Wednesday, January 19, 1881, remains an unforgettable day, that 

 on which I delivered my first lecture, the first of thousands. I was not 

 in very great trepidation over this, because it was delivered to a small 

 class of Seniors. My record reads : "Had a small, attentive class of what 

 seem to be good men. I got along very nicely and was pleasantly sur- 

 prised at my own readiness." The Juniors I did not get till February 

 4, as Dr. Guyot began the course with them and intended to keep them 

 for another week. As he felt unwell, he suddenly summoned me to 

 take over the lectures, though he very kindly made the effort to intro- 

 duce me to the class. I was very badly frightened, though I managed 

 to conceal it, for, in addition to much stage fright, I felt that I was 

 putting my whole future to the touch. That was the Class of '82 and 

 one of its members was Jack Hibben, who, in 1912, became President 

 John Grier Hibben. In response to a letter of inquiry, he wrote the fol- 

 lowing reply. 



San Sebastian, August 9, 1925. 

 My dear Wick: 



I have just received your letter forwarded to me here, where we have 

 stopped a few days on our way to Madrid. My recollection of those early 

 days, when you came to Princeton from Heidelberg as an instructor in 

 geology, is vague and dim regarding details, but the impression which you 

 made upon the members of my class in our Junior year is still clear and dis- 

 tinct. You gave us a new view of scholarship as an adventure into the un- 

 known and great world of knowledge. You had the spirit of an explorer 

 returning from his absorbing quest and you were able by your enthusiasm to 

 impart that spirit in a large measure to us, your interested hearers and dis- 

 ciples, as you unfolded to us the marvels and mysteries of nature. Your youth 

 appealed to us and your reputation as a scholar already won, and your gift 

 of clear statement presented in a manner to hold our attention and command 

 our interest. The vision of the young instructor blends with that of the friend 

 of many years — ^it is difficult now to dissociate the one from the other. The 

 promise of the past has been richly realized and I am very proud that in 

 those far-off days it was rny privilege to sit at your feet and with your eyes 

 see the treasures which the world holds for us all, if only we can see. Happy 

 they who have a guide and interpreter by the way. 



Mrs. Hibben joins me in love to Mrs. Scott and yourself. 



Faithfully yours, 



John Grier Hibben 



From the time that I left Heidelberg, I had cherished a plan to return 

 there the following summer and finish my work on Calberla's great 



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