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William Roberts JVIcDanid. HOUGH destined to enter the most peaceful of all professions, the one furthest removed f:'om war and its wild al~rms, the subject of this sketch began his life almost at the beginning of the stormiest period of our national life. Born near St. lvlichael's, Maryland, August 11, ISG1, his boyhood was spent on that far-famed eastern shore that has produced so many of the best things in Maryland from oysters up-or down-to politicians. After graduating from the St. Michael's High School, young McDaniel entered the Sophomore class of 'Western Maryland College in September, 1877, graduating as salutatorian of his class in 1880; and since that time his life has been almost continually centered around his Alma Mater The year after graduation he taught in Buckeystown, but in the following year re- turned to Western Maryland College as tutor in Latin, Greek, and Mathe- matics. The next year, however, desiring still further to equip himself for work in his favorite branches, Mc Da niel again left the college, and in Sep- tember, 1883, entered Johns Hopkins University as a graduate student in mathematics and astronomy, registering himself as a prospective applicant for the degree of Ph. D. Again his absence was a short one, for in March, 1885, before he had completed his second year at the Hopkins, the chair of mathematics at Western Maryland College was made vacant by the death of its holder and Me.Daniel, though with considerable hesitation as to the advis- ability of interrupting his work at the Hopkins, consented to accept the position and to begin work at once. Thus began in March, 1885, his last period of work at the college, a period which has continued without interrup- tion until he now stands second to Dr. Reese alone in length of service. During all these years he has filled at all times the position of professor of mathematics and secretary of the Faculty. A single glance over the cata- logues of the college gives some conception of his versatility when we remark the number of departments in which he has worked. When German was first made a part of the curriculum, McDaniel was asked to take that work in hand, as German had been one of his minor studies at the Hopkins. Later, the development of the work created the necessity for a department of modern languages with a separate professor in charge. When a desire for athletic prowess came upon the student body, Me- Daniel, at the solicitation of the president, took up the department of physi- cal culture, and the first work in this line was given to the students in front of old ward Hall. While working in this department Me.Daniel devised and copyrighted an admirable system of club-swinging by note that has been ex- tensively used in various school resorts thronghout the country. The merit of
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