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Death of Professor Young.

NO WRITER ATTRIBUTED

It is our sorrowful duty to announce the death of Professor Ernest Young, which occurred in Boston on Friday last. Mr. Young's health had been for some time past a source of anxiety to friends, but nobody was prepared for the sudden and tragical event of Friday. It was not till last week that his condition became at all alarming. At a consultation of physicians held on Thursday, it was found that he was threatened with insanity, and he was ordered to give up all work immediately. The knowledge that he was in a serious condition seems to have greatly deepened the depression under which he was already laboring, and to have hastened his malady to an acute stage. On Friday morning he left his house in Cambridge, and, going to his brother's room in Boston, there put an end to his own life.

Mr. Young was born in Boston, June 30, 1882. His early education was received in the schools of that city. He went through the Boston Latin School in the days of Head-Master Gardiner, and was one of that famous teacher's favorite pupils. He entered Harvard College in 1869, and after an exceedingly brilliant record graduated in 1873, The year following his graduation he taught in the Boston Latin School. In 1874 he was appointed as Instructor in History and Roman Law in Harvard College. In 1876 he received the degree of Ph. D. on a course of study in early institutions. His thesis on Anglo-Saxon Family Law was published in the well-known volume of "Essays in Anglo-Saxon Law" and has attracted wide attention among students of early institutions.

As a teacher of History and Roman Law in the college his great success is recognized by all. He was always thoroughly devoted to his work and had a rare power of inspiring his students with zeal in their work. His success was crowned in January last by his promotion to a full professorship, a distinction rarely won at Harvard so early in life.

The recent changes in the historical department involved a considerable change in Mr. Young's work. It is believed that the severe labor bestowed in preparing his lectures on the early constitutional history of France, a course given by him for the first time this year, has much to do with bringing on the mental derangement which resulted in his death.

By his early death the college suffers an irreparable loss. Had he lived to complete the studies which he was carrying on, with such unflagging diligence, in the beginnings of government and legal institutions among men, it is not doubtful that he would have added much to the accessible knowledge of those subjects.

Mr. Young was married in June last to Miss Sutton, daughter of General Sutton of North Andover. To his wife, so early bereaved, we extend on behalf of the whole body of students, our most heartfelt sympathy in her affliction.

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