The Baltimore Sun from Baltimore, Maryland • 7

38! THE SUN, Saturday, March 24, 1979 A7 Send a croaker to college Sacramento's 'Mr. Steed' is devoted to improving frogs' self-image ing for him to visit Japan for a month to introduce frog-jumping in Asia. 'Around the world with 80 I call it," said Mr. Steed, who travels with a special compartmented frog box equipped with foam rubber and a water supply. "My mission," said Mr.

Steed, "is to raise the image of frogs not only in the public mind but in the frog's mind. It is pitiful how frogs see themselves." A self-confident frog jumps farther, contended Mr. Steed, who enters his frogs in the annual Calaveras County Frog Jubilee immortalized by Mark Twain, al though he admitted some areas of disagreement with the organizers of that contest. Chatting to the frogs frolicking in the bathtub of his suburban Sacramento home which houses Croaker College, Mr. Steed insisted, "my frogs are happy frogs." He even goes so far as to provide them with "bumble bees dipped in honey" for dessert.

Mr. Steed said he caught the bees personally "and carefully." And the founder of Croaker College drove off in a car with a bumper sticker which urged, "support your local frog." 11 ft ft i iff i nMM iiMMliiii 1 Ity Muriel Dobbin Sun Staff Correspondent Sacramento, Calif. -Jimmy, the student president of Croaker College, was sporting a skinned nose as a result of a disagreement with Jelly Bean, who was squatting in the school bathtub. "Jimmy's a mite stubborn and he can get nasty. Feel his teeth," said William Steed.

"Grok," said Jimmy, and clamped his jaws shut. Mr. Steed sighed, and stroked Jimmy's stomach soothingly. "The trouble with frogs," he explained, "is that they have such a terrible inferiority complex. They grow up convinced they are ugly." Which is why the motto of Croaker College, Sacramento, "the only institute of higher learning for frogs in the world," is simply "Green is Beautiful." Even frogs with distinguished backgrounds like Jimmy, who has been offered by Mr.

Steed and so far ignored-as a candidate for a jumping contest on the White House lawn, and Jelly Bean, who carries the racing colors of former Gov. Ronald Reagan, still tend to be insecure, according to the college founder. Mr. Steed, an Arkansan who sells courses in sleep learning for a living, founded Croaker College seven years ago and insists that frogs offer excellent subjects for the demonstration of hypnopedia. Frogs who matriculate from Croaker College, where tuition fees are $50 a year, allegedly have been prepared for competition in worldwide frog-jumping contests through classes involving sauna baths, bubble baths, massage, chin-ups, weightlifting and leap-frogging.

And, of course, Mr. Steed points out, a crucial part of the frog curriculum involves lying on a vibrating miniature massage pillow while the founder hypnotizes the students with soothing words and then "fills them full of positive thinking." "Two hundred hours of the psychological works while asleep," as Mr. Steed put it, explaining that the pillow speakers are wired up to the frogs' water beds. Among those who, according to Mr. Steed, have entrusted to him the training of their frogs are singer Dolly Parton (whose frog "Dolly Do" is equipped with a pink bikini for special occasions) Glen Campbell; Dinah Shore; Joseph Alioto, former mayor of.

San Francisco; Johnny Cash, and Lt. Gov. Mike Curb of California, who is said to be the latest to enroll a frog at the Steed school. Mr. Curb's frog, said Mr.

Steed, would be transported in a mink-lined carrying case. Gov. Edmund G. Brown, so far has refused to support Croaker College, admitted Mr. Steed.

"He looks down his nose at frogs," he said sorrowfully. Mr. Steed noted that in case anyone thought he lacked credibility in his frog cause, a Japanese entrepreneur was pay 'mTl ca M'' A4Ka 1 M.M a I SW I I i I ijfy A Jimmy isn't the only president who's into peanuts. the literature of the Eastern Shore warn a llMlliliitll 1 Croaker College graduates. Exploring through their eyes we observe the more modern changes that have come in the wake of urbanization.

But Mr Michener was writing fiction, which gave him the privilege Of twisting facts to fit his artistic purpose. How real are the Paxmores and the Turlocks? To what extent do their lives as depicted in Mr. Michener's book truly portray the people of Maryland's Shore region? It's pretty hard for any one reader or visitor to He has his own personal impressions, both of the book and of the region. But what do the more learned experts think? At Essex Community College, they are attempting to find out. In a series of Thursday evening programs free to the public, including lectures, slides and panel discussions, they are exploring a variety of viewpoints about the Chesapeake, sparked by Mr.

Michener's book. Peter Adams, of the English faculty of the college, who put together the series, explains why he went to the bother. "Michener," he pointed out, "isnt Baltimore Symphony concertgoers frequently ask why the orchestra doesn't make records. The answer is, they do, but most aren't on major labels with wide distribution. The BSO isn't on major labels because the classical record industry doesn't consider it a major-league orchestra, or its music director, Sergiu Comissiona, a sellable William Steed admires one of his By Isaac Rehert To.H.

