“Hardly the disposition to be happy”
CDM Sr. Post 15, on the status of the Freshers, included this excerpt about Charlie’s classmate Carol Howe Foster [US Naval Academy and University of Idaho, Rhodes ‘05]:
Carol F. [aka “Frosty”] is having a most distressing time. Is rather too big a talker and made a little splurge about smoking, booze etc. right at first. Since then the has been ragged (hazed) pretty constantly. Last night he said he had given in and bought a bottle of whiskey and some cigarettes. That was what the hazers always demanded. [10/15/05]
Foster seems to have been a hapless presence among the Americans in the Rhodes class of ‘05. Even before their arrival he’s the subject of pity:
Quite a number of the boys have been sick and most of the women on board. Don’t seem to suffer so terribly but hate themselves pretty thoroughly I imagine. Carol was one of the first.[10/07/05]
Foster, you will note the irony, was a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, yet allegedly suffered badly from seasickness. You will also see below that Foster disputed the report of his seasickness. And after the American Rhodesmen settled in, Foster’s troubles continued:
Am in a lot better shape [financially] than a good many of the men. Foster for instance told me last night that he was down to about £30. [10/15/05]
Went over to Bras. [Brasenose College, Oxford] to see Carol last night. Is still having hard luck. Is on ground floor, first quad and most every drunk comes in to see him awhile so he says. Am afraid he’s a little touchy tho. [10/19/05]
Here in John’s there has been very little hazing and none of the Americans have been bothered in the least. Carol is getting on much better now, but is hardly the disposition to be happy. [11/26/05]
Got Rose’s letter this morning … Was surprised to hear of Carol’s not being sea sick. It may have been some other sickness that kept him in his bunk about two days or perhaps he was only shamming and had stuck his finger down his throat for fun, I don’t know, couldn’t swear to it you see so I beg anybody’s pardon I’ve slandered. Asked Mohler about it. He says he’s entertained the idea all the time that Frosty “was pretty decidedly seasick.” Anyway I’m absolutely sure, since I sat by his vacant chair in the dining saloon several meals, that Frosty if he ate took it in his stateroom. I didn’t miss a meal on the trip so know. [01/28/06]
And the Foster saga continued into the second Fall term. He took the exams for the lesser of the levels (a non-honors level). Note Charlie’s sarcasm about it:
As regards that exam. Frosty did pass Pass Mods before Xmas. It is not an honor exam. at all and Rhodesmen are not allowed to take Pass finals. However as not being so well up in classics as most Englishmen they allow us to take a “Pass” preliminary exam. Frosty told me the examiner said his work was “quite satisfactory.” Perhaps thru modesty he suppressed the rest. Brasnose hasn’t given a holiday to celebrate yet but perhaps they will have a bonfire soon. Really, tho, Carol is a good classical student, and I think he knows quite enough to handle rather more than Pass Mods. even now. [01/28/06]
So how did Foster turn out? Quite well, actually:
Married, July 15, 1916, to Idah S. Pratt. Worked as instructor, English, United States Naval Academy. U.S. Consul in Vienna, 1919-24; Rotterdam, 1928-34; U.S. Consul General in Rotterdam, 1934; Sao Paulo, 1934-38; Cape Town, 1947. Member, Phi Delta Theta; Phi Beta Kappa. Burial location unknown.
The University of Idaho awards a memorial scholarship in Foster’s name of $8,000 each year to as many worthy college seniors as meet the requirements: being a Phi Delta Theta member with a GPA above the average for all men during their sophomore and junior years, est. 1939 by Carol Foster and his wife.
Perhaps Frosty was a late bloomer.
Matt