WILLIAM RAINEY HARPER.

We were boys together in the village of New Concord. Our parents were members of the same church in which Samuel Harper the father was a ruling elder. He

was

also the most prosperous merchant of the village and able to give his children any advantages they could use under these conditions. W. R. Harper did the unusual thing he took advantage of every opportunity that presented itself. He was endowed with great intellectual ability and had from childhood the power of persistent application. His ability to acquire a language was unusual and was supplemented by great industry. He literally absorbed anything he read and seemed never to forget it. He graduated from Muskingum College at the age of fourteen. The course was chiefly Latin, Greek and Mathematics. Although young it would be very interesting in these days to see a college graduate who could equal him in any one of the three subjects named. At nineteen he had won his doctorate in philosopry and once more broke all the traditions of colleges and universities. His own experience probably accounts for his determined stand against what he called the machinery of education. He believed that every student should have the opportunity to work according to his ability. With him the key to progress was in the inidividual. The ambition of his life was a place

among the scholars of the world; his great work was teaching and not administration. He had a hard struggle to leave the professor's chair for the president's office and always regarded it as thwarting in a degree the cherished ideals of his life. Busy as he was he would not give up entirely the work of teaching. It is here that his most enduring fame will rest.

In boyhood he was always busy. He was a jolly companion, loved his associates and to the end never gave up the association of his boyhood. In New Concord everybody recognized his ability, his public position and his academic honors but no one there ever spoke of him but as "Will Harper." In his private life he was as genuine as the boy of ten years. No honor or distinction ever disturbed him. He was sincere, simple, unaffected, democratic and loyal to his friends under all circumstances. He was forceful in thought, courageous in expression and action but not controversial. I never knew him to speak an unkind word of any one. From boyhood he had unusual energy, strong appetites and passions but strength enough to keep quiet when others were thundering with rage. This self control explains his industry in scholarship and suggests his characteristic strength as an administrator.

While very young he spent some time in the study of music for which he had considerable talent. For one

he occasionally entertained his friends by a renewal of his boyhood practices. In all these experiences Harper was never conscious of having any dignity and no one ever thought of him as lacking it.

While at Yale he became much interested in the modern languages and indeed was one of the first teachers in a summer school of modern languages. His major interest was in Hebrew. Here he applied the inductive method in the great success and revolutionized the teaching of Hebrew in the United States. At the close of his experience at Denison University he was called to teach Hebrew at Morgan Park Theological Seminary although he had never had any education in a Theological Seminary. Many doubts were expressed at the time about the propriety of calling a man to teach theological students who had no theological training. The doubts soon vanished and later Yale established a chair of Hebrew especially for Dr. Harper and he accepted the call. It was during these years that he demonstrated his unusual powers as a teacher. He established Hebraica a small publication in the interest of Hebrew grammar; also The Old Testament Student in the interest of the study of the Old Testament. Later this included the study of the New Testament and both gave way to the "Biblical World" now one of the publications

of the University of Chicago. His power of organization was never displayed to a better advantage than in his teaching and editorial work where subjects usually despised and regarded as uninteresting became popular and enlisted students by the hundreds. His work at Chautauqua and tauqua and his correspondence courses in Hebrew and the study of the Bible interested thousands in these subjects.

In his later years everyone thought of him as President Harper; as the founder of a great university which had developed without a parallel in the history of education. This in itself was enough to win for him a place in the esteem of the world. To him, however, it was a conscious sacrifice of his own desire to be and become a scholar and a teacher. He had laid well the foundations for such a career and had the ability to win the highest place among the world of scholars.

In accepting the presidency of the new university he did not abandon teaching but of necessity gave his energies to the constructive work of administration in which he was eminently successful. The popular notion that he was a great money getter ought to be corrected. It is false and greatly annoyed him. While visiting with him on one occasion he spoke of going to see a woman who desired to give the University a considerable sum of money. I chaffed him a little upon

his ability to get money and he replied that there was one thing he could not and would not do, - ask for money. Nevertheless great rev-. enues came during his administration. When the university was first proposed he drew the plan which was published in the papers. This excited comments for its extrava

gant ideas of what a university should be. It contained practically every important feature of the university as it is to-day.