L. Mencken, the Chesapeake Bay was nothing more than a giant protein factory for the inhabitants of the city of Baltimore. To a modern-day environmentalist, it is an endangered area in need of protection. To an urban tourist looking for a pleasant outdoor environment in which to spend a summer weekend, it is a spot of unparalleled serendipitous beauty. To anyone who has ever visited its Eastern Shore, it is the habitation of a peculiar breed of human being -earthy rooted, traditional-as different from a Baltimorean or a Western Marylander as from a Canadian or a Texan.

Last year, when James Michener made the Chesapeake-the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake, to be exact-the setting for the novel that has become a best-seller, the region became a national household word. He traces the history of the Pax-mores and the Turlocks through half a dozen generations. He observes them through the controversy over slavery, he has them responding to the contamination of the bay as the country industrializes, and the first or the only writer, even of fiction, to describe this picturesque region. "But his book has turned out to be so popular, there's the danger that the picture he paints may displace the real facts. "Nature may start imitating art.

People will disregard or deny what's actually there because it's at variance with what Michener described." Before Mr. Michener, he pointed out, John Barth had also painted a picture of life on the Shore. Mr. Barth grew up in Cambridge, and both "The Floating Opera" and "The Sot Weed Factor" are set in that region. "The Eastern Shore as seen by John Barth is a lot different place than the one seen by Michener.

It is earthy, full of gambling, drinking, sex and intrigue. "His Eastern Shoremen were on the run, trying to flee responsibility. They fled England and were willing to give up everything, even their identities, just to start over again in a new place. "It was like the Wild West as most of us conceive it. Nothing genteel about it a lot different place from Miche BSO recording is major league in artistic quality ner's Eastern Shore." John Barth, now professor of creative writing at the Johns Hopkins University, will appear on the Essex program April 26.

Another participant is George Carey, a folklorist, author of "A Faraway Time and Place," a book about the profession of folklore that is at the same time an oral history of the Eastern Shore. Dr. Carey used to be at the University of Maryland but is currently at the University of Massachusetts. He will appear April 5. Carl Bode was the first celebrity in the series.

He is a professor of English at the University of Maryland, and among the long list of books to his credit is a history of Maryland. He appeared with Richard Eld-redge. assistant dean of the Community College of Baltimore, Dee Ann Mims, of the Essex faculty, and Mr. Adams. Along with a slide show of scenes from the bay and the Shore, they talked of as a piece of literature.

The consensus was best expressed by Miss Mims, who said, "I wouldn't On that occasion, the BSO music director, an ardent champion of Mr. Pettersson's music, called it a "masterpiece." He also called it "long, dark and depressing." It is, in fact, an exceptionally bleak statement from an exponent of what one observer calls "the modern school of Scandinavian hyper-Romanticism." The first movement, at 21 Vi minutes, is the terser of the two, but the time scale is vast, the rhythmic tread unflagging, the structure sprawling. For all the spaciousness, however, there is a clear sense of forward motion and some skillful handling of highly charged motives. The composer obviously has something to say, and even within the leisurely dimensions manages to say it with intensity and drive. The 30V-minute second movement asserts a more chaotic and anguished atmosphere.

There are shrill ejaculations from the flute and angular violin harmonics punctuated by drum ostinatos, jagged climaxes and defiant outbursts from winds and brass. The composer ties the work together by retrieving melodic strands from the opening movement and interrupting them with new thematic, harmonic and rhythmic ideas in the finale. The symphony demands a great deal of patience from the listener, but for those By Stephen Cera Gustaf Allan Pettersson: Symphony No. 8 (1969). Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Sergiu Comissiona.

Polar Records, POLS 2S9. $7.98. Available from Records International, P.O. Box 1140, Goleta, Calif. 93017.

For a program May 10, Mr. Adams says he hopes to have several genuine watermen appear to discuss the bay and the Shore as they see it. "We're talking to some of the men who were interviewed by William Warner for his book 'Beautiful "I say I hope to get them. They haven't yet committed themselves. The trouble is, they say they don't care much about coming up here to talk about their lives and their work with a bunch of professors.

But we hope to persuade them." The climax of the series will be an excursion to the Shore in mid-May to visit Cambridge (site of Mr. Barth's novels), St. Michaels (including the museum) and the Choptank river area (where much of "Chesapeake" takes place). Jim Richardson, a Shore boat builder whose yard recently constructed the facsimile of the Dove, will talk to visitors. Mr.

Richardson's family, who are Seventh Day Adventists, are said to be the prototypes for Michener's Quaker family, the Paxmores. All the Thursday evening programs begin at 7.30, and no tickets are required. Reservations are necessary for the excursion, for which a charge will be made. Call 682-6000, extension 413. Si immi featured in BSO recording.

not. underline this word, As expected, Mr. Comissiona leads a committed interpretation, and the playing of the Baltimore Symphony is exceptional- ly assured. South dealer Both sides vulnerable NORTH 65 2 OAK4 A 4 WEST EAST A 9 8 4 .110 7 P7 643 OQJ76 O10 9 8 107 9 8 6 3 SOUTH K3 A 10 5 0 53 2 5 2 South West North Eas 1 Pas-4 All Pass Opening lead A choose it for my students' reading list, although I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. "It's a relaxing book.

