The Coolidge examiner., 1931-01-09
Incorrigible Dick
Won the Medal
By HELEN ST. BERNARD

4 L SEVENTY-FINE, after fifty
4 years at Harhurst college, as
teacher. professor of chemistry, bot
any and science, and then as dean,
. DR.. Eben Franklin was to retire
FRANKIE" as he had been known
down through the years, was Ieav-
ing his beloved Harhurst and Har-
hurst was to do him honor. His
retirement was to take effect on
commencement day and alumni
| from all over the country were
gathering for the ceremonies. Fa-
| theirs and mothers. pupils of Har-
hurst in the years gone by, were
there to witness the graduation of
their own children-and to say
good-by to frankie"
The campus was ablaze with col
ors. Flower-lile dresses were every
where. The winding walks beneath
the trees were filed with strOllers.
FRATERNITY brothers" middle-aged,
walked arm in arm; youth, hand in
hand.
But the chemistry class of 1900
gathered in Frankie's great library
overlooking the campus. There was
Doctor Alexander of New York;
Doctor Graham of Pittsburgh; John
Maiden of Chicago; Robert Ian
sing of Texas; Dave Larrowe from
Michigan, and Thomas T. Larri-
more, who had come from Panama
for this event. There were four
teen in all, and Doctor Franklin
sat at the end of the long table
about which they were gathered.
"a great day for me, boys" he
said softly. ITO have so many of
you back on this anniversary of
your graduation-so many who re-
sponded to my urgent invitation to
come back once more"
"Wonder where old Dick May.
nard is? Won't seem like our. old
class without him. You used to
call him Incorrigible Dick, do you
remember, Frankie?"
quite fitting, was it not?" smiled
Doctor Franklin. 81 think in all
my fifty years of teaching Dick
Maynard gave me more worries
than all the rest Of the boys and
SiiiS put together.
81 had a card from him from tie
Worlds fair in San Francisco in
1915" said Dave Larrowe. said
he was broke but happy and turn
ing night into day. A devil that
Maynard. Wouldnt stop al any
thing. Never did much studying as
remember, but always came
through at the Top.
"He was in the hospital at Bal
timore in 1916. after he came East
following the Worlds fair. Didn't
stay long because the big fight was
on and he wanted to get into tt
Over There
Understand he did some fine
work, too and got a lot of fun out
of the fuss AT the same time. Went
A. w o. l.. and got into the Ger
man lines dressed in a German uni
form. but they got onto him when
he could not speak word at
German. Had a devil of a time
getting out. Understand though
that he came out of that mix-un
with seven German prisoners to his
credit and three officers helmets
on his head"
They all laughed
Great old Dick" said one of the
others. "Never married, suppose.
Probably busy. tust living his life.
Doubt that he will ever accomplish
much, but sometimes envy him.
when | think of how we are all
mixed up in the whirl and rush of
business"
Doctor Franklin had been toy.
ing with a velvet box as he listened
TO their "reminiscences. Now he
stood up and opened the box, dis
playing a bronze medal.
Boys, | have called your class
together as a fitting close to my
career at Harhurst: and to my life.
Fifty years ago | began TO devote
my life to science. | have done re-
search work and experimental work
until today | am satisfied | have
reached the goal | have striven for.
and a younger man must carry on
my work. That man has been
chosen-a member of your class
and | am going to pin on him to
day this medal-the Franklin
medal which instituted ten years
ago to be given to the man who
could show the best results from
his work along the lines of science.
This man has worked with me
quietly. unoficially, for fifteen
years. He has satisfied me that
we have found the serum to com
bat the malaria germ. He bids fair
to hold an outstanding place in the
world of science"
The men were glancing about in
quiringly. Most of them were look. /
ing at Doctor Alexander of New |
York who had gained considerable /
repute as surgeon of ability. He
shook his head. Not me, fellows /
Wish to heaven it were. That medal /
of Frankie's would mean a lot to |.
me-"
Doctor Franklin was walking to I
the door. THAT man is one of the /
class of 1900, boys" He threw
open the door. A man, bronzed by /
the sun. laughing, hands out.
stretched, stood framed in the door.
way. Almost mechanically. the /
class of 1900 came to their feet.