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viewed instruction in French and German as a complete waste of
time. Dr. Smith held unwaveringly to his purpose, however, and many a
graduate was to appreciate later the cultural nourishment which had
been more or less forcibly injected into him. He was much attached to
Worcester, active in church and literary affairs. Twice during the
Thompson administration he refused more lucrative offers from Oberlin,
where his brother, Dr. Judson Smith, was a senior professor.
Professor Kimball was an ardent student of Physics, and in the earlier
years engaged in important scientific studies, many of which were
published. Continued ill health forced him to abandon his outside
interests but did not diminish the effectiveness of his teaching. Few
of his students realized that he was enduring continuous suffering.
The idol of junior classes was "Tene" Eaton, whose kindly personal
touch guided them through the labyrinth of first-year Mathematics. His
influence was felt out of, as well as within the classroom, for he was
always ready to assist students in outside activities. His well-timed
advice frequently kept them out of trouble.
But the man who shared with Professor Thompson the position of prime
influence was "Johnnie" Sinclair (sometimes "Sine-Square"). The
essence of his power was his ability to make a student work out his
own salvation. If a boy came to his class poorly prepared, Sinclair
soon discovered it, and played upon the victim a humorous type of
irony that was never barbed. He was helpful and sympathetic with a
student who was making an honest effort, but he had no use for a
bluffer. Professor Sinclair was also a warm friend of students in
their life outside the classroom and a staunch advocate of their
rights in the courts of the faculty. His work became known beyond the
campus, for his alma mater honored him with a master's degree in 1879
and with a doctorate in 1883. Mrs. Sinclair, drawn away from the field
of teaching by more exacting demands of home and family, still
retained her affection for Tech boys and entertained many of them at
her home.
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