The Princeton Interview with C. William Edwards '36

by Nelson Hendler

Posted August 21, 2017

Baker Watts was one of the premier brokerage houses in Baltimore for more than sixty years. My grandfather, Lionel Manuel Hendler, (L.M. Hendler or Manny) was a prominent business man, who started Hendler's Ice Cream, and later sold it to Borden's. He eventually was chosen for the board of Borden's and Soo Line Railroad. His stock broker, for many years, was Sewell Watts, Jr.

When I applied to Princeton, I was referred to Sewell Watts III, for an "alumni interview.” Princeton made an effort to have every applicant receive a personal interview, and made use of its alumni to attain this goal. This really personalized the application process. Sewell Watts, III was a big, affable fellow, who had been the goalie for the Princeton lacrosse team. I had been a goalie for Friends and then Park, so immediately we had a common bond. This association, coupled with the relationship my grandfather had with Sewell's father, made the interview process flow well. He asked about my college board scores, (699 math, and 670 in English), and my Merit Scholarship, and sports, (soccer, basketball and lacrosse), and puzzled at how, at 5'5” I could play basketball at Park. The answer was easy. They had only 7 people come out for the team, so they needed me for practice. He roared when I told him our team was so bad we lost to McDonough 57 to 3. At the end of the interview, Sewell announced that he was very impressed with me, and wanted me to have an interview with C. William Edwards, the Dean of Admissions at Princeton I was elated and intimidated at the same time.

One month later, on the appointed day, I returned to Baker Watts, and met C. William Edwards, class of 1936. He was a handsome gentleman with a refined demeanor. We explored the typical questions of sports and academia, and then he asked me what I wanted to do with my life. I told I was interested mechanical engineering, since my father and grandfather had 32 patents on machinery used to manufacture ice cream, or civil engineering. "In fact,” I told him, " I designed and built a 60 foot long bridge across the stream at Park School.”

"Really?” he said incredulously.

"Yes sir,” I said, "I have a picture of it right here in my wallet.”

I reached into my back pocket, and brought out my wallet. As I opened it to retrieve the bridge picture, a rubber fell on the table. Now, that rubber had been in my wallet for four years, ever since my friends and I snuck into a gas station washroom, and bought them for 25 cents from the dispensing machine, which typically were found in every gas station wash room. After four years in my wallet, the labeling foil had separated from the package, and the entire packet looked ratty, to say the least. My heart sank.

"I'm not getting into Princeton,” I thought. "I'm not even going to get into college. I'm going to wind up going to trade school. I'm finished. I might as well…..”

My thoughts were interrupted by C. William Edwards.

"Nelson,” he said, and I looked up. He was grinning. He then took his index finger and pushed the offending packet back towards me. "Hang on to it. You might need it in college.”