DePauw University - Mirage Yearbook (Greencastle, IN)

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Greek Department William Fletcher Swahlen, Ph. D. l+'ourteen years ago De Pauwls chair of Greek became vacant. The position demanded seine one of ability. The question H Who shall it be ? 'l perplexed the authorities. Many recominendations were received. Much inquiry ensued. But time has only proven the wisdom ol' the trustees in selecting the present genial, frank, scholarly and judicious professor, under whose trained eye many students have been initiated into the mysteries of the abode of Zeus. Rev. William Fletcher Swahlen, head of the department of Greek, is a man of marked ability. His personality and learning are felt alike by student and scholar. T. T. Timeyanus, in his preface to !lEsopls Fables, acknowledges his indebtedness to Doctor Swahlen for his kind assistance and helpful criticism in the preparation of that work for the English student, commending him very highly for his eminent scholarship and clear insight into the Greek language, litera- ture and the classics. Many conditions have conspired to bestow such recognition., a few of which facts we are permitted to enumerate. At the age of live years, Doctor Swahlen began the study of German, thus very early attaining a natural talent for the acquisition of language. He began his study of Greek under Asbury Morgan, principal. of Light Street Institute, Baltimore, Md. Later he was under the tuition of Charles Anthon, of Columbia College, New York. At Troy University, he was under Charlton T. Lewis, a great lrittemtmtr of New York, and known as the reviser of the la1'ge Latin lexicon. Prof. George Allen, known as one of the Iinest Greek scholars America ever produced, was his instructor at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. John McClintock, Dr. James Strong, and Dr. Marvin R. Vincent have also lent their

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syllabusos in connoction with his work, anfl, when practicable, thoso are utilized to supply hihliograpliy and unify class work. A library con- 1-2lll1ll1Q:f1l1U host litcraturo of tho suhjm-cts taught in tho clcpartlncnt is placocl in tho H0ll'1ll1il1l'lLIl1l at tho fullest illSlvJO!'111?lU11 of tho S13llK1OllU. Each student is assignml a special 1JI'O1Jl0Ill for Caroful rosoarcli. Rioports and thcsos on thoso rcsozlrch topics are givvn i11 class, and thus co-operation in acquisition is utilizocl. Colonel 1Voavcr, who is tho head ol' this 1lopartn1ont, is, hy reason ol' his oxporioncc and scholarship, oininontly iittwl for tho position. Ho was Ql'2l1Klll2l11QO1l A. 13.21113 Jp1llogl11111y Collogc, 1813233 A. N., 181513, onlistod in Union f1l'lI1'Y, 1862 3 proniotod to SOVQGRIII1'-111El-'10l', 110111701121-1117 and captain. g prisoner ol' war in Lihhy, Macon, Ga., Ull21l'1.0S1'0ll, S. U., and Colinnhia, H. C.g l11'o1'ot1-1111 major and l1011101111111t-00101101 aftor tho warg principal Dickson Acaclciny, Illinois, 18156-18673 professor of mathcniatics and inilitary scioncc, Wcst Virginia Uiiivorsity, .l8li37-18693 United States consul at Iirinclisi, Italy, 118651+18705 consul to Antwcrp, liolgiuin, 1870- lHT9g consul-general at Vienna, Austria, ono your of which ho served as sc-crotary ol' l0g2l111lOl1 and 1'lllI'l'fjl7 fl,ll'fl1I7i'l'1'S, 1879-fl885g professor of inod- crn l.iL11gll2l1g0S, Do Pauw University, 1885-1886, profossoi' of modern languages and political philosophy, 1886-18905 professor of history and political scionco, 1890-l894g since 1894, professor of political scionce. fl! Bti N: 1 7' ni '19 A GP

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inliucnce i11 his training of the classics, While Ogden N. Reed instructed him in natural science. Doctor Swahlen was graduated from the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania with the class of ,623 with the degree of A. B., and in 1866 received l1is lVlaster's degree from his Alma ilfafer. Iowa Wesleyan University bestowed upon him the degree of Ph. D. On graduation he was elected to the chair of Greek and German in McKendree College. ln 1883 he was elected president of that college, which position he held. for three years. In 1886i Doctor Swahlen was elected acting president of Kansas Wesleyan University, and in 11.887 to its presidency. Atvthe same time he was elected professor of Greek in De Pauw University, whereupon he resigned his position at Kansas NVesleyan, and entered upon the duties of the chair of Greek in De Pauw. Doctor Swahlen was ordained a deacon in the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1870 by Bishop Matthew Simpson, and ordained elder by Bishop Thomas Bowman in 1877. Doctor Swahlen enjoys the distinction of being one ol' the first elected members of the cb B K Society, Alpha Chapter, of Indiana, and wasiniti ated on the night of its organization. The department of Greek is equipped with a good library, consisting of a complete list of principal Greek authors in the H Teubner Edition, comprising about one hundred and fifty volumes. In addition to these there are about iifty other volumes of value. There is a complete Grotels History of Greece Hg Curtius Complete and a variety of other books of reference for research and study, including texts, commentaries, diction- aries, and works on antiquities and literature. The department is also supplied with pieces of sculpture of value, embracing the principal actors of Grecian Olympus and prominent figures of Grecian history. Chief among these is found a east of Apollo de Belvidereg the Quoit Pitcher, statuettes of Pallas Athena and Xllsculapiusg busts of Zeus and Herag of Socrates, Demosthenes, Homer, Heroditus, Plato, Aristotle, and others. There are two fine French engravings : one representing Socrates instruct- ing Alcibiades, the other, the discovery of Achilles by Ulysses. A variety of maps and charts complete the material equipment for original research. The library room is easily accessible to the student for private study or for the classes on any disputed question..