Rutgers Preparatory School - Ye Dial Yearbook (New Brunswick, NJ)

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THE ALPHA HGUSE The char-a-bane of memory draws up before 698 George Street, and the courier marshals his eager troupe of reminiscences for a conducted tour of the western boundary mark of the Prep Campus. Pausing before the vine covered porch, he points to the gold Alpha above the door, and explains how once this structure was classic Greek and how, since last fall, it has progressed to Early American and is hence known now as the Old Meeting House. The trippers enter via the basement. the melting pot for the Doric and the American Colonial. A polyglot babel reaches their ears. not English, definitely not Greek. Ain't, not, Dick ? Don't it, Howie ? Two pianists grace this com- bined conservatory and billiard room, and the bell-like notes of Rene One-bass- chord jagenburg and Tony Two-fingered Gwiz mingle with the general uproar. On the billiard table there is in progress a masterful exhibition of delicate touch with the cue. What skill! VVhat finesse! Phooey! The guide continues, as he directs his followers up the narrow stairs from the butt smokers, rendez-vous: On your left, ladies and gentlemen, live Bob O'Donnell and Bob Ratti, two Seniors, who entered Prep after the Christmas holidays. Remark- able fellows, we assure you, because in spite of their late entrance they have achieved a high standard of academic endeavor and have won a host of friends. As the tour moves forward, threading its way between desks piled high with papers, cases bulging with psychological treatises, seemingly endless athletic trophies, spiralling plants, and walls hung with a multitude of kudos, a door swings open briskly and a yowling yellow tomcat emerges to ind another place to continue his nap. A petite little woman in a polo coat and tennis socks appears at the open door, and, her large eyes sparkling, she brushes back her thick bobbed hair and calls sincerely and sweetly, Won't you come in P There is disclosed a cool, refreshing, tasteful room with delicate blue walls, the light filtering through ivory Venetian blinds. Stretched on the couch is a short, mischievous eyed man in a brown sport coat and odd trousers. He utters a crisp witticism: the crowd roars with laughter. Reluctantly they leave the Rudys' to mount the stairs to midgetland. Sandwiched between the Seniors of the third Floor and those of the Hrst are Rutgers Prep's Lilliputians. Mr. Petke, who sleeps at the head of the stairs, is their Gulliver, and they certainly get in his hair. Across from him lives Stu I-lakanson. Mr. Petke waits eagerly for him to add some height and weight so that the mite may be employed in the backfield, for anyone so elusive as Stuart is during study hours would be a welcome addition to any eleven. There are, it is said, pixies in the room too. They hide Stu's booksg they steal his clothes, and, dastards that they are. they even hide Stuart. Next stop, the abode of two remarkable little men. Dick Meyers was training to he an architect and began his career by doing a little interior decorating. Unfor- tunately he and his partner had to declare themselves insolvent so that they could practice penmanship. His roommate's fame as a football player is known, but why does he adopt the alias of Joan ? Well, the guide explains, Doug Turner was spending a certain night here last spring, when . . . simply when. A perfect case of Mohammed and the mountain. The fourth member of the third Hoor is introduced as Noah. Yes, Henry built himself an ark, a small one, to be sure, but when equipped with the' crystal set QVVABC guaranteedj, he says that he is sure that he can find his trousers. They say that the firm of Shafer, Smith, and Garey are collaborating in writing a book, to be called 'The Young Aeronauts at Rutgers Prep', or 'VVhy Play Volley Ball in the Gym When Flying Model Aeroplanes is Such Funk I More stairs. The third floor is pointed out as the scene of many conferences. Tommy Wenczel's room serving as the assembly place while his radio-victrola renders that sturdy Puritan hymn. Hold Tight, Hold Tight. Of course. it is quickly added, this does not happen during study hours but during those pleasant i Twenty-Seven

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interludes when Tony and Jimmie drop in for a combined attack on trig. After a warm-up session they troop en masse to Doc just the same, however. As they pause in front of Eden's door, the visitors hear a cryptic story of its owner's life. It seems that Jimmie has become very allergic to green Fords ever since a certain Sunday afternoon when he, along with fifteen other students, spent a nickel at the Dutch Mill. Did you find the interview with the blue-clad gentle- men edifying, jim, or was it that you had some difficulty in speaking at all P Last of all, the guide sticks his head in Gwizls room and asks, By the way, how is your grandmother these days, the one in South River, I mean? Such a youthful voice she has! And how much she sounds like Styskal's grannie! Tony raises a bandaged thumb to his proboscis, and the crowd recognizes the meteoric hero of the Kingsley game, and the tosser of the beautifully arched one-handed shot at Bordentown. The tour is over, and as the weary rubbernecks troop down the stairs, an irreverent tourist turns back to call out a parting shot. Thrill us again, Tony, only remember to use the bat when you're hitting. THE BETA HOUSE The Beta house has again placed first in the campus-wide popularity poll of the houses, in fact, it has far surpassed the other three in tabulations-if not in actual fact. To see the hordes of boys pour out of their habitats and head on a dead run to dear old Beta would perhaps mystify and amuse one. Of course, the easiest way to discover the reason for the exodus would be to follow the crowds. To those who are unable to do so, but are blessed with the sense of a true detective we offer certain clews: three times a day, everyone at the same time, the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. Of course, now you have it. Beta is the house with the dining room. Furthermore, Beta contains our Common Room. In this, against the west wall, stands a tried and true piano. Although its fame is not so great as that of the one reclining against the wall in the Gamma house basement, yet it has been the nucleus of many a torrid jam session. The Common Room on some occa- sions is used for a blood thirsty game of checkers. Alas, with all those beautiful card tables, it is a shame no fourth for bridge has yet appeared. The second floor is by far the quietest in the building. Here Doc and Mrs. Cook have their living quarters-at least officially these are their quarters, but actually most of the student body takes up its abode there to get help over hard spots in math. Mr. McClintock also lives on this floor and does some pinch hit- ting for Doc on Monday and Wednesday nights. The third floor is justly famous. More goes on there than any one on the campus hears about. It is impossible to tell just what happensg remembering what happened to George on his birthday when only four caught up with him, would you say anything? Lyman Bull Evans, who comes from Syracuse, N. Y., received his nickname on the night of our Christmas party, when he was presented with a replica of Ferdinand,-just why, it is hard to say. Next to Lyman lives Howard Dietz, who comes from Englewood, when he can, in his new sports roadster. We used to tease Howard about his woo-wagon and gave him a nice little blue sportster at the party, but now that we have seen his LaSalle we will say no more. Robert Bugs Beadle, another inhabitant of the third floor, whose object in life is to attend Syracuse University, comes from Richfield Springs, N. Y. With such a school as we have across the street on the banks of the old Raritan we can not see why Robert even remembers that there is such a place as Syracuse, unless perhaps the reason is the many letters he receives bearing the Syracuse post- mark. The fourth resident is George Styskal whose home is on Long Island. George will always be remembered for his beautiful hair-wave which suddenly disappeared Twenty-Eight ,. . -WN..