EPILOGUE II
CHRISTMAS, 1942 NORFOLK, VIRGINIA
O.K.—so never mind my adventures enroute to Tucson. Suffice that I learn, and won't forget, that Jeanie, standing on the front seat, can suddenly lunge forward, and when I grab for her, I can and almost do—put the car in a ditch. Luckily she enjoys sitting and eating, hereafter.
I do fill up on gas at midnight, getting a leg cramp sleeping with Jeanie. Next lesson—on reaching Tucson—that a lone service wife has special problems. Scripps has stopped paying Marston; the Navy has not started. Ah how different from La Jolla where every bank clerk knew me. At the end of the first week, the wizened motel owner with the black marble eyes says “We don't give no credit, lady.” Out I go.
Marston learns that an officer who is broke, borrows from his fellow officers. He has made a friend—Bill Everson. Bill's wife Marge arrives for the last two days. After the ceremonies, we four, Jeanie and Fiddle, escape to a lovely canyon, peaceful and beautiful with rushing stream and giant boulders. We have a gala dinner together. Marge delights in making Jeanie laugh—the happy laughter of both rings through the restaurant. . .
Never mind the Sargent saga across the United States. “Travels with a Tapeworm,” I like to call it, for the parasite Fiddle picked up in Arizona, and I finally exorcised in Virginia. For Marston has been ordered to Camp Peary, Williamsburg, Va.
Yes, his orders get him from one reluctant service station
So here we are—on December 22, pulling into handsome historic Williamsburg, just like a Christmas card—lights shining from the big lodge, through the falling snow. Yes, we can have a room, for one night; yes Jeanie and Fiddle can share it with us. The lodge is crowded to the eaves; Camp Peary is nearby.
But next morning Marston is informed, “Report at once to Camp Allen, Norfolk, Virginia.”
Out again into the snow. I manage to buy Jeanie a wooly, blue snowsuit—how roly-poly she looks.
Norfolk is by the ocean; the snow is wet, the wind is cold. The streets are swarming with lonely women in slacks and fur coats. We squeeze into a tiny hotel room, barely space for Jeanie's cot.
Late in the afternoon, Christmas eve, Marston has reported in, but we still have no place to stay. Eureka—a manager says reluctantly, “My new apartment house isn't officially open yet—but I'll let you in for the holidays.” Two shiny rooms. Furnished—even if the refrigerator is still in wraps. “Electricity and gas working.” he says cheerfully. Bless his heart.
Hastily we go out to shop—a duck, cranberries. In the window of a toy shop—a little Christmas tree, lighted in the chilly dusk. We go in, approach the owner, “Please, will you let us buy it—lights and all?” He looks at Marston's uniform, at Jeanie. “O.K.”
Christmas—a great day. The roast duck is crackly brown. Jeanie loves the sparkling tree and her magic skin doll. We even have company for dinner—a bachelor officer from Camp Allen. Settled at last!
But on January 2nd, 1943, Marston gets his newest orders—back to Camp Peary, to be a Recreation Director. “Hey” I say, “What happened to that pitch on how they needed your scientific and technical experience?” A brainstorm. “Didn't you tell me Roger Revelle is now at Washington, D. C. in the Bureau of Ships?”
He picks up his suitcase, heading by train back to Williamsburg. “Yes” he says, a new light in his eyes, “So he is.”
JEANIE AND THE CAPITOL
THE CAPITOL 1943-1945
Where Do We Live?
Marston has begun his new Navy job working with Roger at the Bureau of Ships, Washington, D. C. But housing is impossible in the war-jammed City.
So here we are, in Arlington, Virginia—just across the Potomac—bunking with our kind-hearted friends, Fred and Leonie Hulse. Marston knew Fred at Harvard; I knew Leonie in Pasadena; Marston was best man at their wedding. Fred is an anthropologist; he studied measurements of Japanese in Japan, compared them with measurements of Japanese in California. Now he is working for the Office of Strategic Services, the very secret O. S. S.
The Hulses have two little balls-of-fire: Dick age 5, Chris age 4. Jeanie is delighted. Up they go to the attic—shrieks of laughter, crash, bang—will the ceiling fall down on our heads? Fred shrugs “At least they're out of our hair.”
Then a rented house for a month. Another one—landlords are forced to rent to war workers. But this is better, even if the soft-coal furnace must get down to its last lonely lump, before another ton of coal can be delivered. Jeanie happily enters a nearby nursery school. . .
At last, am I free to explore the fascinating Capitol? One more obstacle—eastern, giant ragweed. Finally I shake free of the vicious assault on my beleagered bronchial tubes.
Eagerly I take the Virginia bus across the Potomac and seek out the humble office of the Voteless District of Columbia League of Women Voters. It is on a side street, off a small court with a stopped up drain; puddles of rain water must be jumped. But oh—the intellectual fun of meeting, and working with, these able gals!
They are holding a board meeting, setting up a big D. C. conference on OUR MINORITIES AND THE WORLD
Soon I'm visiting the National League Headquarters, on Jackson Place, right next to the White House. A crew of busy women are working in the crowded, ancient house, jammed with records. One of my first jobs is helping sort and file these records. Quickly I learn the problems and pitfalls of filing!
The Washington Post announces that General Dwight Eisenhower is expected briefly in Washington, for an important government conference on Thanksgiving morning. Leonie Hulse and I leave our turkey feast slowly cooking, stand shivering outside a marble entrance, in a sharp wind.
Out he comes, the national hero of World War II. He briskly looks us in the eye; his ruddy face breaks into a wide, friendly smile He gives us a wave and is gone. . .Back we go happily to our families.
I'm on the Voteless D. C. Board; they make the 1944 election my baby, to set up a Bureau of Information on Absentee Voting. No resident of the District could then vote in national elections. (Although residents now have local government voting rights.)
What a job I have, setting up this voting information—every state has different rules. But the Post gives us a good write-up. We set up a telephone bureau; notify government employees who have kept an outside vote. I can, and do, still vote absentee in La Jolla. I save the State of Virginia notice, informing me, to vote in Arlington I should have paid my capitation tax six months earlier.
Now I'm in the Capitol Building itself. I've been here before as a tourist; then as a LWV tourist guide for school children. But now I'm a LWV observer. What a thrill! I find my way via the busy little subway car to a Senate Office Building conference room.
I have the right room number, but the door is tightly shut. No
The large room has a big center table, with a ring of seated, working senators; a few chairs line the wall—I slide into an empty one. No one pays any attention. These senators have a tough problem, but they have their teeth in it, they are determined. They are studying alternatives for a United Nations Organization.
(I don't have my notes, but I realize now, it must have been the Dumbarton Conference proposals they are studying. The National LWV is strongly supporting these efforts, which culminate in the San Francisco Charter of the United Nations in June, 1945)
Feb. 1946 Biological Survey
And how about that glittering icy morning when I get in a last lick for the Pacific Gull Project. On glassy highways I drive precariously from our Virginia suburb, through D. C., past the Capitol, into Maryland, where the Bureau is now located. Mr. Lincoln has kindly agreed, I may look at the original record files since 1942.
As I work all day, copying gull records, some exceeding in time and distance any previous ones, I see out the window, some young men working. A clerk notices my glance; “Draft objectors.” she says. “We use them in civilian jobs.” (Note—Dr. A. M. Woodbury of the University of Utah in 1947 agrees to summarize all the Gull Project records into a paper, which is published that year.)
But the epochal events of World War II are going on simultaneously:
April 12, 1945 President Roosevelt is dead. Truman is sworn in. I stand, with Jeanie, in the huge silent throng lining the streets of the Capitol, while the long black funeral procession, with the dull beat of drums, goes slowly past. The skies are as lowering and gray as the desolate mood of the people. Many of us weep. (Jeff
May 8 VE Day Germany Surrenders
August 6 The Atom Bomb Destroys Hiroshima
August 9 Nagasaki is Destroyed
August 14, 1945 Japan surrenders, and the War is over.
REVELL'S NECK, MARYLAND Late November, 1945
(Note in 1973: At first I dated this episode in 1943. Everybody corrected me. Marston said “Roger and I didn't take any Saturdays off during the War. Roger always worked late.” Ellen said “It couldn't be 1943 or 1944, because Annie was away the fall of 1944, and I wasn't pregnant, and no one had a broken leg.” Roger noted “Bill wasn't born until November 1944” and listed the other birth dates “Anne - 11/3/32, Mary Ellen - 2/12/36, Carolyn - 5/9/39).
Of course—no wonder our hearts were light as thistledown with relief, the fighting was over!)
A vacation from WAR—that's what we have for a glad weekend. Two carloads of us—most of three families. What an expedition!
The Revelles, Roger and Ellen and the three girls. Infant Billy has been left at home in Silver Spring, Maryland, in competent hands. How pretty the girls are: Annie, 13, almost grown up; Mary Ellen 9, Carolyn 6. They are all blonde, look like Ellen. She laughs “I'm stuck in a mold.” Roger is Director of the brand new Oceanography Section of the Bureau of Ships.
