4 AUTOBIOGRAPHY 



Yet, with all his knowledge of the fields, Pro- 

 fessor Roberts was singularly sympathetic with 

 every range of science teaching, with every indoor 

 laboratory, with good work in every department 

 of knowledge. Unlike many practical men, he did 

 not insist that all science should have immediate 

 application. He saw the educational result. So 

 he gathered about him many specialists, gave them 

 every facility and equipment he could secure, and 

 left them with great freedom. 



His hold on the students and on the people 

 of the state was remarkable. His talks and ad- 

 dresses always had practical wisdom combined 

 with vision, he was patient and self-contained un- 

 der criticism, he made friends and he held them. 

 To this day all over New York his students hold 

 him in affection, and old men with broken step 

 inquire of him with tenderness. 



Professor Roberts retired at seventy, but 

 fortunately retained his connection with Cornell 

 as professor emeritus, a relationship that he still 

 holds. The men of his active generation have 

 mostly passed the years of service. Many of his 

 immediately succeeding colleagues carry still the 

 responsibilities that he left to them, and they are 

 ever mindful of what he would have them to do. 



