Conant Intensely Interested in Work of All His Students In Course--Subordinates Praise His Ability To Handle Men

According to a concensus of opinion among the graduate students and research workers in the Converse Chemical laboratory. President elect Conant took a continual and enthusiastic interest in the work of each of his subordinates.

"He would visit each of us," one of Professor Conant's students said yesterday, "and become completely absorbed in the solution of our individual problems. He spent a great part of his time with his students, and was very apt in seeing applications of their work that they themselves did not see."

It is also remarkable how he could be so interested in so many different problems. His wide knowledge both within and without the field of chemistry was recognized and there were usually several people waiting to consult with him on their problems. The members of the faculty of the Medical School were especially frequent visitors because Professor Conant was one of the few organic chemists to have a through knowledge of physical chemistry.

Another student remarked. The thing that impresses me most strongly about Professor Conant is his remarkable ability in handling people. After he had known a pupil for only a week or two he had decided just how that student should be treated. He never made an error in this respect as far as I know."

Because of his own interesting ideas Professor Conant was an inspring leader. One of his recent innovations in the world of chemistry is the use of solvents other than water. Until very recently almost all chemists have studied reactions using water as the solvent but Conant has found that hitherto obscure reactions are brought to light when either or some other substance is substituted for water. One of the problems which has interested him in this connection has been the study of the blue pigment in the blood of horseshoe crabs.