PAGE FOUR
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
MARCH 6,194
Nazi Gave Us Money--Also Maps; And We Said,'He's a Fine Fellow'
A Nazi, Dr. Otto H. F. Vollbehr,
once used K. U. for bait in raising
money to finance Nazi propaganda
in this country, according to reports
on file in Watson library.
Dr. Volllbehr arranged an elaborate "cultural" attack on the United States in order to sell an incumbula (books published before 1500). This sale was a ruse for getting money to finance Nazi propaganda in America.
Pressing his culture further, the German sent hundreds of letters to college and university presidents in the United States, telling of his priceless incubula, and to to gain more public favor, made several map donations to Harvard university.
In the map collection, kept under lock and key in Watson library, is a map of North America—the British and French possessions—one of the most important maps of the colonial period. The oldest map, a Greenland map, in dated 1606, according to Miss Mildred Hershey, reference librarian. Some of the maps show California as an island, and do not picture all of the Great Lakes.
In 1926, two KU. students met him on an excursion boat out of New York, and invited him to come to the University. Two years later he came, and was "so much pleased with the chancellor and with KU," that he gave a 1495 copy of the Nuremburg Chronicle, $1,500 for scholarships, and more than 120 17th and 18th century maps to the University. With this contribution, KU.'s map collection came to rank fourth best in the country.
About 200 culture-seeking men and women stood full strength behind a move that America buy Dr. Vollbehr's collection, not knowing that the money would later be used for propaganda.
Culture-crazed Americans did high powered lobbying in congress, and the Library of Congress purchased the collection for a million and a half taxpayer dollars. But the incumbula wasn't so far—there are known to be 15,000 similar collections in Munich, 13,000 in the British museum, and 10,000 in Paris.
In Dr. Vollbehr's collection of old books was a Gutenberg Bible, printed on vellum and appraised at $600,000, that he said belonged to the Benedictine monks in the Black forest and had been preserved for 470 years, and that he persuaded them to sell it for $305,000, the "highest price ever paid for a book." But according to an Austrian dispatch, Vollbehr merely had an option on the book, and didn't actually own it when he sold it to the Library of Congress, in 1930. On a visit to K.U. once, he brought the Bible with him and displayed it for cultural influence.
Once in Kansas City he displayed in his suite at Hotel Muehleybach, the "Book of Houses of Henry VIII," presented to Henry by Francis 1 of France. Vollbehr covered his mouth with a handkerchief so his breath wouldn't injure the book.
Two years later, in a sworn testimony, he admitted spending all of the million and a half dollars from the Library of Congress sale, on the dissemination of pro-Nazi and anti-Semitic propaganda in America. He also testified that he had spent between $5,000 and $6,000 of the money, in mailing Hitler's memoranda to American schools, colleges, and universities.
In 1932, the German book collector took out citizenship papers in America because he "loved United States and wished to live near his beloved incumbula."
Vollbehr later returned to Germany, and that was the last cultured America heard of him.
Larned May Build Bricks
Larned—The Kiwanis club's postwar planning committee may sponsor the reviving of the brick industry in Larned.
Marvin Byebee, who told of former brick plants at a club meeting some time ago, brought the subject to a club's attention again at the weekly meeting.
Former Airplane Ace Wants To Be Psychology Professor
Divorce? Yes, but it was a painless separation between the army airforce and Ray Hartley, graduate student and psychology lab instructor.
Hartley, one of the picked men of General Dwight D. Eisenhower's homecoming party last June, was flown from Paris to New York in the general's own C-54. After three days in "gay Parlee" and a stop-over in Bermuda, even the parades in New York, Washington, D.C., and Kansas City did not seem exciting to the former air force captain of the 8th and 15th air forces.
While visiting his Kansas City home, Hartley was asked by officials when he wanted a discharge. As any veteran would do, Ray replied, "On the double."
With his three and one-half year army record, 227 discharge points, 114 flying missions, the distinguished flying cross, and 24 clusters to the air medal. Ray was more than eligible for that coveted discharge. In fact, he was discharged at his own convenience with a private army car and all the trimmings—all in three hours.
Although his discharge was the biggest thrill, Ray still remembers such incidents as dinner at the White House, and the time he and some friends went sightseeing in Cairo during the Cairo conference. They went to see the sphinx. Instead of the sphinx who should turn up but Winston Churchill complete with cigar and cane.
Hartley says, "All in all, we had a wonderful time in Cairo. The food was fine when compared with the peanut butter and spam with which we were too well acquainted. Although, we were lucky, 'cause some fellows didn't even have the variety of peanut butter—just spam, spam always spam."
"The most fun and excitement I had on a mission." Hartley continued "was March 24, 1945. That was the day the Allies crossed the Rhine. On the flight from England in our P-51's we ran into a "flock" of Germans. I shot down three which raised my score—so I was just barely an ace!"
