Wesleyan University - Olla Podrida Yearbook (Middletown, CT)

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mnnhrum milunn sinh mwlrgan By Professor Caleb T. Winchester. OODROW WILSUN was Professor 'of History and Economics in Wesleyan University for the two years, l888-89 and l889- 90. In the full vigor of his early manhood, he brought to his work here a thorough knowledge of his subject, a clear and positive grasp of principles with an unusual sanity in their application, and a most remarkable force and felicity of exposition. It is not exaggeration to say that no professor in Wesleyan University has ever awakened in his students a more enthusiastic and intelligent interest. No student carrying any live brains ever found the hour in Wilson's lecture-room too long. il-le was equally interested in his students outside the class-room- on the athletic field, on the street, in all casual meetings with them., l-le knew and liked young men: he was young and all -alive himself. I-le was fertile in expedients to stimulate interest in the practical application of the subjects he taughtg he organized a debating club on the plan of the British House of Commons, where a responsible ministry proposed measures and defended them against a strenuous opposition. It is doubtful whether there has ever been any more vigorous debating in the undergraduate body. Wesleyan alumni who were upperclassmen during those two years, i888- 90, wherever you meet them to-day, are sure to speak with a glow of en- thusiasm of the teachings and influence of Woodrow Wilson. And those of his colleagues who still remain on the faculty of Wesleyan remember with unalloyed pleasure those two years when they enjoyed his brilliant conversa- tion, his abounding humor, his contagious energy and his genuine friendliness. l-lis subsequent career has won their ever increasing admirationg their warm personal friendship he has always had. 8

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- , ,W , .... ,. . . - -7 Copyright 147144. Underwood -E Underwood, New York PRESIDENT WOODROW WILSON Professor of Economics and Social Science, Wesleyan University, 1888-1890

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Hrnfvzunr walter arkr Erahlvg A11 Appreriatiun hg liagmnnh Buhgv PPRECIATION is usually expressed in .public only when the victim cannot retaliate. The system has its merits. In 'the present instance it is easy to surmise why the editors of the Olla Podrida chose a distant spokesman. I cannot write to please Professor Bradley, only silence could do that. Let me write, then, for those ofius who honor and love himg to give articulate voice to our emotion, to satisfy our sense of simple justice as we bid our friend God Speed! To few men is it given to combine such qualities of mind and heart as we know in him. The keen analyst and sympathetic friend, the patient teacher and brilliant experimenter, uncompromising integrity and quaint humor, contagious enthusiasm and finely balanced judgment, strength and tenderness, deep piety and intolerance of sham, high scholarship and simplicity of utter- ance, absolute loyalty to conviction ard absolute openness of the mind seldom live together in the same person. The harmonious union of them all is Bradley. In these qualities one may find the grounds of his distinction as a scien- tist, and of his peculiar success as a teacher. It appears that they have an even higher valuation outside academic halls. I happen to know that it is in some of these same qualities rather than in his store of knowledge, remark- able as that is, that his business colleagues regard him as unique. Certainly no teacher at Wesleyan' in recent years has had a deeper or more lasting influence over the men that came to him. Few have taught so frequently outside academic circles. Dear Friend, your going is an irreparable loss to Wesleyan and to Middletown. That the cloud has a golden lining, that the honor is great and the possibilities for usefulness are large, that in the truest sense of the word 9