Washington and Jefferson College - Pandora Yearbook (Washington, PA)

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V .., I l 4. ..,, .,..,,.,.,.,...,.. fx f fl 7385 'A I ..,. , - . W -I 3. 1 if I V, . .ew 'A A ,. furnace and the finest of tools, he made many scientific instruments and machines for use in the college. His knowledge of the Greek and Latin classics is by tradition re- ported as having been phenomenal. It is said that he knew by heart the chief parts of Homer and Virgil and Horace, and was equally familiar with the old English authors. But no mere enumeration ol' particulars can describe Sammy Jones as his students knew him. In speech and character he was racy of the soil of old Ireland, and had more than an ordinary share of the proverbial Irish wit: He was a bachelor, and, for a time at least, boarded at the old Fulton House. One of the faculty, himself at the time a bachelor, sat at the same table with Jones, and I recall a story I had from the younger man many years ago. They had for some tilne been annoyed by the food being overseasoned. Coming in one day, and finding Jones already at dinner, his colleague said: Well, Pro- fessor Jones, what kind ot' soup do we have to-day? They eall it mock turtle, replied Jones, but you'll find it's rule freall salt ! One of his older colleagues has written of him these words: His knowledge of science was extensive and varied and exact, and was coni- bined with such rich classical and literary stores, and withal wielded with so much originality, that his pupils were often at a loss to k11ow what was most admirable in the lesson--the science, the literary illus- trations, or the exuberant wit which was wreathed and blended with the whole. As I remeniher, Jones had just two marks or grades for recitation, whole, and halt ' or partial.,, When a man had recited, Jones would at once announce the credit to be given, thus: Now, Mr. Smith, Itwill give you a whole, or as the ease might be, I will give you a partial for that recitation. , W As a bachelor the good man was able to lead the simple life. He was frugal but liberal, too, in his expenditures, and before his death he generously endowed four prizes in Physics and the Classics as a memorial in the college. They bear his name, and the names of the recipients of their proceeds are annually announced at commencement. Professor Jones resigned March 19, 1878, and on the morning ol' ' :io

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. C I , . A A - ,.,,.,,,,,,,, M ,,, x -... u ,,, v W T it f I , 1 at i' I,ii!t'ti'ItiTi -me f rrr f QQ end of the room. Then, with a sidelong glance at the oi'fenders, Oh, they are through, you may go on, sir. Occasionally, however, he was hoist with his own petard. It happened one day that a sophomore,-- call him Jones-who was much attached to a girl named Brown, sal deep in thought and did not hear himself addressed by the professor. Mr, Jones seems to be in a brown study, said Linng tllld even Linn, who did not know of the attachment, could not immediately silence the merriment of the class, which he was at a loss to understand. But it was not alone in the class room that this great llltlll taught. He bore upon his heart the moral and spiritual interest of his students, and I have known him when he saw solne crisis impending in the life of one of them, to call him into his own home to counsel with him and to encourage him. I recall how deeply touched was one of my own classmates, a wayward but brilliant fellow, who had just come from an interview i11 which Dr. Linn had earnestly pleaded with him to sur- render himself to Christ. And so we not only revered, but loved him. To live in hearts we leave behind Is not to die.', That immortality is Dr. Linnis. Perhaps no character more nearly a unique was ever connected with the faculty of old Jefferson College, or with Washington and Jef- ferson, than Samuel Jones, Ph. D., Professor of Physics and Chemistry until 1878. Professor .lones was born in Southern Ireland, and was graduated from Trinity College, Dublin. After his graduation there, he taught for several years in a Methodist College in London, and was later head of a large school in Bristol, England. While there he was persuaded by a brother who lived near Pittsburgh, to come to America. His first educational work here was as the principal of an academy in Beaver, Pennsylvania, whence, in 1852, he was called to Jefferson Col- lege. ' t Professor Jones was of a somewhat burly figure, with a grim but vet kindly face, he was blunt but really gentle in manner, and was withal a man of many parts. He was possessed of remarkable skill as a worker in metals. and in his workship, which was equipped with a 29

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, fQf Q W ' 'M' 'A wig- 8' I aiivi . May 22, 1885, he died suddenly and without lingering disease. He is buried in Homewood Cemetery, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: a spot which l1e himself had chosen. . George B. Vose was elected Professor of Mathematics and Me- chanics at Washington, August 1, 1865, and served the college until 1873. Vose was, I believe, by birth a German. He was a profound 1natl1e- matician, and could lvacli a student who was a mathematical sharkg but he could 11ot enter into the ditticulties of any one who was not. Unable to master his subject myself, I used to recall for my comfort Tranio's advice to Lucentio: 5 The mathematics- Fall to them as your stomach serves youg No profit grows where is no pleasure ta'en. In brief, sir, study what you most affect. I would not, of course, give that advice to a student now. The college class rooms never witness to-day such scenes as were common in Vose's room, when everything that would make a noise. Jew's-harps, torpedoes, parlor match heads, and even firecrackers, was called into service to enliven study and relieve the tedium of the hour. The old Berseker rage of his Teutonic ancestors would sometimes flame up in the soul of the victimized professor, and he would jump from his platform and pounce upon one of his tormentors, or perhaps seize upon some entirely unotfending man and order him from the I'0Olll. But he never let the sun go down on his wrathg and even when he had cited a 111an before the faculty, he would, as I can testify from my own ex- perience, so soften his charge that the culprit would almost appear to be the one who had been abused. I wonder if absentmindedness is a trait of great mathematicians? We hear of Sir Isaac Newton shaving at his usual place at the wall of his room, unaware that the mirror he used had been removedg taking his Wifeis fingeriinstead of his own to press down the tobacco in his pipe, and cutting a hole in the bottom of the kitchen door to let a kitten pass in and out after he had already cut one big enough for the house- hold cat. I do not vouch for these storiesg nor do I for similar ones that used to he told of our old professor. It was said that once, when 31 '