Month: November 2017

From the College Heights Low Down, Vol 2, No 9, March 6, 1938:

WANTED: A THESAURUS. What with the crowded life of today and its rapid tempo, abbreviations are necessary all along to get the days work done. Old timers sometimes have difficulty in understanding the modern idiom, and when abbreviated the task is hopeless. Recently the editor was confronted with a letter containing “S.S.&G.” in it. After much research he found the meaning. To help others (which is our mission in life) we are listing a few common terms with definitions and each week this will be a regular department. Send in your queries.[...] read more

First two month of 1938 have been added to the Low Down files. Sure wish I’d gotten to know our grandfather longer. I think this is my favorite excerpt so far. (I’m guessing Uncle Lyman wasn’t much of a communicator when he was at Harvard…)

ASLEEP ON AN ICE FLOE. In the darkness of an arctic dawn amid swirling snow flurries the relief party detrained at the South Station and battled their way through redcaps and penguins to the tunnel to the North. At the Northern end of the tunnel the relief party ran into extreme conditions. Snow drifts 15 to 20 feet deep, natives on skis and the party didn’t even have rubbers. After five miles of slow progress not over a quarter of a mile an hour the party finally located the explorers hut. Inside we found the sole survivor buried under a two foot blanket of snow. Hastily he arose to dress without a word as befitting in the presence of his senior. Our emotions were near the bursting point. We said simply, “Mr. Josephs I believe.” With the emotion of six months pent up silence of the North, he barely whispered in reply, “HIYA POP.”
– LCJ. Jr., “College Heights Low Down,” Feb. 20, 1938[...] read more

From “The College Heights Low Down,” Vol 1, No. 8, Dec. 5, 1937, by LCJ, Jr.:

A mosquito is designed with a small fuselage, light undercarriage and landing gear, and monoplane wing structure, motor mounted forward and running at high speed resulting in a sound approaching high C, and in the forward cowling is mounted a powerful machine gun deadly at short range. A mosquito is essentially a pursuit ship quickly maneuvered, fast in landing and taking off. So far no sure defense has been developed against these devils of the air. General Gorgas however did much to put down their production.[...] read more