THE CHICAGO LITERARY CLUB

Summaries of Papers 1995-96

October 2, 1995 - Francis A. Lackner - Member since 1984 and currently the C1ub's president; served as our Recording Secretary from 1986 - '87 through 1994-'95, delivered his 5th paper at the Season's opening meeting at The Fortnightly:

The Legacy of Cacus and Caca: Origins and use of fire by Mankind as one of the essential tools in the creation of our society; included legends surrounding fire and recount of events of the Chicago Fire as seen by an eyewitness.

October 9, 1995 - L.F. Barry Barrington - New Member this year; retired biochemistry research manager and currently, together with his wife, writing and publishing QuarQuings; delivered his 1st paper at The Cliff Dwellers:

Meyotzi: Dramatization of a Cheyenne maid/woman/matron who was the documented captive and concubine of Custer after the Battle of Washita River (1868) and bore his only child, Yellow Bird, details the years of mismatched intentions that bring its subject to old age in Oklahoma in 1921.

October 16, 1995 - Classics Night. - John S. Broeksmit - Vice President and Chairman on Arrangements and Exercises; presented the first of the Season's Classic Nights at The Cliff Dwellers and read from:

In Memoriam: prepared by a Committee of the Club and delivered on 1/12/13. Described the life and achievements of Robert Collyer, the Club's first President, who had died on 12/1/12. Old Kentucky Letters: presented by Clay Judson on 11/25/28 and provided excerpts from ancestral letters from a father to his son, away at college in 1817, that depicted life, morality and culture of those times.

October 23, 1995 - Ralph D. Davis - Member since 1991; a Business Advisor and Attorney; delivered his 1st paper at The Cliff Dwellers:

Baloney: a fictional account of a slightly off-tilt ex-professor, who in seeking employment receives a cathartic letter of job refusal; describes initial minutes of catharsis and suggests initiation of a plan of self-destruction.

October 30, 1995 - Vincent Erickson - Member since 1989 and currently Vice President and Chairman of Publications; retired and currently a Philosopher-at-Large; delivered his 3rd paper at The Cliff Dwellers.

Urban Encounters: Dealing with big city problems, it specifically addresses aspects of education and describes problems in the Chicago, New York, Philadelphia and Los Angeles public school systems.

November 6, 1995 - Dr. David Baldwin - Member since 1989; physician and Professor of Medicine at Rush Medical College; delivered his 3rd paper at The Cliff Dwellers:

The College Girl Dropout : A true story symbolizing the feelings of some of the young during the 1960's epidemic of drugs and rebellion. It has a happy ending, one of redemption.
Ben Lapin's Pad: Also an actual account, describes the author's experience in caring for an extraordinary man who was highly influenced by Jane Adams.

November 13, 1995 - Donald J. Parker - Member since 1973; an attorney; delivered the Ladies' Night Address in 1988 plus 4 other papers and 2 book reviews; delivered his 6th paper at The Cliff Dwellers:

First, Lets Kill all the Lawyers: Describes the achievements and failures of our legal system from its "golden age" at the time of our nation's founding to the present era of a besmirched and inept judiciary. Author suggests a solution.

November 20, 1995 - Manly W. Mumford - Member since 1961; retired municipal bond lawyer; previously Club President (1978-79) and Chairman of Committees on Arrangements and Exercises, Officers and Members, and Publications, and currently on the Committee on Officers and Members; delivered 13 previous papers, including 1 selected for publication and has been the Leader of several Book Nights; delivered his 14th paper at The Cliff Dwellers:

The Unobservable Force Described by its author as "farcical physics and flimsy philosophy" it deals with that ambiguous Force producing the relocation, dislocation or disappearance of objects from where they were last observed. Not a mythical being, for there is ample everyday evidence of the Force's existence, it leads one to question to what extent is the apparent free will of people dominated by a force unrecognizable by them or anyone else.