Graduated in January of 1942, Hartley was wearing khaki by February of that year. He returned to the University this fall for graduate work in psychology. His ambition is to be a psychology professor—ties and all.
Although he has a private license, Hartley exclaims, "I haven't been in an airplane since receiving my discharge and more or less don't care whether I see another. Three and a half years without a scratch were enough for me."
Kearney, Neb. (UP)—There are six hindrances which tend to make the average person a poor speller, according to Calvin T. Ryan, head of the English department at Kearney State Teachers college.
Americans Love English, Despite Spelling Hindrances
They include: faulty vision, faulty hearing, faulty pronunciation, faulty enunciation, faulty use of grammar, and the various peculiarities of grammar in the English language.
Ryan said that "despite the quirks and differences in the English language, Americans love it."
Woodward, Okla. (UP)—The question of army induction for Bob Fenimore, Oklahoma A. and M. football All-American, will be discussed by the Woodward county selective service board next Monday, it was learned today.
Board To Consider Fenimore's Induction
It's a Peterson
Fenimore was certified recently by a state selective service examiner as physically fit for military duty. He had been rejected earlier because of an old leg injury.
JANE OR JUNE PETERSON
This is either the manager of the W.E.C. book exchange, who's a junior in the College and whose sister works for her, or else it's the younger sister, who's a freshman in the College and a member of the All-Student council. If it's the manager, it's June, but if it's not the manager, it's Jane. As the accompanying story indicates, we're not the only ones confused.
***
Too Many Men Our Book Store Workers Scream
"I am so tired of men."
Such a comment isn't common among K. U. co-eds, especially after the male starvation of the last two years, but June Peterson, W.E.C. Book Exchange manager, has a reason for being tired of men. "They only say, 'Will you save me a book?'
If you've been to the Book Exchange any time this semester (and who hasn't?) no doubt you've run into two confusing, but charmingly so, sisters—June and Jane Peterson. Though they resemble each other a great deal, the girls think they look nothing alike. June has light brown hair and blue-brown eyes; Jane has lighter brown hair and brown eyes.
Speaking of the rush for books, Miss Peterson said, "As far as I'm concerned, it's awful. People get so impatient waiting and I feel sorry for them. Yet we try to help them as fast as we can. Besides, the Book Exchange is too small to serve the whole University.
"I am all for a student book store, It is ridiculous that a university as big as K.U. hasn't a place for students to buy pencils and paper without going downtown."
June is also a quarter-time instructor in the Chemistry 3-E lab, a chemistry major, president of Inter-Dorm council, and a member of Jay Janes.
Chicago, (UP)—The withdrawal of the University of Chicago from Big Ten competition in basketball will be discussed when conference athletic directors meet here this week.
Chicago returned to Big Ten cage play this season, after a one-year layoff, and again was hopelessly outclassed. The Maroons lost all 12 league games and now have a string of 60 consecutive conference losses dating back to the 1940 campaign.
This Is Even Worse Than K-State
Philadelphia. (UP)—A gigantic "mathematical robot" which solves in hours, problems which would take trained mathematicians over 100 years to answer, will be dedicated today by the war department.
Bet He Could Get 'A'
On Differential Equations
There is a bridge in Iraq which is lowered 20 feet under the water so that ships may sail over the span.
The 30-ton machine, known as the electronic numerical integrator and computer, almost completely fills a room, 30 by 50 feet, and contains some 18,000 vacuum tubes in its mechanism.
Aviators' Language "Too Strong" So Churches Criticize Textbooks
By FREDERICK C. OTHMAN
(United Press Staff Correspondent)
Washington (UP) — I guess you'll have to judge for your whether the government is publishing blasphemous books for school children.
The New Jersey Council of Christian Church claims it is and has demanded the banning of the high school textbook, "Wings for You," which the Civil Aeronautics Administration helped prepare. The churchmen say it contains too many Gods and Hells for future aviators.
The good old government, which never before has been charged with teaching profanity to small fry, was keeping its mouth shut. The aeronautics administrators commented on it. They did not copy the book, which turned out to be a hair-raising collection of stories about aviation.
I read it carefully and I doubt if I ever put foot in another airplane; one close scrape after another this book detailed. The closer the fliers were to death, the stronger was their language.
"I was cocky as hell then," says Pilot Nick, just before he takes off in "Mass Flight." After an excruciating aerial climax, he and his pal, Cary, head for Panama to get two tall beers, a refreshment the churchmen did not mention in their complaint.
So the salty old admiral says, "Well,
by bad. I will go up with you."
"Ged" also would seem to be permissible in New Jersey. It's when the "A" is changed to "O" that there's trouble.
