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_THE RECORD.
Thursday, December 2, 1948
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The Home Away From Home
By Tom Roeser
One might say that a forty-three year old frame house which has served the Avon community as hotel, rooming house, -convent and school for handicapped children had completed a cycle of utility. But no. Today it leans toward education. It is a far flung outpost of St. John's student housing system.
Known as Schoffman Hall it is the nominal home for ten students who share the spacious upstairs. The rooms are wide. In many instances there are friendly windows which overhang the street. A maid spends two hours a day sweeping and making beds. There are four sinks.
"We bought the house" stated Mr. Schoffman, chemistry professor at St. John's, "as a place to live, and to house some day students if we could."
He conducted a tour of the place with the pride of a Virginia mansion owner. Everywhere new wallpaper, fresh plaster, signs of hard work.
"And now," he said in climax, "we'll go upstairs."
Upstairs.
1 'That's funny,'' said Mr. Schoffmann peering into the empty rooms, "they were here a minute ago."
He smiled. "Kids."
A few" minutes later nine freshmen bounded up the stairs.
1 'We were down the street'' they told him, "playing ball."
"They play at the Town Hall" said Mr. Schoffmann, "I watch them sometimes."
He smiled fondly and said, "Give this man what he asks for and start studying." He went downstairs.
Then tales of Mr. Schoffman as more than a "prefect" or "landlord" were told by the nine.
"Thanksgiving was great" said one. ' 'Twenty-two pounds of turkey."
"He took us to the Homecom-
ing Dance," said another. "Some of us had dates."
"He helps me with math," interrupted a little guy with gratitude shining in his eyes. "And I'm getting it now."
When the reporter left Schoffman Hall there was a bonfire of good cheer burning in his heart. There is only one more task. To record the names of the ten lucky residents. They are all freshmen but one, Charles Weber. He was home for the weekend and could not be interviewed. The others are: Jim Clay, Jerry Holtzman, Tom Kelm, Ronald Noterrnan, Bill Bowe, Frank Schneider, Jerry Mertze, Richard Snadvig and Richard Haen.
Valley Alumni Meet In Standup
#Twenty-five Johnnies attended tho Standup dinner of the Minnesota Valley branch of the St. Tohn's Alumni Association held at Mankato fSTov. 21. Wives of the Johnnies were also present at the gathering.
Edward A. Nierengarten, '35, acted as toastmaster and Rev. Robert L. Sheehan, '41, addressed the group in the absence of Rev. Walter Reger, alumni secretary. Representatives from St. John's were unable to attend the Stand-up owing to weather conditions.
After the dinner at the Burton Hotel a reception was held at the Mankato Knights of Columbus Club.
Following is the list of Johnnies who attended:
Edward A. Nierengarten, '35; Stanley P.
FIND VARIED PROGRAM
'35; William M. Dreher, '35; Allen Ross, '35; John J. Oilman, '42; Rev. Robert L. Sheehan, '41; Edward W. Callanan, '39.
Adrian Donlin, '36; Thomas E. Paul, '47; Roger J. Plattes, '40; Dr. Herbert F. Peter-nell, '37; Dr. George W. Drexler, '35; George Patrias, '36; Al Siebenand, '30; John M. Haupt, '47; Ed Wirtz, '28; Robert M. Casey, 1.7; John P. Kinsella, '38.
By Tom Roeser
Marching and war stories form a major part of National Guard activities at the St. Cloud. Armory, several Johnny buck privates disclosed today. The twenty-three-man detachment from St. John's which attends the func-
ALUMNI NEWS
The December issue of Extension magazine carries an article entitled ' 'Teen-Age Mentality" by Rev. William Spalding, '45. Father Spalding is with the Catholic Social Service Bureau at Oshkosh, Wis. "Papal Teaching Concerning Catholic Action" is the title of an article by Rev. Stephen Anderl, '36, appearing in the Homiletic and Pastoral Review for October. Father Anderl is at Villa St. Joseph, La Crosse, Wis.
Edward P. Powers, '24, 1435 7th St. So., Fargo, N. Dak., was recently elected president of the Northwestern Hotel Association at its annual meeting in Omaha, Nebraska. Ed is manager of the Powers Hotel in Fargo.
Among the Thanksgiving day visitors at St. John's was /-Rev. Roman G. Neva, '35, He is pastor of Our Lady of Victory parish at Willow City, N. Dak.
The Very Rev. Peter Sontag, S.J., '09, pastor at Dinapore, Patna, India, launched the Institute for Home Study, a correspondence course in religion for educated non-Christians in India. Father Sontag, now in his 70th year, has been a missionary to India for more than 30 years. His book, The Way That Is Life, serves as text for the IHS course.
William M. Buemmer, '48,
The St. Paul Branch of the Alumni Association has inaugurated a monthly Johnny noon luncheon to be held the FIRST WEDNESDAY OF EACH MONTH at the St. Paul Athletic Club. The next luncheon will be held January 5.
1815 W. State St., Milwaukee, is a student in the college of engineering at Marquette University. Otto Korth, '48, 920 6th St., Menasha, Wis., is a student at Indiana Technical College.
A letter from Vernon F. Dich-tel, '41, 3833 N. Lawndale, Chicago, contains a proposal voiced by many more Johnnies: "How about starting a building fund for a residence hall?" Vernon's brother, Francis, is one of the 350 students unable to find living quarters on the campus while attending St. John's this year.
Dr. Joseph B. Gaida, '28, St. Cloud, has informed us of the recent death, in Minneapolis, of Dr. Alphonse E. Walch, '26. R.I.P. Edward L. Wurst, '06, of Richmond, died Nov. 22. E.I.P.
