On September 11, 1947, Armand and Mary had
just returned from an adventurous trip to
Haiti and Jamaica.
Polly was almost refused admittance in
U.S. for bringing in two gourds. (awk!)
As travel often does, it gave the couple
time to reflect on their lives and their
country. Armand's brief comments speak for
decades:
We got to thinking about Duke, how our
days were so pleasant, our friendships so
satisfying, our love just starting.
About the friendships, it seems to me
they could exist because our spirit of
emulation then was more disinterested than
now. We strove to surpass each other, live,
but in a healthy way, and the A that one
student received didn't do another one out of
an equal reward, if he deserved it. The Ph.D.
one got, another could too.
Now, we strive to get raises in rank and
salary, knowing that there just isn't enough
to go around. It brings out the scheming, the
mean and the spiteful in us all.
Illustration: Indian Television