Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1897-12-02
PROF. WILLIAM s. TYLER
One Of Americas Oldest and Ablest Greek
Scholars Gone.


Scholars Gone.
(See Editorial kestion>
Amherst men everywhere will hear
with sincere and personal sorrow that
their "grand old man" is no more.
Prof. William S. Tyler. whose death
occurred on Friday, had for more than
two generations, entire and continuous,
80 blended his life and labor with that
Of the college that, paraphrasing the
little Napoleon's declaration, and with
much more truth, he might have said-
although, most modest OF men, he
would never haye thought, much less
said-'I am Amherst From his
graduation, valedictorian, In 1880 10
his retirement. three or four years ago,
from the active duties Of his professor.
ship, Dr.. Tyler was tho guide, phil
osOpher and friend OF the Thousands OF
Amherst students who. scattered now
over the world. cherish his instruction
and example and venerate bis memory.
Among bis pupils he numbered those
for whom we Of Brooklyn owe more
than words, Henry Ward Beecher and
Richard Salter Storrs; every present
trustee and nearly every professor Of
Amherst, a 9oodly company, headed by
the great Seelye, OF college presidents,
professors and teachers: Gov. 4. Il.
Bullock. Of Massachusetts: Congress
men Grow, Maynard, Gillette, Rock
we'll, Allen. Sperry. Kuox and others:
clergymen at home and missionaries
abroad---in short, practically the eutire
body OF Amherst alumni, the dead as
we'll Is the living. Many Of them open.
ly declare that 70 Prot. Tyler more
than to any other man or influence
they owe the greatest benefit and most
lasting good OF the college course.
For, though a teacher OF the classics,
patient and thorough, Prot. Tyler was
far more. He aimed to make and did
make not only scholars, but men.
Greek art and letters were to him but
the fruit and the oviden % OF Greek
character, and that not - 40 intellectual
exercise, a printed page or IN inscribed
tablet, to be studied and literally &C.
quired, but an Inspiration to duty, man.
hood and clear.eyed progress. The
v>In3diun ~ <hn hv;llio ~ o%udnot uhO
heard Prof. Tyler read an oration Of
Demosthenes forgot for the time all the
perplexities, idioms and confusion OF
syntax which had baf1ed and blinded
his translation, and joined with the
Athenians Of old in the cry, ''Let us
march against Philip while one
listening to his grand and realistic
rendering OF the Homeric hexameters
knew as never before what Andrew
Lang finely calls
"rhe surge and thunder OF the Odessey'
Under Prof. Tyler's hands, the plays
OF Eschylus, the Dialogues Of Plato,
and the words of Socrates took on
living interest and effect, and the
students saw not merely the greatest
tragedy and highest philosophy oi
Greece, but felt the eternal principles
and forces operating today, as In the
past, and knew that the discussions ol
tho Limitations OF the human soul are
not merely for the days Of the ancients
but for all men and all time. To schol
arship, vivid and profound, Prof. Tyler
added simple, Intelligent faith Ia the
Christian religion-to use his OWL
familiar words, ''in the fatherhood o1
God and the brotherhood Of man.
which, infusing and ennobling the
attachments OF his intellect, made hi
presence and personality force potent
for perpetual good on the student life
At Amherst,. and controlling character
far beyond college days. Even ate,
HE active work was over, Prof. Tyler
con tinued % honored and loved citizen
and In hie home Of 30 many years, II
the quiet grove on the little emiuence
overlooking the peaceful village, await
cd, with living aud helpful interest II
oil that concerned town and college
tho 6nal summons.
| Diligence Vas . marked character
istic Of Prof. Tyler's life, and, though
conducting daily recitations, frequent
~ doing double duty. sometimes acting
a. president Of the college, he found
time TO write and preach many ad
mirable sermons and write many ex
cellent hooks. No country parish wa
too poor or too remote to receive th,
Word from Prot. TYLER, II it desired
him to bring II, and in all his relation
% an interested and public-spiritet
citizen he cast in his lot, fully and uu
reservedly, true, typical American
with HE fellow townsmen. OF intens,
and Jealous loyalty, he saw his drst
born 60 from the commencement stage
with his diploma and lieutenant's com