1897 Imago

~lemortam. ~rof. <tarrl~ 18. 18lair, ~ i r~t :tl )r.of e~~.or .of ~ath ent atic~ in 1 .eb-arullle 1 .0U.e13.e. M l S CARRIE BLAIR \\ as born near Sparta, Illinois, August 2, 1862. he turned her attention early to learning After ~ome teaching in the public schools she entered the Southern Illinois ·1ate University, from which sht> graduated in 1887 with honors. he was then selected assistant pri ncipal of the Charleston High School. This position she was holdi ng in 189,~ when the Board of Trustees of Cedarville College chose her to be their first professor of mathematics. During the following Summer, she began a special course in mathematics at Chautauqua University. In 1894 and 1895 she filled the chai r of mathematics in Cedarville College so satisfactorily that the Board of Trustees unanimously re-elected her for the ensuing collegiate year. She re-entered Chau– tauqua University the following Summer to complett: the course previously begun. She was within two weeks of graduating when she was prostrated with typhoid fever. Being too far from home to return, she came to the home of her sister, Mn,. George Creswell, near Cedar– ville. Her struggle against death was brief, but persistent, and on September 2, 1895, Carrie Blair entered within the great beyond. Her life was short, earnest, pure, impressive. Her influence was elevating and enduring. Her manners were natural and pleasing. Her friends were numerous and true. Her scholarship was high and thorough. Her ex– ample is worthy of imitation. Her memory lingers to recall the sad, the beautiful, and the useful, like the fragrance of some sweet flower whose odor is wafted from a distant Paradise. 19