WILLIAM RUSSEL DUDLEY BRANNER 



He was a man of the finest possible fiber, so fine indeed that the very 

 delicacy of his nature unfitted him for some of the pioneer work he was 

 called upon to do in his lifetime. 



When Dr. Jordan was President of the University of Indiana, he tried 

 for some time to induce Dudley to go to that institution as professor of 

 botany. And I recall in this connection that Dr. Jordan said to me on 

 one occasion: "Quite aside from his ability as a teacher of botany we need 

 him here on account of his personal influence." 



But Dudley declined the proffered position largely because he felt 

 that he was not altogether fitted for the pioneer work required there at 

 that time. 



With the idea that poverty helps rather than hinders a young man, 

 Dudley did not altogether agree; in fact he entirely disagreed with it in 

 so far as it related to himself. He felt keenly the inconveniences of having 

 to earn his living while carrying on his studies. 



The necessity of devoting so much time to his teaching and the 

 strictness of the standards he set for himself explain why he was not a writer 

 of books or the publisher of a very long list of scientific papers. 



Lest some who did not know him well should imagine that so much 

 self-effacement indicated a man with but little force of character I hasten 

 to say that such was very far from being the case. With all his gentleness 

 and sweetness I have never known a man of more decision of character, 

 stronger will power, or of more determination, firmness, and unswerving 

 purpose. 



In the summer of 1882, I think it was, when Dudley was thirty-three 

 years old, the baccalaureate sermon at Cornell was preached by the Rev. 

 Dr. Heber Newton, who was for a while chaplain here at Stanford Uni- 

 versity. 



Dudley and I went to chapel together. We found it so crowded that 

 we could not find seats together, and I sat in the row of seats just behind 

 him. Dr. Newton's address was a eulogy upon the life, character, and 

 influence of Ralph Waldo Emerson. You can imagine the tribute he paid 

 to that distinguished writer and lecturer. I recall that when Dr. Newton 

 had finished his eloquent address I said to myself: "Yes, but right here 

 living in our own midst and within the reach of my hand is a man who 

 has every one of the finest traits of character of Emerson." 



In the latter part of his life certain of his traits became more prominent 

 than during his younger manhood. He was always, and of necessity, a 

 purist in every sense in which that word can be used. But as he grew 

 older I imagine that his sensitiveness brought him more pain than pleasure, 