November 27, 1995 - John A. Cook - Member since 1987; an attorney; currently and previously Vice President and Chairman of Committee on Rooms and Finances and, also previously Chairman of Committee on publications; delivered his 5th paper at The Cliff Dwellers:

Our Other Land: Depicts the uniqueness of the topography, beauty, history and culture of New Mexico. Its' people and their traditions are examined amidst "a land of distant vision where man is remade small and not threatening. He cannot control this environment. He must live within it."

December 4, 1995 - Theodore Loeppert - Member since 1992, an administrative hearing officer and long-time assistant professor of English literature, delivered his second paper at the Cliff Dwellers:

Arthur: The Fact Behind Fiction: Pulls together and examines all available evidence of the real man behind the myth of King Arthur - his Celtic inheritance, his place in the post-Roman world of 5th and 6th Century Britain, and the verifiable military achievements which shaped the later flowering of myth and romance that we know him by. The paper also explores the integrally related question: "Why does the Camelot myth so often involve an idyllic but doomed Shangri La?"

December 11, 1995 - Richard E. Thompson - Member since 1979; delivered his third paper at The Cliff Dwellers:

The Trouble with History: Author provides a sampling of some of the over 400 poems which he has written. The poems are grouped around 4 topics - his journal; here and elsewhere; in Ecuador; at village - and while they are not always factual, they constitute an effort to be truthful in a larger sense.

January 8, 1996 - John S. Broeksmit - Member since 1986; pastor emeritus of the First Congregational Church in Dwight, Il., part-time social worker for the Illinois Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities; currently the Club's Chairman of the Committee on Arrangements and Exercises; delivered his fourth paper at the Midwinter Meeting at the Union League Club:

Daughters of Earth: A look at the vast changes in linguistics in the past 40 years, relying on Steven Pinkers, "The Language Instinct," published in 1994.

January 15, 1996 - Patricia Nell - Member since 1995, a physician and the first woman flight surgeon of the U.S. Air Force; delivered her first paper at The Cliff Dwellers:

The Outer Marker: Title taken from the beacon that is usually five miles from the runway at an airport, but our writer also uses it to mean the outside limits of accomplishment of women who loved to fly. Devoted largely to the "Golden Age" for flying, especially for women, - the 1920's and 30's - the paper profiles the careers of Beryl Markham and Jackie Cockran.

January 22, 1996 - John Klooster - Member since 1993; delivered his first paper at The Cliff Dwellers:

To Bard or Nor to Bard: In researching whether a person named William Shakespeare really wrote the Classics attributed to him, our writer concludes that, while there was indeed such a person living in that time and place, there is not a shade of evidence that he ever wrote anything publishable. Rather, "William Shakespeare" was likely a pseudonym adapted, perhaps to avoid political persecution, by possibly Francis Bacon or Christopher Marlowe, but more probably by Edward De Vere.

January 29, 1996 - Francis A. Lackner, Jr. - President; presented the second of the Seasons Classic Nights at The Cliff Dwellers:

Luck and Witless Virtue vs. Guile: presented by Thomas McConnell on 3/1/43 and previously read for a Classic Night on 1/27/97, it is the story of John ("Jake the Barber") Factor and his nemesis, an English clergyman. Factor, who ended up in a federal penitentiary, developed an enormous reputation in England as a financial swindler of members of the aristocracy and leaders in the professions. Although illiterate, Factor possessed intimate knowledge of human psychology and the affairs of the stock market, and, had his ability been put to better use, it would have brought him legitimate success.

February 5, 1996 - Thomas J. Derdak - Member since 1992; Executive Director of Global Alliance for Africa; currently a member of the Club's Committee on Arrangements and Exercises and a previous participant in 1994 Book Night; delivered his second paper at The Cliff Dwellers:

Kibra and the Vultures: Described the poverty and squalor so prevalent in much of Africa. Argues that philanthropy can and does make a difference and enhances humanness in mankind.

