Worcester Polytechnic Institute - Peddler Yearbook (Worcester, MA)

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M.M.E. He was made an Instructor in the Electrical Department of the Institute on its formation in 1896. He was promoted to Assistant Professor in 1901 and to Professor of Electrical Engineering in 1907. He is an Asso¬ ciate Member of the A. I. E. E. “ Uncle Joe ” is a very quiet unobtrusive sort of person, but like many quiet people there’s a twinkle in his eye. His still small voice is heard in many a quiz and lecture during the Junior year. The worst thing he has ever been heard to say is “ Red Label seats; no books or notes,” and even then he sometimes writes it on the board to get out of saying it. Neverthe¬ less he drilled us thoroughly in the fundamentals and gave us a good start in electrical subjects. During the past year, as Acting Head of the Elec¬ trical Department, he has had many a heart to heart talk with us individ¬ ually and has made a firm friend of one and all. Albert S. Richey, E.E., Professor of Electric Railway Engineering Professor Richey was born in Muncie, Ind., in 1874. He graduated from Purdue University in 1894, receiving the degree of E.E. He has held high positions with several Indiana railways, including the Citizen’s St. Ry. Co. of Muncie, Marion City Ry. Co., Union Traction Co. and Indianap¬ olis Northern Traction Co. In 1905 he was appointed Assistant Professor of Electric Railway Engineering at the Institute, being promoted in 1907 to full Professorship. He is a member of the A. I. E. E., Sigma Xi and Tau Beta Pi. For the past few years he has been consulting engineer for several Massachusetts Street Railway companies. Professor Richey has a reputation for being lazy, but only among those who do not know what a large amount of outside work he handles. He spends comparatively little time on the Hill. If he is called away suddenly he never forgets to leave one of the dozens of written quizzes which he has on tap to be served by some other member of the Department. No one was ever known to tell everything he was expected to in one of these exams. One could write a book on the subject and then be sure to have left out at least half the very important points. Nevertheless Prof. Richey’s course in Railways is one of the bright spots in the last year at the Institute. Carleton A. Read, S.B., Professor of Steam Engineering Prof. Read is a graduate of M. I. T., and for several years has had charge of the work in Steam Engineering at W. P. I. Since the first half of Junior 26

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minutes past the hour. In comes the last of the “ fresh air advocates ” or “ who’s got the makin gs ” crowd. Four and a half minutes past the hour, all watches are out, and in strolls “ Charlie,” hands thrust deep into his trousers’ pockets with his little green copy of “ Russel’s ” under his arm. He appears little relieved from his usual tiredness by a night’s sleep and seats himself comfortably behind the lecture table. “ Is everybody here? ” he asks, and the ever ready answer comes from the front row, “ All here.” That is so much easier than calling the roll. “ What is the lesson? ” is the next question. Then, “ Any questions? ” A pause. “ Well, if you don’t ask any I will.” This customary threat brings forth the questions. One requires some sketching for an explanation, and with much effort “ Charlie ” succeeds in getting some chalk. He puts a number of lines on the board that might represent anything from Porter’s Sewing Machine to a complete H ydro-Electric Station. A smile from the class invariably brings out the explanation, “ Oh, this is just a ‘diagramatic sketch.’ Now,” he continues, “ you have a vane dike unto this.’ ” Then we hear “ the overalls and dinner pail ” story which comes out every other year. Its gray whiskers would show if told oftener. “ Who knows what anchor ice is? ” Silence. “ Well, I don’t know what it is nor does anybody else so I’ll tell you about it.” As the end of the hour draws near a problem is given. “ How much horse power in a mile of ocean? ” Which, say the Electrics, might just as well be, “ How much horse power in a yard of pump water? ” Speaking of the Electrics “ Charlie ” says that if the real old-time Quaker meetings were as bad as those he holds with the Electrics he is glad he didn’t live during those early days. But the Electrics were wise in their silence. It’s a safe thing not to ask too many questions on the start or you’ll have to play “ the goat ” the remainder of the term. “ Sympathy ” was ever the motto of all regarding marks, because it is hard work guessing at so many grades. In contrast to some of his associates “ Charlie ” can change his opinion of a person or subject. A careless disregard for facts and his amusing style of relating his many experiences enables him to drive much gloom from the Seniors and keep him in good standing with them. Joseph 0. Phelon, M.M.E., Professor of Electrical Engineering Professor Phelon was born in Cherry Valley, N.Y. He graduated from W. P. I. in 1887, in the Mechanical Department, and was appointed Assistant in Physics. In 1890 he received the degree of B.S. in Electrical Engineering, and in 1901, after working a year at Cornell, the degree of 25

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year we have tried in vain to escape the snares with which he has so patiently attempted to entangle our feet. Starting with the Zeuner diagram he led us a merry chase around a circle, from which we emerged only to find our¬ selves deep in the mazes of the temperature—entropy charts. The journey has been painful and wearisome at times not only to us but to our guide as well. We did not take kindly to his adiabatic changes and often in the midst of some strange cycle of events awakened to find that he had been putting on the pressure and also that the indicator cards at the office showed that most of the events of our strokes came too late. The little side trips which we were forced monthly to take, much against our wills, would have been far pleasanter if it had been possible to have conducted these gruellings without the watchdog’s (Sammie’s) presence. However these events are all forgiven and overshadowed by the joyful event which occurred at his last exercise in Steam. Although Professor Read did not always succeed in making the subject under discussion interesting still he is to be given credit for his patience and conscientious endeavor. Just how lenient he has been we will never know. Furthermore we will never ask, but will leave our thanks and best wishes with him as we depart. Arthur W. Ewell, Ph.D., Professor of Physics Far and wide over the Hill the monosyllable “ Punk ” brings forth a smile; perhaps in some cases it is a grim, sickly smile, but it is a smile. Any time in the day one can see his graceful cosmos flitting around the Physical Labs or hear his harmonic, though scarcely harmonious, overtones as he conducts brilliant recitations. We might suggest that the interfer¬ ence of sound waves can hardly compare in complexity with the well remem¬ bered interference of his pedal extremities, which brought forth the inevit¬ able “ ’Schuseme.” Most any time he might appear with his neck heavily bandaged, indicating a cold, or with one foot concealed in a heavy overshoe, indicating another attack of “ ’Schuseme.” His greatest passions are the use of colored chalk and the radiation correction. Word for word like the textbook is the only correct recitation in his class, and more discussion is entered into over the wording of answers than of the correctness of the idea. Nevertheless, perhaps it goes with the Science, for Doctor Ewell is recognized as one of the foremost physicists in the country. Arthur D. Butterfield, M.S., A.M., Professor of Mathematics We had almost forgotten that Butterfield was a Prof. It seems too bad to think that he has got to come down to that menial work again some-