Worcester Polytechnic Institute - Peddler Yearbook (Worcester, MA)

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ALEXANDER WILMER DUFF “A. Wtimer” 4 2K SS Professor of Physics. (Leave of absence for Aviation Service.) B. A., Univ. of New Brunswick, 1884, and Univ. of London, 1887; M. A., University of Edinburgh, 1888, B. Sc., 1892, and D. Sc., 1901; Professor of Physics, Univ. of Madras, 1889-90; Univ. of New Brunswick, 1890-93; Purdue, 1893-99; W. P. I„ 1899- . Our appreciation of Professor Duff’s genius dates back to the time when we first sat in the Physics lecture room and watched the curtains descend un¬ touched by human hands. Since that day, we have seen him perform complex integrations mentally, compute percentage of error by knowing intuitionally just what terms to neglect, and in fact we have become so accus¬ tomed to witnessing the extraordinary that we look upon the one or two days when Professor Duff was just ordinarily good as startling events. Professor Duff served as an expert in aviation during the war, thus adding further to a scientific reputation already national in extent. ARTHUR WILLARD FRENCH “Pa” 2S Professor of Civil Engineering C. E., Dartmouth, 1892; Associate Professor of Civil Engineering, Dartmouth, 1895-98; Professor, W. P. I., 1899- . “You can fool some of the people all the time, and all of the people some of the time,” et cetera; also “exception proves the rule,” so that Professor French must be the exception, if the first quaint old maxim be true. The first two premises may lead to- some very amusing logic; but it is true philosophy that no civil ever faked a recitation on “Pa” and “got away with it.” However, Professor French does not rely on the baseball scorer’s art to keep tabs on his embryo engineers; thorough, frank and careful in his teaching; ready with good advice on school or other matters; friendly and companionable in his relations with his students; he has no superiors and few equals as a teacher. Page 16 1Q1Q Aftermath 1Q1Q

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ZELOTES WOOD COOMBS “ Coombsie” AA 1 ( 1 BK Professor of English and Secretary of the Faculty A. B., Amherst, 1888, and A. M., 1895; Instructor in English, Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute, 1888-89; Univ. of Virginia, 1889-90; Clerk and Assistant in Languages, W. P. I., 1891-92; Instructor in Modern Languages, 1892-95; Assistant Professor, 1895-1901; Professor of French, 1901-03; Modern Languages, 1903-13; Secretary of the Faculty, 1910- ; Professor of English 1913-. “Coming around the corner of Boynton Hall, the Gymnasium appears.” This is but a sample of the many striking expressions which serve to keep fresh in our memory the English course given by Prof. Coombs. We also have a hazy recollection of a vast number of languages from which the English language sprang, and well remember the ill success that attended our efforts to “put one over on Coombsie,” modify our voice, and persuade him that a certain absent member was present at the English lectures. Few men in the school have done more in extolling the many advantages of Tech and in faithfully supporting its activities. HAROLD BABBITT SMITH “H. B.” BOH 23 Professor of Electrical Engineering. (Leave of absence in New London for Naval Service.) M. E., Cornell, 1891; Adjunct Professor of Electrical Engineering, Arkansas State Univ., 1892-93; Professor of Electrical Engineering, Purdue, 1893-96; W. P. I. 1896- . “We will have a quiz tomorrow,” says “H. B„” and we know we are in for an hour of the most rapid work of which a slide rule is capable. Those quizzes made us realize how much of electrical engineering we did not know, and, but for the fact that when it came to the final grades Professor Smith passed all who showed any signs of intelligence whatsoever, we should all have come to grief. During much of our course “H. B.” was away, spend¬ ing his time on important government work in New London. From what we have heard from various sources, and from what we know of Professor Smith, we are sure that he did his full share towards “Making the World Safe for Democracy.” Page 15 1Q1Q Aftermath 1Q1Q c 3

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Ullllllllllllllllllllllllllllll WILLIAM WARREN BIRD “Piggy” A Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Director of the Washburn Shops B. S., W. P. I., 1887; Instructor in Mechanical En¬ gineering, W. P. I., 1887-91; Assistant Professor of Steam Engineering, 1894-96; Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Director of the Washburn Shops, 1903- . Prof. Bird graduated from the Institute in the Class of 1887. He remained here as an instructor and grad¬ uate student for the next three years. After completing this work he took charge of his father’s foundry in Cambridge for the next few years. He returned to the Institute in 1903 as head of the Mechanical Engineering Department and director of the Washburn Shops. It was not until our Senior year that we met this rather stout gentleman. (We have heard of his walks around Worcester to keep him thin, but we failed to see the results.) There is not a better-liked man on the Hill than “Piggy,” and we will miss his advice about how the Institute is only to teach us to reason for ourselves. PERCY ROBERT CARPENTER “Percy” “Carp” 2AE Professor of Physical Education. (Leave of absence for Y. M. C. A. sendee in France.) A. B., Harvard, 1907; Hitchcock, Fellow, Amherst, 1906-09; Assistant Dean, 1908-10; Instructor in Phys¬ ical Education, 19C9-10; Assistant Professor, 1910-11; Associate Professor, 1911-16; Professor of Physical Education W. P. I., 1916- . It was not till our Sophomore year that we met “Percy,” but we soon found out that, though he was small, he was full of “pep.” “If it hurts, it shows that you need it,” was a common saying of his. Although “Carp” kept us busy it was a pleasure to work with him. Professor Carpenter has done more to bring the fellows together and to better Tech Spirit than most of us realize. His course has filled a large gap at Tech, and his efforts in strengthening our athletics will be more and more appreciated. The past year has seen Prof. Carpenter in France supervising the athletic games of the French and American Armies. We hope that next fall will see him back at Tech with his same old “pep.”