The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-07-23
of Fabian socialism founded by another
American Frank B. Vrooman

Of Fabian socialism founded by another
American, Frank B. Vrooman.
| He remained at Oxford a year. II go,
all that Oxford University had to offer
me in one year." he told afterward.
From Oxford he went to Heidelberg. He
took with him a pronounced socialistic
viewpoint and dislike for England, the
English people, their government and
their customs that he has not hesitated
freely and frequently to express.
1t was at this time that he first began
to affect the long hair, the starchless
collar and general unkemptness which the
juvenile socialist finds so satisfying to his
yearnings for equality.
At Heidelberg, essentially the university
of the aristocratic junkers, young Rumely
found but little sympathy for his social
istic viewpoint at first. His German was
F; perfect, his manners were perfectly Ger
man, as they still are. As German
socialist he was quickly made to feel that
his presence in the university was un-
welcome to his fellow students.
when I took my seat on one of the
benches in the lecture hall the student
sitting next to me moved away" he said
in describing his life at Heidelberg to
me- "Thc next day the same thing hap
pcned, and the next. The third time the
other members Of the class began shut
fling their feet upon the floor, which is a
German student way Of expressing dis
approval.
Asked II He Is jew.
After the lecture I was waited on by
Il committee of the class who demanded
to know if were Jew. told them no.
was an American, whereupon they
apologized They had assumed from my
dress that / must be a socialist and,
therefore, Jew, but, of course, as an
American, was privileged to dress as
pleased"
Young Rumely's stay at Heidelberg
residence at Oxford It was at about
this time that he came to the definite
determination not to become priest. A
break with his family followed, remit
tances from home ceased and he was
thrown upoA his own resources. He ap-
piled for and obtained a position as
school teacher.
1t is or was the custom in many of the
German schools for the boys to make
frequent long pilgrimages to different
parts of the empire. These tramping
trips sometimes lasted~>for weeks. The
young American teacher took parties of
boys on many Of these pilgrimages,
thereby coming into the closest touch
with the life and customs and point of
view of the German people.
Decides to Become Physician.
1t was during his teaching days that
he decided to become physician. At
Frciburg, in the Black Forest, is the most
progressive medical college il Germany.
1t was here that the celebrated twilight
sleep" was originated and for many years
went Rumely.
In the study of medicine, as in other
lines, he showed the same br'lliancy Of
intellect and quick and easy mastery of
the subject in hand that had won him the
appellation of genius in his boyhood
home. He was only twenty-four years old
when the University of Freiburg conferred
upon him the degree of Doctor Of Medicine
The degree Of NJ. D. was granted at
Freiburg on the presentation Of thesis,
much in the same way that the degree of
Ph. D. and other academic degrees are
conferred by American universities DR..
Rumely's thesis was probably the briefest
on record. One Of the professors at Fret
burg, a surgeon, had the habit, whenever