Cornell College - Royal Purple Yearbook (Mount Vernon, IA)

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who have been fortunate enough to call him friend have failed to feel the fineness of his sympathy and the warmth of his humanity. But while one is likely first to be impressed by this side of his nature, one also immediately awakens to the fact that along with a warm heart goes a mind of crystal clearness in all its operations, a mind broad in its grasp, relentless in its logic, and untiring in its dc- mand for ultimate principles. - Professor Stout occupies a large place in the life of Cornell. His friendship is known and prized by hundreds of students, who have unhounded faith in his practical wisdom and in his loyalty to their best interests. As the years move onward the influence of his teachings and his example will hear fruit in many lives enriched 'by their contact with this man among men. G. H. B 0.13.-e el' LXR' J. I .' YM

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Elnhn i lhnrt Stunt, A. EG., IHI1. HH. All biographical sketches are prosaic and commonplace beside the life they seek to portray. This must needs be so, for heart beats, hand clasps, fine thoughts and helpful acts cannot be transcribed on the pages of a book. It means but little to say that the subject of this sketch was born in the neighboring town of Lisbon in 1867, that he attended the rural schools, that he prepared for college in the Cornell Academyg that he taught in the rural schools of Jones and of Marshall counties, and was superintendent of schools at Rhodes, Lime Springs, and Grundy Center. But such in brief is the outline of the life of John Elbert Stout up to the time when, in 1903, he came to Cornell College as a student to complete his college course. He took his A.B. degree with the class of 1904, and was at once appointed Professor of Education. Later he was made Principal of the Academy, and added these duties to the work of his department. But the call to still higher scholarship and efficiency made him seek leave of absence for study, and the fall of 1906 found him at the University of Chicago as a graduate student in Education. Then La Grange, Illinois, needed a prin- cipal for the large township high school of that place, and he was offered the position. Here followed two years of exceptional success as administrator of one of the most important high schools of the middle west. Still pursuing studies at Chicago, he took the degree Ph.lVI. in 1908. In spite of the pleadings and pro- tests of his La Grange Board and patrons against his leaving them, the fall of 1909 finds him again in his old position at Cornell. As if all this were not enough to achieve in a few short years, he answered, and is still answering, many calls to address teachers' institutes and other assemblies on a wide range of topics, thus extending his influence far beyond the range of the college. rlhese fact' are ev dence of '1 s cce f l '16 r b t n t Y l t f t '. fs. i ..u ssuc.zre,u oane. anaionoi. 'Ihe CYDl'1I1'lUOI1 of Profewor Sto ts 'ce ' t b f d tl t f l ' . . . ' as u '. sue ss is o e oun in ie s iri o mis life. A broad and deep big-heartedness, inclusive enough to take in all'who come in contact with him-this is the dominating note of his personality. None

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