"Back In the Saddle" - The Southern Arizona School for Boys

Prior to attending St. Mark's School in Massachusetts, Rudolph was sent to the Southern Arizona School for Boys. He suffered from severe asthma attacks, and the doctors' consensus was that the dry desert air would be infinitely better than the damp Manhattan winter. So, off he went "Way Out West".

In those days (1920's), the opposite coast was a three day ride by train. Consolation came in the fact that train travel was run by private companies, who held fierce competition for routes, and well-heeled passengers. The Southern Pacific held the right to ferry fashionable New Yorkers to the wide open spaces, and no doubt Anne rode its rails (no doubt in a cozy compartment) all the way to the SASB.

Though about eight years of age when he went there, Rudolph had only the fondest memories of riding horses (how horse hair is good for asthma I'll never know), campfires, hiking, swimming and playing outdoors. He loved the atmosphere, the rugged cowboys, the vastness of the landscape, and I am sure, the lack of restriction present on his home coast.

Anne, due to her obligations in Manhattan, could not stay, but faithfully rode out with "Edwi" to deliver him on his first day. The atmosphere did its wonders, and in a couple of years, Rudolph was well enough to return to the East, and to prep school at St. Mark's.

He continued his love of the West, latter penning a western-themed musical, "Forty Ways to Sunday". Many times while driving, I would catch him veering off course, switching from Wagner to "Wagon Train", humming along with "Hank" and revelling in the clever, "down-home" lyrics of the country and western singers.

Later in his life, of course, he would move west, all the way to the Coast. When he returned to New York as a permanent resident, he never lost his love for the romance and legend of the West. Thankfully, his early exile had a lifelong curative effect.