Thursday, Sept. 20, 1962 University Daily Kansan
Page 3
Aesop's Style Used In Slash at JFK
By Dick West United Press International
WASHINGTON — Any similarity between a Congressional press release and an Aesop Fable usually is only coincidental.
Many of the statements made by Congressmen may sound like fables, but this is because they are swaddled in political circumlocutions.
Wishing to apprise his constituents of his views on the dust-up between President Kennedy and certain business leaders, Thompson did not content himself with the ordinary type of declaration.
Seldom do you find a member of Congress who deliberately and openly engages in allegorical composition.
One such rarity has just turned up in the person of Rep. Frank Thompson, a New Jersey Democrat and nonconformist.
I am not qualified to say whether Thompson's fling as a fablist illuminates the issues in the tradition of Aesop, but I certainly can vouch for its novelty.
Instead, he reared back and spake a parable, the text of which was duly transcribed and forwarded to news media in the Capital.
Following is a condensed version of his offering:
"There came a time in the jungle when the friendly old lion that had reigned in harmony with all the animals retired to a comfortable old farm. A bitter fight took place over who would succeed him, but a slim majority of the animals finally chose a young lion with a very bushy mane.
Now, because of their size, some of the larger beasts tried to convince the lion that what was good for them was good for the jungle. This made the lion angry.
ager
ager;
assi-
"My father told me that many big animals were sorry old beasts,' he roared.
"Then a strange thing happened. Through that mysterious process of communications in the jungle, the
word was passed that the lion was unfriendly to big beastness.
"The jungle chamber of elephants said 'We have lost confidence in the lion.' The National Association of Rhinoceroses said, 'The lion has created a bad climate for us.'
"The pitiful cries of 'unfriendly' and 'no confidence' affected the lion deeply. He said, 'There must be something we can do to show them how much we love them and to make them feel confident in us.'
"So the lion set about soothing the larger animals. He invited some of them to lunch, and said he would try to have taxes cut.
"Now you are getting the idea, said some of the bigger beasts. It's okay if you stimulate us, but just don't interfere with the way we operate. Remember, what's good for big beastness is good for...
The secrets of an electron trapped in a crystal will be studied by a University of Kansas physicist, who has received a $50,220 project contract from the Atomic Energy Commission.
Physicist to Study In$50,000Project
"I know, I know," said the lion.
"I've heard that one before."
Robert J. Friauf, associate professor of physics, and seven graduate students will conduct the research on "Point Defects in Ionic Crystals."
The seven graduate research assistants are Donald L. Foster, Portland, Ore.; Harold W. Breedlove, Robert E. Mellott and Vaughn C. Nelson, Lawrence; Dennis E. Lauer, Topeka; Max D. Weber of Kansas City, Mo., and Juergen Kuebler of Giessen, Germany.
Prof. Friedau appeared on the program of the International Symposium on color centers in alkali halides held last month in Stuttgart, Germany.
Rock and Roll Chug and Cuddle Cheer Those Jayhawks Out of the Huddle
PURPLE PIG
810 N. Hampshire
SUA presents a great series of popular American films-
this Friday night . . .
Forum Room - Kansas Union Shows at 7 and 9:30 p.m.
September 28
and in the Future . . .
October 5
October 12
shane
picnic
glenn miller story
helen of troy
east of eden
on the waterfront
operation petticoat
psycho
some came running
king kong
the Friday Flicks
35c admission . . . tickets for both shows on sale all day Friday at information counter of Kansas Union