, Brother George Stretch looked up Brothers R. S. Murray, H. W. Cutler, A. M. Shackleton and R. H. Barnwell and reports them all well, happy, and reasonably prosperous. Brother Barnwell is City Engineer of Oceanside, Calif. Brother Cutler has his own addressing and multigraphing business in the San Fernando Building, Los Angeles. Brother Murray, whose home is at San Carlos, Calif., is still attending Leland Stanford U., and Brother Shackleton is engaged in business in Riverside, Calif.
Brother J. J. Walsh was at Philadelphia for the holidays at the time.
Brother Stretch, while on the trip, visited, Zeta, Epsilon and Delta chapters and speaks very favorably regarding the personnel of these chapters, as well as regarding their hospitality to the convention delegates.
In claiming Brother Edgar C. Praus, the cruel hand of death dealt Beta Chapter a blow from which it will not recover for many a day. Brother Praus's condition had been declared to be hopeless by a leading specialist the Chapter called in consultation. His death, therefore, was expected, but the malady which struck him down was both unexpected and unknown.
In January Brother Praus took a physical examination in the hope of realizing his ambition to carry the armor of Delta Phi Epsilon to China. During the examination the physician informed Brother Praus that he had a serious heart condition. The family physician was consulted and confirmed the diagnosis. At this time Brother Praus was removed to a hospital for treatment for anemia.
Every man in Beta Chapter -- whether faculty, alumni or undergraduate -- who could call at the hospital offered his blood to his stricken brother. The blood required, however, was of such an unusual composition that only Brother Lane was permitted to make the sacrifice. But it was more than a case of anemia, for complications set in due to Brother Praus's heart. He just wasted away into final unconsciousness on March 28.
Ed Praus's large, round smile and sunny disposition will not be forgotten by those who knew him. Always good natured and bright and an ardent supporter of the Fraternity, he was a man of the very highest character and ideals.