WILLIAM K^ITH BROOKS — CONKUN 



I have tried hard, but with very meager results, to recall the topic 

 and subject-matter of the lecture. I feel quite sure now, however, that 

 the subject was "Mollusks," but I remember nothing of what he said 

 except that he spent considerable time, as it seemed to me at the time, 

 in explaining to the audience what Mollusca were. 



I believe his only object then was to try the experiment of giving a 

 public lecture and to find out how he stood the ordeal. For that reason, 

 perhaps, he chose a (then) small and out of the way place, and the 

 whole venture was managed in the most quiet and unpretentious way. 

 As I remember, no hand-bills or other printing of advertisements was 

 resorted to to draw a crowd. To give a lecture before a mixed audi- 

 ence in some public place and get enough out of it financially to fairly 

 meet expenses, was all he aimed at. That experience, no doubt, had 

 some influence in convincing him that the class room rather than the 

 platform was the place where he could do his most efficient work. 



Following his graduation from college, young Brooks spent 

 the year 1870-71 in business with his father, who was an im- 

 porter and wholesale dealer in crockery, china, and glassware. 

 Prof. E. A. Andrews, in his biographical sketch (Johns Hop- 

 kins University Circular, No. 212, January, 1909), says that 

 during this year "he exhibited characteristic interest in the 

 solution of problems and distaste for such mechanical drudgery 

 as had only practical and not theoretical ends in view, by the 

 invention of a calculating machine to lessen the amount of 

 unprofitable manual labor." There is evidence that he con- 

 tinued his reading and study during this year, as much as his 

 other duties would permit, and he and other young men con- 

 tinued to meet at his club for talks and discussions. 



In the fall of 1871 he entered definitely upon his career as a 

 teacher. He was employed as one of the masters at De Veaux 

 College, Niagara Falls, New York, where he remained for two 

 years. His ability to win the confidence, respect, and affection 

 of his students was notable even at this early stage in his 

 career. He had a way of not only interesting his scholars, but 

 also of attaching them to him personally. The Hon. Herbert 

 P. Bissell, of Buffalo, New York, who was a student at De 

 Veaux College at that time, has written the following concern- 

 ing Professor Brooks : 



I have consulted with several old De Veaux boys, but none of them 

 could add very much to my own knowledge of Professor Brooks. We 

 all remember him as a man devoted to scientific research and constantly 



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