Worcester Polytechnic Institute - Peddler Yearbook (Worcester, MA)

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sense ended in an apology and a pledge of loyalty to the department from every man involved. Few men on the Hill have concerned themselves so much for the gen¬ eral interests of the student body. It was Doctor Kinnicutt who secured the use of Newton Hall as a Tech dining-hall and dormitory. He got together most of the money needed for its equipment; for seven years he devoted a surprisingly generous share of his time to the problems of its management; and when it became clear that it was not best to continue the Newton Hall experiment, he put himself to great pains to determine whether it would not be feasible to transform the Hall into a Tech Union, but its location proved too serious an obstacle. But “ Kinnie’s ” interest was not only in the students as a body, but in the individual man. If a fellow came to the laboratory pale and dragged out, “ Kinnie ” would talk to him frankly about his health, and very likely send him home, and interest a physician in the case. He was ready with advice and aid to fellows in financial straits. He was a teacher in whom young men found it easy to confide, and scores of his former pupils bear witness to the friendly counsel and help he gave them, always in the kind¬ liest way. After their graduation, he followed his students with the pride and interest of an elder brother, ever eager to help them forward. Institute men have taken pride in the service which Professor Kin¬ nicutt rendered to science and to his community. His tireless industry, his scholarship, his skill in teaching, have contributed much to the upbuild¬ ing of the Institute. Yet, in all these years, it was rather the man than the scientist or the teacher who was making the deepest impress. Thirty successive classes of Tech men cherish the memory of the devoted teacher, the courteous gentleman, the loyal, generous-hearted friend. 11

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ship. He was appointed President of the Section of Hygiene of the Inter¬ national Congress of Applied Chemistry, which is to be held in Washington in 1912. With characteristic courage and persistence, he continued work upon the plans for this great gathering of scientists until within ten days before his death, In many ways Doctor Kinnicutt rendered distinguished service to the city and to the Commonwealth; but his life work was that of a teacher in the Worcester Polytechnic Institute. As the Institute grew, and differen¬ tiation in his own department became necessary, he devoted himself espe¬ cially to the work in general chemistry with the Freshmen, and to the advanced work with the Seniors. For his pupils this was a fortunate choice, for it brought him close to them at the times when he could be of most service. “ I tell you, I just go for my Freshmen! ” he used to say, jokingly, of his own lectures. For he never considered it his sole function to teach his students chemistry. The lecture, any morning, might be postponed or interrupted for a frank, man-to-man talk on what he believed those young fellows, taking their first steps in college life, ought to see from an older man’s standpoint—it might be some points on gentlemanly manners or personal hygiene, on legal rights, or true and false Tech spirit. “ Kinnie ” had been a very human student, and thirty years and more of teaching could not make him forget it. And so he was tolerant of students’ pranks, smoothed over their difficulties, and got them out of their court tangles. But the fellow who was mixed up in anything mean or nasty found that he had a stern man to deal with. “ Kinnie’s ” very idiosyncrasies—of which he had his full share—only served to make him the more likable. On his regular beat from his home to the laboratory—in rather distinctive dress, plodding along on foot or on a bicycle, which he continued to ride after most of his friends had discarded them—for years he was a familiar and unique figure. Close at his heels followed his shadow, the name might be “ Chico,” or “ Kelpie,” or “ Bruce,” but the dog was always shaggy, solemn of face and sedate of manner. On his back was a huge Mappe, and in his hand very likely a bunch of flowers; for this man of science was a lover of outdoor life; he delighted in his Tat- nuck farm, took pride in the early blossoms from his own garden, and in his study at the laboratory, in the midst of its apparatus and papers, there was always on his desk a beaker holding a few flowers. In class he was nervous of speech and rather easily confused. It was a Tech tradition that his mathematics at times became erratic. Inatten¬ tion or disturbance in class caused a rapid rise in temperature, and some¬ thing was likely to happen. When some students had the effrontery to place on his desk a card showing that a “ labor union ” had been formed, he served an ultimatum upon them forthwith, and in short order that non- 10

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Corporation President: Hon. Charles G. Washburn, S.B., A.B. Secretary: Rev. Daniel Merriman, D.D. Treasurer: Homer Gage, A.M., M.D. G. Henry Whitcomb, A.M. Rev. Austin S. Garver, A.M. Elmer P. Howe, S.B., A.B. Hon. James Logan, A.M. Lincoln N. Kinnicutt, Esq. T. Edward Wilder, S.B. Rev. Allyn King Foster, A.M. Fred H. Daniels, S.B. Charles G. Stratton, S.B. On the part of the Board of Education: Milton P. Higgins, S.B. Ex-officio : His Honor, the Mayor, James Logan, A.M. 12