Life History of Marcel F. Lauper
Cloyd, instruments, Junior College, Eel, Torn Pants, Red-head [written July, 1978]
This consists of my answer to a letter from my son, John Barney Lauper, written July 18, 1977 (a little over one year ago) while he was yet in Ecuador. I must say of this letter I am now answering, it is one of the most personally flattering letters I have ever received. It could be rivaled by one or two from my wife, especially those written before our marriage; but the reason for John's nice expressions is that he had just received from me the personal history of my life; and he was so grateful for it.
John asked me to write about the "big-talking Cloyd":
As boys we were anticipating the Pioneer Day celebration, a big highlight in our lives. Cloyd had rather dampened my spirits by stating that he was going to have $25.00, as promised him by his Dad, to have as his spending money for the day. I couldn't help but think how puny by comparison my $5 would look --if I managed, indeed, to have a $5.00. The day came and I had a feeling of a 2nd class citizen at the celebration until I asked Cloyd how much he had got. He brought his hand from his pocket, and the bottom of the pocket with it, as he stated "25" and that meant 25 cents. Now one bottle of pop and a hot dog could be had for 25 cents, which we both had and enjoyed together; but that shot Cloyd's wad, while I had $5 plus, so I just walked away "ten feet tall". From then on, Cloyd bad to bum off others or go for additional finds from his parents. I had a great time! That was the big-talker, Cloyd Miller.
John next asked about the instruments that burned when the high school burned.
Brother Felix was involved with playing trombone with the band. I recall how shiny and expensive-looking that instrument was. There were never many instruments on the farm; butt there was that beautiful trombone, and we heard Felix play it; later a guitar; and we each had an harmonica, and occasionally a Jews Harp. 0 yes, Father had brought an interesting harp from the old country. I think it might have been a zither. We had wonderful fun making sounds on that; and I wonder what became of it --just wore it out, I guess. Later, we did have an old pump organ and that was an experience; and what a boon it would have been if we had been able to have lessons. Viola made the most use of it; but I recall lay biggest learning was that I was not to press two keys together --rather that I should span the keys to make more melodious sounds.
Felix left his prized trombone in his locker and during Christmas and New Years the Delta High School burned down. Brother John Arnold Lauper was probably the first to own the trombone; then Felix had and played it; but now the fire ended that. Among other items lost in that fire was my Beginners French book. As was usual procedure at first of each school year, we worked in the beet fields, thereby missing the first several weeks; so there was not too much time before the holidays of that year to progress very far in French- but the fire ended my French learning. Our high school of about 500 student body had to crowd into the grammar school on staggered shifts for the balance of that school year.
John here wants to know 'Teacher's Advice on Junior College
While attending Ventura Junior College, I was living with the Parley Pruhs family; and I was going to quit school. It was a certain teacher there, a Mr. Laidlaw, a good guy, who saved that year of schooling for me. He was my bookkeeping teacher, but more than that, he took a genuine interest in me. I felt that I should quit and look for work; but this kindly man saw something in me that caused him to want to help. He said "Don't quit, I'll get help for you. Stick with it. Do not quit”. As time went on, I was able to sell more and more Lockwoven Hosiery to nearly everyone in the college and my commission income increased. I even sold my Salesmanship teacher, Wayne Henry. I used his tactics and principles on him and he had to succumb. That kept me going arid I've always been grateful for that wonderfully kind and fatherly advice.
While I was living there with the Pruhs family, I would get a good meal at night but I was supposed to get my own lunch, etc. so what I usually had for lunch was raisins. I used to get those for a nickel or 7 cents a box and I really like raisins and I made a lunch of them. At times I would purchase the seeded ones, but mostly it was those good old SunMaid Thompson Seedless Raisins.
Much later there was a period when Ralph and I lived alone together --a rather riotous life. Having little money and income, we ate not much more than raisins and apples for quite a period of time. It was rather an austere way of life but we had to put our funds where they would buy the most.
The EEL Incident, which John inquires about, takes place in Odense, Denmark. I was the District President (nowadays a Zone Leader, I guess). I had a new Elder Sorensen from Wyoming -- 6ft 4". We were out tracting but dropped in on Sis. Larsen. She was a friend of the Church, a very talkative woman. We were always invited in there for a snack of some kind. This was a hot July day and instead of being offered a nice cool drink with a couple of cookies, she brought out eel. 0h the sight of the large, greasy, bloated snake-like thing she put before us brought dismay to the both of us. She cut it into two or three inch chunks and put a couple pieces on each of our plates. Elder Sorensen didn't have the courage to start in on it right away but when he looked at my plate and saw one of the pieces gone, the poor guy went at it and cleaned up his plate -only to have more put on it Later, as we left the Larsen abode, Elder Sorensen was shocked to see me pull out from secret hiding, wrapped in a napkin, the chunks of eel, and I was discarding them into the hedge as we walked along. I couldn’t stand the stuff and hadn't eaten a bite of it; and he had suffered through his. He was MAD. He felt then that he had a traitor as a companion as well as District President; and here he was first week in the Mission. Oh my.
The torn pants in Denmark:
During my first week in Denmark, I bicycled down the streets of Copenhagen, wearing my brand new Brooks Suit -costing $12.95 then. One that good cannot now be found for $112.95. It was a very good tweed three-piece suit. It was then estimated there were some 400,000 bicycles being used in the city of Copenhagen. I got caught in the streetcar track and was flipped off; and in so doing, the seat of my pants were ripped! I mean it was a large gap. Now mind you, this was my first week and I knew none of the language, and could do no explaining. Well, I don't know how many people saw me in that condition; but I got on my bike and went tearing back to the Mission Home, Priorvej 12; and upon arrival, I dropped my bike immediately and simply backed up all the way -keeping my eyes straight ahead for sure no one there would see me. I went up to the door and kept close to the wall all the way upstairs --going backwards up to change my pants. A great laugh was had on me!
John refers to the Red Head Incident in the Army
I have stated other places in this history that I scrapped in grammar school, high school, junior college, and the army over the hair incident. The usual cause of these flair ups was my being ticked off by someone calling ma either Freckles or Red. I was extremely sensitive about those things. I long for some of that red hair now --even the freckles. I was called "Turkey Egg", Ginger Snap, etc. but usually, it was Red or Freckles; and this was not allowable in my life. If they could be whipped, I whipped them.
I hope, Son, I have answered your questions and satisfied your interest in the little stories of my life.