Lovely, dark-haired Leonie Hulse and her two chestnut-haired live-wires—Dick 7 and Chris 6. Dr. Fred Hulse is not with us; he is away on duty with the O. S. S.
REVELL'S NECK MARYLAND, NOVEMBER 1945
BACK ROW: from left, Ellen, Roger, Peter, Leonie Hulse, Ann Revelle, 13.
FRONT ROW: Mary Revelle, 5; Chris Hulse, 7; Jean Anne, 5; Dickie Hulse, 9; Carolyn Revelle, 6.
And three Sargents—Jeanie is now a chattering, rosy-cheeked 5 years.
How sunny and bright the weather! Never mind that cold wind, we're bundled up in warm coats.
Our first stop, briefly, is at Annapolis—we wives have never seen the impressive Naval Academy on the green banks of the Severn River. Then we cross on a ferry to the Maryland Eastern Shore of Chesapeake Bay.
Now we head south. Roger has a map—he has a destination he has never seen.
The flat green countryside is charming, likewise the blue bay coast, as we follow country roads. It's all brand new to me—and wonderful to be out of cities and close-built suburbs.
None of the crossroads are marked, but Roger, driving the lead car, is determined. A winding dirt road leads us finally to a fine brick house, two story, with shutters on each side of smallpaned windows. It stands alone, with only trees for company.
We all pile out. Roger's face is one wide grin. “That's it.” he says “Revell's Neck. Don't even know who it belongs to now. But that's where all the Revelles came from.”
We are happy that he is happy. Marston takes two pictures of the whole bunch of us—Roger towering over three wives, six assorted kids—all with merry smiles.
It clouds up, and rains; we spend the night at a chilly, dark inn, return in more rain. No matter—we found Revell's Neck. . .
(Note: Jeanie and I see a Sargent bailiwick the summers of 1944-1945. North of Boston, his folks and a raft of cousins have summer cottages on Parker River—a marshy-green haven.
But not until 1971, does Marston happily return with me and his boyhood friend, Lawrence Lovett, to the tiny hamlet of Sargentville, Maine, named for his great grandfather. How proudly he shows me the lovely old house, no longer belonging to the family—where he played as an eager child.)
FEBRUARY, 1946 BIKINI ATOLL
When Marston first tells me that he will take part in OPERATION CROSSROADS, to test nuclear bombs on ships at sea—the leaving date is late March.
We are now living in our second rented house, near Fairfield, Virginia. The owner of the first house took it back, when the war ended. This happened to the Hulses, too.
Then the date is set for early March. Naval Commander Roger Revelle is in charge of the scientific ship, the Bowditch for JOINT TASK FORCE ONE. The place for the nuclear test has been set for the distant Marshall Islands, in the far Pacific.
Marston, now Lieutenant-Commander USNR, is in charge of the preliminary biological survey of Bikini Atoll. Oceanographers from Scripps and many other institutions will be aboard. An exciting prospect.
Now, on this February day, Marston comes home with Dick Fleming in tow. Dick has spent these years from summer 1941 to the present, at UCDWR at Point Loma; he's now Assistant Director there. I ask Dick eagerly about Alice, Betsy, the twins, still living on Scripps campus. “Oh, they're fine.” he says.
Marston says cheerily “Dick's in Washington on business with the Hydrographic Office. I'm due to leave for Bikini tomorrow. Flying out to San Francisco, board the Bowditch there. . . then off to the Marshall Islands. . .”
He sounds downright happy—after all, he's getting to go to the South Seas.
I give an inward groan, my heart going down to my toes. I manage the key question “How long will you be gone?”
“At least six months.” he says flatly.
Ouch. “What do I do?”
I'm sorry, dear.” says Marston, with a casual pat. “Afraid you'll have to pack up and go back to California.”
“But—the furniture we've bought (we had to rent unfurnished houses)—Jeanie—Fiddle—the car?
He tears his thoughts away from all the Bikini details. “Let's see—you'd better fly. I'll leave you plenty of money in the bank. Close the account of course. You can probably take Fiddle on the plane in a crate. I'll get the Navy to pack the furniture for you, ship out. The car? Sell it.”
Now my groan is quite audible. I shed a few tears. The prospect is appalling.
There's Dick, listening in. Over his handsome face comes that familiar, slightly malicious grin. “Matter, Peter—troubles?”
I remember—this happened on the other side of the continent. Just the same. When Tucson forbade families. And I wept buckets. I manage a lopsided smile of my own.
“You're always in at the death, Dick.”
Now, when Dick and Marston are gone, the Hulses help me. I ship Fiddle back first, to the folks in Pasadena. That last wretched day. I've sold the car for a song. What to do with Jeanie's new sled? Christmas eve it snowed—all the kids were out—but I waited with the big surprise—and it thawed. Oh, well, bring it along. The packers arrive, just as Fred Hulse is dashing me off to the airport. . .
(Note: But you ain't seen nothing yet, Peter! Just wait until 1958–1960 when you move the whole family kit and caboodle to England and back. Wow! When Marston takes the two-year job with London ONR. . .)
Jeanie, Fiddle and I have a relaxing visit with my folks. Then I'm back at Scripps in number 12, the cottage the Lymans used to have. No car—how I wish I had it now; no new cars are yet being manufactured for the general public. No furniture, no phone, no nuttin. But a growing girl, and a big dog, and some old friends, like Mom Sumner, for company. . .
Looking, in 1973, at the official Operation Crossroads book, a pictorial record published in 1946; and at the other glossy photos taken by Fritz Goro of Life magazine—I see a group photo of all the scientists on the Bowditch.
There, looking young and eager, are Walter Munk, Martin Johnson, Ken Emery, Marston himself. Others Marston comes to know well—Cliff Barnes, Jack Marr, Gordon Riley, Mel Traylor.
CREW OF THE BOWDITCH
Between Pearl Harbor and Bikini. March, 1946
(Marston in the back row). INSET: Roger Revelle, Commander USNR, was on the Admiral's ship.
“Where's Roger?”
“Oh, he was on the Admiral's ship.”
Of course—this was a huge military deal. With the scientists only a small part.
Marston is looking at the photo of himself and Tom Austin, both in shorts, busy with titration apparatus in the middle of tropical verdure. The caption reads:
“THE WORLD IS THEIR GARDEN”
At an improvised field laboratory set in the environment they are studying, Lt. Commander M. C. Sargent and T. S. Austin determine concentration of phosphate and oxygen in samples of sea water from a reef section just north of Rongelap Island, 130 miles east of Bikini. Their study was concerned with determining why certain animals and plants grow where they do and what factors limit their growth. Studies were made at islands somewhat removed from Bikini to serve as “control” studies for comparison with data amassed at Bikini.”
Marston says slowly “Hurts me to look at Tom, so lean and athletic.” Because soon after, Tom caught polio, has been in a wheel chair ever since. But Tom has guts; his mind keen as ever. We see the Austins every so often through the years. Tom and his remarkable wife, fine sons and daughter.
Two papers come out of their work together in Bikini, “Sargent and Austin. 1949. Organic Productivity of an Atoll” and “Sargent and Austin. 1954. Biological Economy of Coral Reefs.”
I remember asking Marston, after he got back in September 1946, “What was best about the whole trip?”
“Oh, it was great to be on a coral atoll.” he says happily.
How about the military spectacle? Observer ships, working ships, sacrificial ships; admirals, senators and U. N. dignitaries, including Russians? He shrugs his shoulders.
Then what did impress him most?
Oh, certainly—the great proliferating blasts, themselves. That huge and deadly sight. . .
Later, Marston tells me some of the shipboard life on the Bowditch. The meals are quite good, he says—every day the cook refills the large syrup pitcher for pancakes, waffles, etcetera. So that seldom does the level in the pitcher drop very low. Until nearly the end of the long trip. But when the pitcher is only a quarter full—something extraneous is suddenly visible. What is it? A little brown thing—Marston investigates with a spoon. (How he laughs, telling it—). The little brown thing is a leg, attached to a whole cockroach—presumably having added to the syrup flavor for most of the voyage. . .
The last night before they leave, Marston says, after all the blasts and excitement are over, and the research gear and records safely stowed for the return journey, he and all the officers and scientists retire to the only bar available, and get really stewed. First chance in six months to relax. . . Tomorrow—homeward bound at last!
One other small incident sticks with him through the years. Once, when he and Tom Austin have been pursuing their studies on a little, evacuated island, he wanders alone across it, and chances on a thatched hut that appears to be both a school and meeting house. Crayon pictures still line the walls, though the children are gone. Everybody is gone.
