Joseph H. Vance

Sunday's Free Press liad tliis account of one of the well kuowu men on tlie campus : What college man or vyoinan, tried with the after duties of lite, does not love to exploit stories of the gay old times at school? Or who does not feel his pulse tlirill with rene wed vigor when well remembered incidents of those best of days come to inind reawakening the old enthusiasm with the reality of its first hours' The campus has changed siuce tlien ; not an old familiar face frequents the altered class rooms. Yet About the University of Michigan today few men remain who remember the stirring scènes about the campus in the early 60's, now for the tirst time since possibly to be re-enacted. Yet there 8till retnains actively connected with the institution, bowed with the weight of nearly 70 years, one of the leading figures in the military excitement of that time. When the "wave of martial enthusiasm banished mach of the ordinary routine of college pastimes, there was no figure in Ann Arbor more commanding, uo presence more strikingly capable of fulfllling the popular idea of what an officer should be. Then the present crowded condition of the campus was only a remote possibility. In place of the the massive structure of to-day there were but six or seven small buildings : the president's house, part of the present engineering building, the extreme eastern section of the medical building and the north and south wings of university hall being the principal ones. The forty acres comprising the university plat was otherwise clear of all obstructions, even trees, and was an ideal drill ground. Every suminer evening the tramp of marchiug feet and sonorous commanding shouts disturbed the otherwise quiet vicinity. With the posaible exception of President Angelí, it is probable that noother man as a student in and an officer of the institution lias formed the acquaintance of a greater nuniber of mèirnt. one time or another connected with the university in some capacity, than John Hardcastle Vanee, the present librarían, who has been absent but little of the time siuce the early 50's. A member of one of the oldest families in the city, he has practically growu up as a part of its leading feature. He first became counected with the steward's office and later, from 1854 to 185(3, was general librarían. In 1859, wheu the law department was organized, he became a memDer of the first elass, graduating in 1 $61 . He was considered a personal friend of Dr. Tappan, tlien president of the university, and when the latter severed his connection with the institution in 1862, it was. Mi Vanee to whom Dr. Tappan lonked íor assistauce iu arrauging his affair8 for departure. After graduation, Mr. Vanee practiced law ín Aun Arbor several years, hut spent niucli time in the libraries of tlie university." He was an assistant of Judge Cooley while the latter was writing liis well-kuown text books, and was intimately associated witti the eminent jurist. Since 1883 Mr. Vanee has been .conXiiuioiusIy in charge of the law li'brary. Every frequenter of the campus knows the quiet, kindly, unosteutatious demeanor of the man to wliom so niany etudents liave looked, and never iu vain, for needed assistance ; but few know to wli at extent his personal aspirations have been forgotten in assisting others. The oldest child of a farnily, he assumed an undertaking from which the most self-sacrificiug might well shriuk. To his mother aud his brothers and sisters he was always profoundly devoted. After paying his own way through college, he helped three others of his family through the sanie work. Judge McAÏvay, of Manistee, his half brother, and at present a member of the law faculty, was one of these. Now, oíd i man though lie is, a great part of his ( come goes to assist in the education of ■ several youug nieces. During liis ' nection witli the law library, Mr. Vanee has written a number of law text books, only one of which bas ever been off'ered ' for publication. The manuscript lies ' stored awaj' in his private office, where much interesting matter that 110 outsider bas ever seen is also stowed away. In speaking of Mr. Varice a member of the law faculty said: "I eertain that had not Mr. Vanee given bis life ' I for others he must have stood high in ' the profession. He ia a man of fine taindand extended knowledge, whose cliief faults are modesty and generosity." One seeks in víun to induce Mr. anee to talkof what he has done or iniglit have done, even the present war exeitement not sufficing to bring forth tales of his experienees as major and drill master of the old university battalion. Though he enlisted he did not go to tlie war," nor did the battalion as suuh, tlioiijjli many of its inembers feil on the field óf battle. Nowhere is written the history of thoseinterestinj; days in university annals, but a few men still live who reuieuiber the handsome younji mjijor whose voice rung frotn one end of the campus to the otlier.