University of Iowa - Hawkeye Yearbook (Iowa City, IA)

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lln Memoriam it mattered not; in all things the one object he seemed ever to have in view and seemed easily to attain was simple fairness, jus- tice. I believe every man in the Faculty appreciated the dent ' s peculiar equipoise of judgment. The second characteristic was a gift of manner perhaps only less valuable in his position than the trait just mentioned, and certainly growing out of it. Every professor who consulted Dr. Schaeffer left him with the feeling that his cause would be the President ' s especial care, that his wishes would be consulted to the last degree of possible attainment. The President had no favorites; or if he did, none of us ever found it out. To be just is better than so to seem; Dr. Schaeffer was fortunate in that for him seeming and being were but different phases of a noble nature. THOMAS H. MACBRIDE. only knowledge of Dr. Schaeffer is that of a friend. For years, he has come to our home and I have come to his on the most informal footing. And every year I think that I felt more strongly, that the friendship of such a man was a privilege. As a friend, my first impression was of his exceeding modesty. He was a man who talked well and clearly; but he always ferred to listen. He was one of the best listeners in the world, a stimulating listener because neither his attention nor his pathy ever wavered. Therefore, he was a man to whom people unconsciously brought their best. After a very little, I came to feel that his courtesy, that beautiful and indestructible courtesy which neither fatigue nor hurry could affect a hair ' s breadth, which was as patient with bores as it was ingenious in escaping from them (for he was a shrewd man as well as a tolerant) which treated every man as his equal and every woman as a queen; I came to feel that this courtesy was more than the natural good manners of a well bred man, it was the expression of a wide and deep sympathy and a vast tolerance. But it was only when one was in trouble that one came to understand how delicate and wise was his tact. He never jarred on one. He said very little; he did a great deal; and one had a sense of safe dependence on him which was 1 12

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lln Memoriam most significant fact in President Schaeffer ' s connection with the University was not that during his administration of eleven years the teaching force was doubled and the number of students more than doubled, while the material facilities were greatly increased, and the people of the state came to feel a pride and interest in the institution which had not before been so generally exhibited, but rather that the work in each department of the University was broadened and strengthened. Many of the influences which tended to bring about this result antedated Dr. Schaeffer ' s administration or were brought to bear from outside the University, but his great share of credit for what has been achieved rests on the fact that he was in sympathy with every impulse toward a higher standard for University work, at the same time guiding the onward movement with rare judgment and fairness. Persistence in working for the ultimate highest good, tact in securing progress without danger of reaction, self restraint in avoiding any appearance of domination in what was accomplished, so that it seemed to come in the natural course of events, these were the qualities which placed Dr. Schaeffer in the front rank of the presidents of State Universities. In their relations with Dr. Schaeffer his associates found him helpful, appreciative and considerate. Each was led to feel that his success would depend upon his true merits as a teacher, his fullness of knowledge, independence and soundness in judgment, and originality in treatment. Upon the whole University Dr. Schaeffer left the strong impress of a man of thorough education and broad culture, a high-minded gentleman, and a spirited citizen. EMLIN MCCLAIN. N HIS dealings with the Collegiate Faculty two traits seemed to me always to characterize Dr. Schaeffer. The first was a peculiarly keen instinctive sense of even-handed tice. Whatever the question at issue and however tangled trend of discussion might become, however far the might reach, did it affect all the Colleges of the State or did touch the interests of some single student or professor only, did it concern some policy which he himself had close at heart, 11

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lln Memoriam comfort, itself. One beautiful thing about Dr. Schaeffer as a friend, one which all his friends will recall, was the genuine pleasure that he always showed when he could do anything for a friend. He enjoyed his friends, their presence, their talk, their interests. And he loved to show his affection. Never was there a more hospitable man. And never did he appear to better advantage than at his own fireside. He was an ideal husband and father, never so happy as when at home; and it is no tion to say that no one could visit that home without feeling the better for the sight of its happiness. We all know that our friend did not talk of virtue; he only lived it. Whatever other men might do, he never compromised with his ideals. And in an age of compromises, his serene confidence in the highest both as a man and a citizen, was a continual inspiration to his friends. One could say of him, that he satisfied not only the mind and the heart of his friend but the soul. For this reason his friends were at their best with him. For this reason they must always miss him. ALICE FRENCH. SCHAEFFER ' S great virtue was doing. His was a nature in which the predominant factor was not words but deeds. Add to this the fact that he had a definite policy and pursued it, and you know the wherefore of his success. Like all men who are men of action, he proved his activity by the honor of having active enemies. And active enemies won for him his host of fighting friends. His life was a success. For who, of all the University ' s alumni who have been and are striving after honor, can, at the hour of passing to the great unknown, hope to point to a nobler ment of a life ' s efforts than he, for whom growing, honoring him as he honored it, shall stand Iowa ' s great University; standing as a school where all are equal, if their inherent abilities and ings are. And so he has for his monument, while not a complete product, yet a wonderful accomplishment of his executive ability and energy, the Greater University. Wm. T. CHANTLAND. 13