682 PROCEEDINGS OF THE OTTAWA MEETING 



siastic and devoted workers. Those who were fortunate enough to know 

 him mourn his untimely end, both because of the promise, which can not 

 now be fulfilled, of further important contributions to knowledge and of 

 the loss of a friend of singularly attractive and lovable personality. 

 Eldridge possessed many traits worthy of all admiration, and it is befit- 

 ting to place in the records of this Society a tribute to his memory, both 

 as a geologist and as a man. 



The subject of this sketch was born in Yarmouth, Massachusetts, 

 December 25, 1854, the son of Ellery and Sarah (Matthews) Eldridge. 

 His early education was first in the public schools of Yarmouth and later 

 in the Boston Latin School, whence he went to Harvard University, grad- 

 uating in the class of 1876. 



There is nothing in the statements I have seen concerning Eldridge's 

 boyhood to indicate a special predilection for scientific studies ; but it is 

 of record that he was greatly interested in the military training given to 

 the Latin School pupils, and he rose from the ranks of the cadets to 

 become lieutenant colonel at graduation. This love of the military work 

 and discipline led him to organize a company of Harvard students, of 

 which he became captain. There can be no question in the minds of all 

 who have known Eldridge's energy and persistence that the boys under his 

 command got a good insight into the meaning of military discipline, and 

 that they received a training that was good for them. 



Not long after graduation from Harvard the estate left by Eldridge's 

 father became much involved, through no fault of his, and he resorted to 

 teaching as a means of support. He was first located at Mount Vernon, 

 New Hampshire (1876-1877), and for two years (1877-1879) at Nahant, 

 Massachusetts, as principal of the High school. While at Nahant he 

 passed examinations qualifying him to teach in the Boston Latin and 

 other high grade schools of the Boston system, but at this point circum- 

 stances transpired which turned him to his life work in geology. 



While it does not appear that Eldridge had specialized in geology in 

 his university studies, he had availed himself of the opportunity afforded 

 by the summer school of geology conducted by Professor Shaler at Cum- 

 berland Gap, Kentucky, in connection with the State Geological Survey. 

 Eldridge was a member of that school, both in 1875 and 1876. A general 

 fondness for natural science may be inferred from the courses of public 

 lectures given at Nahant, and that the trend of his interest had been 

 turned toward geology is shown by the fact that, while teaching at 

 Nahant, Eldridge was taking private instruction in geology from Pro- 

 fessor Shaler. 



