The Washington times., 1933-03-29

spring semester, Franklin and I
decided that a North Cape
cruise would be a more interest
ing way of spending the sum-
mer since neither Of us had
ever been to that part Of the
world.
Franklin, remember, once
during the trip fell from grace
in the most extraordinary way.
Anchored in the ford in which
we found ourselves was the
Kaiser's magnificent yacht, and
Franklin with his irrepressible
love of ships was bound he
would make an opportunity to
inspect her. How he managed
the invitation I. do not recall,
but 1 do know that he went
aboard and took with him a
pretty fellow passenger. They
made no effort to meet the
Kaiser, who 1 could see from
our deck was indulgently scruti-
nizing the carefree pair, but
went below and fell, I am
sorry to say. into what we re-
gard as typical tourist be-
havior. They stole a souvenir!
Nothing more valuable than a
pencil, but it came from His
Majesty's desk and, as Frank
lin explained later with much
gusto, was significant for the
reason that in several spots it
bore the imprint of the Kaiser's
teeth! Franklin solemnly pre-
sented it to me as one would
a trophy, but I am afraid that
] either used it up or lost it.
EngrOsSed In Paper
At the end of his third year
at Harvard Franklin could have
taken his degree and started
at Law School, but so engrossed
was he in running the Grim
son." that he stayed on the
additional time so that he
might devote himself to it. AS
a senior he was elected per-
manent class chairman, which
is virtually the head of the
steering committee and which
meant that he had to keep in
touch with the whole class in
relation to the University in
after life. This, in spite of
the fact that he had made no
team. He had gone out for the
crew, but had failed to make
1t. Still his interest in the
sport was as keen as ever. and,
although his stroke oar was not
strong enough for the Varsity,
he was a welcome addition to
the Newell Boat Club shells in
their competitions with their
other intramural rivals, the
Yields.
Had his life not been so full
of other interests, he might
have suffered keen disappoint-
ment over his failure to be-
come a gridiron star or a ten
mis- champion-boys of that age
usually feel that little else mat
ters-but there was such a vari-
ETY. of things that claimed his
attention. He became en-
chanted with the idea of book
collecting, for one thing. He
soon discovered, however, that
It took a good deal of money
to acquire the items that were
in demand at the time, so he
decided in favor Of a less popu-
lar medium and one infinitely
more interesting to him-a
Naval library. Whenever he
was missing from his familiar
haunts. a search of the second
hand book shops was certain
to bring him to light.
Thousands of Volumes
In time he had acquired sew
eral thousand volumes together
with many unusual prints and
keepsakeS, which to this day
have an important place in his
New York City home.
After his graduation from
Harvard, Franklin, Lathrop
Brown, and 1 celebrated the
happy acquisition of their sheep
skins by going off on a West
Indies cruise.
At one of the ports we touch
ed we disembarked with the
avowed intention of going up
San Juan Hill. Franklin and a
young friend of his decided to
do the journey on horseback
while Lathrop and I followed
along in a barouche. When we
got back to town, I decided I
had seen quite enough of San
Juan for one day. so Lathrop
and I returned to the boat and
dined aboard. Franklin. on the
other hand, decided in favor Of
remaining in port eating a
native meal with his friend.
Around II o'clock they left the
restaurant to return to the ship.
At the wharf Franklin's COM
panion, who was a Continental
and rather given to excess
chivalry, made a great point of
having Franklin get into the
boat first. My son, not to be
outdone in politeneSs, argued
that his friend make the first
move with the result that while
this Alphonse and CASTOR dis
cussion was still in progress
both of them stepped into the
boat at the same time, turning
1t over in the process, and fell
heading into the sea. Franklin,
who was fully aware that he
was immersed in Shalf-infeSted
waters. swan out as fast as he
could; but his friend. who was
not familiar with conditions IN