Reading it doesn't make you think very hard. The characters are all simple, doing very simple things. I don't assign it as a great book because I don't think you'll learn anything from it about the complexity of human nature." The next program will be at 7.30 P.M. March 29 when Peter Gedeon, William Wroten and Shepard Krech will discuss the Chesapeake region as seen by professional historians. Mr.

Gedeon is educational director of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum at St. Michaels; Mr. Wroten is head of the history department at Salisbury State College and author of a history of the Eastern Shore; Mr. Krech is an anthropologist at George Mason University in Fairfax, who recently wrote an oral history of a black man whose parents were slaves. These experts will discuss Mr.

Barth's and Mr. Michener's novels from the standpoint of historical accuracy. Gustaf Allan Pettersson who stay the course there are rewards. Still, the lengthy second movement taxes the endurance, and despite occasional bursts of eloquence it goes on a bit too long- "Dark and depressing?" certainly, Sheinwold You must surely lose one diamond, but you can improve your chances by losing it to the opponent who can do no damage. Therefore you should let West win the first trick.

West continues diamonds, and dum- Trumps tricks my's king wins. You draw trumps, win a finesse with the jack of clubs, cash dummy's two aces and give up a club trick to West's king. If West returns a spade, your king wins a trick. If West returns anything but a spade, dummy ruffs while you discard a spade. Lot Angela Timet Newt Service If 1 il iillillllB ftfer-'' enough attraction.

Neither the BSO nor Mr. Comissiona is under contract to one of the major classical labels, Deutsche Grammophon, Philips, Columbia, RCA, EMI Angel or DeccaLondon. "Why should we record Comissiona and the Baltimore Symphony when we can record Solti and the Chicago, Maazel and the Cleveland, Mehta and the Vienna or Israel or Los Angeles Philharmonics?" one executive of London Records, who asked not to be identified, asked. New sounds The current LP catalogue does, however, list BSOComissiona performances of Mendelssohn's Symphonies No. 3, 4 and 5 (on Vox), and music by Britten and Ezra Laderman (on Desto).

there is also a Columbia disc of music by three black composers, conducted by Paul Freeman. Now there is another BSOComissiona album, recorded by a Swedish company called Polar Music International in the Lyric Theatre 18 months ago. The music is the two-movement Symphony No. 9 by a 67-year-old Swede named Gustaf Allan Pettersson. Mr.

Comissiona and the Baltimore Symphony played the American premiere of this work in the Lyric October 26, 1977. pastel towels and a little shell to hold the soap. Hello to olives that you could leave in plain'Sight in the refrigerator. Hello hair dryer. Hello dinner whenever we wanted it.

Hello turned off garden hose. Hello to cheese that didn't have to be cut in half to get rid of the exposed part. Hello family car that we used any time we want. Hello grocery shopping once a week. Hello telephone calls that are for us.

Hello dinner parties without the fruit plate half gone. Hello soft music and conversation. Hello pencil by the phone and hello leftovers. This week, he moved back. We should have moved the nest while we had the chance.

Field Newspaper Syndicate Producers Robert Woods and Hakan Elmquist with Sergiu Comissiona (right). Refuse first trick in weak suit at no trump nest: hellos and good-bys Leaving the By Erma Bombeck When my son moved out of our house and into his own apartment, I tried very hard to hold back the tears. The nest was empty. I bit my lip as I thought, good-by Linda Ronstadt and Billy Joel. Good-by pure, organic, honey herbal-scented shampoo that cost $1.50 an ounce and lays on its side without a cap running down the drain.

Good-by empty milk cartons in the refrigerator and dried-out lunch meat. Good-by labels that read, "Hand wash only" Good-by porch light that has been burning day and night for three years. Good-by mildewed towels and empty ice-cube trays. Good-by one ski glove, parking tickets for bookmarks By Alfred As an experienced player you usually refuse the first trick in your weak suit at no trump. The same play may be necessary when there is a trump suit.

If you take the first diamond, East will eventually win a diamond and will return a spade. You will lose two spades, a diamond and a club. (Wm'tion The meeting of the Maryland State Poetry Society, featuring a reading by Josephine Jacobsen. at the Randallstown branch of the Baltimore County Library, Liberty and Old Court roads, was incorrectly reported yesterday. The time is 2.30 M.

tomorrow instead of today. Tlie Sun regrets the error. and boxes of newspaper tagged, "HANDS OFF!" So long three-hour showers, shared razor blades, and unopened mail with Municipal Court, Division of Traffic in the upper left-hand corner. At wit's end I could stand it no longer. I rushed to the door, threw it opened and yelled, "Mother's Day is over!" My husband was in the process of changing the locks when I said, "Don't take on so.

After all, you haven't lost a son, you've gained a tire jack for your car." It was tough, but we said hello to.