Macalester College - Quid Nunc Yearbook (St Paul, MN)

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THE JWAC BIENNIXII. 1 ll 1 l l l . , 1 1 Hugh S. Alexander ROFESSOR HUGH S. ALEXAXDER was graduated from Macalester College with the Class of 1899. He received his Master of Arts degree at the University of Minnesota in 1915, and, in the following year, he re- turned to Macalester to teach physics and geology. He now devotes his full time to the Geology Department. The degree of Doctor of Philosophy was granted him by the University of Minnesota in 1931. Professor Alexander is able to carry our thoughts back through still un- counted millions and hundreds of millions of years., His outlook is necessarily a broad and a deep one, and 'his students are enabled to see the world as it was. There is something mysterious and wonderful in the contemplation of such a development as that of our earth and the life upon it. The step to spiritual and metaphysical considerations from the contemplation of such vast changes in nature is a short one. Professor Alexanderls open-mindedness which results from having to consider two theories, equally possible, equally plausible, neither proved nor disproved, is a thoroughly desirable quality. It would be extremely difficult to say whether he is more interested in the processes or in the architecture of the world-the mechanics, or the design. Wfe realize that in Professor Alexander we have an admirable instructor and more, one who studies and has the courage and humility of a man who knows. Page I4

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NINETEEN THIRTY-TWO i 1 l W , 1 , i , l l l l i l l 1 i l 1 1 l 1 l 1 l l 1 c We eu.. 1 J Frederic Gibbs Axtell RQFESSOR FRIEDERIC GIIHIBS AXTELT., Librarian of Macalester College, graduated from XYesleyan University in 1888, and received his degree of Master of Arts there in 1891. In 1901 and 1902 he did gradu- ate work at the University of lierlin, and in 1903 he came to Macalester College. Professor Axtell has the true scholarly spirit and he is generous with his inexhaustible knowledge and ever patient with freshman English students. True, there are few classics he does not know, few great characters in history with whom he is unacquainted. but he is not unaware of this utilitarian age for he con- tinues to find things of interest in all current literature. Do not think of Professor Axtell solely and simply in a bookish environment. XVhen you catch him, for a moment unencumbered with the cares of the library, he will tell you fascinating things about Germany, Scotland, and England. about the Passion Play at Oberammergau, and the works of art at the Louvre. He has not stopped with booksg he has gone back to the things from which books ori- ginate. There are books of all kinds. There are books which are only tools and books which are works of art, the enjoyment of which is a pleasure in and of itself. Professor Axtell has cultivated the students' taste for the best. Among all their book desires and needs he standsg these he controls and satisfies-we know no one more worthy. Page I3

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XIXETEE.V TIIIRTY-TWO l P' A P P Nl . N! , 1 l l ll ll 1 1 chwtmw :cg John Porter Hall RUFESSOR JOHN PORTER HAl,l. came to Macalester College in 1897, after receiving his llachelor of Arts degree from Princeton Uni- versity. From 1897 until 1903 he was Assistant Professor of Greek at Macalester. From 1903 to 1905 he was an instructor in Greek at Prince- ton. He returned to Macalester in 1906 to become head of Baldwin Academy, a preparatory school which was then conducted in connection with the college. Lat- er, he continued as Professor of Greek and became registrar of the college. Prof Hall has not only guided us through the mazes of registration, and led his straying pupils deftly through their Greek translations, but he has also built up a Menls Glee Club which has retlected only credit on Macalester. No one who has ever been in one of Professor Hall's classes or in the Glee Club, can fail to admire his charming personality. to say nothing of his wit and musical ability. He has done much to encourage the knowledge and love of all art, and particularly the art and mythology of the Greeks and Romans, both in and out of his classes. 1Yhen a recitation is over before the end of the class period, the students may look forward to a fine bit of poetry, beautifully read, or to seeing pictures of great architectural worth. llesides his academic accomplish- ments, Prof is a connoisseur of music and art and is regarded by his Glee Club men as one of the fellows. Pagr 1,