And one of the pictures is of a Christian nativity scene—with a baby lying in a manager. A little, black infant Jesus…
Marston told me, in 1977, one other sharp memory of the coral islands. He wrote it down for me:
“The solid earth of the atolls is composed almost exclusively of the broken and ground up shells and skeletons of organisms. (In the tropics even seaweeds have skeletons.) One time, while walking
On this afternoon, Josh Tracey, one of our geologists, was inspired to strike one of the slabs a mightly blow with his short pick. To our astonishment, the slab broke clear through from top to bottom. To our greater amazement, embedded in the middle of the freshly exposed surfaces was a green bottle, with Japanese characters molded in the glass.
Most likely, we speculated, the bottle had floated ashore years before. Gradually the sand buried it, and hardened around it by natural cementation processes until the whole mass became a solid, though very brittle rock.”
BIKINI ATOLL, FEBRUARY, 1946
Tom Austin and Marston Sargent studying living coral.
JUNE, 1947 TOMMY AND THE FISH FRY
Ah, joy! An addition to the Sargent family! Two months old, Tommy is when we first see him—a bit on the skinny side, with enormous blue eyes and a voice box that wobbles a bit in his lean throat.
“Don't worry, as soon as he puts on weight, he'll be just fine.” says Mrs. White, our old friend at the Children's Home Society. I vow privately, he's going right back on a midnight feeding, get some flesh on his bones.
Harry Tompkins Sargent we name him, after my Dad. But what he reminds me most of, the first few weeks, is the lovely little lemurs at the San Diego Zoo, small faces with round, lustrous eyes.
But what is startling—his arrival is on the very day of the big SCRIPPS FISH FRY. Marston says later, this astonishing social event, first of its kind, was connected with a scientific conference (AAAS, Pacific Division) to entertain guests. I'm sure I was in on the planning of it—probably also furnished a big salad.
Such a lot of exciting new people on campus these days. Some young scientists who originally came to UCDWR or MPL at Point Loma during 1941-1945, have now transferred over to Scripps; some ex navy officers have returned to obtain delayed PhD's. Among the lively crowd—Jeff and Fran Frautschy, Fred and Mary Sisler, Bob and Virginia Arthur, Bill and Mary Hutton; the Sheldon Cranes. Ted Walker is a new instructor.
Marston is now Assistant Professor of Oceanography. What a fine title! Walter Munk is now Assistant Professor of Geophysics. Dr. Francis Shepard, Associate in Marine Geology, and his accomplished wife Elizabeth and two sons have a lovely home on the side of Mt. Soledad, and often entertain.
The Foxes are now living in the biggest house on campus, the one once occupied by the Revelles, then Jim Ross and family. Jim has now retired, and Carl Johnson is supervisor of Buildings and Grounds. The Flemings have left now for Washington D.C.,
But best of all, we are living back on the Hill, in #27, and the Hintons are living next door in #26. Sam is now Curator of the little old museum and aquarium—which everyone hopes will soon be replaced with a wonderful new building (finally built in 1951). Percy Barnhart is Curator, Emeritus; he and Mrs. Barnhart, their daughter and grandaughter about Jeanie's age are still living on the lower campus.
Sam and Leslie are muy sympatico—they love animals and have a horde of pets. Leannie is a few months younger than Jeanie; they are great pals. Mattie is a year older than our Tommy. How many amusing memories of these friendly-neighbor years!
Take the Hinton two shepherd-type dogs (one is named Dog-Tommy, after our Tom's arrival). These two shepherds work as a team, hunting down rabbits; astonish me by never failing with a quick kill, and fresh meat. And then there's the handsome pet racoon, kept in a cage, who can't be counted on not to nip an unwary finger.
But my sharpest memory is of their beautiful Siamese cat and her kittens. It happens that I'd been hand-raising an orphaned young mourning dove; had just released it, with a survey band, when the Hintons were leaving for a couple of days. I agreed to keep their animal population fed and watered during their absence—they've done the same for us, once or twice.
So I enter the back porch of their house—empty except for mother Siamese and tumbling kittens. But what's this—dove feathers, and one leg with band still intact. My dove has been special dinner for Hinton kittens. Ah well—the Siamese is only “doing what comes natcherly”!
When I occasionally take care of Mattie, of an evening—he is easy to soothe to sleep. Just sing for him, not musically like his folks, but their familiar songs. Like:
Old Bosun is dead and laid in his grave mmmhmm, laid in his grave.
They planted an apple tree over his head
The apples were ripe and ready to fall
There came an old woman a-picking them up
Old Bosun got up and gave her a thump
It made the old woman go hippity hop
If you want any more you can sing it yourself.
(Tommy soon loves this strange song too. As he loves my Dad, who soon comes down for happy visits with his namesake. But when Dad dies in 1949, at the age of 82, the song Old Bosun makes me weep…)
On the other side of us, are Professor George McEwen, his wife Mae, and pretty daughter Dora-Ellen; their son George is grown. Dr. McEwen is a shy and quiet man; Mrs. McEwen is an amiable neighbor, who luckily likes dogs too—between the three families we have half a dozen.
Beyond the McEwens live Martin and Lelia Johnson, and daughter Phyllis, whom we've enjoyed knowing. Phyllis babysits for Jeanie, sometimes. Then Claude and pretty Jean ZoBell, in the house close to the cliff; and the Dale Leippers in the highest and last house.
Carl and Laura Hubbs are living in the Community House, which we can see from our front windows. Marston is fond of telling of “A pink fairy in our cypress.” The optical illusion he gets one morning of a distant Laura, hanging out clothes—a sunlit, doll-like figure in a pink dress, reflected in our windows, as if poised in the dark cypress sprays…
Oh yes, Brian Boden, student from South Africa; and high-spirited Betty Kampa, student of Hubbs, who after a while marries Brian…
So here the Sargents are, on the day of the Fish Fry—with a lovely baby boy. The problem—children are welcome, all families will be there—but how to transport him?
Jeanie is quite mature, in second grade. When people ask her now “What's your name?” she replies “My name is Anne.” So now we're beginning to call her Anne too.
Suddenly she shrieks “I know—we can put him in my doll buggy!”
She's right. He's just fits. Off we go, Anne importantly wheeling her new baby brother down the hill. What a surprise for everyone! He stares up at all the friendly people with those great blue eyes, as interested as they are; has his bottle; drops off to peaceful sleep.
The Fry is held in the wide shallow canyon-mouth, just north of the pier. (Some years later, this whole area becomes the technical and workshop center for Scripps, that it is today.)
Sam, and Jack and others have caught a big netfull of fine fresh fish off the end of the pier; it's all cleaned, ready to go. Into the pot of hot fat go a few fish at a time; out brown and crisp onto paper plates; into eager mouths. After we wives have supervised serving of salad, rolls, coffee, dessert, we all sit down comfortably on the sandy ground, around a big campfire.
Sam, the hero of the day, gets out his guitar, and we sing and sing. Leslie has a high sweet soprano; sometimes she can be persuaded to accompany Sam's fine baritone, teach us a new song. All kinds—with rousing or haunting melodies:
“Love-oh love-oh careless love…”
“I had a bird, and the bird pleased me, and I fed my bird under yonder tree…
“I dreamt I saw Joe Hill last night, alive as you or me.
Says I ‘But Joe you're ten years dead.’
‘I never died’ says he.
Old Man Atom “Hiroshima, Nagasakei, Alamagordo, Bikini … Now listen to my thesis
Peace in the world—or the world in pieces.”
A great day, with Sam and the fish fry—and Tommy. (But one family we miss—the Revelles. Roger is still in Washington, D.C., setting up the new ONR—the Office of Naval Research; he heads the Geophysics Branch. And when he does come back, in 1948, it is as Associate Professor of Oceanography, while Dr. Carl Eckart is Director of Scripps, replacing Dr.
In 1950, Dr. Eckart resigns to return to MPL. Roger becomes Acting Director, then Director of Scripps, until 1964.
In 1948, Roger and Walter Munk achieve a scientific triumph: the “SVERDRUP SIXTIETH ANNIVERSARY” volume of the Journal of Marine Research. They have collected new oceanographic research articles from eminent scientists throughout the United States, with the Scripps staff fully represented. Marston is glad to be included:
“Marston C. Sargent and Theodore J. Walker: Diatom Populations Associated with Eddies off Southern California in 1941”
The data was collected on ten cruises of the E. W. Scripps in 1941, for Professor W. E. Allen, but he was unable to complete the study before his death, and only after the war could Marston and Ted do the job. Marston tells me in 1973—he thinks this is the best paper he ever wrote.
But he's proudest of the note on the flyleaf:
“To Marston C. Sargent—with warm thanks
for the contribution to this volume and
for years of friendship
from Harald U. Sverdrup”
NOTE for “ENDLESS HOLIDAY” 1953 (May, 1977)
In 1973, Ellen Revelle found me copies of this “First Annual Scripps Tease”, presented by an all Scripps cast in the Revelle home. Marston and I saw it there—and how we all howled with laughter. Johnny Knauss wrote the script; he was then a lively graduate student (now Head of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island).
