Washington and Lee University - Calyx Yearbook (Lexington, VA)

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4laH. ICnuta l|mit? DR. HOW ' ] ' ; was born at Ncwburyport, Massachusetts, with a line of New Eng- land ancestry reaching back to Plymouth Rock. His father was a beloved physician of charming personality and wide influence, whose even tempera- ment the son inherited. While a student at Amherst College, he manifested a deep interest in Southern affairs, and frequently had occasion to express his views in debate, and hence, when later transplanted to the South, he found a congenial soil. After graduation from Amherst, he went to Germany to continue his studies in chemistry, and in two years received the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Gottingen. While- there he entered into the life of the German students and made many warm friends whom he has kept through all these ears. After returning to the United States, he taught for a year in Cleveland, Ohio, and for several -ears in Richmond and Louisville, Kentuck}-, whence he was called to the Chair of Chemistry at Washington and Lee Universit}- in 1S94. As a teacher, he is enthusiastic and inspirational. He is an ardent advocate of the laboratory method in teaching chemistry, and his lectures are expositions and explanations of the meaning of the experiments performed by the students in the laboratory. He believes that independent investigations should be undertaken b}- all students as soon as practicable, in order to stimulate interest and to promote the understanding of chemical problems. His views as to the best method of teach- ing chemistr) ' , led him, together with Dr. Francis P. Venable, of the University of North Carolina, to write a text-book which has served as an excellent introduction to the fundamental laws of the science. The students whom he has trained have been unusually successful and enthusiastic in the further pursuit of chemistr -. His courses are ver - popular and his laboratories are alwa s full. ' henever there has been a demand for a new course in chemistr -, Dr. Howe has added it, regardless of the extra tax upon his time and energy. He has thus built up a department which would be too large for a single professor with less broad training and physical endurance to manage. His friends will rejoice that the authorities of the University have now found it possible to appoint an asso- ciate professor of chemistry for the coming 3 ' ear. As an investigator, Dr. Howe has done valuable work on ruthenium and plati- num metals. While engaged in his investigations he found that a knowledge of Russian would be of benefit to him, and hence, he took up the study of that languao-e by wa - of a diversion during the summer holida -s. Dr. Howe is a member and fellow of a number of scientific societies, and has held office in the Chemical Societ}- and in the American Association for the Advance- ment of Science. While primarily a teacher and an in estigator, he has man - outside interests. He is a tireless religious worker. He is an officer in the church, conducts a student Bible class, and is a strong advocate of the Young Men ' s Christian Asso- ciation — International, State and College. He was for years a trustee of the Chris- tian Endeavor Society and is active in the Layman ' s Missionary Movement. He is President of the People ' s National Bank of Lexington, to the interests of which he gives the closest attention. He is devoted to music, and spends man ' evenings at the piano; a lo er of Nature, and enjoys working among his flowers. He is an enthusiastic philatelist.