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

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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

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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 CConlinuedD . baseball. He was pitcher on several pennant winners and last year he was one of the VVorld Champs. After that he retired and bought a country place on Long Island. We went out there overthe week- end and from all appearance Bill has surely fallen on his feet. I-Ie do11't do a blamed thing that he doesnjt want to do, He wanted to know where his partner Lewis is, but I couldn't tell him. Prepare yourself for a surprise. Last sum mer when 'in Atlantic City I met Bill Farley coming down the Boardwalk in a chair. I got in with him and when he offered me a cigar I looked at him in surprise. As you can see, he must have changed very much from the Farley we all knew. He has charge of some power installation work which will keep him there all summer. It seems as though some fellows have cinches thrust upon them. He told me that he had been married directly after graduating, but had left his wife at home when he came to Atlantic City. His education has been completed since leaving Drexel-you should hear him 'cuss at the mosquitoes. Don't tell johnson, if you happen to see him, of this change in Bill, I am sure it would grieve him very much. Lansdale knows Steer no more. I went through that burg last month and I found that the old reliable insurance business is in the hands of another. Steer went VVest after successfully passing a Government Civil Service exam. He soon became an instrument man and is now engineer in charge of a large Government reclamation project in Nevada. He sent me a picture of himself taken with his wife. He looks like a bushwacker. Not only a mustache, but a full black beard now covers his entire face. He says it is too much trouble to shave, but he certainly looks fiercej just before he went West he bought S50 worth of 'fBetween the Acts little cigars, as he was afraid to risk being left without his favorite brand. V Doc Cushing is still studying. You would think that the course at Drexel would satisfy any one. But not Doo He has graduated from the ranks of the students and is now a scholar. He is in charge of a very extensive and well fitted up laboratory, endowed for the advancement of elec- 61