The play centered on a pretend cruise of the research ship HORIZON. Helen Raitt and Ellen wrote most of the words, sung to catchy popular tunes. Roger played himself and the distinguished cast included Harold Urey playing a Regent; as well as John Isaacs, Fran Shephard and Carl Hubbs. Marston and I especially remember the roars greeting the ditty “Where is Roger?”. All of us wives enjoyed the Mermaids vs long-waiting Wives angle, on those long strictly-male research cruises. However the stricture was broken by Helen Raitt herself in the 1952-1953 Capricorn Expedition, later described in her book “Exploring the Deep Pacific”, published in 1956.
But this first farce, in 1953, had a deeper truth. It accurately reflected two bewildering dilemmas of the early fifties. This was the Sen. Joe McCarthy period 1950-1954, when all scientists and public servants were caught in a fog of suspicion. Not until 1954, did the Senate finally censure McCarthy and destroy his power. Regarding the special loyalty oath proposed for scientists, a retired Navy Admiral, living in La Jolla, had a pertinent remark. A prominent socialite was reported to have queried, “But why should a scientist object to signing a special loyalty oath?” To which the Admiral replied “Madame, how would you like to have to swear on oath that you are not a prostitute?”
The second dilemma of Scripps was that it was now a part of the huge University of California, with many campuses and endless pressing problems, both large and miniscule—all ending up in the laps of the Regents.
EPILOGUE 1953
FIRST ANNUAL SCRIPPS TEASE “ENDLESS HOLIDAY”
CAST—in order of Appearance
Story Teller—Jim Moriarty
Descriptive Passages—Hugh Bradner
Freshman Graduate Student—Bob Noson (and assistant)
Senior Graduate Student—Carl S.
Staff Member—Bill Van Dorn (also Fran Shepard)
Staff Member with Tenure—John Isaacs (also Carl Hubbs)
Business Office—Parker Foster
Captain—Manny R.
Chief Scientist—Roger Revelle & Director
Regents
President Sproul—Jack Clark
Wilbur—Russell Raitt
1st—Harold Urey
2nd—Ben Volcani
3rd—Priscilla
Mermaids
Susan MacKenzie
Misty Wolfendon
Ellen Brooks
Wives
Pat Erb
Ellen Revelle
Helen Raitt
FIRST—ANNUAL SCRIPPS TEASE
“Endless Holiday”
ACT I
Scene I
(Story teller wanders out in front of curtain. He is a bizarre combination of the salty sailor and scientist. Somehow or other his costume and props should bring out this combination. This is the future, and the story he tells is of back in the nineteen fifties, when men were men, and oceanographers went to sea, leaving behind them pregnant wives, as they fought the elements on their crude vessels, while they searched for TRUTH.)
STORY TELLER
Now listen to me, while I spin you a short dissertation entitled “A Brief History of the summer cruise of the Research Vessel HORIZON during the summer of 1953.” That was a long time ago, 1953. Legends and stories have grown up about that cruise. You may have heard something about them. It is my purpose today to review what actually did happen. To separate the fact from fancy. To set down in the literature once and for all, a true record of this cruise.
I was a mere graduate student then. Those were the days when there was no shame attached to being a graduate student. Those were the days when you had to know German to be a PhD. Why, we had graduate students who had been on our staff for twenty years. Men were men in those days, me hearties, they weren't Doctors.
But about this cruise. It was planned for the HORIZON. That was our research vessel then, and a small crude, rough and tough, bailing wire vessel it was compared to floating palaces I see the (pff) doctors going out on now. Doctors they are. Why some of them are even less than forty years old. And research, ha, why they don't know what it is to work over the fantail of a small vessel
But as I was saying, this was a major cruise. The HORIZON was to be gone several months. Almost everybody was going. Nobody at the time, of course, realized how important and how long a cruise this was going to be. There was considerable last minute confusion before we were ready to shove off. I see that even today with all the new fangled instruments and accounting methods that the (pff) doctors still have confusion when they decide to make a cruise. But they don't really know what confusion is. Why I remember once … but that's another story. However, in spite of all the last minute delays the ship and the scientists were ready to leave. It was eight o'clock, the morning of May 25th, 1953.
(Curtain opens on an almost empty stage. The cast is engaged in building the set. The actual setting up of the set should take no longer than two minutes.)
STORY TELLER
As you can see, we weren't quite ready to leave at eight o'clock.
(He then goes over to assist in setting up the stage. As set is completed, the ship is then loaded with equipment, being brought on from the left wing and stowed below off the right wing. Equipment could include long core barrels, boxes labeled TNT rolled nonchalantly on and off stage, cases of champagne, etc. At conclusion of loading everyone goes off stage and the STORY TELLER comes forward.)
STORY TELLER
But we were ready to leave by eight o'clock in the evening. The scientists and crew came aboard.
(We have the Grand March from AIDA. Slowly and solemnly the scientists and staff come aboard. The STORY TELLER announces each as they enter.)
The freshmen graduate students:
(dressed in short pants and beanie with rotating propeller)
Senior graduate students who have passed their German examinations.
(wearing letter sweater with large G.)
Staff members:
(patched and disheveled)
Staff members with tenure: (same, only with mortar boards on their heads)
The business office: (wrapped in red tape)
The captain: (gorgeous, musical comedy type uniform)
And the chief scientist and director: (he doesn't show)
And the chief scientist and director: (he still doesn't show. Music slows and then stops. Rest of cast has lined up in front of stage.
They now begin to look. Finally)
ISAACS Where's Roger?
ALL Where's Roger?
ISAACS It's time to go
ALL (chant) We want Roger, We want Roger, We want Roger
SM w T Here comes Roger
(Enter Roger strumming guitar and with the long clown shoes which he wears throughout show. He is strumming guitar. Enters nonchalantly. Head in clouds, strumming.)
ROGER Are we ready to go my merry men?
ALL Yes, Roger
ROGER Is all the equipment aboard?
SM w T Yes, Roger
ROGER Are all my merry men aboard?
ALL Yes, Roger
ROGER Is there enough fuel oil aboard, and is the ship ready to go?
CAPTAIN Yes, Roger
ROGER Do we have enough sample bags and data sheets?
SM w T Yes, Roger
ROGER Do we have enough money to make this cruise?
BUSINESS OFFICE Roger, Roger
ROGER Do we have permission from the University of California at Los Angeles, the University of California at Berkeley, President Sproul, the Office of Naval Research, the Bureau of Ships, and Beach Erosion Board, the American Petroleum Institute, the Rockefeller Foundation, the California Fisheries Commission and the Board of Regents to make this cruise? (No answer) I said, do we have permission from the U. of California at Los Angeles, the U. of California Berkeley, President Sproul … (voice trails off to himself almost.) That was one of the things I was going to do.SM w T Do you mean, Roger that we don't have permission from the U. of California at L. A., the University of California at Berkeley, President Sproul, the Office of Naval Research, the Bureau of Ships, the Beach Erosion Boards, the Amerian Petroleum Institute, the Rockefeller Foundation, the California Fisheries Commission, Lloyds of London and the Board of Regents?
B. O.What are we going to do?
ROGER (With scarcely a moment's hesitation) We'll go anyway. It's too late now, John. You can take care of it while we're gone. (Strums his guitar a bit as he hums to himself) “I must go down to the sea again”.
It's all right. I'm sure they'll all say yes. (Turning to the rest. Are we ready to go, my merry men?
ALL Yes, Roger
SCENE 2
STORY TELLER (In front of Curtain) As you can see we got off
Notice how we said goodby to our sweethearts and wives. None of that sweet sentimental stuff for us. As I've often said, in those days, men were men, not doctors. Why now, I've even known some of these (pff) doctors to—well never mind, but at least we went to sea in the fifties. And we loved it.
(Curtain opens)
FRESHMAN GRADUATE STUDENT We're coming on station, captain.
CAPTAIN I know. (Looking at watch and charts) Due there in exactly 3 minutes and 35 seconds. All engines forward two-thirds. (Bells ring)
FGS (executing orders) All engines forward two-thirds, Captain.
(This same routine of captain giving the orders, and the assistants answering and executing them, and bells ringing goes on to the following orders and at an ever increasing tempo and CAPTAIN works ever more feverishly over clock, LORAN, and chart.)
Port engine forward, three-eights
Starboard engine forward, seven-ninths
Right rudder about a dozen and half degrees.
That's one and a half degrees too much.
FGS Yes Sir
CAPTAIN (Back to orders) All engines, stop. All engines, back a third. All engines, stop. Oh damn, all engines, back one twenty-seventh. (Turning to Roger who has wandered on stage) On station, Roger.
ROGER (Bellowing) Rise and shine. All my merry men on deck (as SM w T comes up) What station is this?
SM w T This is station one hundred and eighty-three. (Scientists come out carrying scientific instruments.)
ROGER Well, who's first?
(Staff members gather about and match pennies to see who gets to send their instruments down first. SHEPARD wins.)
