Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1911-06-16
MEMORIAL. TABLET 70 PR0f
SCHMITT PLACED IN UNI
VERSITY OF TENN.
Continued from page p

Confined from page p
sity that it wolld authorize him to
lraw up the report, which would be
duly signed and endorsed by the COM
nittee. Accordingly, about 10 o'clock
|one night, DR.. Dabney came to the
residence of certain professor OF
the campus, stated the proposition,
and urged his lieutenant to proceed
without further suggestions the con-
sequence was that SO much OF that re-
port as did not have to do with the
financial statement of the treasurer,
Mr.. James Comfort; and statement
touching DR.. Dabney's leave OF alb
sence as United States assistant com
missioner of agriculture. was written
by the professor entrusted with the
task. This may be added. When it
subsequently, appeared in the official
documents of the legislature, Trustee
James Maynard read it carefully.
Speaking of the same to the professor,
he declared that it was very flatter-
ing report-perhaps little over
drawn, he added with q modicum OF
his character istic caution. Thereat
the professor smiled invisibly, ven-
turing no remarks. The little chapter
is given to indicate the absolute
loyalty and the unfailing harmony
that prevailed in the university.
Through these was attributable that
widespread recognition given through
out the south to the quality of work
and to its productiveness during the
first ten years of DR.. Dabney's ad-
ministration.
"For an insight into the spirit and
methods of Cooper D. Schmitt through
out his connection with the University
of Tennessee little additional state
ment is necessary. The early life in
its towering foreshadowed the fruit
age exhibited in the achievement OF
his later and ripper years. His coming
meant simply the transferring OF
strength, enthusiasm, conservation
and effort to a wider theater of ac-
tivity.
s'In the absolute giving of himself
to the university. in thought, word and
deed, there is left out of the reckoning
many an act which counted large and
potential for its reputation and well
fari. In the years to come, when
those who studied under him shall
have passed too into the great beyond,
the best and most reliable account of
his work will be found 10 the reports
of his school published in the presi
dents annual report.
HIS TEACHING QUALITIES.
"The careful reading and digesting
of these reports will reveal his teach
ing qualities and achievements. Low
ing the simple, unadulterated truth,
he set down the facts as they were and
expressed his views with refreshing
frankness. He found the standard of
admission to his department low, and
at once set about raising it by wide
and gradual process. He found a
| sub-freshman class. Entrance to his
department required only arithmetic.
In five years he saw the sub-freshman
class abolished, and a knowledge of
algebra toaquadratics required for ad-
mission. Three years later, another ad
vance was recorded, in which ALGEBRA
through quadratics was required. Ga
and up. step by step, the standard
was raised with pl ide he cauld speak
of standard in accord with thai of
tbs best Institutions of the south.
| Whatever the standard or the work
mapped out for his classes. he de
manded OF students that they should
do the assigned work accurately yand
satisfactorily. He often raised the
standard to their modification, but
never without their recognition of his
fairness.
Samuel slew his thousands and
David his ten thousands. 1 have no
Idea how many in the course of the
years Prof. Schmitt slew with his
unerring, mathematical blade. I
know this that some of his colleagues
often, in conversation, had occasion
to ielicitate themselves that they had
finished mathematics before his day,
it his example in finding the defcien-
cies in the mathematical Iobe of the
brain indicated widespread practice
in American institutions. Instead of
complaining, there was a sort of
Spartan courage or Balakava spirit
about most OF his students, who dared
to do or de- without asking til e
reason why And yet, despite the
record of failures, the number of those
who, succeeding, elected mathematics
in the upper classes increased from
year to year. Students elected it from
an innate love of the subject and from
appreciation of the master whose skill
and learning unfolded its value and
BEAUTIES. 1t is noteworthy fact, and
q high compliment, that during the
i've years, 1895 to 1900, eight gradu-
asing theses were prese nted from the
school OF mathematics.
''The student burns no more fra.
grant incense to the ma ster than the
homage interpreted in terms of LOYALTY.
9 ,Bfdence and love manifested both
in college and after departure. Year
after year, and that with no abate-
ment of his rigid demands, he was
voted the most popular professor IN
the University. In the student an
nual, The Volunteer, from year to
to year are to be 70 md those little
by-psys, or harmless jibes, indicating
far more frequently an admir- alton of
traits than any attempts at satire.
Cooper d. rs he was affectionately
called and known. came in for more
OF these than any Of his colleagues.