Worcester Polytechnic Institute - Peddler Yearbook (Worcester, MA)

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ALEXANDER WILMER DUFF “ A. WArner” 3 2 K 2 E Do you remember the day that “A Wilmer” grabbed hold of some high-frequency and the sparks shot off his coat-tails? And the Sophomore Banquet with Dr. Duff, and his ghost stories and poetry? These are just some of the high spots which stand out in the picture which his delightful personality has im¬ pressed indelibly on our memory. Of Dr. Duff’s ability as a scientist, little need be said. After hearing him speak casually of experi¬ ments and research conducted in various univer¬ sities all over the world, and after hearing his “Physics” denounced in glowing terms by unam¬ bitious students in many American colleges, we could but realize how fortunate we were to be under his guidance. And we, who recited under him, and saw him do complicated mathematics in his head more caught a flash of the uncanny ability behind his ARTHUR WILLARD FRENCH “Pa” 2 H As underclassmen, we knew “Pa” only by reputa¬ tion and by sight—and neither was at all reassuring. But the intimate personal contact of the Senior year turned all our early misgivings into a hearty admiration and respect. Strict we found him to be in insisting upon a man’s best effort, and uncanny in his ability to uncover a bluff, but always abso¬ lutely square, and never too busy to assist in straight¬ ening out a difficulty. And his class-room hours will be recalled quite as much for the principles of plain common sense there laid down, as for the technical knowledge gained. “Pa” has little regard for solutions-by-formula. and the “pocket-book engin¬ eer”; and the ability to attack any problem through a firm grasp of its fundamentals, rather than by rule- of-thumb methods, is a large element in the heritage of his Civils. accurately than we could on paper, reputation. 22

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ZELOTES WOOD COOMBS “ Coombsie ” A A $ $ B K The professor whom every freshman knows, and the professor who knows every freshman—that is Coombsie. And notice the way we wield the “who’s” and “whom’s” without worry or disaster; it shows that Coombsie has met with some success. It is said that every freshman has the idea that Professor Coombs is President of the Institute. Certain is it that he plays an important part in our first two years on the Hill. And we know that when we come back years hence to visit the old school, we will find Coombsie awaiting us with a hearty hand¬ shake, and our name on the tip of his tongue. Coombsie’s years in the classroom have been productive of several historic expressions and his “bulletin hoard coming along the corridor” is almost classic. Coombsie has the interests of Tech always close to his heart, and is one of its most ardent supporters. HAROLD BABBITT SMITH “H. B.” B©n 2H t b n It is one of the peculiar tendencies of human nature for those of us who enjoy some special privilege in life to take considerable pride in our good fortune. And for that reason the Electrics take great satisfaction in being the only ones who have had the opportunity of meeting H. B. Smith in the class room. We had hardly begun our Junior course in Design before we re alized that we were dealing with one of the “big men” in Electrical Engineering, and that the notes, which a knowledge of short hand would have helped us to take down, were the result of many years of practical experience in Electrical work. Both inside the class room and anywhere else that we have encountered him, “H. B.” has always shown his willingness to cooperate and help us out of our difficulties, and on no occasion has he shown any impatience or lack of good nature. 21

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WILLIAM WARREN BIRD “ Piggie ” m w After having “Pigg ie” in classroom work, we regretted that we did not have the good fortune of meeting him before our Senior year. One never left his class without a clear understand¬ ing of the subject matter of the day. Even the com¬ plicated problems in Shop Management with the ever bothersome “Production Credits” and “Shop Credits,” were straightened up with his guidance. It was easy, it seems, to see things after “Piggie” had reduced them to a “basis.” In Abstracts, however, he was at his best. After patiently listening to the “abstract of the day,” then came his turn. From the questions that fol¬ lowed, we soon learned that he knows a great deal about a variety of different subjects. Not only is Professor Bird an able teacher, but also he is a staunch friend. He has the welfare of the students continually in mind. This and his congenial spirit, and his appreciation of humor has won for him the admira¬ tion and respect of us all. PERCY ROBERT CARPENTER “Percy” S A E Percy Carpenter seems as though he ought to be the busiest man on the Hill, when you go over and talk with him, and hear of the various schemes he has planned and is operating, but still he manages to get time for them all. He is the man that built the much-loved Physi-Ed department, and it is he who does all the worrying and much of the work con¬ cerned with the success of our athletic teams. When anything needs efficient management the job is turned over to “Percy”; as was the case with the Book and Supply Department. We predict that if the rat-hole should change managers, he would be elected. Professor Carpenter’s ideas are what have helped the Institute most, for he seems to have them in abundance, coupled with the executive ability to carry them out. We have him to thank for bringing the N. E. I. C. A. A. meet to Worcester this year. 23