JA YUH AWE ROE OU ADS

April 26, 1945

Dear Fellow Jayhawkers;

I have just returned from KFKU where I reviewed for Professor John Hankins
of the English Department of the University, John R. Tunis' book on "Yeal Wildcats!"
published by Harcourt, Brace & Co. This is Mr. Tunis' first basketball stcry.
Previously he had written baseball, football and tennis sport stories. But this, I
believe, is his first effort with a basketball story. :

About ten years ago I had a very interesting experience:with Mr. Tunis.

He wrote for Harper's, "Badminton, The Fastest Growing Game in the World.” I chal-
-enged Mr. Tunis'. authenticity on badminton as being the fastest growing game in
the world and wrote him giving authoritative statements. to the effect that basket-
ball was the fastest growing game in the world. I contended that over 52 nations .
played basketball, numbering 20 million players 5 among its. participants. And inthe |
United States alone there were a hundred Heeeators attending the games annually =~ oe
this ot cae to the U. S. Chamber me Commerce reports to ese federal ‘governmente

Mr. Tunis and I had a very Sieanokieig and nabbed series ieee ean comnun=
ications, and finally he came out to Lawrence, Kansas, for an interview. I found
him a very highly entertaining and provocative gentleman. We soon settled our score,
much to the pleasant reaction. of both of us, and now since he has written "Yea!
Wildcats!" I feel that basketball made'a ‘definite impression upon him. I found that
he had been to Europe sixteen times and had never been west of the Mississippi once.
He had Harvard affiliations and at thot, ei was oe ‘2 nephew ‘through. Harvard
University.

He was greatly delighted with the campus of the University of Kansas. It
was just as if he had stepped into‘a new world so far as His previous experiences
were concerned. Mr. Tunis said, "Will you take me over the campus?" And I-said I.
would be delighted. So we got in‘ the Buick and as wé drove along I pointed out the
buildings with their traditions.’ We drove ‘around | Watkins Memorial Hespital and I
showed him the beautiful hospital and the‘home ‘of’ Mrs. Watkins, the benefactress.-
We had just gone past Mrs. Watkins' residence end swung in front of Watkins and.
Miller Halls when ce young woman with muscular frame, red hair, square face, and a
straightforward glance camo north from ‘thé: ‘old: Spooner--Thayer library. Mr. Tunis
said, "Stopi!", jerked open the door and jiimped’ out with a wild exclamation to this
young woman, "Who's the president of Czechoslovakia?" .. I will never forget the..
glance of that girl from tho western Kaisas plains when she looked at. that young -
would-be masher, in her opinion. To save the day, I jerked open my door and said,
"Pardon me, this is Hr. Tunis from New York. Ho is visiting our campus ond inter-
viewing our students." With the greatest air of disdain and a coastal ar ee of
the individual, and with a quick snap she said, _"Why, Deaeeety of course.

fs With great gleo he raised his‘arms in beukenathbn anal ‘said; "Good Good! |
Yood!" He thought he was mixing dmong primitive peoplo! He' was’ so. surprised and
delighted to think that a student: ‘walking across the: campus: would: know international
affairs to such o marked degree. But it wasn't outstanding at all because the
~adios were blazing forth the crack=pot’ Hitler! s: whibdly ee iecapanongd pre-
paratory to taking over Czochoslovakia.