Mississippi College - Tribesman Yearbook (Clinton, MS)

Page 33 text:

Murray Latimer, B. S., B. A., M. A. Professor of Greek F all the characteristics of human nature there is none finer than determination. It is the very lifeblood of success. It is the golden key of the universe, unlocking all difficulties; and before true determination, properly directed, obstacles and hindrances fade, and to its possessor there comes the reward of intelligence, and art, and culture, and virtue, and noble impulse. Determination, buttressed by ambition and unremitting industry, has been the mark of Murray Latimer from his early childhood to the present, and to him in large measure have come and are still coming its rich rewards. To know something of the details of his history and then to know him now is all-sufficient. He was born May 8, 1872, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Latimer, in Copiah County, Miss., ten miles west of Crystal Springs. At the age of four he began his education at the public school about a mile from his home. The first schoolhouse in his experience was a pine pole cabin, about sixteen feet square, with a stick and dirt chimney, weather-boarded, and in the cracks on the inside the fifty or more pupils placed their few and ragged books. When he was fourteen years old the schoolhouse was burned, and he thereafter walked four miles to the nearest school every day of the four months’ winter term. To this splendid exercise may be attributed his robust health and fine constitution. His work in the public schools was principally reviews, going over and over the same ground, so that when he came to Mississippi College at the age of twenty he was only prepared to enter the Senior Preparatory Department. This he did in the fall of ’92, coming to Clinton with $50.00, and spending less than $50.00 more during the session. 1 he second session cost him $92.00, and the third $76.34, inc luding all expenses from the day he left home until his return. During his first two vacations he taught a five-weeks school near his home, and put in the remainder of the time in hard day-labor. His third and fourth vacations were spent in teaching in Lincoln County, for which work he received $30.00 a month, and paid $5.00 board. Vorking his way in this manner he was graduated in the class of ’96, taking the B. S. and B. A. e grees and carrying off first honors. While in college, he was a member of the Invincibles, ani a so the Philomathean Society, being Fall Orator in ’94, and Anniversarian in his Senior ea !. summer following his graduation he taught the first summer school ever taught at Mississippi College, and the next fall he began work in his alma mater as Fellow in the scientific Department. The same session he obtained his M. A. degree, taking chemistry as a major, and physics and geology as minors. The three vacations following his graduation were spent in postgraduate work at the University of Chicago. The next year some of the Greek classes were added to his Scientific work and two vears later he was elected head of the Department of Greek. PiJdai wd b o ' ?Swtr; p l C ; d Mi ” My, e WebK ,h ' - • of «- Prof. Latimer has been one of the active factors in the development of the town of Clinton, and is now serving his second term as Mayor. As a teacher of Greek he is almost without an equal, and embodies the spirit of the work ■n all its fineness and interest. He 1S in every capacity a splendid example of that high type ot manhood which forces its way over difficulties and obstacles to the goal of success. 29