February 12, 1996 - Joseph C. Sherrill - Member since 1995; Professor, Research Director and Chemical Engineer/Consultant; delivered his second paper at The Cliff Dwellers:

Rachmaninoff Slept Here: Describes a humorous incident involving the great Russian composer - pianist, whom Dr. Sherrill held in great awe, during a concert tour in Penn State College when Rachmaninoff encountered problems fitting his practice piano into his lodgings.

February 19, 1996 - Teresa Conway - Member since 1995; an Attorney; delivered her first paper at The Cliff Dwellers:

When Small Was Better: Describes the influence of two men of very different backgrounds on the success of a short line railroad in northeastern Oklahoma.

February 26, 1996 - Lewis E. "Peter" Gibson, M.D. - Member since 1993; a Physician; delivered his second paper at The Cliff Dwellers:

The Grey Goose Feather: Title refers to part of a song in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's book, "The White Company", and to the feathers on the arrows used by 14th century bowmen. The paper discusses the long bow and leader of the White Company, Sir John Hawkwood, and shows how the use of the long bow and the tactics developed by generals such as John Hawkwood contributed to the fall of feudalism and to the renaissance.

March 4, 1996 - Harry L. Stern - Member since 1993; an appraiser and seller of rare, antiquarian books, manuscripts and maps (Harry L. Stern, Ltd, Chicago) ; delivered his first paper at The Cliff Dwellers:

Peregrinanture. Rusticantur: Title refers to a passage from Cicero extolling the merits of literature as a companion in travel and while in the country. Describes Cicero's influence on the Latin language and on various authors for the past two millennia.

March 8, 1996 - Howard B. Prossnitz - Member since 1989; an attorney; currently on the Club's Committee on Rooms and Finances and Treasurer-elect for the 1996/97 Season; delivered his second paper, as book review leader on the occasion of a special joint meeting at The Fortnightly:

Just William: Book review on the adventures of a young rascal described in a series of children's books written by the English author, Richard Compton.

March 11, 1996 - John K. Notz - Member since 1986; an attorney, retired, with the firm of Gardner, Carton & Douglas; Club President-elect for the 1996/97 Season and Club Treasurer, 1988/89 thru 1995/96; delivered his fourth paper at The Cliff Dwellers:

To Cathect or Not to Cathect: a study of the influence of the author's great grandfather, Edward Uihlein, on the professional career of Jens Jensen, the famed Prairie School landscape designer. Uihlein, as Commissioner of Chicago's West Park System, befriended, promoted and hired Jensen, thus giving him his start.

March 18, 1996 - Frances A. Lackner - President; presented the third of season's Classic Nights at The Cliff Dwellers:

Gabrielle D'Annuzio. Poet of Beauty and Decadence; originally presented in 1923 by Rudolph Albrocchi, it is an analysis of the poet's style.

March 25, 1996 - Pia Francesca Cortis - Member since 1995; having a doctorate from The Catholic University of the Holy Heart, Rome, Italy, she has been a practicing physician in the western suburbs since 1980; delivered her second paper at The Cliff Dwellers:

Vibrations of Life: With "What is mine? - No matter. What is Matter? - Never mind.", as a preamble, this inspirational writing stresses the vitality emanating from the only attainable truth: the holiness of the heart's affections and the truth of imagination. Some of the author's poetry is intertwined with the prose.

April 1, 1996 - John William Jerak - Member since 1993; attorney, of counsel with firm of Kemp, Grzelakowski and Lorengini; delivered his first paper at The Cliff Dwellers:

36-24-38 Yin - Yang, Doodle - Do: "It's not really a matter of Why, as much as it is What and How!" This writing suggests rejection of the notion "life has meaning, " which rests upon simple minded, undereducated and lightly thought metaphysics, 12th century Rabbinical philosophy, some ancient ideas from the Far East and good old fashioned arguments in Bloop, Gloop and Floop.

