University of Wisconsin Madison - Badger Yearbook (Madison, WI)

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Patrick Zllalsb. ONE night, many years ago, in old Hesperia, when the motion before the house embodied a request on one jew of the professors for his picture to hang on the walls, somebody observed that --we hadn't Pat's picture. Whereupon honest featured Alex. Flemington arose to add to the motion a request on the genial janitor for his picture also. We sat around in tolerant and amused groups, while some over-wise but erring youth raised the objection that the dignity of the Fac- ulty was concerned in this indiscriminate selection. But when the motion was put it was carried with such ac- claim that the secretary re- corded it as unanimous. The boys had not yet gone out into the world of petty social distinctions, where they were constrained to think at times otherwise than that The man's the gowrl for a' that. This was always the attitude of the students and the alumni toward our old janitor. They had him classed with the best beloved of the professors, not thinking at all of the position of the janitor, but always of the sterling qualities of the man. When I read in the accounts of Pat's funeral last November that all University exercises were suspended, that President Adams and forty members of the Faculty and many students marched in a body from Library Hall and attended the funeralg that the pall-bearers were Professors Birge, Gregory, Parkinson, Daniells and Williams and E. F. Riley, Secretary of the Board of Regents, I felt that, after all, the University but honored itself in paying such honors to its old janitor. Indeed, it is gratifying to note, in these times, when we are said to be losing our democratic sturdiness, the sincerity of this tribute to a man, whatever his position, and to a blameless life rather than to great possessions. Patrick Walsh was with the university from 1361 to 18979 he bade farewell to the students who left their classes to go to the war, welcomed them back under Johnson's administration, and saw their sons and daughters graduate in the 9O's. He was the link that bound the old with the new,a more than honorary member of every class, a personal friend of every former student who wandered back over the old hill. Every graduate and thousands ofthe old students of the University knew Pat and always paid him their respects on visiting the University. I-le never forgot the boys who left the University, and his welcome to them was that kindly, genial Irish greeting that the returning student does not forget. I am told that the alumni never sent out a notice that had a heartier response than that for the fund which gave old Pat his jaunt to Ireland in 1893. When we come together and talk of the familiar and kindly memory of Patrick Walsh, the old boys are always reminded of incidents, and one anecdote suggests another, Particularly the lads who inhabited the former dormitories are full of these yarns, many of which, I am forced to say, would not look as funny in print 36

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william L. Carlyle, B. S. Hgr. WILLIAM LEVI CARLYLE, Professor of Animal Husbandry, was born at Chesterville, Ont., September 22, 1870. His early life was spent on a farm. In 1889 he entered Guelph Agricultural College at Guelph, Ont., received a diploma and gold medal in June, 1891, on the subjects of live stock judging and dairy- ing, and in 1892 was graduated with the de- gree of Bachelor of Science in Agriculture. ln the following winter he began work in connection with the Ontario Farmers' Insti- tutes. 1893 was spent in the Guelph Dairy School and as a director of one of the Travel- ing Dairy Schools of Ontario. Since the winter of 1893 Prof. Carlyle has been con- nected with the Farmers' Institutes of Nlinne- sota until his appointment in November, 1897, to his present position at the University of Wisconsin. ft? fl? 2? joseph H. jeffery, B. S. Hgr. JOSEPH ALEXANDER JEPPERY, Assist- ant Professor of Agricultural Physics, was born September 11, 1859, at Corn- wall, Lebanon County, Pa. In 1861 he came with his parents to Wisconsin, where the greater part of his life has been spent. At the age of twenty-two he left the farm, and in 1886 was graduated 'from the State Normal School at Platteville. Seven years were spent as principal of high schools, three years at Cadott, Wis., and four years at Shell Lake, Wis. In 1893 he entered the University of Wis- consin, and in 1896 received the degree of Bachelor of Science in Agriculture. One year was spent at the Notre Dame Agri- I cultural College and Experimental Station as Assistant Professor of Agriculture, and on November 1, 1897, Prof. Jeffery entered upon the duties of his presentposition at the University of Wisconsin. 35

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as they seem to the narrators thereof. But I suppose there could be set down and preserved from oblivion dozens of Pat answers that were not half bad. Pat's wit had nothing acerbic in it. It was always naivety, such as the student mind likes because it is so different. We used to judge a new comer in the faculty very Iarg'ely by the way he got on with Patrick, says one of the present faculty of the university. The few stu- dents who could not get along with Pat were usually those who were in danger of being hazed on general principles. The boys recognized that when Pat interfered with their sport it was always because the rules obliged him to do sog like a for- mer governor of Wisconsin, he might declare: I seen my duty and I done it. He was popular with the girls because he was a gentlenmfij' said one of the fair alumnae to the writer. Without seeking to be profound or to Gnd an ethnological basis for the natural courtesy which always characterized Pat, I think there is at least something apropos in the following passage from a chapter on the Irish in Louise Imogene Guiney's new book, Patrins:l' Time, which was expected to bring about no Ireland, has in reality engendered a national life more intense than ever. The physical strength, the patience and passion of the common people, the grace, loyalty and play of thought of gentlemen, have in that national life come together. Unique patrician wit, delicacy of feeling, knightly courtesy, have run out of their allotted conduits, and they color the speech of beggars. Distinction of all sorts sprouts in the unlikeliest places. Violent Erin produces ever and anon the gentlest philosopherg recluse Erin sends forth the consummate cosmopolitan, hunted and jealous Erin holds up on its top stalk the open lily of liberality, ' courteous, facile, sweet, Hating that solemn vice of greatness, 1Jride. ' HUMPHREY J. DESMOND, U. W., '81, R? 25' Af' james M. Hebby. To quote the words of a fellow classmate: There is scarcely a landmark to recall the old timeg and of no part of the University is this more true than of Ladies' Hall. While rejoicing over the improvements that marked the growth of the University, the old girlsn could not but feel many pangs of regret as they read of the bay windows that had been added to adorn the be- loved old building and of the elevators put in to make life easy for the fourth-tloor students. These with other changes have created for many of us a new Ladies' Hall and a new Univer- sity. To the girls of early Hall days, there seemed but one tie left to bind the old life lo the new-NIr.Ashbyg and we found consolation in the thought that the venerable janitor was still a part of what was most dear to us-that when we should return to pay a visit to our Alma Mater he would be there to give us the welcoming handshake and to recall delightful reminiscences of the coal-stove days. But the tie that bound is broken, and it is with genuine sorrow that we bow our heads in submission to the Divine will. Noble man that he was, he became an integral part of the Hall, ' and of the life of the Hall girls. Industrious, upright, generous, kindly, sympathetic, and above all a thorough gentleman, such was the man we, a decade ago, knew in Mr. Ashby. ' He was a man of decidedly social propensities, yet he never neglected his work. 37