The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-04-01
Memorial Services Were Held
Yesterday at Earlham
Chapel by Friends of the
Dead Educator.
HIS VIRTUES LAUDED
BY MANY ADMIRERS
An Original Poem From the
Pen of Prof. William N.
TruebIood-AsheS Inferred
In EarIham Cemetery.

Fitting tribute was paid to the mem
DRY of Prof. w. W. Birdsall, who died
in Philadelphia recently. at the special
chapel exercises held yesterday after
noon at Earlham college. The SER
vices were largely attended by Prof
Birdsall's former friends. Short SER
vices were also held at the grave in
Earlham cemetery, where the ashes
were inferred.
Prof. Birdsall was born and raised in
this city. After a common school ed
ucation, he went to Earlham college
and graduated at the age Of 10. rec
ord which has been uneQualed since
He accepted a position as a member of
the Richmond high school faculty and
taught chemistry and physics for five
years. He was then rendered a posi-
boys school. His rise in the educa-
tional world was rapid and finally he
was rendered the presidency of Swarth-
more College, large and influential
Friends institution in Pennsylvania.
At the time of his death he was head
of large girls school in Philadelphia.
Sound His Virtues.
The chapel services were opened by
prayer by Miss Francis Robinson. Fol-
lowing this short tributes were express
ed by friends. Among those who spoke
were President r. L. Kelly of Earlham
College, representing that institutions;
Superintendent T. A. Mott, for the high
school; Rev. I. M. Hughes, formerly
pastor of the First Presbyterian church
a personal appreciation; Miss Edith
Winder, for Swarthmore college; Prof.
w. N. Trueblood, a personal appreci-
alton; Mrs. Henry King for Philadel-
phia Friends; Timothy Nicholson, a
personal Appreciation: Prof. David w.
Dennis for the class Of '73. The meet
ing was dismissed by President Kelly.
Prof Dennis, in his tribute to Prof.
Birdsall, said in part:
HE was my friend, faithful and just
to me. A faithful friend never fails,
a just friend never flatters, neither
does he aimlessly criticise. His atti-
tude, his suggestions are constructive.
one feels that he understands. He
touches my life and I am better. He
was my friend from boyhood. Other
friends may be more intimate than
boyhood friends; but no others are just
like them; boyhood friends do not for
get; distance does not weaken their
friendships: long separation does not
affinity, not interest determines it,"
Mrs. vaiI's Tribute.
Mrs. Margaret Dennis Vail who for.
merly lived in this city, but now is a
resident of Columbus, O., was friend
Of Prof. Birdsall. She contributed the
following, which was read at the Gene
terry:
In Richmond, Wilmington, Swarth-
more or Philadelphia, in his home, and
social life, or in the discharge OF pro-
fessional duties, among successes or
disappointments, he was always the
same-true to the highest ideals OF
manhood never at any instant or al
any point. failing to live and to act
according to the best possible stand
ards of life.
mo one in the range of my acquaint-
ance and observation has ever seemed
to me to make a finer or greater sue.
cess of this life
A poem, in memoriam, read by Prof
w. N. Trueblood, will be found on the
editorial page Of this issue.