IN MEMORIAM 
11 
IN MEMORIAM 
DR. CHARLES EDWIN BESSEY. 
L. H. PAMMEL. 
A host of friends throughout this land were grieved at the 
death of Dr. Charles Edwin Bessey, whose long years of activ- 
ity as a teacher, investigator and citizen, were known through- 
out this broad country of ours. To his many friends in Iowa 
his death came as a shock, because it was here that he laid the 
foundations for that broad scientific life, a life devoted most 
enthusiastically to the science of botany, a life devoted to the 
teaching profession, a life devoted to the student in the class 
room and out of it. It was indeed a purposeful life, always 
full of sunshine and gladness. There were many of the older 
students at Ames who felt that Dr. Bessey was their personal 
friend, ready always to do something for them. To these stu- 
dents he gave his best. He gave some of his best years to ad- 
ministrative work at Ames and the University of Nebraska. 
Chancellor Avery says, “His death is not only a misfortune 
to the University organization, in the upbuilding of which 
the effort of the greater part of his life was spent ; but also a 
direct personal loss to students, alumni, and faculty people 
among whom he numbered his friends by hundreds.” The 
Daily Nebraskan of March 1st says that the summation of the 
philosophy of life is formed, according to Professor Bessey ’s 
own expression, in the word “love”. 
Doctor Bessey was always temperate. In my long acquain- 
tance with him I never heard him say an unkind thing of anyr 
one. Though he differed in opinion or may have disliked some 
persons, he tempered his remarks so as to leave the impression 
that the man or woman had splendid qualities. Professor Pool 
says “He even sought to temper criticism whenever possible.” 
He was devoted to his family and his friends. Many a young 
botanist owes his success to the help Doctor Bessey gave him. 
