Case School of Applied Science - Differential Yearbook (Cleveland, OH)

Page 15 text:

FRANK MASON GOIVISTGGK. ' E IS a descendant of Major John Mason, the hero of the Pequot war. W'ith fire and sword, at one fell stroke, Major john exterminated the powerful Pequot tribe. He seems to have been a man of iron mould, not a bit squeamish in tasting blood. But we like to judge our ancestors charitably. Public safety seems to have demanded extreme measures, and we may be per- mitted to think of him as a lover of dry jokes, and withal, possessed of a kindly disposition. The six hundred Pequot scalps dangling at his belt, may indicate no more natural vindictiveness than the freshrnen's scalps which, figuratively speaking, adorn the belt of his peaceably minded descend- ant, the college professor. Le Roy, N. Y., was the birth-place and home of Pro- fessor Comstock. He prepared for college at the Le Roy Academic Institute, entered Union College in 772, and graduated four years later, with the degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Civil Engineer. Vlfith a natural inclination for scientific studies, he devoted a large part of his time in the junior and senior years to natural history. The Department of Natural History was at that time under the charge of Professor Harrison E. W'ebster, a scientist of national repu- tation, and the opportunities for advanced study were ex- ceptional. A fellowship in the department having been granted him, he returned to Union for a year of post- graduate study, spending his time largely in the classifica- tion of the large biological museum. Leaving the college at the age of twenty-two, he entered upon the work of building up a high-grade prepara- tory school for college in his native town. Under his guid- ance the Le Roy Academic Institute became one of the lead- ing academies of central New York. In 1891, he accepted a call to the Chair of English and Natural History in Case. In 1879, he received the degree of Master of Arts, in course, from his college, and in 1891 that of Doctor of Philosophy for work in Natural History. He has been elected to membership in the following scientific societies: The American Association for the Advancement of Science, The Rochester Academy of Science, The Cleveland Natural His- tory Club, The Civil Engineers Club of Cleveland, and the

Page 14 text:

Smwwwwx

Page 16 text:

National Geographical Society. He is also a member of the Delta Upsilon Fraternity, and of the Twilight Club of this city. The task assigned me by the editors of the Differential is a delicate one. A colleague may not speak in words of fulsome praise, nor yet be silent as to the qualities and talents which distingish a co-laborer. We would write in terms of soberness, trusting that the regard of students may lend the glow and shimmer which ever illumine the life of an esteemed teacher. And nrst, he knows how to teach. Nature fits men preeminently for only one kind of work. Major john Mason was a born fighter 3 Professor Frank Mason Com- stock is a born teacher. In the arrangement of his courses, the choice of text books and methods, he shows a keen sense of adaptation. Having had long experience in the training of all classes of students, he understands the real nature of collegiate instruction. Solid training in the essentials, col- lege education for college boys-this his fundamental prin- ciple. He disclaims belief in lectures and university methods for foundation work. In the department of natural history, which is his specialty, he expects students to touch, taste, handle. His own knowledge he obtained largely out of doors, in held and wood, on marsh and mountain. For every trout and wild duck in his museum, he can tell a good story of how trout are caught and ducks decoyed. We verily believe that, if he had his way, he would take his classes hshing or gunning once a week. 'tForest and Stream is his favorite journal, Thoreau and Burroughs among his favorite authors. His university work has been but the skeleton of his education 5 his personal experience the flesh and blood. And what he has done himself, he expects his students to do-get their knowledge at first hand. But the Doctor knows more than birds and bugs and rocks-he knows men. He has, it is commonly believed, a kind of X-ray vision, which reveals to him, not bones, but motives. There are men who despise not only a mean motive, but the man who has it. Not so with our Profes- sor. An advocate of the theory of evolution, knowing its processes to be slow, he expects to see the littleness eradi- cated with time. Many a freshman owes his retention in the institution to the waiting policy of Father Comstock. The strong optimism which characterizes his attitude toward students finds its expression in apatient, unselnsh labor for and with individuals. Believing in men, he thinks them worth saving. Many professors consecrate their best 6..