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Well, the column became popular, and then I began sending in little things to the Jester, the funny magazine. And at the end of my freshman year, the rich kids in my fraternity began taking me down to their country clubs. I didn't know what a country club was until then. This was also a new life for me, which I liked very much. Luxury and I agreed very well. So I began meeting a new set of girls and learning expensive new habits.

What did your father think of all this?

Pop? Anything I did was o.k. with Pop!

Then one of the boys in the fraternity told me about a girl. My aunt and uncle had a house down in Elberon, New Jersey, and he told me about a little girl there that he thought was mighty cute. I didn't quite trust him, but I made a date with this girl. My uncle's chauffeur drove me there, and I had him wait around the corner for 20 minutes, because I said, “If she turns out to be a dog, I'll fake a bloody nose or something. You wait for 20 minutes.” Well, she was my girl straight through college. He didn't have to wait for me.

Do you want to mention her name?

Her name was Marie Mayer. She had red hair and a little turned-up nose and freckles, and she was absolutely adorable.