Evening star., 1927-05-12

In the death of Benjamin Ide
Wheeler. former president Of the Uni
versity Of California, the press mourns
the loss OF a great man, who possessed
that rare combination, profound schol-
arship. business capacity and o genius
for leadership.
DIR. Wheeier's singular position is
emphasized by the Birmingham News,
which calls him "the last surviving
representative Of the classical spirit
to be administrative head of an Ameri.
bidding good.by to the informing
spirit Of Hellas,' the Birmingham pa.
per continues, ''at the Golden Gate
DR.. Wheeler, the Greek philoIogist,
was rerearing the ancient standard,
insisting that he who travels farthest
from the East still is Natures priest,
and that life at the University of Call
fornia should be informed by. the
glory that was Greece, IL not by the
grandeur that was Rome. =.
Know thyself.' the Greek ideal be-
qtieathed by Plato; Control thvself,'
the Roman one fathered by Marcus
Aurelius and exemplified by John Mil.
ton and Stonewall Jackson; Deny thy.
self the gift of the Galilean to the
worlds life-these were the three fine
w
illustrate In his life-the fine things
that are graved imperishably upon the
University Of California by his master
hand"
"A great scholar, a man of high
spiritual ideals and a rare human" Is
the estimate Of the Los Angeles Ex-
press, which says Of his career: "Dr.
Wheeler's scholarly attainments and
his genius for leadership won him
recognition at home and abroad. Few
men have received so many academic
honors. But rarer still was his genius
for inspiring the young men and
women who came under his leader
ship and winning their affection. In
all parts Of the world are those who
today, hearing Of his death, mourn for
a beloved friend, for he was that to
thousands OF students who now are
alumni of the University of Cali
fCrnia.'
The Springfield Republican finds it
somewhat unusual for "an Eastern
professor Of Greek and philology to
b. summoned to the presidency of a !
'estern university and to prove in all
respects the man of the hour" That
paper believes that he could not have
won this success without possessing
GIL CtipdClCN LUZ VI 6dHlAdtlOu
and the persuasiveness OF winning, !
warm-hearted, buoyant personality"
The Pasadena Star.News would write |
as the epitaph of DIR. Wheeler the !
words that are inscribed to Sir Chris |
topher Wren, the great architect, in |
st. Paul's Cathedral, London, which |
he desig led-'If you seek his monu. |
ment, look around. The Star-News |
adds, His impress upon higher edu. |
cation in this State California; is pro-
found. although he gave up the active |
presidency Of the university several |
years ago."
benjamin Ide Wheeler was dis |
tinctly a leader of men, whether as |
teacher, writer or pleader for |
higher e lucation before the legislators |
of California" says the Providence |
Journal. "That his abilities in so
many fields were recognized by his /!
fellow countrymen is proved by the |
fact that in one decade he received |
the degree Of LII. d. from 10 leading |
universities The Journal |
thinks his passing has removed one |
Of the greatest and most versatile fig /
ures in the American educational life /
of the last so years. The Baltimore /
SUN gives similar recognition: There
Ii no doubt thai men Of thiH type. /
with one foot resting pleasahklv In !.