In "Bomber to Britain" two ice-covered planes nearly collide, the pilot of one see another wing-tip three feet from his own and says, "That's darned close in the air." Then, a couple of hours later nine Nazi fighters scream by, spraying machine gun
bullets and he remarks, "it's one h. of a feeling."
It must be, at that.
"Air Base" tells about the pili taking off for the first time from carrier deck. "Good God," he says himself, "do I have to get into the in that space?" He makes it, all ri-
The chapter "We Win Wings," concerns the two student fliers who too close to each other at night radio opens.
Murphy to Lay: "Get back in where you belong."
Lay to Murphy: "Where in hell are you?"
Murphy to Lay: "Where in hell do you think I am?"
I don't know where in the hell they were, but they seemed to get home eventually.
"Fifty!" said Chetwood. "Good God!"
The young scholars come then to "Smoke over Thorky." Two cadets have been captured, trying to sneak back into camp. "Why the hell did you call me?" one asks the other. They are taken to the commande.
"Good God, Hanson," he says,
"Where have you been?" Fifty Nazi bombers soon are reported on the way to the airport.
I'm inclined to agree with Chetwood that that's too many. The book, in tiny event, was assembled by Prof. E. A. Cross, while he was head of the English department at Colorado State College of Education at Greeley. It was published in New York with the imprint of the CAA in 1942.
I wouldn't know why it took the council four years to catch up with it. I wouldn't know anything else about the government's Gods and Hells. I have worn myself out trying to remain neutral in this scholastic embroglio; if you must write any letters, address them please, not to me, but to the government.
Child Psychology Really Helps K.U. Parents Rear Their Children
Books alone can't tell parents how to rear a child, but they do offer some good suggestions along that line. Just ask the parents enrolled in Child Psychology if you don't believe it.
When Larry Schiefelbusch, 2, cries,
"I want my mamma!" he may get
papa instead. However, he isn't left
lonely and crying.
The first day Larry got lonesome at the K.U. nursery school, he did indeed want his mother. She was unavailable at the time, but Richard L. Schiefelbusch, air corps veteran, was called from class, which was -ironically enough-Child Psychology.
Diverted by a slight accident caused by a bus stalled on icy Mississippi street, Larry forgot his troubles and gained confidence so that he no longer minds going to school. "Papa" thinks the trip, though inconvenient at the time, was worth the trouble.
The Schiefelbusch's say they try to view things through Larry's eyes, and they feel that he is less highstrung since they are learning to be more patient, thanks to Child Psychology.
"I still believe in spanking, and I've done it," Mrs. Schiefelbusch says "but such measures are a last resort."
Two-year-old Bob Stevens is another Child Psychology "guinea pig" His father, Ray Stevens, Jr., a graduate student, is a lab instructor in General Psychology. Mrs. Stevens, also a graduate student, is majoring in speech correction. They say they can actually reason with Bob.
"I hate to admit it, but Bob uses slang," Mrs. Stevens laughs. "I guess he can't help it with his dad's having been in the army.
"Bob is such a sensitive little boy, and always looks so sad when he has been bad, that I haven't the heart to spank him," his mother added.
Both parents say they are not "raising Bob by a book," but that the background gained from child psychology is valuable in everyday living.
Show Horse Brings $5,250
Emporia "Stonewall" Highglow, five-year-old gaited saddle horse which has appeared in many Kansas shows. has been sold by Kenneth Van Sickle of Emporia to W. C. Madliner of Topeka for $5,250.
Barnum and Bailey As Usual Will Be Bigger 'n' Better
Sarasota, Fla. (UP)—It's a sure sign that spring can't be far off when he Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus issues its annual call to he tannibk.
Performers, executives' and workingmen are arriving here daily as the circus—sloganed by the traditional "bigger and better than ever before"—prepares for departure here about March 27, for New York and the annual grand opening in Madison Square Garden.
Augmented by former employees returning from the services, and several new acts from Europe, the show will revert to its pre-war size of 100 railroad cars.
The circus, which will open for some 40 days in the Garden, followed by a three-weeks' engagement in Boston, will open under canvas in Philadelphia in early June. The all-steel seating capacity will be enlarged to accommodate 11,500 persons at a performance.
New' Pacific Island May Be UNO Problem
Tokyo. (UP)—A new island rising from the sea off the coast of Japan eventually may pose a trusteeship problem for the United Nations, American scientists predicted today.
They said the island, rising from the ocean 200 miles south of the Yokohama naval base, might become a matter for international discussion, because of its proximity to Japan and because it first was sighted by British fleet units, which reported a volcanic mass pushing upward "like a sea monster."
On the other hand, the island might simply disappear again under the sea.
Reciprocal free trade relations between the United States and the Philippines have existed since the Act of Congress of Aug. 5, 1909.