1912
Doc O'Connor recently returned from a two weeks' trip to the Pacific Coast made in connection with the affairs of the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis. In Los Angeles he gathered Nipper Knapp, Brian Robie, Ole Ahlswede, Jim Oneal, and Syd Ickes for a "reunion." It was his first meeting with Robie in thirty-three years and with Syd in thirty-one years.
As a result we have received a copy of "The "Desert Rats' Musical Shorthand System, by B. W. Robie." From its preface we glean the following, concerning the author: "To begin with, I must deny being a graduate of any schools of music. I have not studied abroad and I have labored under the direction of no famous teachers. Except for a possible half-dozen lessons from two or three nondescript teachers, my whole musical education was from my mother, on the piano, and from my father on band instruments When I became old enough to go to Dartmouth College, my mother gave me her most cherished possession, her old Prescott piano. My room became popular for music lovers and I soon learned other music than classical. In fact, I began to show an ability at faking that I hadn't known I possessed, and I was soon playing all the popular music of the day, including rag-time, as it was then known. But after two years, 1 left college and began to earn my own living, using music as a side-line; but always my pleasure has been with music I find that during all those years I was unconsciously acquiring a knowledge of the structure of chords which now enables me to express a group of facts about harmony which I believe to be the simplest and most complete course in existence."
Sons and daughters in service .... The war activities of the second, generation of the Lewises is all Navy: Mary is an ensign in the Navy Nurses Corps; Betty's husband, Don Taber, is in command of a subchaser; Guy Jr. recently received his wings in Naval Aviation at Corpus Christi, Texas, and was commissioned an ensign. "On looking at yourself in the mirror," says Roy, "you will probably realize why the services don't want anything to do with the older generation." .... Don Burnham will soon complete his first year in medicine in the Navy School at Hanover. Jim Burnham was graduated from Phillips Andover in June and was inducted into the Army almost immediately. He had qualified for A-12, and is in basic training at Camp Hood, Texas. After that, he will be sent to some college for further specialized training Carle Rollins's oldest son is a Naval Air Cadet in training at Glenview, Ill. The younger boy is finishing his senior year in high school and anticipates entering Navy V-12 next year. Mrs. Rollins is Red Cros staff assistant and a Civil Defense nurse.
Betty Boylan, oldest daughter of Joe and May Boylan, was married on August 15 to J. Donnell Sullivan, formerly a civil engineer for the City of Cambridge, Mass., but more recently a First Class Petty Officer in the CBs, the construction force of the Navy. The groom is now stationed at Davisville, R. 1., having completed his boot and advance training at Camp Perry, Williamsburg, Va. Betty for the past two years has been executive secretary in the Fall River, Mass., Chapter of the American Red Cross. Because of the uncertainty as to when Joe's new son-in-law will leave for overseas duty, Betty will continue her present duties with the Red Cross. Katherine, Joe's second oldest daughter, acted as bridesmaid for her sister, getting off from the War Department where she is employed as stenographer. Carol, the next girl, is entering her senior year at Regis College, Weston, Mass., this fall, having spent the summer working for the Office of Defense Transportation in Boston. The oldest boy Stephen, who was 18 in April, was placed in 4F, due to poor eyesight. Donald is in high school and worked last summer for the B. & M., pushing freight: "The rest of the family, including May and the three remaining boys are just a liability, the boys going to school, while May sits home counting the money we all turn in and directing the corporation's affairs generally.". . . .Warren Bruner's oldest son, Foster, is a mining engineer in Bolivia, after having been classified as 4F in the original draft. The next boy, Ingersoll, was also recently rejected. Having had a year and a half in college, he will continue his college course, specializing in physics and mathematics with the hopes of getting in as meteorologist, or some kind of mechanic, radio expert, or navigator. The next boy, Pudge, "still has a year to go before Uncle Sam crooks his finger at him." He is starting college this Fall and will also go in as heavily as possible on the engineering side of education
A self-explanatory epistle: "Two or three generations junior to the limerick, but a hell of a lot handier than a pantoum of a Chant Royale, the newest 'fixed form' of English verse is named and mechanically described on Page 9 of a little handbook I am mailing to you under separate cover.
"If you are one of those who opine that the unconditional surrender of Hitlerite Germany will occur on March 15 and that of Tojo-esque Japan will start the dancing in the street on the anniversary of 'Doc' O'Connor's election as Mayor of Hanover, N. H., do you STILL think we can afford to clutter up the post-war calendar with TWO more national holidays?
"For the world's one and only specific and wholly practical piece of post-war planning,' I refer you to Pp. 11-12 of the aforementioned handbook, where it was first mentioned. You can see that, considering its 36 pages, it's a tome that scans broad horizons—practically global or something, as Mrs. Luce would say. It takes at least four years at a Liberal Arts college to appreciate .this work .... and I'm counting on you .... but if there are any obscure allusions you don't understand, call on 'Doc.' He has a long memory and an earthy mind from long association with people like Queechee French, Bill Hogg, and certain of his former law partners of the pre-Urion era.
"Come to think of it, he's chairman of the board or adviser of so many far-flung organizations—why don't we get him to head up an International Society for the Consolidation of United National Holidays—unless you can think of a longer name that'll give us more scope? Just remember what happened to the G.A.R.'s Memorial Day, which now covers our devotions to the 'honored dead' of all wars. Yours for the fun of it, LYME."
The September issue of Readers' Digest carried a story of the work of Johnson O'Connor's Human Engineering Laboratory, under the title "What Are You Really Fitted For?"
Warren Bruner leaves the Office of the Chief of Ordnance at Washington where he was engaged in management engineering for the Control Branch, to have charge of a program for the Curtiss -Wright Corp., of recruiting and training college women for engineering positions. His work will require a lot of traveling, so he may be seeing you.
Buster Sawyer is starting his third year as superintendent of schools at East Longmeadow, Hampden, and Wilbraham, Mass. He has put in a year and a half of weekly duty at the local obserfour to eight A.M. shift, and is a director of the Lions Club.
Ray Tobey spent the summer at his family home, Pine Cone Farm, Fairfield, Maine, trimming pines in a little forest he planted in 1926. Before resuming his duties for the school year at Choate School, Wallingford, Conn., he gave a lecture on local geology at the Good Will Schools at Hinckley, Maine.
Bob Baird heads up the Bi-Lateral Fire Hose Co., 20 Wacker Drive, Chicago, Ill.
1912 REUNES at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles—Nipper Knapp, Brian Robie, Doc O'Conner, Ole Ahlswede, Jim Oneal, and Syd Ickes—obviously, a good time was had by all.
Secretary, 311 First RcL, Arlington, Va. Treasurer, Signal Corps, War Dept. Washington, D. C.
