Pi r EliOS Loom is. 455 



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and hefoiv his death the savings wirli their accumulations were 

 a large estate, how large only he and his banker knew. 



One of hie college classmates told me that Mr. Loomis left 

 college with the definitely expressed purpose that the world 

 should be better for his living in it. The central proposition 

 in his [nauerural Address at Hudson m L838 was: "That it is 

 utial to the best interests of society that there should be a 

 certain class of men devoted exclusively to the cultivation of 



itract science without any regard to its practical applications; 

 and consequently that such men instead of being a deadweight 

 upon society are to be ranked among the greatest benefactors 

 of their race." lie chose this for his principal work for man, 

 and he steadily kept to the chosen work. To establish an 

 Astronomical Observatory had been through life a cherished 

 object. He entered into and aided heartily the plans of Mr. 

 Winchester, both before and after Mr. Winchester asked 

 his Trustees to transfer his magnificent endowmient to the 

 University. Professor Loomis looked forward to a large 

 institution in the future on the observatory site. To endow 

 this public service, after making liberal provision for his 

 two sons, he bequeathed his estate. The income from more 

 than $300,000 will eventually be available to continue the 

 work of his life. With clear judgment of what was most 

 important he limited the use of that income to the payment of 

 salaries of persons whose time should be exclusively devoted 

 t<> the making of observations for the promotion of the science 

 of astronomy, or to the reduction of astronomical observations, 

 and to defraying the expenses of publication. He knew that 

 if he provided observers, other benefactors would furnish 

 buildings, and instruments, and the costs of supervision and 

 maintenance. 



A university has an organic life, with its past and its future. 

 The wealth of a university consists mainly in its men ; — not so 

 much in those men who are its active members now, as in 

 those who have lived themselves into its life in the past, and 

 have made it a home of scholarship, of truth and of devotion 

 to duty, a place fit for the development of the nobler elements 

 of character. The life and work of Elias Loomis form no 

 mean portion of the wealth of Yale University. 



