Worcester Polytechnic Institute - Peddler Yearbook (Worcester, MA)

Page 31 text:

WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE Robert Chauncey Sweetser, B.S. Assistant Professor of Analytical Chemistry. In “Bobby” we have a splendid illustra¬ tion of the principle that “appearances are deceitful.” His stony, immovable face sug¬ gests a cruel questioner of the type of the ancient sphinx, with impossible problems and a harsh fate. But, oh how different he is! His ques tions are of the type one should know —not some little things slid over in a lecture. He shows how simple analysis is,—“Fresh¬ man chemistry and grammar-school arith¬ metic.” No one sharks his courses and no one fails, a happy medium. His smile is his great characteristic. Yes, he really can smile and has done so three times publicly in our four years. But though you don’t smile, “Bobby,” we know from ex¬ perience that your heart is larger than that of many a man and your many little kind acts more than make up for it. As a disciple of simplified pronunciation and spelling, “Bobby” puts “T. R. in the shade. It saves time but it would never “get by Coombsie” on a theme. At first “pscptate,” “slooshn,” rackshun and “pseedja” will puzzle your mind, but at length they become a part of Bobby to all. Anyone who comes in contact with “Bobby” is impressed with the fact that he is deal¬ ing with a straight-forward gentleman, whose aim is to be helpful in a kindly, unobtru¬ sive way. 1 27 ]

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THE AFTERMATH CLASS OF NINETEEN FIFTEEN Albert Sutton Richey, E.E. Professor of Electric Railway Engineering. Little do most of the students realize of the greatness of this man. There are but few others on our Faculty who have made a wider reputation in the engineering field than he has. Professor Richey is a true specialist, and so for us a will-o’-the-wisp, though for half a year he has sat before us, during our Senior year, while we held forth on some article seized after frenzied search through the library. His varied experience has brought him into the following positions: A. E. R. E. A.—Member of Power Dis¬ tribution Electrolysis and Standards Com¬ mittees, Representative on National Joint Overhead and Underground Line Construc¬ tion; National Joint Electrolysis Committ ee. A. I. E. E.—Member of Railway Com¬ mittee, Consulting Engineer. The above committee appointments indi¬ cate the impression he has made on the prac¬ tising engineering profession. Then, too, he is the author of that priceless book, “Bill” Greenough’s “Compilation of Data.” Howard Chapin Ives, C.E. Professor of Railroad Engineering. To become acquainted with Professor Ives “virtually” requires only that one remains in one of his classes for a week’s time. The new-comer is at once deeply impressed by his austere ways, his extremely cautious meth¬ ods and the manner in which he looks at his own feet. When seniors are in trouble about their marks, they usually seek out the Professor to obtain his advice,—and they get it, a-plenty. “Virtually,” it’s like letting loose a twisted spring; but the Professor usually makes his point. He doesn’t see the sense m anybody’s playing tricks on him, and when a silly student stuffs tooth-paste in the key¬ hole of his office-door, he doesn’t pay the slightest attention to the mean trick! He simply states to his class the next day that he thinks the performance foolish; and that it reminds him of “when he was down to Penn.” Yet “Reddy’s” ways, manners and methods are thoroughly liked, and his kind¬ liness toward us is duly appreciated by all. [ 2G ]

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THE AFTERMATH CLASS OF NINETEEN FIFTEEN men at heart and no one wishes them more Frederic Bonnet, Jr., Ph.D. Professor of Chemistry. Dr. Frederic Bonnet, Jr., received his B.S. at Washington University in 1899 and his Ph.D. at Harvard in 1903; hence the war¬ rant for his usual handle, “Doc.” “Doc” has studied molecular compressibility, he is an adept at glass-blowing and is always will¬ ing to talk sanitation, especially garbage dis¬ posal and pigs. In fact “Doc” is “there” in all lines of chemistry, but he is, nevertheless, a firm believer in discipline. Who will forget the day when in Freshman Chemistry, fol¬ lowing Professor Coombs’s advice, we all stamped our feet in an attempt to get him to stop the lecture after the bell had rung? Vain effort! He finished the Chemistry lec¬ ture, and another besides. “Doc” is one of the few Faculty members who never “screws” a man on 59.9 -(- per cent. He either gives him 55 or 65 (accord¬ ing to the Freshman it is more often 55). But, be that as it may. Dr. Bonnet is a friend of every Tech man and as such he will be remembered by the Class of 1915. Carleton Allen Read, B.S. Professor of Steam Engineering. Professor Read received his B.S. degree from M. I. T. in 1891, returning to that Institution as Instructor in Mechanical Engin¬ eering. In 1 908 he came to Worcester and has been since that time the Professor of Steam Engineering. We were told that he believed in conducting a boiler test where the students should meet with all of the troubles and difficulties which might arise; also that no equipment should be provided. After having conducted one of the student tests we may well believe it now. During the last part of the Senior year Professor Read arranged a lecture course which rivaled the “Chatauqua” in novelty. He is deeply interested in refrigeration and he has spent considerable of his time in the various plants in the vicinity. When he gets out the little red book and looks around with a vacant stare we know something is sure to happen. In the class room and outside Professor Read is the same congenial and agreeable person. He has the interests of all Tech success than he. 1 28 ]