Drexel Institute Engineering Department - Record Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

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PROPHECY CContinueclD - Campbell went to work with the Pennsylvania Railroad. Straightaway he began to apply the magnihcent logic I had taught him to railroad affairs. In the first summer he forever destroyed the danger of rear-end collisions by abolishing the rear end of trains-that is, by removing the last car. Later on, seeing that a wreck occurred on account of a train running past a signal, he did away with signals, logically reasoning that if there had been no signal to pass there could have been no wreck. Van de Mark and Applegate gathered near to hear me read Docs letter, while Thorn began to compose a sonnet beginning thus: Such is the gentle raven, VVho twists his wings while shavin', etcf' Vlfhen we had quieted Thorn, I read: Mr, B. G. jones, Prime Minister of Mexico, Mexico City. My Dear Jones: I saw an article in the Philadelphia North American the other day which mentioned that an American engineer, E. S. Van de Mark, had been elected President of Mexico on the reform ticket. INhen it also said that you were Secretary of State, Prime Minister, etc., I had no difficulty in recognizing in the President our old classmate Vandy. Let me know as to the truth of this rumor, so that I can pass it on to the rest of the fellows, most of whom I am in touch with. I was in old Philly the other day, so I dropped in the school. I saw Professor Rowland and he wants Vandy to send him the three reinstatement slips which he still owes. Has Vandy become any heavier? I should think a cinch job like that would give him a chance to pick up. One of our fellows is down near you, although not quite in Mexico. Frank Rothe is. manag- ing a big farm and cattle ranch in Texas. He has introduced scientific management and in a short time 59

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PROPHECY Ccontinuecll A Yes, it is true, Cooper leads an orchestra, is a composer of note and is one of Thorn's most trust- worthy assistants. He has one failing: while conducting he grows so excited that he often faints. One night while conducting The Bells, just at that pathetic moment when the unfortunate Lewis is driven to despair over 'lMust I take the Bells again, what shall I do FU Cooper from the leader's box cried, 'fGet the smelling salts, and crumpled up into a heap. On such annoccasion Sig. Henri Thumlert takes Cooper's place. Thumlert would make a good leader if he balanced his orchestra better, but he favors the brass and drums too much. Yet for a jolly rounder no one can equal Thumlert, and his famous l'Hello, men, and Let's have a little game, or some harmony, still remind one of the good old locker days. Our conversation was again interrupted by a mild spoken gentleman who arrived to report news of interest to the President. This man, the Commissionaire d'Affairs, is Joseph Winter. You will at once infer that this long-titled position is not a hard-working jobg in fact, Ioe's work is just like one long drawing period, with nothing to do until the next time. joe is a greater ladies' man than ever, and yet even now when he is carried around on the hands of the ladies I have heard him sigh deeply. Often when I have seen him gazing to the northeast, toward far, far distant Ardmore, I think he is a prey to a memory of certain morning train rides long since past. I After having disposed of NVinter's business, which referred to the color of the teacups to be used at that nights luncheon on the lawn, Van de Mark asked if I had read any news from Camp- bell. I answered that I had a letter from him. Then he asked if there was a letter from Brooklyn, and it went to my heart to hear the deep sigh thatfollowed my negative answer. Speaking of Campbell, I fill with pride to think how much credit he reflects on me, who fos- tered and cared for him, and told him much of value during our school associations. In fact, Doc' is the only creditable engineer that the class put out, not excepting Burrows or Seyffert. : 58

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PROPHECY CConlinuecD will be part owner. He is as big a rube as he ever was, when running that little farm in Pennsylva- nia, only we are afraid to call him one now, as he is never without his gun. He has cleaned up that part of Texas, and with the aid of his revolver and nerce blonde moustache has made quite a name for himself as a gun-fighter. Roberts and Moody have set up together as consulting electrical engineers. I was in Trenton some time ago and paid them a visit in their office. Ed. told me that a good, technical education such as our class had been through would put any man on top. He said that they were getting along finely, and it seemed so, for even while I was in the office Moody had to go out to repair someone's door-bell. Ed. sits in the office and smokes while Moody does the work. Don't laugh when I tell you that Moody is married, while Ed. Roberts is still single and not even engaged. Roberts says that he smokes so much that he can't aiord to get married. I asked them why they did not leave Trenton for a more up-to-date and progressive place, but they said that neither of them could bear the thought of parting from jersey. They told me of another of our boys who is afflicted with the same incurable disease. It is Vlfilliamsg he is still living in Camden. I saw him some time later. He has now risen to be chief engineer of the ferryboat Annie M., cruising between Camden and Philadelphia. He seems to be perfectly contented with his job. You know, he always was a roamer, and he says that the life he is now leading. with its constantly chang- ing scenery, is just what suits him. He told me that he would rather be chief engineer of a ferryboat than of a transcontinental railroad. This prejudice is plainly due to habit, and we cannot wonder at it. Bill Seyffert called at my office yesterday and took me to New York in his car. He seemed to be very prosperous and my curiosity got the better of me. He told me, in answer, that he had found that there was no money in engineering. Bill said he was after the cash, so he took up professional V 60