STAFF MEMBER Hurrah, geology wins again. (Whips out sextant and starts shooting angles.) Go get the snapper somebody. (Graduate student exits, later returns and starts rigging it.)
ROGER Let's get some sea and swell observations. (Two of the chorus run off stage.) Do you want to take them this time, John, I'm rather tired.
SM w T You know, Roger, I've thought of a better way to take this data.
ROGER You had this idea only last week.
SM w T This is this week—I tell you—if we could (Men come back with large dart board, but not so large that the partitions can be seen by the audience. They set it up and as JOHN steps back to throw darts, one acts as recorder as other reads values that JOHN makes with darts.
FGS (Looking to see board after first dart is thrown.) Sea, three feet.
SGS Sea, three feet.
FGS (After second dart) Swell, ten feet.
SGS Swell, ten feet.
ROGER I didn't think it was that rough, John (Hands John the dart, and John tries again.)
FGS (After John tries again) Swell, four feet.
SGS Swell, four feet.
FGS Period thirteen seconds.
SGS Period, fourteen seconds.
FGS No, period, thirteen seconds.
SGS Sorry, period thirteen seconds.
SM w T (To recorder) Watch that. One must be very precise in making sea and swell observations. See, watch my follow through (Throws dart)
FGS Direction 184.5 degrees.
SGS 184.5 degrees.
SM w T That's all for this station (Dart board is removed).
ROGER O.K. my merry men. Let's get on with the station, what's next? There's still a lot of ocean left.
GRADUATE STUDENT Gee, Dr. Revelle, it must be wonderful to be as smart as you and be able to think of all the rest of the ocean.
ROGER It's nothing son.
CHORUS How do you get to be as smart as you? How did you get to be—director of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography?
ROGER Well, son, if you really want to know, I'll tell you (Read).
How I got to be director of oceanography
When I was a lad, I went to Scripps
A campus down south where they had some ships
The swimming's fine and the grunion run
And there's time for tennis out in the sun
The best thing of all occured to me
That I'd never, never, never have to go to sea.
Oh physics and chemistry I acquired such a grip
That they give to me an assistant ship
That junior assistantship I ween
Was the only only ship that I ever had seen
The assistant ship so suited me
That I chose to stick to oceanography
Students all, whoever you may be
If you want to rise to the top of the tree
Take all the dry courses that you can in school
Carefully be guided by this golden rule
Stick close to your desks—yes. And never go to sea
And you'll rise high in oceanography.
SM w T Ready to move on Roger?
ROGER Good
FGS (Bells) All engines forward full speed. What's our course, captain?
CAPTAIN Oh, I don't know yet. Head her over in that general direction.
ROGER We've got to get off a letter to the home front. Call our merry Press Technicians.
SM w T (bellowing) Press Technicians!
ROGER What new have we discovered this week?
SM w T Remember that little hump we got on the fathometer on Wednesday?
FGS (Singing of course) “Bahli High we found you. Bahli Hi, you're ours.”
SCENE 4
(REGENTS MEETING They are a group of nice ineffectual men and women seated around a table along with President Sproul)
1st REGENT Pre. Sproul we are here to discuss things of importance. (Pres. Sproul throws back his head and gives the Sproul laugh). We are here to discuss matters of importance to our great university. Wilbur, what are you doing? (Wilbur had been looking under the table. In fact he was almost completely under the table.)
WILBUR I thought I saw one.
2nd REGENT Really, where (He gets under table too.)
1st REGENT Don't be silly. We got rid of all those people in 1950. There are no more left. They have all signed loyalty oaths.
WILBUR I know, but I never saw one. I've always wanted to see one. What do they look like? Do they look like Machiavelli?
3rd REGENT Who's Machiavelli? Is he on our faculty?
1st REGENT(Turning to Sproul) Is he, Pres. Sproul? (Pres. Sproul just gives a Sproul laugh.)
2nd REGENT What is the first order of business today?
1st REGENT You remember that at the last meeting we approved the installation of electrical wiring to the new horse barn for the Davis College of Agriculture, well, now we…
WILBUR When did we approve the horse barn?
1st REGENT(Consulting notes) We approved that in April, 1952.
4th REGENT Is it too late to reconsider our vote?
1st REGENT No, but I don't really think that we should. The barn is almost completed. As I was saying “In line with our new policy of requiring separate approval for all items of construction in new construction”…
2nd REGENT That's a good administrative policy.
3rd REGENT Keeps a tight check on public funds. (Regents nod sagely.)
1st REGENT As I was saying, we now have a request in for approval of the purchase and installation of electric lights and fixtures now that the wiring is completed. Everyone got the picture?
5th REGENT Do we vote on the whole request, or on each section separately?
1st REGENT Either way is all right, I think.
2nd REGENT Let's vote on how we should vote.
1st REGENT That would be the most democratic.
6th REGENT(Approvingly) That would be the most fair.
7th REGENT The most untainted.
1st REGENT Well then, gentlemen, shall we vote on whether we should consider the purchase and installation of electric lights in the new horse barn of the Davis of Agriculture all at once, or, whether we should first consider the purchase of the lights, and then consider the installation of the lights. (Passing out what look suspiciously like silver dollars to the other regents) Have we considered each part separately? (The Regents as one man flip coins into the air, catch them, slam them on the table and then peek at coin under hand.) What is the decision of the Regents on this matter?
2nd REGENT Approve.
3rd REGENT Approve.
4th REGENT Opposed.
5th REGENT Approve.
6th REGENT Heads … I mean approve.
7th REGENT Opposed.
8th REGENT Opposed.
1st REGENT And I approve. By our vote we must now consider the two problems separately. (Pres. Sproul laughs) Are we ready to vote on the approval of the purchase of the lights? (REGENTS pick up coins.) All right … Do you approve the purchase of electric light fixtures for the new horse barn of the Davis College of Agriculture? (Again coins go up in air. Same procedure is followed as last time. But this time the request is turned down. Each Regent votes the opposite of what he voted before.)
1st REGENT Well, Gentlemen, shall we now take up the matter of the installation of the electric lights? (Regents pick up coins.)
5th REGENT Pardon me, but I wonder if there is much point in voting for the installation if we have already turned down the purchase of the lights. (Other Regents look surprised, then nod sagely as they now see the wisdom of this remark.)
1st REGENT(After considering matter) That is true, but we bound ourselves by our first vote to take votes on both parts of the request. We'll just have to go through with it gentlemen.
6th REGENT But what shall we do, if after considering the merits, we vote for approval of the installation, but have disallowed the purchase?
1st REGENT We'll consider that when we come to it. There's a 50-50 chance we'll disapprove. All right, how many in favor of the installation of the electric lights we have refused the college permission to purchase for the new horse barn of the Davis College of Agriculture? (The coins are flipped, the vote taken, and of course, the installation of lights is approved.)
1st REGENT Gentlemen, have you fully considered the merits of this case? (The Regents look once more at the coins beneath their
WILBUR Maybe they could swipe them from someplace. (Other Regents show disapproval.)
4th REGENT Maybe when they see the approval of installation, they will think we approved the purchase at the previous meeting. (This is met with nodding approval.)
1st REGENT But we must send them the record of our first vote against the purchase of the lights.
6th REGENT Do horses really need electric lights?
5th REGENT Maybe they could get them as government furnished equipment from the Office of Naval Research. (Other Regents brighten, smile.)
1st REGENT An excellent suggestion. Pres. Sproul, when you transmit the Regents' decision on this matter to Davis College, give them our suggestion.
6th REGENT Does Davis have an ONR contract?
1st REGENT Never mind, we can't be bothered with details. Let's see, what's the next order of business? (Picks up paper from top of pile) Oh, yes, the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
3rd REGENT Do we own that too?
1st REGENT Of course. They request…
3rd REGENT I'm tired. Let's go home.
4th REGENT Me too.
5th REGENT We can't make our best decisions when we're tired.
6th REGENT That's what it is, all meeting long—decisions, decisions.
SONG “WE ARE THE REGENTS” (Tune—Little Buttercup)
Oh, we are the Regents, University Regents,
Appointed for sixteen long years.
We manage each college,
Unhampered by knowledge
By playing on Faculty fears.
And even some piety
To run such a variety show—
For there's much diversity
In our University—
Stars, students, cows AND whales that blow…
We check our professors,
And also their lessers,
To be sure they're politically pure.
Unless they can show it,
So enough of us know it—
We cannot allow them ten-ure.
So—we are the Regents
University Regents,
Administering oaths and degrees.
We spend all your taxes,
And brother, the fact is—
We're in red tape up to our knees.
Curtain
STORY TELLER (In front of curtain) Well, they didn't get permission that time. And by the next Regent Board meeting, a new regulation had been issued changing the request form. So when the Regents found the request for the cruise was in the wrong form, naturally they refused permission. Moreover, having seen the request in the obsolete form, they were emphatic about not allowing the cruise to start until the people at Scripps made the request in the proper form.
