The Portland daily press., 1882-12-25

librarian, and always devoted to its interests,
who has by the favor of kind Providence
reached in almost undated vigor, his four
score and four years, sixty-four of which have
been given, without interruption, to the noble
occupation of teacher in the Oldest and most
distinguished college in our State
The great Roman orator, after filling the
highest positions at the Bar, in the forum and
in the councils of the nation, and enjoying a
lifelong experience in these exalted stations
took occasion to leave on record, in one of the
most carefully considered productions of his
pen his estimate of the services of the teacher.
"It is certain, he says, there cannot be more
important or a more honorable occupation
than to train the rising generation and instruct
them in the duties to which they may be here
after called"
The most illustrious philosophers whose
names have come down to us from antiquity
spent much of their time in instructing the
young in reasoning, knowledge and virtue
Socrates, Plato and Aristotle were teachers
Nearly five centuries before the Christian era
Socrates had his pupils who attended daily up
on his instruction and he deemed ii the most
solid reward to form a virtuous character and
make his pupils his affectionate friends. Plato,
one of his disciples, attgined to such excellence
that it was said of him by Cicero that were
Jupiter to converse in the language of men he
would express himself in Plato's phrase.
Aristotle, Plato's most illustreous pupil, who
ruled the intellectual world for centuries, was
teacher for many years in the Lyceum and
Alexander, the Great, owed his education to
him.
Our respected and revered associate has made
his life grand success in devoting it to this
noble calling. Dr. Packard has been so long iden
titled with Bowdoin College that his history is
largely that of tho college itself. He entered it
as a student in 1872, was graduated in 1916,
elected tutor in 1919, professor in 1925, and
has continued uninterruptedly member of tie
faculty of instruction to the present time. The
first class was graduated in 1906, only six years
prior to his entry, and OF nineteen hundred
and ninety four graduates from this institu-
ton, whose names are upon the catalogue,
mot including our 1850 medical students, many
of whom have done honor to the state) to
which are to be added those who did not COM
plete their college course, all save III, making
more than 1900 young men, have gone forth
from those classic halls, after sharing his in
struction. How many have been aided and
strengthened in their preparation for the great
battle of life by his teaching, counsels and ex-
ample. -
am aware of the instructive delicacy that
sTrfniss fassuss,- nal allusion, but our re-
spected friend must permit me to say, as one
of the number, in behalf of the rest as well as
of myself, that we always found in him the
faithful teacher, the kind friend, the Chris
tian gentleman, who pointed out the path of
duty and showed us how to walk therein, and
that on leaving our Alma Mater we carried
with US and have ever cherished for him sentl-
ments of affection andregard. Teacher of teach
ers, long may he be spared, by his words and
his life to instruct and to guide, realizing that
the work he has begun is going forward, that
his influence will continue to extend in an in
creasing circle after all who have listened to
his voice shall have passed away.
L will no longer delay you, as 1t is to others
you Will have the pleasure of listening 1t is
enough to have deserved the encomium of our
own illustrious poet.
ssIInnnr and re uerenee and good renntn