DePauw University - Mirage Yearbook (Greencastle, IN)

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Department o Mathematics Q Mathematics is the oldest of sciences. Something of Geometry must have been known byumen when they first reached that stage of civilization in which they built houses and divided the land. As a .se1ence.Geometry originated in Egypt, where the annual mundations of the Nile made a resu1'vey necessary each yea1'. The text-book in Geometry used in the high schools of today IS not so dissimilar from the Elements of Euclid, who taught at. Alexandria about the close of the fourth and the begin- ning of the third century before Christ. Thousands of years before the Christian era, Astron- on1y was studied by the priests of Egypt and Chaldea. The pyramids of Egypt are so situated, and the entrances so designed, as to make it very evident that the Egyptians at the time of their erection made fairly accurate astro- nomical observations. Of all the sciences Astronomy certainly the most sublime, and, to the popular mind, the most inscrutable. It deals with a vastness too great to be comprehended, and is a study of the work of the Creator in its greatest immensity. Astronomers are not content with weighing the planets, one against the other, but they must even discover the very elements of which they are made. Even here llltllllS desire for knowledge does not stop. He is attempting to unravel the mystery of the creation of the solar system, and far out in space he observes other universes in various stages of development. Observations are made without reward for hundreds of years, and finally some master mind is able to comprehend the mass of observations as a whole, and a great law of the universe is dis- closed. The science of Mathematics, including As- tronomy, is justly proud of its ancient and royal descent, and of its many great sons who have enriched its field by additions and discoveries. For work in Mathematics and Astronomy DePauw is espeeiall y well iitted. The Biddle Library contains all the standard books of reference necessary. The McKim Ob- servatory is provided with an excellent equatorial tele- scope of 9.53 inches aperture, the object glass of which was made by Alvin Clark and Sons. There is also a transit, chronograph, clocks for both standard and sider- cal time, and other necessary appliances for the study of Astronomy. 1 Dr. WV. V. Brown was born at Hope, New Jersey. He received his bachclor's degree from Stevens, Institute of Teclmology in 1880. He was assistant in Harvard Ob- servatory for three years, and since 1885 has been the Professor of Mathematics in DePauw University. In 1888 he received the degree of Doctor of Philosophy from Stevens, Institute. Dr, Brown is well liked by the stu- dents of his department. VVork is given in surveying each summer, and the regular courses include Algebra, Analytical Geometry, Calculus, Mechanics and Descrip- tive Geometry. A full course in Mechanical Drawing is also offered. The work is thus of a practical value and students desiring a tech- nical education can obtain advanced credits in their desired work, and at the same time acquire a liberal education. Assistant Pro- fessor Eugene Taylor has charge of the first year's work in Mathematics. He received the degree of A.B. at DePauw University in 1907, and will receive his Masterls degree this spring. Page 17

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epartment of Latin In keeping with the American spiritf' our universities have been obliged to undergo a process of evolution in order to keep apace with the progressive tendency of the times. The college curriculum does not make the same demands upon the present-day youth that it did upon his grandfather. ln the days of our forefathers no college course was complete without a thorough training in classic language and literature, but the utilitarian spirit of today has tended to crowd these studies from the list of required wo1'k and put them on the schedule as elective subjects. The present commercial age would stigmatize that knowl- edge which cannot be employed in obtaining immediate material gain as ttdeadv or ttuselessf' This spirit, to- gether with the wonderful advances lately made in the physical and social sciences, has tended to turn to other channels the energy formerly expended in the pursuit of classical training. The discipline in scholarly methods, the key to a treasure house of rich literature, the extended etymological training, all of which are the re- ward of a study of ancient languages, are over- looked in the mad rush of a materialistic age. ln the midst of these evolutionary ten- dencies, DePauw University may point with pride to a Latin Department whose popular- ity is undiminished among the students. Dr. Page 16 Edwin Post, the able head of this department, suc- ceeded Dr. Lewis L. Rogers in 1879, and with the excep- tion of two years, absence in Europe, has been directly in charge of it since that time. A man of scholarly tastes, Dr. Post is not only well versed in knowledge pertaining to his department, but is an English scholar as well. He not o11ly successfully carries out the three-fold purpose of enabling students to read ordinary Latin at sight, of acquainting them with as much Latin literature as possi- ble, and ol? inculcating a knowledge of ltoman civiliza- tion and social life, but also drills them in methodical habits of study and imparts lifelong methods of syste- matic workmanship. There are at present more than 100 students in the department. The Simison Latin Library contains many rare and valuable volumes selected by Dr. Post, with his usual sagacity and care, and excellent opportunities are thus afforded for the Seminarium classes and students doing graduate work. Dr. Post is ably assisted in his work by Dade 'Bee Shearer, A.l3., a g1'aduate of Northwestern ,Univer- sity. Miss Shearer came to DePauw Univer- sity at the beginning of the fall term in 1907, and has proven herself very efficient in promulgating the work according to the plan and methods of the head of the depart- ment.

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Department of Philosophy The ruling spirit of the Department of Philosophy is optimism. Not an hackneyed sort of optimism that the sun will shine tomorrow if it rains today, but a far-reach- ing kind a1'ising from a deep belief in humanity. In this department there is no submissive, hanging of the head in an anguished sort of way, and 44What is the use? is never uttered. Of course, the department does not escape pop- ularity. If blind students can not be made to see a 'tblack cat in a dark roomf' they do come to know the principles by which life should be guided. The course in Philosophy begins in the Sophomore year. A study of Psychology, elementary and advanced, occu- pies the first two terms of this year, and logic is given during the third term. In the Junior year the course grows out of the work of Locke and Hume, the passive mind theory, the doctrine of Emanuel Kant, who at- tempted to explain that theory, and metaphysics. These courses are designated respectively as 'tTheory of Thought, Theory of Knowledge, and Na- ture of the Wo1'ld Cause, Ethics, and History of Ancient Philosophy engage the student. Special courses in Criticism, Spencer, and Pragmatism are offered. A library of books in a handsome seminary room sup- plies the needs of the students in a reference way. The books of Professor James and Dr. Bowne occupy dignified places on these shelves. Supplementary reading is re- quired in all courses. The Department of Philosophy is the one department of the University operating under a distinct honor system. A student committee, elected each term, has charge of all examinations and cases of discipline, and directs those affairs which are strictly in the province of students. Dr. Seaman, who is at the head of this department, is a philosopher of some note. He is considered one of the best scholars who ever was graduated from the Bowne School of Philosophy at Boston, and is a DePauw man. It is the wholesome optimism of this man which pervades the department and endears him to the entire ture of Beingf' Tn the Senior year, '4The Na- P a g e 1 8 student body. ,