Flu Epidemic, FDR, Sputnik, and More

Every week, The Crimson publishes a selection of articles that were printed in our pages in years past.

October 4, 1918: Influenza Well in Hand

Cases of Spanish influenza, at the University and among the students in the S.A.T.C. have been kept well in hand throughout this week, and at present Stillman Infirmary, where the influenza cases are being treated, has the best record of any hospital in the vicinity. There are now about 60 cases of influenza at Stillman, but there have been no deaths from the disease. In the Boston hospitals there has been an average mortality of 20 percent of all influenza cases admitted. At Camp Devens, where there are some 48,000 men, there have been 15,000 cases and 590 deaths.

October 3, 1928: Former Crimson President in N.Y. Gubernatorial Race

F. D. Roosevelt '04 was yesterday nominated by the Democratic party to succeed Governor Smith as governor of New York state. It was with great difficulty that the Democrats finally secured Mr. Roosevelt's acceptance of the nomination.

September 30, 1955: No Wives for Gong Found in Hong Kong

A former Student Council representative and Yard proctor announced publicly this month that he is looking for a wife. At present, he is looking in Hong Kong, but he reports that he had much rather resume the search in Cambridge.

October 5, 1957: Russians Launch Artificial Satellite

Russia's announcement that she had successfully launched a space satellite sent University astronomers into a flurry of activity last night as they alerted observation posts throughout the world to be on the watch for the Soviet artificial moon.

The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory at 79 Garden St., in association with the Harvard College Observatory, is the national headquarters of "Operation Moonwatch," the network of observers set up to track the U.S. satellite when it is launched.

October 6, 1965: 'Mary Poppins' Creator Arrives at Whitman Hall

"I have the same feeling about rocking chairs as I do about merry-go-rounds. You can go places in both, you know."

P. L. Travers, author of the Mary Poppins books, dispensed no-nonsense advice (your favorite flavor) and tart opinions last night after her arrival in Cambridge to be Radcliffe's "writer-in-residence."

She saw Disney's version of Mary Poppins—"Oh, Lord yes, I did, I did"—but would say no more. She wouldn't tell, either, if she was planning another Mary Poppins book.

"As soon as you tell about something you're going to write, it evaporates," Miss Travers reprimanded an inquisitive reporter. "If you're going to have a baby, you can't pull it out after three months and say, 'What does it look like now.'"

October 6, 1973: Harvard Endorses 3 Women for Male-Restricted Rhodes

Harvard yesterday broke with a 71-year-old tradition by endorsing women applicants for the Rhodes Scholarship, restricted by law since its founding to candidates who exhibit "qualities of manhood."

—Compiled by Nicholas P. Fandos and Julie M. Zauzmer