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CHAPTER FOUR
In September 1921, Walter Zschaechner (later changed to
Shekner) and I boarded the train and went to Madison to get
educated, he to study engineering and I to eventually study law.
Neither of us had ever been in Madison before. We had received
a list of rooming houses and their charges from the University
when we had registered (by mail). We ended up with renting a
room on the corner of West Johnson and Spring Streets, one block
south of the chemistry building. I had a single cardboard suit-
case holding my clothes, other than those I had on my back.
There was a single double bed in the room, a small closet,
a study desk and several chairs. The bathroom was down the hall
so you had to get up early and watch your chance to get in. The
toilet tank was up near the ceiling, at least it was better than
the outdoor chick sales we had home.
When I registered for my classes I was given a booklet which
showed the location of the various buildings on the campus and it
also included a map of Madison which helped a lot. My adviser
was Dr. Pearse who was head of the Zoology Department so I was
signed up for Zoology. When I told him I was working my way
through school he advised me not to try to take a full program
because it would be too hard on me. I was stubborn and insisted
on taking a full load. I suffered for this decision as I had a
nervous breakdown before the end of that first year, and was sick
a lot the second year before I learned I had to eat the right
kinds of food and get sufficient rest to keep going. I lost
fifteen pounds that first year.
I got jobs through the University employment office. I
took care of furnaces, washed windows and walls, waxed floors,
polished brass, waited on tables in restaurants and at fraternity
and sorority parties and acted as chauffeur. All this for forty
cents an hour which was the going wage at that time.
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