Boston University College of Practical Arts and Letters - Sivad Yearbook (Boston, MA)

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Donassswwnnhku ds NORTON KENT, A.B., PH.D. Professor of Physics Professor Kent has given us much practical advice in the laboratory, but also many delightful, informal, and interesting soliloquies when he advises us to “Go West, Young Traveler.” “Many are lured by the relics of the past, and seek and find enjoyment in touring Europe and the Far East. To me, more attractive by far is a journey West, in which one may study the growth of a new world midst Nature’s glories, in spots quite untouched by the destructive hand of man. “If you do go West, go or return by automobile, in a touring ear, so that you may see easily the crags and mountain tops; and do not fail to visit, besides the Yellowstone and Yosemite, the less known wonder realms of Zion and Bryce Canyons, and the Kaibab Forest, and also Estes Park. Touring by ear gives the traveler a most vivid impression of both the vast- ness and the beauty of our own good land.’’ HAROLD LIVINGSTON PERRIN, ALD AVL lilb-» bbe Mian Pa. Professor of Commercial Law We know that Dr. Perrin likes to fish. He would like something that had a “eatch’’ to it. In fact, he had just secured a fishing license the day that the SIVAD interviewer saw him, and was extremely good-natured. But whoever saw Dr. Perrin other than good-natured, jolly, unperturbed —one might even say happy-go-lucky? For here at last is one professor who doesn’t take himself or his subject too seriously—to say nothing of his P. A. L. Law students struggling to comprehend his profound discussions on the law in Massachusetts, New York, and elsewhere. We do enjoy his law classes—and we do learn something (even if he does not think so) by his painless process of education; a system all his own, based on a bubbling, contagious sense of humor and common sense which he seems to possess in unusual abundance. Oh, if only he weren’t so modest! HAROLD JUDSON SMITH, B.B.A. Professor of Accounting and Head of the Department of Secretarial Studies Mr. Smith has two occupations at P. A. L. that he simply could not forego. The first, teaching Accounting, is his greatest joy. Nothing pleases him more than to tell his students the incomparable pleasure de- rived from finding errors in an unbalanced trial balance. And what is more, he insists that the game of working Profit and Loss Statements is equal to, if not greater than, that of bridge. Whether or not his students agree with him on these points he does not say. But, at least, I believe they will agree with me that the Accounting hour is never dull. The sec- ond occupation, which is almost as delightful, is the daily trip to the lunchroom, and the subsequent dish he indulges in. His diet system must be unique; not many of us could stand the luxury and not show the re- sults. Just as I was going out the door, he said, “Oh, yes, tell the girls how much I enjoy their dances, too!” [ 27 J

