Doctor John Quincy Adams, a Brief Tribute from a Close Friend 
JAcoB E. CoNNER 
Some men seem to be born with a genius for friendship. Their 
companionship is like the companionship of a good book, which 
grips you and holds you till it has blessed you with its message, 
and then it will not depart from you. 
There are those whose company you enjoy because they antag- 
onize you. You look for an encounter with them as for an intel- 
lectual combat, sharpening your wits, making you careful of your 
statements and ready with your tongue. They do you good if you 
do not let them spoil your spirit. 
Then there are others, much rarer in quality and harder to find, 
with whom you are in such harmonious concord on most subjects 
that controversy would be out of place on any subject. Such was 
Doctor John Quincy Adams; and many’s the time I have climbed 
the steep hill to his home, confident of more than a feast of good 
things in the friendly interchange of views, and was never disap- 
pointed. To converse with Doctor Adams was like taking a le1- 
surely stroll in a natural orchard, helping ourselves to whatever 
fruits pleased us, each according to his personal taste, but always 
walking together companionably. Controversy was quite out of 
the question, even on fundamental issues, because points of differ- 
ence were set aside as soon as recognized, to be settled by each one 
for himself, alone. Doctor Adams never talked as some people do, 
to convince the other fellow that he was wrong; for his own mind 
1 Read at the funeral services of Doctor Adams, February 15, 1919. 
Doctor Adams was born in Jefferson county, New York, graduated from 
Northwestern University in 1889, received degree of Doctor of Philosophy 
at Halle in 1892, was Secretary of Association of Colleges and Prepara- 
tory Schools for seven years, Secretary to Municipal Art Commission 
from October 10, 1907, until his death on February 12, 1919. He became 
a member of the Institute March 5, 1909, Honorary Curator of Arts and 
Antiquities the same year, and a member of the Board of Trustees in 
1910. As a member of the Board of Trustees, Doctor Adams was chair- 
man of the Finance Committee and energetic in obtaining subscriptions to 
the new building. 
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