A Touching Tribute
At a meeting of tbe Wisconsin Alumni of the University of Miobigan, called at Milwaukee soon after the fate of Prof. Walter beoaine kuown, a memorial prepared by Prof. Mapel, olass of 1872, was presentad and adopted. The following paragraphs are taken f rom the Sentinel of Jnly 14 : Araong the first class passengers on the illfated La Burgogne, all of whom were reported loBt, was Prof. Edward L. Walter, for 30 years a member of the faculty of the University of Michigan. In view of his long service in the oanse f education, of bis prominence as a scholar and teacher in tbat gieat institntion of learning, and of the promise of rioher results from his life in the near future, it seenis fitting that we shonld meet to express our sorrow at his untiineJy fate. Prof. Walter's record at the Uuiversity of Miohigan is marked by steady growth and advanoement. At graduation in the year 1868 he was appointed to the position of assistant professor of anoient languages. One year later he was appointed assistant professor of Latin, a position he filled for 10 years, being assooiated intimately with the revered and soholarly Prof. Henry S. Frieze. During this period he obcained leave of absenoe for ístudy in Eorope, and was honored by the University of Leipsic with the degree of doctor of pbilosophy. The few ytars spent on the continent in tbe special stndy of the modern languages fitted hinj well for the position of professor of modern languages and Hteratures to which he was elected in 1879. That gifted and cultured gentleman, Prof. George S. Morris, at that time became professor of mental philosophy, and Prof. Walter snooeeded him in the cliair he had thus vaoated. In 1887 Prof. Waler was ohosen professor of romance, languages and literatures, and frora that date to the day of his death devoted himself to the study and teaohing of Frenuh, Italian and Spanisb. As a stndeut Prof. Walter gave iromise of the rioh scholarship which ie attained to ia later life. He showed it that time the qnalities whicb Franis Galton says belong to the higher orler of intellects, oapaoity, zeal, and idequate power of doing a great deal if laborious work. He was one of tbe trong rúen of that class of '68 whioh íad a large proportion of strong men. Che men cf '68 wece mature men. The najority of tbem had hardened their nnsoles on the farm, or in the shop, or n the oamp. None of these men who iave risen to distinction had any genirons supply of mooey. On the con;rary tbey were forced to work and itint to reach the goal of a university iducation. They appreoiated their ad.-uutages, and in making good use of ;hem they laid strong and broad the Eonndation for their future successes. They all, to a man, won their way by means of plnok, self-saorifice, and ensrgy. Walter was among the first, if be was not, all told, the best all-round man of the olass. He was merry. His laugh was hearty and ringing with good cheer. He was the leader in song. His splendid baritone voice none who ever heard conld forget. He was in demand for ooilege songs, in ohapel, in the societies, in churoh ehoirs, and for the heroic atpublio ooncerts. He was easily first in readiness of acquisition. It was the marvel that Walter conld prepare his lessons so quiokly and attain a mastery do one else seemed to reach. He pored over jatin and French classics and sought ;he by-ways of literature whioh others bad no time to reach. What most men do now as post-gradnate work, Walter jad aocomplished as an undergaduate. 3e was a discriminating reader, and stored systematically in his "vast and joyous memory" the best of whatever be read. His imagination was vigorous without being riotous. His nature was quickly responsivo to poetry, melody, and art. His speech was laconic and forcible. It partook of the energy of his gait, and no one who has ever seen him walk, as if propelled by some powerful electric motor, will ever foiget that characteristic. Yet with all fchis mental vigor and pbysioal forcé supporting it, Walter was iugenuous as a ohild in some things in thoso joyous college days 30 years ago. He was oandid and generous, and extremely modest oonoarning his own acoomplishments to the day of his last meeting with his class less than a vuouth ago. We of the entering freshmeu class in 1868 were not long in discovering tbat Walter was no ordinary "tutor," fresh from ooilege bench. The usual efforts were made to entangle him, or trip him, or confnse him, or divert him into soma bypatbjfor disoussion and thos prolong the honr for the nnready, or prevent Walter from reaohing a oertain hard passage in that lesson. It was ail in vain. We soon found that Walter had a oertain stint to aooomplish and he was setting the paoe. Hisquestiona were direot and pointed and rapid as sparks from tbe anvil. He caugbt the parpóse of a ooanter qnestion so quiokï.y, that without a word of rebuke or ridicule be left the student expoeed and disarmed. Yet be was perfectly fair and tolerant towards honest inquiry. For the honest struggling student he had a patienoe we wondered at, but for tbe shirk he had a flash of the eye that was ominous. He never told the boys the name of the liveryman tbey patronized, thongh he showed that he knew full well thepedigree of the steeds they rode. With the greatest ease he unhorsed the unwary, and yet he was always ohivalrous. Thus we soon fonnd tbat we had a strong man, still youthful in sympatby with us, kindly disposed, but firm. Unlike many men appointed to important positions in institutions of learning because of tbeir reputation and aoquirements, Walter possessed the art of edncing knowledge. His mind was well stored then, and is fnllness was added to each year, so that he had ever inoreasiug stores of supplies. But he knew when to withhold and when to give. The student and bis mental habits were of first impórtanos to him. To test him on the knowledge he had acquired and infuse the spirit of self-iespeot for wbat he had attempted and aooomplished, was bis first pnrpose. Tben like every great teacher, he wished to arouse au éntbnaiastic qnest or knowledge for its own sake. I am told that in these later years Walter sbowed more and more the mellowing influence of nis ripening years, like the violin whose tones become purer and sweeter with age. He was broad indeed in bis attitude toward the student body. The students respected Walter and had oonfidence in him, beoause he respected them and bad confidenoe in the ultimate outcome of self-respecting manhood. He believed that tbe disoipline of the uuiversity would adjust itself largely when men had an entbnsiasm for work generated by the individual professors. So, like Agassiz, he impressed meu, by the way ho did things, with the value of time. He rose above the petty rivalries and jealoueies of professors. A man he was, of strong conviction of right and duty, and of the utmost purity of Hfe and speeoh, yet magnanimons towards others when they differed in opioions or belinf with him. He impressed one as being a man of great force of character, indomitabl6 eneigy, and tremendous power of aocomplishment. To keep pace witb the growth of the nniversity in numbers, and facilites, and larger opportnnities, he made it a iractice to spend bis vacation on the aontinent in the Jibraties of Earope Bnrichiug his fund of information and gathering materials for some original oontributious npon Dante and Italian iterature. It is to be lamented that he aas left this work nnaccomplished. Bent ou suoh an errand, with a noole purpose in view, and at his pose. of duty as truly as wheo nnder arms in the service of his country, he sank into the bosom of tbe ocean. Eie the sno dispelled the ïnists on that Fouith of July, the words he had so often sung becarne a reality, and he was in trutn "Rocked in the eradle of the tieep, in peace, to sleep. " The nniversity has lost one of its nobleet sons at the zenith of his powers. What wonder that she bows her head in grief?
Article
Subjects
Ann Arbor Argus
Old News
Henry Simmons Frieze
George S. Morris
Edward L. Walter