510 STEPHEN ALEXANDER. 



and astronomical literature, to an extent unusual in his day, when 

 foreign periodicals were expensive and hard to get. 



As a teacher and lecturer, especially in his younger days, he had 

 a remarkable power of exciting interest and enthusiasm in the sub- 

 jects he dealt with. I do not think I can do better than to (juote 

 from an admirable address delivered at his funeral by Hev. Mr. Hins- 

 dale of Princeton, an old pupil of Dr. Alexander's, and a graduate of 

 thirty years standing, who remembers our friend as he was in the 

 fulness of his strength and power. Having spoken of Dr. Alexander's 

 associates in the Princeton Faculty, Dod, Torrey, J. W. and J. A. 

 Alexander, Hope, Henry, and Guyot, Mr. Hinsdale goes on to say : — 



" Of such associations Stephen Alexander was not unworthy. He 

 pushed his researches into the depths of mathematical and astronomi- 

 cal science, availing himself of his acquaintance with the principal 

 languages of Europe. He printed for the use of his students treatises 

 on Ratio and Proportion, Differential Calculus, and Astronomy. He 

 was unselfish in his devotion to the interests of the College, and the 

 advancement of learning. He aroused the admiration of his pupils 

 by the evident extent of his knowledge and his ardor in imparting it ; 

 although it must be said that he often became so profoundly interested 

 in setting forth the philosophy of mathematics as to forget that their 

 acquaintance with the subject was of necessity far less than his own, 

 and so to outrun their ability to follow and comprehend him. 



'• The closing lectures of his course in Astronomy, in which he dis- 

 cussed the Nebular Hypothesis of Laj^lace, were characterized by a 

 lofty and poetic eloquence, and drew to his class-room many others 

 than the students to whom they were addressed I vividly re- 

 call one of the occasions of which I speak; the hushed and expectant 

 auditory; the shy, almost abashed manner of the lecturer; the rapt 

 look, the glowing countenance, the throbbing frame, which indicated 

 how completely he was possessed of his theme ; the magnificent sweep 

 of his ideas concerning the formation of the material universe, with 

 its countless suns and systems ; his happy application of Scripture 

 phrase, when, pointing to the drawings of certain nebula? of remarkable 

 form he would quote, ' They all shall wax old as doth a garment, and 

 as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed ' ; the 

 outburst of eloquence, seeming to our young minds akin to inspira- 

 tion itself, with which he ascribed all the beauty and glory of crea- 

 tion to Him who is enthroned in majesty above all spheres, evermore 

 controlling and guiding all, the Personal God, glorious in holiness, 

 fearful in praises^ doing wonders." 