April 8, 1996 - Donald Von Fenning Wrobleski - Member since 1992; architect and past President of the Society of Architectural Historians - Chicago; delivered his second paper at The Cliff Dwellers:

Sleeping Around: Presentation, enhanced by illustrations through a slide projector, described the history, construction and structural design of 3 Chicago hotels -Palmer House IV, Bismarck and Stevens (Hilton Towers) all built within one year in the mid-twenties. Two became the largest in Chicago, while the third, The Bismarck, owned by 2 brothers immigrating from Germany, was designed by another brother who remained in Germany as an architect. Its' interior was an outstanding representation of German art and interior decor.

April 15, 1996 - Leon A. Carrow - Member since 1993; retired physician and Professor Emeritus; Club's Chairman-elect for Arrangements and Exercises for the 1996/97 Season; delivered his second paper at the Club's final meeting at 220 South Michigan:

Twilight Musings: Described by the author as a combination of "Poetry, Prose and Nonsense", the paper consisted of 5 poems and a short story, all dealing with love and nature.

April 22, 1996 - Frederick D. Malkinson - Member since, 1989. The Clark W. Finnerud, M.D. Professor Emeritus in Rush-St. Luke's Medical Center's Department of Dermatology; delivered his second paper at the Union League Club:

Some Wizardly Origins: A narrative of the life of Lynan Frank Baum, author of the "Oz" books and many other novels, as well as a study of his writings.

April 29, 1996 - Herman H. Lackner - Member since 1955; President in 1968-'69 and, through the years, a Member of all Committees and frequently the Chairman; an architect and still active in residential work, delivered his ninth paper at the Union League Club:

Pushy Women: the title refers to three unrelated Russian ladies from St. Petersburg who individually and unrelentingly pushed the welfare of the people among whom they lived.

May 6, 1996 - Clark L. Wagner - Member since 1972; President in 1988-'89; past Chairman of Committee on Arrangements and Exercises; attorney and retired Secretary of Inland Steel Corp., delivered his eighth paper at the Union League Club:

Is It A Rubens?: The title refers to a painting donated to the Union League Club of Chicago in 1929 by a founding member of the Club. At the time of the gift, the painting was attributed to the great Flemish Artist, Peter Paul Rubens. The paper describes past and current efforts of the Art Committee of the Union League Club to authenticate the painting. Two other nearly identical versions of the painting exist, one in the Sanssouci collection in Potsdam (attributed to Rubens) and the second in the collection of the Duchess of Alba in Masbrick (attributed to Jacob Jordaens)

May 13, 1996 - Walter Fried - Member since 1991; hematologist at Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge. Delivered his first paper at the Union League Club:

Aborigines: As a volunteer physician in the Care-Medico program in 1963! the author was assigned to the Pahang sultanate in Malaya. Located in the central part of that country is the site of a large expanse of roadless jungle traversable only by foot. Paper relates a week's walk through the beautiful rain forest and the encounter with Malayan Aborigines who had different ethnicity, language and customs than the Malayans. Gentle and friendly, these "primitive" people displayed great knowledge of their environment. The origins of the aborigines, to the extent it is known, as well as other experiences with the Malays are herein described.

May 20, 1996 - William H. Knospe - Member since 1973; President in 1991-'92; past Chairman of Committees on Officers and Members and on Publications; physician, now retired; delivered his ninth paper at the Casino at the Closing Meeting:

Clubs: Considers the origins of the clubs in ancient Greek and Roman Society. Beginning in Tudor Times Clubs grew and enjoyed their golden age in the 18th and 19th Century London and Edinburgh. Transplanted to the newly independent American nation they thrived here as well as in Britain. Several notable clubs in Boston and San Francisco are examined and finally the origins of club life in Chicago are discussed, particularly the Chicago Literary Club and the Caxton Club, with a few thoughts about the future.

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