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a — 1 aserertovernantenansnnvnmowwii EDWARD JOSIAH EATON, A.B., A.M. Associate Professor of Secondary Education “T give to you Dr. Hyde’s definition: ‘The true teacher finds his ecrown- ing opportunity in revealing to his students some compelling purpose, some appealirg career, which shall be to them what teaching is to him.’ ” Professor Eaton says that he would prefer to submit as his contribution to SIVAD this quotation, his ideal of the teaching profession, rather than have statements regarding his opinions of this institution, its various de- partments, and members edited; for, after all, he says, “I haven’t been here long enough to have formed any very convincing ideas about P. A. L.”’ However, we take the liberty to add that his classes are looked forward to daily as a source of enjoyment and inspiration in which his apt remarks and witticisms play a large part. To those who ar e planning to enter the teaching profession, what a wealth of information and inspiration is condensed in his message! May we all realize its significance and adopt its import into our lives and truly utilize “the crowning opportunity’’ that is ours! PAUL JOHNSON, A.B., A.M., S.T.B. Instructor in Sociology AJthough Mr. Johnson was confronted on his very first day at P. A. L. for an interview, he did not seem at all in doubt as to what to say. Per- haps that was because, as we learned during the conversation, he was editor of his own college yearbook, and therefore doubtless knows the trials of an interviewer ! Mr. Johnson related some of his experiences in China during the last two years. He has taught and studied in Chengtu, West China, but was obliged to leave in February, 1927. He believes that China is the storm-center of the next great clash. He also said that in former years Chinese came to the West to study, but now the Westerners go to China; consequently the time has come when he who does not know that country is ignorant, for it offers to the world a treas- ure in inventions, art creations, literature, and philosophy. We hope Mr. Johnson will like it here at P. A. L. His first impres- sions, he said, were splendid. Sh!—we'’ve heard the same from the girls. JOHN PATTEN MARSHALL, MuS.D. Professor of Music Very calm, leisurely, and systematic, Professor Marshall apparently has not one bit of the excitable, irritable, erratic temperament generally acceded to musicians or people of an artistic nature. And without question, he is an artist—deeply appreciative, sensitive, and responsive to all beautiful art. You have heard him describe famous paintings and beautiful build- ings? Well, then, you know! The student in his class gets more than the mere technical knowledge of history and form; and the girls who succeed in attaining a new or greater enjoyment and understanding of musie are grateful to Professor Marshall for enriching their lives to that extent. In a practical way he did much during the War to lighten the hearts of war-shocked soldiers with song and music, and brought about the official publication by the United States Government of a soldiers’ handbook of song. Professor Marshall says little about himself except that he “enjoys his work at this college and finds teaching a pleasure’, but P. A. L. girls have made up their own minds about his abilities and personality. We think he’s “pretty nice’’. [ 26 ]

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ead [ WALTER HENRY MECHLER, PH.B., Ep.M. Lecturer in Methods of Shorthand and Typewriting Professor Mechler may be considered a living exponent of the theory that ‘‘a good razz does everybody good’’. No more convincing evidence of this is necessary than the fact that his continual “razzing’’ prevents his Saturday morning class from becoming an awful bore. It would seem that anybody who traveled such a long distance weekly to conduct a three-hour class in the presentation of “‘that wonderful sys- tem” of English as she ain’t’” on a Saturday morning—of all days !— would evince some of the after-effects of his journey, but not Professor Mechler! His cheery introduction, ‘‘Good-morning! Let’s go! Two angles —circle goes where?’’ is characteristic of much more life and enthusiasm than his students show. And for what other professor could we exist in one chair in one room for that long period and not show signs of distress and fatigue? “A teacher may be late, but a student never!’’ he tells us, but may we remind him that the reverse is also true. That’s not sarcasm, Professor Mechler, that’s razzing ! ELIZABETH WOLVERTON CARVELL Instructor in Secretarial Studies Miss Carvell tells us that one of the most important axioms for us to remember is to “keep a stiff upper lip and a smiling heart throughout life’. She says that a misfit in the teaching profession not only makes herself unhappy, but the irritability which is the result of such unhappiness re- fiects unfavorably upon the personalities of her students. One thing she thinks so splendid about our teachers’ training course is that it prepares a girl for two walks in life. If, upon the conclusion of that course, she finds teaching unpleasant, she still has the opportunity to enter the business world. I am sure we shall all agree unanimously that Miss Carvell’s delightful personality has won our love and admiration, and that she is truly ‘‘a round peg in a round hole’’. HAZEL MARION PURMORT, A.B. Instructor in Secretarial Studies “Of all the years of college life the best, to my mind, is the Junior year. Then the student has passed successfully through the storm and stress of the Freshman period with all its various adjustments and heart- aches, its wars with the dread Sophomores; has fought through the Sophomore invasion, criticising the running of the universe as severely and indiscriminately as the mode of dress of the professor in the classroom ; and has at last arrived in the comparatively safe waters of the Junior year with all the good qualities of the two preceding years to the fore; all the bad cnes so polished up as to be hardly recognizable, and the prospect of a life of hard work still over a year away. “All hail, then, to the P. A. L. Juniors of 1928! Their Year Book ecan- not fail to be a suecess, and a welcome addition to the P. A. L. students’ library of well-loved books.”’ [ 28 ]