Now this caused a bit of a dilemma down at La Jolla. The ship was almost ready to come home from a highly successful cruise, and approval for the cruise had not been given, and the Regents had forbidden the cruise until approval had been given.
You might think if the ship could sail without the Regents
Now, the only way the folks back on shore had managed to keep this cruise out of the papers so far was to promise the newspapers unlimited interviews when the ship returned. The scientists wouldn't be allowed to leave the ship until all questions were answered. It just didn't seem possible to keep this cruise out of the papers once the ship returned. Then the Regents would see it, and there would be hell to pay.
Well, the result was a decision to keep the HORIZON at sea until the Business Office could get permission from the Regents to make this cruise. While the Business Office worked hard trying to interpret the new request form, the HORIZON drifted off the Coast of California while waiting for approval to make this cruise from which they were ready to come home.
Curtain Opens
Captain and assistant on stage. Things look a bit run down. Many possibilities for how set could be changed to show this. Laundry hanging on line. Everyone reading pocket books and fighting over new ones, etc.)
FRESHMAN GRAD. STUDENT(Bored) Time for another station, Captain.
CAPTAIN Oh God, not again.
FRESH. GRAD. STUDENT Any orders, Captain?
CAPTAIN Yeah, … Where are we?
F.G.S. Same place we've been for the last 12 days. You'd think we'd know all there is to know about this part of the ocean.
CAPTAIN We do, but we haven't enough fuel to go anywhere. (To Roger, who has just come on stage.) On station, Roger.
ROGER Same place?
CAPTAIN Same place.
ROGER(Shaking himself out of the lethargy with which this scene has been conducted) Oh well, nothing like specializing, I always say. (Bellowing) Rise and shine! All my merry men on deck. (Consulting notes). Let's gather data from station 1043.
(Scientists come straggling out. They don't have the same enthusiasm as in the earlier scene.) Well, who's first? (Scientists gather together to flip coins. This time it isn't the winner goes first, but the winner gets to be last.)
STAFF MEMBER WITH TENURE Hell, I've lost the last three times. OK, get ready to lower away the trawl … Come on, everybody help. Let's get the trawl over. Who knows what fish we'll catch this time.
ROGER Who's going to get the sea and swell data?
STAFF M w T I'll take it.
STAFF MEMBER You always take it.
S.M.w. TENURE Well, it's my instrument.
STAFF MEMBER I'll challenge you. I bet I can make it rougher than you can.
S.M.w. TENURE Is that O.K. with you, Roger?
ROGER Of course, my merrymen. Two observers are better than one. (Isaacs brings out Shoot the Moon game. SMwT and Staff Member start shooting alternately. They shoot four times each as everyone gathers about to watch. Comments vary depending on the shots; such remarks as the changing of the sea from 10 to 16 feet, etc.)
ROGER(After all shots have been made and results studied) Sea
STAFF MEMBER(As Shepard's results are read, the guy gulps twice and dashes to the rail.) Good lord, I didn't realize it was that rough. (After disposing of lunch off rail and coming back on stage wiping chin and blowing nose, he sings)
STAFF MEMBER—SINGING LAMENT
(Tune, Stormy Weather)
Why do I, every time a wave rolls by,
Retch and quiver,
Can't blame it on my liver,
I'm sea-sick all the time.I can't die, even though I often try,
Nausea's got me,
Mal-de-mer's really caught me,
I'm sea-sick all the time.
FRESHMAN GRAD. STUDENT (Who has been watching trawl) There seems to be something the matter with the trawl, Dr. Hubbs. (As group comes over to him) See—look at the wire.
STAFF MEMBER WITH TENURE It might be on the bottom.
FRESH. GRAD. STUDENT Look at the accumulator, it has to be on the bottom.
SMwT We'd better pull it up before we lose it. (Dredge is pulled up. Group gathers around to watch it.)
SENIOR GRAD STUDENT Maybe it was being bounced sideways by rocks.
STAFF MEMBER On our last 23 cores of this sport we picked up sand.
STAFF MEMBER WITH TENURE Here comes the trawl … Good God, it can't be!
OTHERS What? What is it? What do you see, (etc.)
STAFF MEMBER I see them … look … here … over there … My God … they're girls!
ROGER No, they're mermaids.
SMwT But they don't have any tails.
SEN. GRAD. STUD. They certainly aren't whales.
CHORUS Hope they aren't plankton.
ROGER Here, help them aboard. (They do, and all the mermaids come aboard.) ROGER (for once at a loss for words) Ahhh … welcome aboard the good ship HORIZON.
MERMAIDS I guess you fellows didn't know
Such things as we exist.
And we, now we've seen men again
Recall all we have missed.
STAFF MEMBER Why … you speak English!
MERMAIDS Naturally.
STAFF MEMBER W. TENURE And you can live out of water … or … aaa …
MERMAIDS Of course.
FRESHMAN GRAD STUDENT And you're really mermaids?
MERMAIDS Of course, can't you tell.
STAFF MEMBER But you don't have any tails.
1st MERMAID Have you ever seen a mermaid?
STAFF MEMBER No.
2nd MERMAID Have you ever known anyone who has seen a mermaid?
STAFF MEMBER No.
MERMAIDS Well, then what makes you think mermaids have tails?
ROGER But all the stories and legends tell of mermaids wearing tails. The ones Ulysses saw had tails.
1st MERMAID (Hurt) Those weren't mermaids, those were sirens.
2nd MERMAID (In explanation) They always overdress.
1st MERMAID Every time they take a trip to the surface, they always come formal.
2nd MERMAID Why, I haven't had my tail on in 6 months.
1st MERMAID The girls in the Atlantic, I think, wear them more than we do.
2nd MERMAID We're so much more informal out here in the Pacific.
ROGER But why did you decide to come up in the dredge?
1st MERMAID Do you realize how long you have been in this same spot in the ocean?
CAPTAIN 12 days, 14 hours.
2nd MERMAID And do you have any idea how many times you've lowered a bottle, or a bucket …
3rd MERMAID Or that silly long tube of yours, to the bottom?
ROGER About four hundred times, maybe?
MERMAIDS Four hundred and thirty-three times!
1st MERMAID We want you to quit (Others—please stop, we don't like it, etc.)
2nd MERMAID It's not safe down there anymore.
1st MERMAID You're making us all nervous wrecks.
2nd MERMAID You're giving us all ulcers.
1st MERMAID You don't seem to realize what you have been doing to our community life … This continual bombing, day and night.
ROGER We're sorry, but we're oceanographers.
1st MERMAID We know you're oceanographers. Oh dear God, how we know about Oceanographers. Why, when the sardines decided to move out in 1946, and you started that abominable survey program of yours, we all had to move west. Life just wasn't worth living in close to shore anymore. Why, you should see what that Marine Life program has done to off-shore real-estate values. The bottom just fell out. Nobody who could afford to live anywhere else, stayed.
ROGER Really?
2nd MERMAID That's why the sardines came back, of course.
ROGER I don't quite understand.
2nd MERMAID Well, the reason they moved out in the first place
STAFF MEMBER W. TENURE But they came back the next year.
3rd MERMAID Well, what do you expect. You start this damn survey program of yours, dropping bottles, towing nets, carrying on with a really unnecessary amount of enthusiasm, and what happens? Property values are ruined.
ROGER But what has this got to do with the sardines coming back?
3rd MERMAID I'm coming to that. You get the fisheries industry to subsidize your survey. We have a lot of money and effort put into our homes so everybody living off shore gets together and subsidizes the sardines so that they can afford to come back and live in the offshore areas. We were a bit naive, I guess. We thought that once the sardines came back, you'd call off your survey. But no. You keep on dragging dredges, pulling nets, and dropping bottles, trying to figure out why they came back … that makes you even more naive than we are.
ROGER From what you say about the reasons that the sardines moved out and then came back again, I suspect that there are a few details about the ocean that we don't quite understand.
MERMAIDS Are you kidding?
1st MERMAID Let's put it this way. What do those tubes, and nets, and bottles really tell you?
ROGER They tell us all we know about the ocean.
2nd MERMAID That makes you kind of ignorant, doesn't it.
STAFF MEMBER WITH TENURE It's the best we can do.
3rd MERMAID Why don't you go down and see for yourselves.
1st MERMAID You just come with us, and hold your breath.
ROGER This is indeed difficult to believe.
2nd MERMAID Well, if you don't want to find out about the sardines…
3rd MERMAID And density currents…
1st MERMAID And ripple marks on the bottom…
2nd MERMAID And the deep scattering layer…
3rd MERMAID And the sinking rate of diatoms…
1st MERMAID And the temperature gradient in the bottom sediments … (At each remark, one scientist, or scientists, comes to life, makes a dive for the wings. At finish, all come on stage with swim fins, swim suits, and face plates. Face plates on foreheads so they can speak.)
SCIENTISTS We're ready to go. (Roger doesn't have fins—he doesn't need them.)
