Ah, the NYT Arts Blog caught an Austin something we totally missed! The Daily Texan reposted on their website a 1935 interview that an 18-year-old named Walter Cronkite conducted with a then visiting writer by the name of Gertrude Stein as a part of a lovely webpage homage to the media standard bearer who attended UT Austin all those years ago.
His prose is succinct with every word an impact. He’s also very hip:
Miss Alice B. Toklas, Miss Stein’s traveling companion whose title is not “secretary,” according to the author, was present. This lady who walked in on Miss Stein twenty-five years ago and has been with her ever since has absorbed much of the charm possessed by the most famous of the pair.
Godspeed, Mr. Cronkite. As one who has always considered herself a passing admirer, I feel compelled to become a better student of the art you so graciously possessed.
This article appears in July 24 • 2009.