But the limits of my space have been reached. In conclusion let it be said that Dr. Harper was born and educated in an obscure place. He had no friends to make a place for him. He had a good parentage but no special consideration. Every place he ever occupied he filled. What came to him came because he deserved it. His intellectual ability, his moral integrity, his untiring industry, his high ideals, his charitable spirit, his freedom from petty jealousy, his great patience and his talent for organization united to make him a man who adorned the office of scholar, teacher and president. He compelled our admiration and won our love. In the midst of all his experiences and in the presence of many misunderstandings he remained a modest, faithful Christian gentleman. His painful malady through weary months elicited not a word of bitterness or doubt but in a triumphant faith he remarked that he left his work here for that be

yond with less hesitation than when he left Yale for Chicago.

W. O. THOMPSON.

OHIO AT LOUISVILLE.

Ohio was in evidence at the Louisville meeting, the largest in the history of the Department of Superintendence of the N. E. A.

The local arrangements reflected great credit upon Supt. E. H. Mark of the city schools, an Ohio boy who knows how to get things done with neatness and dispatch.

The president of the Department, Supt. John W. Carr of Dayton, lived up to the highest expectations of his friends. His response to the address of welcome was enthusiastically received and under his directing hand the program was carried out with precision and prompt

ness.

Tuesday was humorously referred to by some as "Ohio Day," three "Buckeyes," in addition to the President, having places on the program. I heard a number of complimentary references to the paper of Mrs. Sarah E. Hyre of Cleveland on "Woman's Part in Public Education," and every one recognized the address of President W. O. Thompson of O. S. U. on "The Effect of Moral Education in the Public Schools upon the Civic Life of the Community" as being a most valuable contribution to the discussion of this very important topic.

No speaker before the Department ever received a greater ovation than Dr. Thompson a fine tribute to his manly character, vigorous thought, and forceful expression.

The best address before the Round Table of Smaller City Superintendents was by Supt. William McK. Vance of Miamisburg on "The Best Means and Methods of Improving Teachers already in the Service." His thoughtful discussion of this topic was presented in the elegant diction so characteristic of all his utterances and the Ohio contingent occupying the Amen Corner were proud to be on hand.

Supt. Simkins of Newark, in one of the general discussions, made a few remarks of such refreshing originality as to call forth a hearty endorsement from Supt. Hughes of Toronto, to the effect that he liked what the "young fellow," who preceded him, said.

All agree that the address of the very interesting session, Wednesday forenoon, was by Dr. Martin G. Brumbaugh of the University of Pennsylvania. His theme was "Eliminations and Modifications in the Course of Study" and when he finished every one realized that something helpfully constructive had been added to the consideration of this ever important subject. Dr. Brumbaugh was not born in Ohio but his hosts of friends in the State always make him feel at home when among her people and to make sure

that he would have the necessary inspiration for the occasion, he stopped for twenty-four hours within her borders in charge of his guardian, Hon. Henry Houck, on his way to Kentucky.

The new President of the Department, State Supt. W. W. Stetson of Maine, lives a long way from Ohio, but Mrs. Stetson was born in: Preble county, Ohio, and we can still feel that we are near the throne.

I was unable to attend the sessions on Thursday, but the program promised a profitable day, the first subject for consideration being "The Examination of the Eyes of School Children," to be discussed

by John C. Eberhardt, member of the Board of Education, Dayton, Ohio, and ex-president of the American Association of Opticians.

The Ohio delegation, one of the largest present, numbered at least 125, and, as usual, had a good time. The next meeting will be held in: Chicago.

O. T. CORSON.

SPRING TIME.

By Sara W. Featherstone, Toledo.

Something awakened Snowdrop, A noise at her bedroom door. "Who's there?" she sleepily called

out,

""Tis I," said March Wind with a

roar.