| Summary: | A Lambent Essay on College Life Five and Thirty Years Ago - (Continued) Next in dignity came the professors, who cannot all be enumerated; but Prof. Keene was one always to be remembered. He believed that fifty minutes a day would exhaust the patience of a master physicist and wisely intersperced weighty formulae, principles and laws with more interesting material. His was a subtle wit, and as he sat behind his desk, many bits of wisdom were eagerly caught up by the Juniors. Here were discussed all important matters from the clever guesses of weather prognosticators to the most advanced and approved method of committing suicide. Another esteemed instructor was Dr. Batt. He too, was a noted wit and an eloquent lecturer. His patience - marvelous considering the dullness of his students - never failed, and many were made better by practicing the German ideals inculcated by him. His treatise on -How America May Yet Equal Germany in Advancement" has already brought him enough fame to make further tribute unnecessary. Many others of our old faculty were as noteworthy as these two and have since become known by their deeds and writings, and also - their greatest achievement - by the notable men they have sent out. First in fame stands W. O. Whitcomb of the Class of '09, the present editor and owner of the Chicago Record-Herald, the instrument by which the policies of our great commonwealth are swayed; and with him is his chief contributor and inseparable companion, Levi Thomas. What an edifying friendship was theirs, continued from College days even up to the present time when one is a candidate for the presidency and the other has made a name for himself as a novelist. Then there is the distinguished statesman Hon. William Lanxon, who is now United States Minister Plenipotentiary and Envoy Extraordinary to England. Most successful of all in financial circles are Nemzek and Baernstein whose gigantic trust controlling the paint and varnish of the country threatens to corner the money of the world. Then the Engineers - what a noise they used to make over their wonderful achievements! - with Parker at their head, have made the world serve them. Parker, whose main office is in Minneapolis, is about to give over his business to his grandson, - who as a matter of history is fulfilling Prof. Slocum's prophecy by building bridges. It is authoratatively stated that Mr. Parker has a project in mind of building an elevated trolley line across the Red River Valley with its western terminus at Ayr, N. D. Magill is in Mexico seeking diversion in constructing a small railroad across the mountains of that country after his strenuous labors in building the recently completed trans-continental route in South America. McGuinn is in Quebec at present working on his plans for a bridge across the North Pole from Greenland to Norway. As soon as this great project is finished tourists may visit that spot of mystery while on their honeymoon. Moore, Miller, and Lumry are millionaires in Australia. Michels and Murphy make the earth yield them its best in our own Dakota, while Albert Thomas - mildest of missionaries - sows seeds of faith among the awakened Chinese.
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