ACT II Scene I
STORY TELLER (In front of curtains). I told you this was quite a cruise we had back in fifty-three, when men were men, not doctors. The ship had now been out more than three weeks beyond the date when it was supposed to come home. Back at Scripps the business office was still struggling over the form of the new forms. They were trying, but they weren't making for much headway, I'm afraid. Out on the ship we really didn't care when we came home. At home, however, I'm afraid the wives were becoming a bit impatient. And I'm afraid that news from the ship didn't make them any less impatient. (Wives come on—still in front of curtains).
BUSINESS OFFICE Good morning ladies.
1st WIFE When are you going to get our husbands home John Kirby?
BUSINESS OFFICE We're working on it. It takes time.
2nd WIFE But they're having such a miserable time out there. Their messages are always so cheerful.
3rd WIFE The heroic little dears always try to be so optimistic.
BUSINESS OFFICE That's what I came to see you about. This week's message just came in. Do you want to hear it?
1st WIFE Is it news, or adjectives?
BUSINESS OFFICE It's a bit different than the others I'm afraid.
2nd WIFE Then it must be news.
3rd WIFE Read it to us, John.
BUSINESS OFFICE (Reading). “The sea is a lousey mistress. She is dull and unexciting and we are listless. We wish we were home, teaching classes, answering memos, talking to visitors, accounting for equipment and funds; in short, doing all those things we love best. We'd like to see our wives also. There is nothing of note to report this week. Nothing new of any consequence has happened. We are still drifting in the same place doing the same things. We suppose there is no progress to report on the Business Office securing permission for us to make this dull, listless cruise so we can come home to life and excitement. This is too bad, but we will be brave, and try to bear up under it. Goodby until next week. (Murmur of disapproval from all wives at once.)
1st WIFE Well, I'll be damned.
2nd WIFE There's something mighty suspicious about that letter.
3rd WIFE Do you suppose they're drunk?
2nd WIFE Surely not!
1st WIFE Well, you can bet your bottom dollar that they'd never write such a dismal letter unless they were having a good time.
2nd WIFE They certainly write cheerful enough ones when they're miserable.
3rd WIFE I'm worried. (Others: So am I—I don't like it, etc.)
1st WIFE Where's the ship now, John?
BUSINESS OFFICE About fifty miles west of here.
2nd WIFE Let's go out and see them.
1st WIFE How'll we get there?
2nd WIFE We can get Giff Ewing to loan us his boat.
1st WIFE Don't you tell them we're coming, John. Whatever it is that's happened, we don't want it hidden.
(They go off stage and curtain opens).
ACT II
Scene 2
STORY TELLER (In front of curtain). The wives were mad, but there wasn't much they could do underwater, so they came home. And when they got home, they went straight to a member of the Board of Regents that one of them knew slightly. (Two wives and regent come out on stage in front of curtain).
REGENT I'm sorry ladies. I appreciate your interest in your husbands' work, but that expedition cannot leave until after they have received approval from the Board of Regents. The next Regents meeting is not for three weeks. And I doubt that we will be able to get at it even then.
1st WIFE Not even then?
REGENT I'm afraid not. You see we have a special commission's report to act upon. They have been looking into the possibilities of using candles or some other form of illumination to light a new horse barn that is being built on one of the other campuses.
2nd WIFE Then it will be seven weeks before you can possibly take up this request for Scripps to make a cruise.
REGENT I'm afraid so.
(WIVES go into huddle together, then emerge).
1st WIFE What would you say, if we told you that the ship was already out?
REGENT Impossible.
2nd WIFE And has been out for three months, and has been ready to come home for three weeks, but didn't dare because of they hadn't gotten permission to go yet.
REGENT Improbable.
1st WIFE But they have. They're out at sea now and we want them to come home.
REGENT Oh dear, when will these campuses learn to stop using their initiative.
STORY TELLER (From other side stage). Once they had gone this far, the wives couldn't back out, and they talked to that regent
1st WIFE(The three have been talking strenuously, but inaudibly all the time the story teller is speaking). It's not fair the way those girls operate, they're un-American.
REGENT(Suddenly coming to life). They're what?
1st WIFE They're not fair.
2nd WIFE(Coming quickly to rescue). They're un-American.
REGENT Really, are you sure?
2nd WIFE You don't know any Americans do you that can live under water.
REGENT No.
1st WIFE And if they're not American, they must be un-American, musn't they?
REGENT That's true. You say your husbands are associating with these people.
2nd WIFE(Quickly) No, no, they're not associating. Not yet anyway. They're down there together, but I wouldn't say they had associated yet, would you?
1st WIFE No, but they may, if we leave them out there much longer.
REGENT My, my, we can't have our professors associating with un-Americans. It isn't right you know.
2nd WIFE I'm afraid they will, if we don't get them home.
1st WIFE And we won't get them home unless you give them permission to go.
REGENT Well, now I'll take care of that. Don't you worry. Anything to save our faculty, I always say. That's what we regents are for. If we can keep your husbands from becoming contaminated, then we will.
2nd WIFE Oh, thank you sir.
REGENT Now you leave everything to me. I'll get them permission, and I'll get it quickly, too. (Wives and Regent exit).
ACT II
Scene 3
STORY TELLER Well, the regent went off to call a special meeting of the Board of Regents, but even special hurry up meetings of the Board of Regents take time to call, and in the meantime, the wives worried about their husbands and the mermaids. So, they all packed up on Ewing's boat and came out to visit us. They came to stay and stay they did. We, of course, came to the surface. The day of the special meeting of the Board of Regents we had a party to celebrate what we thought would be our last day of our cruise. We were in touch with the Scripps campus all day, but they couldn't give us any word.
So, the day after the Regents' meeting we held another party to celebrate what we at lest hoped would be the last day of our cruise. (Curtain opens on party on shipboard).
ROGER Any word from shore, Captain?
CAPTAIN Not a thing. Everytime we call Scripps we get the same answer, “Relax, you'll find out.” Those regents had better make up their mind soon. We'll be out of water in another ten days.
FRESHMAN GRADUATE STUDENT Let them drink mud.
ROGERIt will be good to get back though.
STAFF MEMBER To all those classes, and entertaining visitors.
3rd WIFE And bringing them home for dinner and not telling us ahead of time.
STAFF MEMBER WITH TENURE And fighting with the business office and filling out forms.
1st WIFE And fixing the plumbing and mending the roof.
STAFF MEMBER WITH TENURE And writing progress reports.
3rd WIFE And yelling at the children.
ROGER I'm getting a little homesick too, but I think the thing I miss most of all are the Wednesday afternoon seminars.
STAFF MEMBER WITH TENURE Really?
STAFF MEMBER Been missing your sleep recently, Roger?
ROGER Well, a bit, but what I really miss are all of those inspiring ideas so cogently put.
MERMAID What's a seminar?
2nd WIFE I'm not sure, but it's what makes him late for dinner on Wednesdays as distinguished from the things that make him late to dinner on the other evenings.
STAFF MEMBER WITH TENURE Do you really want a seminar, Roger?
ROGER I'd love a seminar right now, John.
CAPTAIN We just got Scripps on the radio again.
ROGER Any news?
CAPTAIN No, they asked us if we had heard yet?
STAFF MEMBER WITH TENURE How would we know if they didn't?
CAPTAIN That's what I told them. But they said that if we hadn't heard already, we'd be hearing pretty soon.
ROGER Good, in the meantime, who's for more globigerian booze? (He goes over to pot and fills his glass.) We're running out.
STAFF MEMBER I'm having some more processed, Roger. It should be about ready. It's coming now Roger.
(Enter two men bringing in pot and singing)
Song: “I'm in love with Globigerina” (Corny as Kansas)
I'm as cozy as globigerina
I hunt for, I search for, I dig for a core
For I'm in love with that wonderful mud
I go to the bottom of all the big oceans
Hoping to verify Phleger's fine notions
And that's where I get all the samples I crave
Of that wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful mud.
(After song, everybody fills up their cups).
STAFF MEMBER Good Lord, we're being boarded.
CHORUS Where? What do you mean? There over there. It's the CREST, but who's on her. There's John Kirby, and the rest of our wives. But who are those other men? I don't know. They're not part of Scripps.
ROGER Good lord it's the Regents.
CAPTAIN Let's give them a hand aboard.
ROGER Here, let's clean this place up. (He downs glass and throws it in pot, as do others. Place is tidied up. Mermaids spruce up. Observations begin again. Regents and Kirby enter).
ROGER Welcome aboard, Mr. Regent.
1st REGENT Good to see you again Mr. Revelle. Ah these must the young ladies we've heard so much about.
BUSINESS OFFICE They wouldn't let us tell you we were coming, Roger.
1st REGENT We didn't want to take a chance on not seeing these young ladies (looking them over closely—maybe testing them with litmus paper). I'm afraid you've put something over on us Mrs. Revelle, these delightful young ladies couldn't possible be un-American, could you (he moves in on eager MERMAID … other REGENTS tumble over themselves to line up.)