Louis Hogan, '30, formerly of Kerrick Hogans, and more recently a bank examiner for the Federal Reserve Bank system, two weeks ago exchanged the name Louis for Wilfrid and entered the novitiate here as a candidate for the priesthood.
A recent article by Michael (Jim) Cullen, '43, of St. Cloud, appearing in the University of Chicago Law Review has attracted wide attention in the legal profession. The article, "Content Analysis—A New Evidential Technique," has been reprinted in pamphlet form. Jim, a student at the University of Chicago Law School, was named to the board of editors of the Law Review last spring. He will receive his law degree in June. Meanwhile, he is interested in establishing a connection with an outstanding law firm in the Twin Cities.
Francis Coleman, '48, is with the U. S. Army and is now stationed at Fort McNair, Washington, D. C. Sylvester A. Thiel-man, '48, 137 Cecil St., S.E., Minneapolis, is with the Pabst Sales Company. Leonard J. McGuire, '48, is engaged in farming at Bode, Iowa.
Eugene McCarthy, '35, Congressman-elect from Minnesota's 4th congressional district, and Mrs. McCarthy, came to the Abbey November 21 to make their final oblations as Oblates of St. Benedict.
Donald L. "Falstaff" Lais, '48, 2004 Portland Ave., St. Paul, is an engineer with the Minnesota Department of Highways.
Coaching Grads Cop Grid Glory
#A number of Johnny grads in the coaching profession posted
fine grid records this past season. None, however, could surpass the accomplishment of Omer Sieben, '39 and Val Marchildon, '41 at Melrose high school. The two ex-Johnnies tutored the Dutchmen through an undefeated nine-game slate—against some potent opposition from larger schools too! Sieben was a halfback on the '38 conference winning Johnny team. Marchildon, a quarterback, was co-captain of the '41 team, and last year assisted Joe Benda with the varsity. Otto "Mouse" Sachefer, who completes the Johnny triumvirate at Melrose, is the head basketball coach.
tion every Tuesday depends heavily on candy, popcorn, and cigarettes to ease the burdens of conscript life.
The total of two hours is spent every week on roll call and studying, the recruits said.
"First off," one told newsmen, "we assemble. There is roll call. Men who come late must—" his voice faltered as he said this, "—clean rifles."
The assembled grenadiers then march downstairs to classes. That is the extent of physical activity. Classes are taught on map-reading, formations, mine fields, grenade throwing and bayonet ducking.
Sample opinions on the class-work range from mild boredom to healthy condemnation.
"I spent two classes in bayonets" said one disillusioned warrior, "We had two officers showing us how. One was demonstrating while the other was writing bayonet technique on the blackboard. Suddenly the brass began arguing about the bayonets. Everybody started talking and smoking. Before long it was nine-thirty and we went home."
A mass exodus to office and clerical work is the result of dissatisfaction with class routine.
"I file posters," said one hussar. ' 'Military posters. I also file little endorsements and pamphlets on the Army. To do it an Army sergeant taught me the principal of the Dewey Decimal System. He was replaced soon after and I was given a boss who knew nothing of the Dewey Decimal System. I asked to be transferred and now I'm in Supply. We were to take inventory the last I've heard, but the Captain hasn't showed up yet."
At nine-thirty the classes are halted. The inventories, the bayonet practice, the inventories are over.
''We line up," said another dry-run warrior, "Our heels together. You'd be surprised at the Captains and Lieutenants who come down to that basement to give orders and watch us line up.
S 3
Radio Ham Club Plans SJU Station
#Work forges ahead on the campus amateur radio station, conceived and now being brought into reality by the St. John's Radio Club. Father Abbot recently gave his approval to the proj ect, and application for a license has been made to the Federal Communications Commission.
Dave Hoven, a sophomore from Selby, S. Dak., and a veteran "ham," has the big job of station engineer.
THE TWO GIANTS Local Writer's
First Novel
The Two Giants is a product of impatience.
An English political scientist now locally familiar wanted to acquaint a keen-eyed youngster with Treasure Island, but the book dealer was all out of that item. Our Enghshman's exasperation was brief, his decision swift and bold. He would write an adventure tale for Raymond to rival Stevenson's masterpiece. (Had not the "dry" mathematician Dodson become Lewis Carrol and given "Alice" to an ever-grateful world?) So, in rather more than a twinkling but before very long, Brian Battershaw (who is really J. L. Benvenisti) made his bow as a novelist.
Is The Two Giants like Stevenson? There is a baffling aroma of not only Treasure Island but Kidnapped about the work, though it differs from both in plot and setting.
There is, for instance, a quasi-admirable scoundrel in Battershaw not wholly unlike Long-John Silver, but Jabez Edwards is by no means a cap-a-pie counterpart of that charmingly villainous sea-cook.
There are desperadoes and ruffians at every turn, but most of them (Jabez excepted) are shore-bound. Stevenson's Highlanders in Kidnapped are concerned with a "King over the water"; Batter-shaw's smugglers have hitched their wagon to a mightier star. Other incipient parallels with Stevenson's plots are promptly diverted, but they serve to recall the greatest of the Scottish writer's tales.
Sustained action carries us headlong into the company of a crew of rogues who are enlisted in a singularly romantic though most nefarious adventure, punctuated by murder at appropriate intervals. Eventually, we are extricated—with what a mopping of the brow!—and a threat of world cataclysm is dispelled.
The reader should be prepared for the appearance and sinister use of a submarine of early vintage,
Reading time (estimate): four swift hours.
R. R. N. "The Two Giants" by Brian
Batlershaw is published by Hollis
and Carter, Copies of the novel
are available in the campus
bookstore.—Editor.
