1891] Varied Talents 



in 1895 by Bristow Adams, usually holds its own "The 

 among journals of college fun, though in later years Cha P arral " 

 it has rarely equaled the high standard set by its 

 founder. 



In early years, at least, the Stanford Student Early 

 Body contained an unusually large number of cbaracters 

 original and varied characters drawn to the new 

 institution from all parts of the country, and repre- 

 senting almost every conceivable form of talent or 

 genius. This was peculiarly true of the "Pioneer 

 Class" which graduated in 1895, and its successor 

 of 1896, as well as of the three smaller preceding 

 classes composed of students from other institutions. 

 A history of those present on the opening day, for 

 instance, would make a striking record. A few of 

 them I have just mentioned. Of several others I 

 shall also speak without, I hope, suggesting in- 

 vidious distinctions. 



Wilbur W. Thoburn, a graduate of Allegheny 

 College, entered as an advanced student in Zoology, 

 though the admirable quality of his work and his 

 noble personality brought him almost at once into 

 the teaching staff, where he ultimately became pro- 

 fessor of Bionomics. His influence for good over 

 students I have never seen surpassed, and no one 

 has since stepped into the place he made for himself. 

 A minister by original purpose, he served as a sort 

 of unofficial chaplain whose primacy in religion as 

 applied to conduct was unquestioned. His uni- 

 versity lectures dealt mainly with organic evolu- 

 tion, of the theory of which he was a convinced and 

 effective exponent. After his death in January, 1899, 

 the notes of his moral talks to students were pieced 



C 407 3 



