Purdue University - Debris Yearbook (West Lafayette, IN)

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RTH SOUTH J. M. McCONNELL, Traveling Passenger Agent, LaFayette, Ind.

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JAMES B. SMART DEAD THE END CAME AT 10:30 WEDNES- DAY KIGHT. , --, OverwovUed for Several Years Past, tKe President of Purdue Yielded Up His Life in the Interests of the Uni- versity—A Sketch of His Life Work. ions Unsurpassed Special to The Indianapolis Sentinel. I LAFAYETTE, Feb. 21.— Dr. James H. Smart, president of Purdue university, died tonight at 10:30 o ' clock at his home in this city. He had been in ill health for several years as a result of overwork in his ambitious zeal to further best interests of Purdue. Until within the last month he has been able to look after his duties at the uni- versity. Since that time he has been confined to the house, although death was not looked for until a few hours before it came. In the gradual breaking down of a strong constitution his intellectual powers re- mained perfect until the last. Purdue owes much of what she is today to the tireless energy of Dr. Smart. riis Life. James Henry Smart, the subject of this sketch, was born at Center Harbor, N. H., Juno SO, 1S41. His father was Dr. William Hutchingg Smart, a practicing physician of great reputation. His mother was isancy | Farrington Smart of Hopklnton, N. H., a member of an old New England family. His earlv education was obtained at home, ana he was prepared for college at the Concord j high school. He was self-sustaining from the ago of twelve. He worked in a store aa clerk and bookkeeper until he was seventeen. He began his professional work in a New Hampshire public school on a salary ot ijlb a month. The first period of five years was passed in his native state as a teacher In various schools and associate editor of the Journal of Education. He came west in 1SC3 and secured the principalship of an Intermediate school in Toledo, O. In 1865 he became superlntend- entof the city schools of Ft. Wayne, Ind. He held this position ten years and gave great satisfaction. He became a member of the State teachers association at an early day, and soon ranked as one of Us leaders. In 1874 he was elected superintend- ent of public instruction. He wns re-elected in 1876, and asaln in 1878. It was the only tance of according a third term to a te official. His ability and splendid rec- J fully justified the exception. He came to office directly after the enactment of a tatute authorizing county superintendents of public schools, and at a time when there was a pressing demand for Its repeal on the plea of expense. The law was saved by hla persistent, skillful and well-directed efforts. He soon made It plain ' that the new system was very beneficial, and it has become very popular and is likely to remain permanent. In 1883 he was elected president of Purdue university, which position he still holds. Un- der his admlnKstration Purdue has ap- proached the ideal in technology. The university has been wonderfully pro- gressive, not only in experimental work on the farm, but also in applied sciences,. Including civil, mechanical and electrlctl en- Eineering. until it has become a polytechnic school indeed. Its laboratories and work- shops embrace all that Is latest and best in practical equipment. Courses of study have been revised and arranged with a view to securing definite practical results in hai- 1 mony with the distinctive character and jl avowed purpose of the school. The energy I displayed by the president in renewing and restoring the buildings, ' machines and in- struments destroyed or damaged by fire early in the year 1894, was unprecedented. What he accompllsed in a few months waa In fact a new creation, and as marvelous as the fabled Phoenix rising from Its own . ashes. Dr. Smart has been honored by in- stitutions of high repute. In 1870 Dart- mouth college conferred upon him the de- gree of A. M.; in 1883 thfc University of Ind- iana conferred the title of LL. D. He served as a trustee of the State university. . FAlttiXt and six years as trustee of the State normal V a im L.VWOI... school. He has been a member of the Ind- iana state board if education for twenty- seven years. A Foreign Appointment. In 1872 he was appointed assistant com- missioner for Indiana to the Vienna expo- sition. In 1878 he was appgiiiled commis- sioner to represent the United States In the World ' s exposition in Paris. In 1881 heservde as president of the National educational association. In 1890 he was president of the American association of agricultural col- leges and experiment stations In 1891 he was appointed representative commissioner of the United States to the agricultural congress at The Hague. He was the recipient of the highest honors con- ferred by the Teachers ' association of In- diana. In addition to papers, pamphlets and reports innumerable he published the following volumes: An Ideal School Sys- tem for a State, The Institute System of the United States, Commentary on the il School Lavv ' s of Indiana, The Shools ot Indiana. He used plain, strong, vigorous English,, always with a purpose in view. He en- tertained and instructed at the same time. His style was direct and pithy, entirely free from redundancy. His perception was keen, his analysis acute. Whether writ- ing or speaking he selected from a choice vocabulary the precise words that conveyed his meaning most accurately and elegantly. His work in every department of educa- tion was characteristically practical, in teaching, In superintendence, in official ad- ministration of the school system as a whole or the course of study and applied mechanics of an industrial university. He possessed to a remarkable degree the sense, of proportion and fitness. Continued application through a period of more than thirty years gave him the clearest insight into the philosophy of education and the largest wisdom as to methods and means to the attainment of ends. His individuality was very distinct and was impressed upon any work with which he was connected. In the accompll.shment of a purpose he wa3 willing to as.»ume any amount of labor re- , quired and any measure of responsibility in- hd Ohio, Queen Cincinnati €;rawfcra$ville Tnaianapolis new Vork istern Cities j»lt0 tati [lion station, Ci curred. Dr. Smart was politic, but not demagogical. His social intercourse was marked with courtesy and confidence. He trusted his friends and was unvarj ' ing in his friendshic. He was married July 21, 1870, to Miss Mary H. Swan of Albany, N. Y., a lady of rare literary ability and attainments, dau ghter of Prof. Swan of Grinnell college, of Iowa. In 1SS3 she was president of the Association of literary societies in Indiana, Routes, avoiding ; countr} ' call on WEAKLY nd Ticket Agent TTE, Indiana