Page:One of a thousand.djvu/139

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CLARK. CLARK. 125 tervals for rest and study, which have been devoted to extensive travel. This has ex- tended to every country in Europe, as well as to Africa and the Orient. Eight years of his life have been thus spent. During these years of travel and con- genial study, no subject was more atten- tively investigated and more deeply im- pressed, than the ways and means by which knowledge is perpetuated and diffused among men. The origin and development of univer- sities were studied by visiting not only the earliest seats of mediaeval learning, Salerno, Cordova, Montpellier, etc., but Thebes, JONAS G. CLARK. Heliopolis, Memphis, Alexandria, Jerusa- lem, Constantinople, Athens, and other of the original but now practically obliterated centres of academic life, were also explored and their records collected and studied. The migrations of ancient libraries and manuscripts were traced, and a collection of rare and early books was made. Foun- dations, applying the highest special cul- ture of one generation to the best and brightest youths of the next, were seen to be the most valuable of all human insti- tutions. This has resulted in the crowning work of his life — the founding and endowment of Clark University of Worcester. This University is established for the purpose of bringing within the reach of American youths the advantages of a training which embraces the most desirable features of the French, German and American institu- tions, and of furnishing a higher grade of academic and professional training than is now supplied in the universities of this country. Mr. Clark is an enthusiastic lover of books, and knows them thoroughly. He possesses, as the result of patient research for many years, a large collection of rare volumes in his library, which is probably the most complete and costly private col- lection of early manuscripts and choice old first editions in the Commonwealth. He has also a large collection of valuable works of art that he has made it the pleas- ure of his life to collect. This library will be transferred to the University. The University and its endowment, al- though the largest, is but one of his many generous bequests. Hubbardston, his na- tive place, owes a free public library and town building with an endowment to him alone. He is one of the few who seek to benefit the world by a judicious use of their wealth, before they are called by death to relinquish it to the control of others. CLARK, SCHUYLER, son of Reuben and Catherine (Green) Clark, was born in Coeymans, Albany county, New York, August 15, 1841. He is a lineal descend- ant of Oliver Clark, born in 17 14, who settled in Montgomery, Hampden county, 1767, and where the family has always been prominent. His mother is from revolu- tionary stock, the daughter of Daniel Green (Albany county, N. Y.), and her maternal grandfather served through the war of the revolution. He was educated in the common schools of Huntington, Mass. His early life was spent on a farm, his occupation varied by occasional school teaching. Later, he was engaged a few years as traveling salesman, usually teaching during the win- ter months. He next studied law, and was admitted to the Hampshire county bar. He formed a partnership with George Kress, of Hunt- ington, under the firm name of Kress & Clark. Mr. Clark was married in Huntington, September, 1S69, to Frances L., daughter of Elijah N. and Sarah A. Woods. Of this union there is no issue. Mr. Clark has often been called to serve his town and state in municipal and legis-