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ACENTURY is a long time no matter
. how you look at it. Some say if
you look at it under the aspect of eternity
it is a short time. I suppose so. But
most of us look at a century under the
aspect of this tough old world. We see
.. it through our human eyes with all
the hurts and hatreds, \rith all the
loves and laughter. So be it.
The year 1865 is a date never to be
forgotten. The War Between the
States had come to a close. Bitter
hatreds, senseless sorrow, unmarked
graves, cropless fields, the scarred land
of a maimed nation — this was America
in 1865. It was Korea and Viet
Cong; it was Bataan and East Berlin.
The guns were different but the blood
ran Just as red. Different bodies were
broken; different hearts were hurt.
In spite of the troubled times and
tragedies of 1865, at Notre Dame there
was a bright beginning. That year the
young college graduated its first student
of science. His name was John Cassidy
and he came from Chelsea, Mich.
Later young Cassidy became Doctor
Cassidy and practiced medicine in
South Bend. Since that June day of
1865 much has happened in science at
, Notre Dame. The school went through
its growing pains as all schools must.
One hundred years later the College
of Science proudly offered courses in
departments of biology, chemistry, geolog)',
mathematics, physics and preprofessional
studies. Affiliated •with biology
is the Lobund Laboratory (Lofaund
means Laboratory of Bacteriology
University of Notre Dame). Affiliated
with the chemistry department is the
Radiation Laboratory. The College of
Science numbers a faculty of over 100
teachers, and all but a few have doctorates.
To speak of a department or college
one should speak of the people in that
department or college. Big money and
large grants can clutter a building with
material, but good men are needed to
make the best use of what is at hand.
Over the years Notre Dame has been
blessed in having the right man at the
right place at that moment in time.
This is true for the entire University.
Generous benefactors have seen a need
and they proudly gave of their wealth.
And no question about it, money is needed
to help good men do the best job
possible. Again, Notre Dame has been
blessed. Proudly we salute in gratitude
all who have helped and do help in
any ^vay possible.
The College of Science has had some
Chalk Marks
On a Cassock
By Thomas J. O'DonneU CSC '41
wonderful people do\vn through the
years. To begin to single them out
could be trouble — some names are
bound to be missed, and only a journal
that would read like a telephone boob
could list them all. Therefore, I ask
your kindness as I mention only some
men from the College of Science who
have done heroic service.
Over the years I have often asked
some of the "old-timers" from the community
of Holy Cross who was the best
scientist we ever had. Without any
hesitation four names ahvays occur . . .
and in this order: Nieuwiand, Zahm,
Kirsch and Wenninger. Each of these
was a priest of Holy Cross. Each was
not equally as good as the other.
For those of you who believe in the
stars or read horoscopes here is something
to think about. Father John
Zahm \vas bom on June 11, 1851. On
June 11 in 1936 Father Julius Nieuwiand
died. The birthday of Father
Nieuwiand was February 14, 1878. On
February 14, 1940 we buried Father
Wenninger. The three of these men —
as scientists — would, if they could reject
any connection. Yet, as scientists,
they would take a second look at the
dates. I leave out Father Kirsch from
this consideration for the very obvious
reason that he was a much taller man.
He was about six feet, three inches.
The other priests were all short, five
feet six, to five feet nine.
Not much is written of Father Alexander
Kirsch. He had a brother in the
community and of his brother less is
written. Alexander Kirsch was, for
nearly forty years, the leader in biolo^cal
studies at Notre Dame. He
wrote a book called Mammalian
Osteology. And when he taught anatomy
he diew, with chalk, the heart,
arteries and kidneys right on his cassock.
He was anticipating audio-visual
or else the brother at the cleaning plant
was a good friend. But that he was a
great teacher there is no doubt.
He never did get a doctor's degree
but that was because the Provincial
could not spare the man, and did not
have the money, to let Father Kirsch
have time off.
During several summers he did research
at Woods Hole. There he must
have practiced his singing because each
Lent on Holy Saturday the booming
voice of Father Kirsch filled Sacred
Heart Church. The change in the
rubrics would have been to his liking.
This would put the towering priestscientist
up by the altar in front of
everyone as he would plunge the
anatomy of the paschal candle into the
waiting waters.
It is strange what we recall about
people who have died. The long hours
in a lab, the long years of great work
are glossed over or taken for granted.
Forty years of long labor are remembered
as chalk marks on a cassock and
a booming voice on Holy Saturday. But
that's the \vay it goes in this busy
world.
Notre Dame Alumnus, September-October, 1965 17