2nd WIFE Well, you can judge for yourself.
REGENT We have. The chemistry group up at Berkeley have developed a special litmus paper for us which we tested these young ladies with. None of them are the least bit pink. But we won't hold it against you. I can see why you wanted your husbands home. And here sir is the official permission of the Board of Regents for you to make this cruise. (Cheers)
ROGER Thank you, sir. Prepare to get underway, Captain. Now that we have permission to commence we can go home.
REGENT The important thing is the welfare of these young ladies. (Regents line up and mermaids begin to pucker). What educational facilities do you have down there?
MERMAID What?
REGENT Do you have any chances for higher education, any colleges or universities?
MERMAID Gosh no, are we supposed to have them?
REGENT Gentlemen I think I see an opportunity to establish our ninth campus. What do you think?
ALL THE REGENTS Swell, you bet. Yes siree.
REGENT We'll need a small committee to go down and investigate the possible sites. Would you be so kind to take a few of our members down with you?
MEMAID You bet, sure.
REGENT Do I have any volunteers for the committee? (ALL REGENTS raise their hands to volunteer). There's no reason why we can't all go is there?
MERMAID You're going to get a bit wet I'm afraid. Do you have any other clothes?
REGENT I think we've all come prepared my dear. (They all immediately strip down to bathing suits. Old fashioned kind if possible).
MERMAID Well, what are we waiting for?
(The exit over the fantail).
CAPTAIN (Coming in). Ship is ready to start Roger.
ROGER Well, then let's be on our way.
The End
SUMMER, 1958 OFF TO LONDON, O. N. R.
We're at a farewell party at the Raitt's fine new house in “Scripps Estates”, right smack on the edge of the cliffs. The Raitts drew lots with other staff members to get this magnificent view—similar to the Sumner's old place a little to the south, now in other ownership.
Marston is sharing the guest-of-honor role with a European scientist—I forget who—so many Very Important Visitors reach Scripps these days. And Helen Raitt, like Ellen Revelle, is a wonderful hostess; intriguing food, exciting conversation, and unusual people—are served up in generous portions.
(I remember once, an earlier shindig at which Ellen was main hostess—her house and Helen cohostess, (was it the wedding of Helen's elder daughter Allison?). At any rate, here is Helen rushing about, with eyes alight, vivid face sparkling—and I remark to some eminent male guest “Helen thrives on confusion.”
Her guest snorts “Thrives on confusion! She creates it!” True perhaps—but life is sure fun around Helen!)
So here again, at Helen and Russ's house, are the Revelles, probably also the Shepherds, Carl Eckart, several others and a merry old time.
Marston has a two year leave of absence, as Oceanographer, Office of Naval Research, at Scripps, a position he's held since 1954. The whole Sargent family will soon take off for his new position at O. N. R., London. He's raring to go; English history is one of his hobbies.
I have resigned as President of the San Diego League of Women Voters. My two year term beginning June 1957 had one more year to go; sorry, gals—but I'm raring to go too.
Roger has been Director of Scripps since 1950, and the place is humming. Fine new buildings, big new research ships, greatly enlarged staff and graduate students; a series of extraordinary ship expeditions, acquiring basic information about the world oceans.
One of these explorations was Operation Capricorn 1952-1953,
And Helen Raitt wrote a book about it, “Exploring the Deep Pacific”, published in 1956, with a forward by Roger.
Although Helen is not a scientist herself, she's an oceanographic pioneer—she broke the iron-clad taboo against women on ships. It happened this way: she had flown out to the Fiji Islands to spend Christmas 1952 with Russ, who was Senior Geophycist on the Baird. And ended up returning on the Baird, carefully noting the experiments made.
Excellent photos in this book show other young oceanographers on this trip—Walter Munk, Gustav Arrenhius, Bob Dill, Bill Bascom, Art Maxwell, Ted Folsom.
(This book was reprinted all over the world, and I well remember an Oceanid meeting in the 1960's at which Helen shoved us some strange royalties. Russia had pirated her book, but they did offer her royalties, which she must collect and spend while in Russia. Which she did, on a trip with Russ, and brought back dozens of Russian children's books. How fascinated we were, with these lively, illustrated books, in the unfamiliar script.
One other sharp memory—when Roger, Helen, Russ return from this trip to the South Seas—their languid movements, and bemused expressions—at a return celebration.
I ask Roger “Do you wish you were back in the South Seas?”
His face lights. “Yes.”
And Helen does go back, several times, especially to her favorite—Tonga … In 1973, she is writing a book on the history of Tonga.)
Helen has brought back a vast supply of native arts and crafts—how delightfully exotic they are, in Southern California. She is generous with her friends. She gives me a handsomely carved solid hunk of reddish wood. “It's for pounding and mashing, in the kitchen—use it.”
But I don't. In July, 1972, she comes over to visit our Jean
Generous, busy, Helen and Russ …
But back to that evening at the Raitt's in 1958. Sometime during it—perhaps after I've had one martini (a lot for me), and Roger has had several (not unusual for him) apropos of what I don't know—I say to Roger—with some self surprise,
“Never realized it before, but I'm an organizer … You are too, Roger.”
Roger sits with that big frame slumped on a couch, silent for a moment, thinking. That's characteristic of him—he listens to people. Then he looks at me with that slow grin.
“No, Peter. I'm not an organizer. I'm a promoter.” (It occurs to me later that Marston is already an administrator.)
But now, with Roger, I nod. Yes, it's true. Roger is skillful at promoting Scripps, getting research funds. But already he has an even bigger dream, and is taking steps to make it a reality.
Although San Diego has a flourishing state college, it should have a UNIVERSITY. And on the mesa above Scripps is plenty of land for a University of California at San Diego. (La Jollans would prefer La Jolla.)
And indeed, Roger becomes the first Acting Chancellor of UCSD. And the first solid phalanx of buildings is Revelle College.
Twice now, the second time in July 1973, Roger has been back in San Diego to lecture on his newest, and vitally important field “World Populations”. How the auditoriums were jammed with eager students!
And now, in 1973, another honor—he is President of the prestigious American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Happy landings, Roger—in whatever field you undertake.
1959 GREETINGS FROM THE PERAMBULATING SARGENTS
This has been our year to roam:
Marston—oceanographic visits to Sweden; Holland; Germany and Helgoland (the red rock island off the coast); New York (internat. conf. in Sept.); Denmark, Norway, and Finland (Oct.).
All the Sargents—April tour of southern England, in our little Ford Prefect “The Wild Blue Yonder”. August—France, Switzerland, and Austria (Marston—conference in Vienna). Back via German autobahn.
We have been revelling, not to say—wallowing—in HISTORY: Castles—from the ruins of Tintagel on the wild black cliffs of Cornwall (a Celtic mnoastery before the legend of King Arthur) to Richard Coeur de Lion's Les Andelys, on the Seine.)
Palaces—from fairytale Windsor, part time residence of Queen Elizabeth II, to the faded relic of Versailles, and the empty Hapsburg grandeur at Vienna.
Cathedrals—the quiet English splendour of Exeter and Wells, contrasted with the grinning gargoyles and violet transepts of Notre Dame de Paris, and lovely Chartres; then the gilded Austrian churches, with onion shaped spires.
Not to mention Roman ruins from Switzerland to Colchester, the oldest town in England (Roman temple in 50 A.D.)
Or the vivid prehistoric cave paintings of Lascaux, and the underground river chasm of Gouffre de Padirac, France. (And how Marston enjoyed French cooking!)
Anne—passed tough exams in 3 subjects in June; working on 3 more this year. French exchange student Jacqueline Dupeyroux spent 3 weeks with us in July; then Anne returned with her for a week in Paris and 2 weeks with her family in central France. When we picked A. up on our way to Switzerland, the hospitable Dupeyroux regaled us with champagne.
A's friend Veronica Parry arrived from San Diego on Sept. 30 to spend the winter. Both girls studying hard at City of Westminster College (in London); having a lot of fun, too.
Tommy—has climbed from last in his class at Elmhurst, to first, with all Excellents on latest report card. He is now a subprefect, and vice captain of the football team. (Also on cricket team.) His English friend Roger went with us to Vienna, friend Robert to Cambridge. Still likes baseball best of all.
Peter—from a new wife at O.N.R. to an old hand—recently entertained 18 wives at 2 luncheons. At Mrs. (Ambassador) Whitney's has heard such striking personalities as Hugh Gaitskell (Labour Party Leader); Madame Pandit (sister of Nehru); Dame Edith Sitwell (Poetess). For Embassy Wives Speakers Bureau—9 “Friendly Chats” on the U.S. before English groups—school children the most fun—how they fire questions! With Warlingham friends—wonderful horseback rides, and a Writer's club. (P's mother recovering after serious injury in June when struck by car in Pasadena—so far away!)
We've been delighted to see quite a passel of you right here in London—Come on everybody—come see us—we leave in August, 1960 for San Diego.
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