By Nels Erickson, substituting for Mr. Thorvaldsen

Mr. Olaf Thorvaldsen and Miss Fjell have extended their stay at the Minnesota State Fair, and Mr. Thorvaldsen has asked me to provide this week's column in his absence. When he first offered me work helping with WGMW, I did not expect that I would eventually be left in charge of both the radio station and the newspaper column. Dear readers, I therefore ask your patience with both.

I should also apologize for the interruptions to several of this week's noon broadcasts. Mr. Thorvaldsen has spent considerable time teaching me the operation of the station, and I believed I understood it. The station apparently held a different opinion. I expect Mr. Thorvaldsen will put matters in order shortly after his return.

As for the weather, the coming week should be fairly typical for September, with daytime highs in the lower 60s and nights generally falling into the 40s. Using Mr. Thorvaldsen's forecasting methods as carefully as I know how, I believe Monday morning may fall into the middle 30s with frost possible inland. Rain is expected Saturday and again Monday. I have checked this forecast twice and shall check it once more before the paper goes to press.

Wet weather has not been confined to Cook County. Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, and Indiana have experienced extraordinary rainfall, with reports of more than eight inches falling in a short time in some places. Railroad tracks have washed out, small creeks have left their banks, streets are flooded, and water has filled many basements.

Mr. Thorvaldsen generally finishes his column with something from history, philosophy, or poetry. Unfortunately, his lessons have not progressed far enough for me to attempt that without doing injury to either history or philosophy. I did, however, find the August 25 issue of the Duluth Herald upon his desk, and in it the following item credited to the Boston Transcript:

“For Better or Worse.—‘So your husband has taken up radio as a fad?’ ‘No, as a frenzy.’”

After this week at WGMW, I understand the distinction.

Editor's note: Photo from the flood in Iowa.