Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-02-07
BATES COLLEGE.
Prof. Angel Closes Services
With the Institution.
has Been With it Cortinu ,usIy Since
J'nuary of 1869.
Carries With Hin, the Love and Re
spect OF Thousands.

'P-~'Np' iHIS HiOI IIllS d. tHdpct Stl-
wee, Prof. Thomas Angela badc fare
well 10 the students as !; professor The
retirement Of Prof. Angel is an event
worthy Of notice TO those who are at
All familiar with the history of Bates,
ana 10 all educational workers of
Maine. The period of Prof. Angell's
serrice corresponds almost exactly vi h
the existence OF the college Bates re-
c'i:ed her charter in March 1864, and
Prof. Angel entered upon his work,
January. 1861. just five years after the
college was chartered, and taught. in
the institution So years or up to the
present term.
Prof. Angel was born in Greenvile,
Smithficld, Rhode Island. and as Il boy
attended the public school in the viii
laE". When | was a." he SAYS. Il
thought that / had received educa ton
enough, and as was the custom with
the boys Of that age and that place in
Particular. | left school at that early
age. The next two years Of my life was
sEent IN hunting. fishing. and various
boyish sports and works. That was too
father sent me to- williamsburg. where
fitted for college. and entered Browns
soon after. gradua ting with the class of
1852"
Personally, Prof Angel would have
preferred 70 study medicine, but his
weak health prevented his continuing
his chosen studies Immediately after
graduating from college. and a combi-
nation of circumstances turned his ef-
forts to educational fields.
The first position of any Importance
that Prof. ANGEL held was that of
principal of Smithfield Academy, where
his marked success attracted the at
tention of Rev. Alfred Hayes, .. D., a
former principal of the academy. who
had left to take a professorshlp in the
then newly founded Bates College. On
the recommendation of Prof Hayes,
Prof. Angel was elected professor of
modern languages in Bates, and enter
ed uponyhis duties at once
After short term Ct service at Bates.
Prof. Angel was granted leave of alb
SERGE for5one year. He spent this time
studying in Germany and France
where he made himself familiar with
the literary and customs of the two
countries, and where he also laid the
foundation of the interesting and
amusing stories that have since delight
ed so many of his pupils. Prof. An
CELLS work has included mathematics,
Latin, French and German. and at one
time, also, rhetoric and English litera-
ture. His health. never very good. was
q constant care to him. but through all
the trials of his early work in a pioneer
field, and the external cares that have
lately taken 80 much of his time and
strength. he always carried a uniform
Icheerfulness that has marked him as a
man, professor and a friend.
In closing, Prof. Angel said: MY
first class in French all sat on one
settee Now there are more than 100 stu
dents in this institution pursuing that
study. Then there were 81 students,
now there are 800. Then there were
four professors and instructors, now
Il ere are is. Then there were three
buildings. Now there are eight. Dur
ing my professorship. / have heard 2400
Rotations, have conducted chapel 1920
tin es. and have taught two generations
and now / feel that my labors as n pro-
fessor should cease.
But as / go out from YOU. / can look
back on the past with no regrets that
God did in his own good way fashion
and direct my life. The graduates of
former years are making for this COL
lege a character that can not fail to
make this institution. in which / and
a few others of us who remain to know,
have spent the best part of our lives
a tower of strength. And in Bates
growth and expansion. my heart re-
ioices and grows young again"
Prof. Angel will be greatly missed
by the students and by the friends of
the college to whom he had endeared
himself by his noble and upright life.
All unite with him in his sorrow for the
death of his wife which came last
December. Mrs. Angel was a devoted
wife and very popular among her many
friends. and the student body. 1t is
hoped that Prof Angel will still con-
tinue to make Lewiston his home. but
il is also feared that he will shortly
leave us. at least temporarily. to make
his home with his daughter in WASH
ington. In either case he will still have
the warmest regards If the faculty and
students of Bates.