My Library

So I commented to Fanny: "You’d think that since Chester Carlson, the inventor of the Xerox process and equipment, had the ASPR so close in his heart, that the Xerox Corporation in his honor would keep you equipped with the biggest and best equipment available in his honor. Has anyone asked them about this?" At this, Fanny, the dragon lady, almost burst into tears. "I proposed this to the board -- I even had a draft letter. Xerox gives money to lots of places. But the board argued about this for six weeks and then turned down the idea." "OH! For crissakes! Why?" "They’re all afraid of their own shadows, that’s why. No on dares DO anything. They turned down the idea because it came from ME -- not from one of THEM. They are also afraid of Mrs. Carlson -- who makes up the deficit each year. Asking for a Xerox machine is too risky." In my understanding of things, Fanny was the one holding the ASPR in any semblance of order. I told her so. She warmed up a little. "You know -- well, there’s been gossip going on that you are planning to take over the ASPR. Is that true?" Now, I have a big mouth and very little can make it speechless. My mouth simply gaped, wordlessly. "You’ve got to be joking. WHAT would I want with this place?" "Well, you’re gaining in power, too much of it? Some don’t like that." Janet Mitchell’s mood declined during July, even though we all seemed enthusiastic about the different kinds of experiments. So I asked her about this. "They don’t tell me anything -- I never know what’s going on, THAT’s what’s the matter."