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SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXVII. No. 683 



impossibilities for one of a less saBguine 

 temperament. 



A keen judge of men, lie always sur- 

 rounded himself with those who could not 

 only execute with ability, but who were 

 able to appreciate and participate in his 

 own enthusiastic efforts. Those who are 

 familiar with the earlier years of this col- 

 lege will readily recall that they were con- 

 spicuous for the able men by whom he was 

 supported, all of whom have made their 

 mark in their chosen callings : Stockbridge, 

 than whom none has made a deeper im- 

 pression upon modern agriculture; Miller 

 and Peabody, profound and careful stu- 

 dents of the mathematical sciences; H. J. 

 Clarke, whose name for a brief period shed 

 luster upon this institution through his 

 knowledge of the biological sciences ; Good- 

 ell, cultured and versatile, and in his later 

 years the able president, well beloved of 

 all who knew him. These were the men 

 who helped to make this institution what 

 it is, whose record is written large in the 

 great book of life, and whose memories 

 will ever be an inspiration to future gen- 

 ei'ations of students. But among this gal- 

 axy of able men there was one whose selec- 

 tion for so important a post in the new 

 college was based in part upon student 

 friendship at Gottingen, but more upon a 

 keen appreciation of sterling worth; one 

 whose ability as a scientist continues to 

 shed luster, add renown and lend dignity 

 to this institution; and it is a matter of 

 special congratulation that he is yet with 

 us to participate in this act of tribute to 

 the memory of an old friend— Dr. 0. A. 

 Goessmann. 



President Clark's professional career 

 was begun in fields quite distinct from 

 those which he cultivated in later years. 

 Under the guidance of Professor Hitch- 

 cock, he acquired a great taste for geology, 

 and this, together with a special aptitude 

 for chemistry, led him to choose this branch 



of science in connection with mineralogy, 

 in which he had gained distinction as a 

 student. It was in pursuit of a further 

 knowledge of these subjects that he went 

 to Gottingen to seek instruction at the 

 hands of eminent German specialists, at a 

 time when it was just becoming fashion- 

 able for American students to complete 

 their studies and professional training at 

 German universities. This step was taken 

 at one of the most critical periods in the 

 development of American science, which 

 was then in a state of transition from gen- 

 eralization to specialization. Owing to his 

 keen perception and quick observation, as 

 well as to his ready appreciation of any- 

 thing which tended in the direction of 

 progress, the experience gained during his 

 residence abroad was of great service in 

 after years. The one great lesson which 

 this period of his life seems to emphasize 

 is the important reciprocal relations of 

 botany and chemistry, and the teachings 

 of his later years always brought into 

 prominence the idea that, for the profes- 

 sional botanist, a thorough groundwork of 

 chemistry is not only essential, but that the 

 more one specializes in botany the wider 

 should be his knowledge of chemistry. At 

 the present day, with our strong tendencies 

 toward narrow specialization, we are in 

 great danger of losing sight of this funda- 

 mental fact, and I would impress upon 

 students and teachers the great importance 

 of shaping courses of study in such ways 

 as to secure and maintain a proper balance 

 between these two subjects. 



While yet a student at Amherst College, 

 President Clark had followed the usual 

 course in botany as then prescribed by the 

 college curriculum, and although he was 

 not particularly drawn to the subject at 

 that time, he nevertheless pursued it with 

 characteristic zeal and gained proficiency 

 in the methods then in vogue. These were 

 based upon the Linnsean school, which 



