196 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. XXIII. No. 579. 



He was graduated from a Friends' institu- 

 tion, Earlliam College, at Richmond, Ind., in 

 1866, and afterwards spent some time at the 

 Illinois State University at Champaign, where 

 he was instructor in chemistry and natural 

 philosophy. This work of teaching seemed 

 to show Professor Warder his natural bent, 

 and his energy was thenceforth devoted to 

 studying the broad principles underlying all 

 natural science. He spent some years in 

 traveling, chiefly in the western half of the 

 United States, in connection with the different 

 state geological surveys. In 1873 he went to 

 Harvard, where he was graduated as B.S. in 

 chemistry in 1874. 



After graduating- at Harvard he spent a 

 year traveling in Germany, studying at Gies- 

 sen under Heinrich Will, and at Berlin under 

 Hofmann. His attention was, however, espe- 

 cially devoted to methods of teaching chem- 

 istry in the German universities, and the 

 application of theoretical chemistry to the 

 practical sciences. His chief aim was to fit 

 himself in the broadest sense for his work of 

 teaching. This was his main desire through- 

 out life, to help others, and he never faltered. 

 On returning to this country he was asso- 

 ciated with Professor F. W. Clarke at the 

 University of Cincinnati from 1875 to 1879 

 as professor of chemistry and physics. Pro- 

 fessor Warder early saw the close relation be- 

 tween these then distinct branches of natural 

 science, and his papers on ' The Speed of 

 Saponification of Ethyl Acetate ' and ' Evi- 

 dence of Atomic Motion within Liquid Mole- 

 cules ' were pioneer investigations in the field 

 of the physical chemistry of to-day. 



He was engaged in this line of research 

 from 1879 to 1883, when he accepted the chair 

 of chemistry at Purdue University, where he 

 remained until 1887. This position carried 

 with it the duties' of state chemist, work of a 

 commercial character rather foreign to his 

 natural tastes, but to which he gave the same 

 painstaking devotion that characterized all 

 his work. Even these routine analyses were 

 made to pay tribute to physical chemistry, as 

 is shown by papers on ' Influence of Time in 

 Fertilizer Analysis,' ' Speed of Dissociation of 

 Brass,' etc. 



In 1884 he married Gulielma M. Borland, 

 who also belonged to the Society of Friends, 

 and like himself was interested in evangelical 

 work. Their life together was one of perfect 

 harmony. 



It was probably about this time that Pro- 

 fessor Warder felt more keenly than ever the 

 call to help others in another field than chem- 

 istry. His philanthropic and evangelical 

 work had always been foremost in his mind 

 and labors, and in 1887 he accepted the pro- 

 fessorship of chemistry at Howard University 

 in Washington. Here he labored until he 

 died, teaching chemistry and physics, but 

 above all setting an example and teaching the 

 principles of a Christian life with an unselfish 

 devotion. 



In spite of lack of facilities, his work at this 

 period on ' Dynamical Theory of Albumenoid 

 Ammonia,' ' Recent Theories of Geometric 

 Isomerism,' ' Cross Fertilization of the Sci- 

 ences ' and ' The Major Premise in Physical 

 Chemistry ' showed his natural inclination to 

 this phase of chemistry. 



Professor Warder's later papers were chiefly 

 devoted to applying the laws of mass action 

 to and showing the speed of chemical reac- 

 tions for the analytical data obtained by other 

 investigators. 



He was essentially a critic and his devotion 

 to truth caused him to scrutinize the investi- 

 gations of others with the same zealous care 

 with which he looked for flaws in his own 

 work. This high standard, coupled with an 

 unusual modesty, often caused a hesitation 

 which sometimes obscured his really profound 

 knowledge. 



No one went to Professor Warder for r 

 and was turned away empty-handed. What 

 he had was given freely, and he seemed to feel 

 that no labor was too great in his fundament, 

 desire to help others. 



At a meeting of the Washington Section of 

 the American Chemical Society, held on No- 

 vember 9, 1905, the following resolutions were 

 adopted : 



Wjiere.vs, death has removed from earth our 

 friend and co-worker, Robert Bowne Warder. 



Resoh-^ed. That in his death chemistry has lost 

 a disciple who gave to her service the enthusiasm 



