12 Biillcfin of Laboratories of Dcnison Uiiiz'crsity. t^'°'- ^^^^ 



his room that he did not make us feel entirely welcome. . . . 

 His talks to the boys were full of interest and heart-sympathy 

 — he never spoke a word of discouragement to anyone." 



And now in conclusion let me illustrate several of these 

 sources of Professor Herrick's power to inspire students by read- 

 ing- to you a letter which I received today from W. E. Castle, 

 now Professor of Zoology in Plarvard University, one of the 

 many young men who honor Professor Herrick's 'memory in the 

 highest possible way, by following in his footsteps. 



"While in conversation with a Zoologist from a distant state 

 I was asked from what college I came. 'From a college,' I re- 

 plied, 'of which very likely you never heard, Denison.' 'O yes,' 

 was the prompt reply, 'I know of Denison ; the Herricks have 

 made Denison famous.' This incident gives evidence of the high 

 regard in which the scientific work begun at Denison by Pro- 

 fessor C. L. Herrick, is held among workers elsewhere in similar 

 lines. 



In the opinions and affections of his pupils Professor Her- 

 rick occupied a still larger place. His coming to Denison marked 

 an epoch in the intellectual life of many who were then under- 

 graduates. It was to them what the Reformation was to Europe. 

 It marked the termination of authority, the beginning of in- 

 rellectual liberty. Through all their previous studies they had 

 dealt with facts carefully marshalled, concerning which two 

 opinions could not exist. Knowledge was something to be mas- 

 tered and used. It was given to them on authority, which they 

 had neither occasion nor disposition to question. 



Now came a man who quietly brushed aside authority and 

 invited them to create knowledge. The idea was so novel and 

 preposterous that they looked at each other, half-puzzled, half- 

 amused, wondering whether there really could be profit in stu- 

 dies so undeveloped that they oltered anything but unquestioned 

 verities to the beginner. . Tiiis was venturing on an uncharted 

 sea ; is it any wonder that like the sailors of Columbus we hes- 

 itated ? 



Not onlv were the methods of our new teacher unusual, his 



