JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. 



©tiituam 



WALTER S. CHAPMAN. 



In the last Journal of Proceedings it was our sad duty to record 

 the loss of two active and well-known members of the Association. 



But a more painful duty now awaits us. Even death, when 

 it comes at the sunset of a long and useful life, may justify its 

 approach. To-day we chronicle the loss of one whose life had yet 

 scarce shed the freshness of youth. Mr. Chapman was born at 

 Hamilton on the i6th day of September, 187 1, and was thus but 24 

 years of age at the time of his death, which occurred on the 3rd day 

 of September of the present year. 



Early in life Mr. Chapman chose the medical profession as his 

 intended vocation, and applied himself diligently to his preparatory 

 school course. But a higher fate ruled otherwise. When but eleven 

 years of age failing health and a severe affection of the eyes com- 

 pelled him to abandon all study for a time. A trip to Europe for 

 change and medical treatment so far restored his health as to enable 

 him to complete his public school course and spend two years in 

 collegiate work, when a second loss of strength forced him to relin- 

 quish all thought of undergoing the severe strain of university work. 



Though compelled to forego the pleasure of school life, Mr. 

 Chapman did not in the least lose his thirst for knowledge. The 

 study of nature, to which he had been early drawn, now became his 

 ruling passion, microscopy and botany being his favorite departments. 

 In the last of these he has left as a memorial of his zeal a collection 

 of Canadian and foreign plants which would do credit to a scientist 

 of far older years. It was at this time that Mr. Chapman became 

 interested in the work of the Association, among whose members he 

 found companions congenial to his quiet and studious disposition. 

 Being of a retired nature he always avoided the very appearance of 

 notoriety. The Association, however, were not slow in discovering 

 his real merit, and soon appointed him to one of its offices, a position 

 which he held at the time of his death. 



