Northern Illinois University - Norther Yearbook (DeKalb, IL)

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, i 1 L 'he illlaztvr Qiraftaman '-OI-TN WILIJSTON COOK was born in Oneida County, New York, April nous Ile spent most ol his moyhood in the village ol Ixapma At siv- ! teen he undertook tarmmo on his oun account, renting 1 piece ot land .ter the purp-ost. ln the lill ol, 1862 -llC'Clli0ICll. upon.lns 'lile work. lt - - was at that time that he entered the 1lllll01S Normal University at Normal. After graduation in 1865, he became principal ol' the school at Brimfield, Peoria County. Following a year's work here he was called to the principalship ot the newly established grammar school in connection with his Alma Mater. flle was promoted to the Normal Department a11d held successively the chairs of reading, mathematics and physics and 'linally, in 11890, he became the president, of the in- stitution. ln 1899 he became the president ol' the Northern .Illinois State Normal School. d20, 184-L. At the age ot' seven he came with his parents to central llli- Q 3 'P 4 x .2 ' - 's ' 5 - This briel' chronological outline indicates that Dr. Cook is fundamentally a Normal school man. Coming to the institution in youth ,he responded readily to its high standard of scholarship and in turn he has materially helped raise that standard. Those who have had the good fortune to be members ol' his classes know what great demands he makes upon dellniteuess of knowledge. Each recita- tion has its definite aim,-no rambling side stepping. His thorough knowledge ol? the subject that he teaches enables him to corre- late the separate lessons into an organic whole. I-le sets his students searching l'or the organizing ideas olf the subject. He is, in short, a philosopher in the busi- ness olf teaching. But Dr. Cook,s achievements are not confined within the walls ol' the Normal School. Fully to understand his great capacity l'or hard work, his natural ability, and his general open-mindedness, we must take into account what he has done above a11d beyond climbing to the top of the Normal, School ladde1'. He early trained himsell' in public speaking, and was soon in demand as a lecturer. He edited and published Qlllinois school journals l'or more than six years. ,Instead of taking a vacation in summer he taught in teachers' institutes, and in that way helped to recruit students for the Normal School. l-le always kept in touch with business 111011 and the business interest ol' the communities in which, he has lived. Ile has been a regular attendant at church and for years sang in the choir. While this does not cover all the ground ol' his interests, yet it serves to show-how wide the range ' As-president ol' the Normal School at- DeKalb he has worked out a. com- prehensive scheme olf teacher training l'or the elementary schools. .lt is not too much to say that he has set the standard l'or the rest ot the Normal Schools ot this country. And now he is about to leave his post and take up the burden of the retired school master. lt were easy to prophesy that he will not stay Kputf, but will simply shift the current ot his boundless energy into some other channel S. F. PA1:soN. Page T fwelfve

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T Ellamiliar Ellignrvnt Yon will soc it standing tlioro, -Ulllll0l'll02Ltll tho portc-vovlioro With its 1lll1lll!0l' right in viow. Anil, its volor Foul trno lilnc. How wo like to seo it go, All along tho road just so, Nor rlo wo even have to look To know its rlrivc-r's Dr. Cook. lf po1'cfln11mo it clnlnocs to stop- Tlnlt is, if he wants it not- SUIIIIIIGI' winter, over' soason 7 . Dr. Cook says, 'l'l1c1'o's ai 1'ca1sou. :MARIE KELLER. - - - Q ,Page Elewn

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Ihr Eiarhargr-llnnnrahln ' My HE emergency is over. A great task has been ifinished. Civilization has been saved. ,And now a grateful republic is returning the victorious heroes of a sanguine strite to deserved and coveted peace and rest and the busy quiet of civilian life. Y V I - - . . n Likewise, o11e by one, it 1h litting the burdens of care and responsibil- ity from the faithful shoulders ot those stalwart figures who have, through the years, fought civilization's battles of peace, have guided its thought, and have nurtured its institutions from promise to achievement-l'rom seed time to harvest. Of that valiant band who have thus stood as outposts in the no-man's-land between the hosts ot ignorance, inetfeeiency, and sordid life on one side and the dauntless crusaders of a new philosophy, a line idealism, and the living of life at level best on the other, Ur. John Williston Cook has been a conspicuous member. What shall be an adequate reward for a lifetime of wise, fruitful, selt-saeri- ficing service? Not money, nor chattels, nor monuments of stone, nor any other material things, for they are all temporary and must perish from the earth. But the noblest reward is a 1ll01lllll10HiJ 'not made with hands? Such an enduring n1onu1ne11t is builded, in the hearts of grateful men, women, and children. Its foundation is respect and the recognition oi' service. its shaft, pointing' toward the 'eternal verities,' is builded of the solid and imperishable masonry of gratitude, admiration, and affection, and its inscription is For Justice tlllll Humanity. With such monuments reared in a million hearts, instead of the Distinguished Service Medal, le Crois de Guerre, and the Congressional Medal of Honor, John Williston Cook is hereby discharged, not from the service of his country, but from the obligations and burdens and onerous duties such devoted service has for a halt-century pressed upon him. . May he continue to the end as he has lived in the past-the great apostle of love, law, truth, service, and freedom. S. J. XTAUGHN, lst Lieut., Sanitary Corps, U. SQ A. 1 I Page Tlnrteen