Worcester Polytechnic Institute - Peddler Yearbook (Worcester, MA)

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He hectored the poor cusses at U. of P. for a year or so and then we had to suffer. During his career at Tech, he has collected an enormous number of replies to his inevitable remark, “ Are there any questions? ” He always defers any answer to those questions until the next recitation, but we never knew that recitation to come. But when all’s said and done, there are lots of things that have been poked into our ivory domes by “ Reddy ” that never, would have gotten there any other way. Like the rest of the department, he has given us a square deal, and when we leave the Hill we are leaving a good friend of the 1911 Civils. George R. Olshausen, M.E., Ph. D., Assistant Professor of ' Theoretical Electrical Engineering Professor Olshausen received his first degree in Washington University in 1890, and has acted in many and varied capacities since that time. His work has been mostly of a theoretical character, however, and because of remarkable proficiency in that respect, he came to the Institute in 1907 to teach mathematics and theoretical electrical engineering. The courses in this subject have been unique to the students in their presentation. Professor Olshausen is wont to start a problem by remark¬ ing, “ We’ll take a point, ‘ p,’ out here and call it ‘q,’ ” and then goes on to explain, “It is not usually customary,” but “ all what you got to do,” when the present system of units is not satisfactory, is to make another system, “ if you like.” A living instance and exponent of the fourth possible curve in human attitude and poise, as well as an extreme advocate of the extended promul¬ gation of the helical tendencies in gestures, George has endeared himself to us by his remarkable manner of conducting a class and by his absolute dis¬ regard of mathematical difficulties. David L. Gallup, M.E., Assistant Professor of Gas Engineering “ Davy ” has risen from the ranks of the instructors and become an assistant professor during our sojourn at Tech. Gas engines are his spe¬ cialty, and he generally has one spitting violently into the atmosphere of 27

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interested in athletics, especially football. And he still has that interest, for he is always on deck at the games, and it is his custom to entertain the football team at his house each year. A singular trait, that is seen each year in his classroom, is the method in which he shows the students how to select an “ arbitrarily chosen ” point. He closes his eyes and hurls a piece of chalk in the general direction of the blackboard. If it strikes the slate he considers the point of impact as “ arbitrarily chosen.” Professor Butter¬ field usually has a few stories up his sleeve, and also he usually has a few problems for the class at the end of each hour. He enjoys sitting at his desk and watching the progress of the students in the “ very simple” inte¬ grations that he has just put on the board. He enjoys taking the papers of each one, as they are brought up to him, and either “ checking ” them or, as he exhales a long breath, placing a long, lean question-mark through the whole example. Howard Chapin Ives, C.E., Assistant Professor of Railroad Engineering A second cousin to the gink that built the first wooden nutmeg, it stands to reason that “ Reddy ” comes from the Nutmeg State. There are many mysteries surrounding this specimen of the genus Civil. Possibly the most puzzling question that occurs to us is why he was ever christened Howard Chapin. How could they have gazed at his lovely, wavy, straw¬ berry-blond locks and then have perpetrated Howard Chapin? Anyhow, the defect has been remedied and only in the catalogue can you find his official cognomen. “ Reddy ” he has been, is, and always will be, unless some of those Chemists get busy with the peroxide. His early career was unmarked by any distinction except an ability to ask fool questions, a trait which he has never outgrown. Sheff was enlightened by his hair for three long years, but the sad part of it was that the enlightening was all one-sided, at least we have never seen any signs of reciprocation on Sheff’s part. After having dazzled Sheff, “ Reddy ” gave the Pennsylvania lines, “ West of Pittsburg ,” the value of his presence. Don’t forget that “ West of Pittsburg,” for that is the important part of the job. The only reason that he isn’t down there now is because he was mistaken for a danger signal so often that they couldn’t keep the schedule. 26

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the lab and driving everyone else out into the open. Our intercourse with him has been limited to a few afternoons in lab and a twelve-hour course, followed by a two-year exam. His classroom recreation seems to be pump¬ ing the near-wise ones dry of information, and waxing sarcastic when the supply of information begins to fail. He is one of a few professors who are not afraid to get their hands dirty if necessary. He is a graduate of the Institute, Class of 1901, and as such he ought to know better. Carl D. Knight, E. E., Assistant Pro fessor of Experimental Electrical Engineering C. D. graduated from Tech in 1903, but had such affection for Wor¬ cester and the Institute that he was unable to break away, and so stayed on as instructor in lab. Mechanics who work under him look upon him as a sort of ogre whose chief amusement is found in the bewilderment of the poor fellows who try to do his bidding without knowing exactly what is wanted. The Electrics, however, have found the reason for this method of teaching, and, as a result, are ready to agree that the lab course as presented under the direction of Professor Knight is one of the very best, and that without it the department would be sadly lacking. F. Bonnet, Jr., Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Che?nistry Doctor Bonnet, the reformed civil engineer, the man without a nick¬ name, is a hard one to describe. His cherubic countenance has nearly caused his hazing at the hands of ignorant Sophs, but that can’t happen now, as he lectures to the Freshmen. We remember how he spruced up, pressed his pants, took a reef in his collar, and cut out the dope-sticks shortly after coming under the influence of the present Mrs. B.—but he’s married now, and his family cares have put him back where he was. He is apt to take a fellow into his confidence, beginning thus: “ You know, when you’ve got a baby,” etc.; and there follows a philosophical talk on the difficulty of renting a flat, and the necessity of buying yourself a house. Imitation may be the sincerest flattery, but if absolute agreement with all expressed opinions comes next, we imagine that the acting head of the Chem Department feels quite tickled after a talk with Bonnet. But, to drop the slamming, if you want to know anything about chemistry, ask Bonnet; it has to be some sticker to make him say, “ I don’t know.” 28