50
��JNTR on UC TJON
��the very exclusive studies of the Latin School in those days.
Similar peculiarities marked his college life. Nobody professed to be intimate with him or to thoroughly under- stand him. Eccentricities of dress, manner, or conduct were not looked upon in his case as affectations, and gave rise to no special comment. The regular studies of his class gave him no trouble, but we all knew he was more interested in other things. . . , We could not help feeling that we had a remarkable man among us, a genius, perhaps, though we could not fully understand him or sympathize with him.
His father being an eminent physician and he an only son, Mr. Randall naturally drifted into the study of medi- cine after his graduation in 1834, and took the degree of M.D. [in 1839]. • • •
He took no active steps to establish himself in the practice of medicine, but led a quiet and retired life, devoting himself to his favorite scientific pursuits. He subsequently added to these the collection of rare and original engravings which at his death he bequeathed to Harvard College, with a liberal sum for their care. . . .
Almost the only thing that drew Dr. Randall out of his
secluded life was the Annual Dinner of the Class of 1834,
which he always attended while his health permitted. On
these occasions, his dry and caustic wit, exercised upon
the men and things of the day, showed him to be not
unmindful of the outside world, though withdrawn from it.
His conversation was the life of his end of the table, and
was very much missed after he thought it expedient to
absent himself from the Class festival. Paralysis brought
an end to his quiet life, as you no doubt know, January
25, 1892.
[Thomas Cushing.]
�� �
