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Cruise of the Foo Foo Special Jr, by Art Widner, Jr., 1943

Page 6

6 * * * The Cruise of the "FooFoo Special Jr"

that I should wait a bit longer before being trusted to the subway system, so my cousin brought me over to Manhattan in his car and gently deposited me on the doorstep of the Electrical Testing Labs.

Contrary to popular belief, H C Koonig (pronounced KAY-nig) is not a giant, red-eyed mongoose who crouches, snarling, over a mountainous pile of lurid stf pulps, subsisting entirely on a diet of hisses. (Take your pick of the antecedents, Heck; I have a large stock.) Hiss Catcher is a blonde, slender, affable guy, who doesn't look that old, but must be, because he has adolescent chillun and has been reading and collecting fantasy since way back when. He has also worked at the ETL long enuf to be important enuf to be able to take half an afternoon off to talk to wandering jerks like me and show them all over the joint. If I could remember half of what he showed me and explained to me I would be rather smart.

We discussed Smith, and Weinbaum, and Jenkins, and the FAPA, and Wollheim, etc, while a thunder squall boomed about the canyon without. When the dripping sun came out, I was solicitously tucked into a cross-town bus with directions for Campbell's office that even I could understand and given a copy of THE NEW ADAM to keep me amused.

It did.

I was informed by Mr. Weinbaum that lead left out in the weather for long periods becomes slightly radioactive; in fact, the whole story more or less hinged on that alleged "fact". It didn't seem quite reasonable to me, so I asked Campbell to check up on it.

JWC said it was just the opposite and supplied one of his delightful anecdotes to prove it. He seems to have an inexhaustible supply of information on every subject. Altho it is alleged that only one man has ever read the Encyclopedia Brittanica from cover to cover, I wouldn't be surprised to find that JWC also has not only read it, but memorized it as well.

He told of the ancient cathedrals in Europe that have lead roofs which have been exposed for centuries to the elements. In the summer the lead expands, and in the winter it contracts. It is so heavy that in each case the action is downward, so that pretty soon the lead is sticking out around the edges like unfinished pie crust. This used to be trimmed off and put back on the top.

Mined lead invariably contains minute quantities of radium or other radioactive elements and so is not much use in making delicate instruments such as Gieger Counters, which are extremely sensitive to anything of that nature. But the lead trimmed from the church roods is completely "dead". Not a spark of anything radioactive remains. So the church officials have been selling their trimmings to the scientists for $15 per pound and putting nice fresh, newly-mined lead back on top at $8 per pound, and everybody is happy. Heheh.

I also like the way he illustrates his speech with his hands. No, not the ordinary vague, waving motions that most people use, but a 100% efficient auxiliary to his tongue. He makes you see what he's talking about. JWC would make an excellent teacher, I think.

I had arrived late, so there wasn't much time to talk before Campbell closed his desk and departed for his New Jersey home.

Once again I entrusted myself to the underground labyrinths of the city, and behold, I was soon "home" with no trouble at all!

New Yorkers don't appreciate their subway the way they should. At least not until they've come to Boston. I was perpetually amazed at the distances one could cover in a short time, and for a nickel, too. In Boston, it takes two hours to cover 20 miles, and it seems like you have to shell out a dime every time you turn around. Wonderful place, New York...

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6 * * * The Cruise of the "FooFoo Special Jr" that I should wait a bit longer before being trusted to the subway system, so my cousin brought me over to Manhattan in his car and gently deposited me on the doorstep of the Electrical Testing Labs. Contrary to popular belief, H C Koonig (pronounced KAY-nig) is not a giant, red-eyed mongoose who crouches, snarling, over a mountainous pile of lurid stf pulps, subsisting entirely on a diet of hisses. (Take your pick of the antecedents, Heck; I have a large stock.) Hiss Catcher is a blonde, slender, affable guy, who doesn't look that old, but must be, because he has adolescent chillun and has been reading and collecting fantasy since way back when. He has also worked at the ETL long enuf to be important enuf to be able to take half an afternoon off to talk to wandering jerks like me and show them all over the joint. If I could remember half of what he showed me and explained to me I would be rather smart. We discussed Smith, and Weinbaum, and Jenkins, and the FAPA, and Wollheim, etc, while a thunder squall boomed about the canyon without. When the dripping sun came out, I was solicitously tucked into a cross-town bus with directions for Campbell's office that even I could understand and given a copy of THE NEW ADAM to keep me amused. It did. I was informed by Mr. Weinbaum that lead left out in the weather for long periods becomes slightly radioactive; in fact, the whole story more or less hinged on that alleged "fact". It didn't seem quite reasonable to me, so I asked Campbell to check up on it. JWC said it was just the opposite and supplied one of his delightful anecdotes to prove it. He seems to have an inexhaustible supply of information on every subject. Altho it is alleged that only one man has ever read the Encyclopedia Brittanica from cover to cover, I wouldn't be surprised to find that JWC also has not only read it, but memorized it as well. He told of the ancient cathedrals in Europe that have lead roofs which have been exposed for centuries to the elements. In the summer the lead expands, and in the winter it contracts. It is so heavy that in each case the action is downward, so that pretty soon the lead is sticking out around the edges like unfinished pie crust. This used to be trimmed off and put back on the top. Mined lead invariably contains minute quantities of radium or other radioactive elements and so is not much use in making delicate instruments such as Gieger Counters, which are extremely sensitive to anything of that nature. But the lead trimmed from the church roods is completely "dead". Not a spark of anything radioactive remains. So the church officials have been selling their trimmings to the scientists for $15 per pound and putting nice fresh, newly-mined lead back on top at $8 per pound, and everybody is happy. Heheh. I also like the way he illustrates his speech with his hands. No, not the ordinary vague, waving motions that most people use, but a 100% efficient auxiliary to his tongue. He makes you see what he's talking about. JWC would make an excellent teacher, I think. I had arrived late, so there wasn't much time to talk before Campbell closed his desk and departed for his New Jersey home. Once again I entrusted myself to the underground labyrinths of the city, and behold, I was soon "home" with no trouble at all! New Yorkers don't appreciate their subway the way they should. At least not until they've come to Boston. I was perpetually amazed at the distances one could cover in a short time, and for a nickel, too. In Boston, it takes two hours to cover 20 miles, and it seems like you have to shell out a dime every time you turn around. Wonderful place, New York...