Alexander W. Drake

Alexander Wilson Drake passed through a long and thorough training in the practice of wood-engraving, and reached a profound understanding of the art. For many years, as we all know, he conducted the illustration of the Century Magazine with exceeding skill and discrimination. He was a man of whimsical and diffident kindliness; many within and without our walls have poignant reason to regret the loss of his shy friendliness, his veritable sympathy, his readiness to help. He was a connoisseur of whatever the human hand made that was beautiful; and an inveterate collector of things entertaining, artistic, fantastic; of brasses, bird-cages, and band-boxes; of goldsmiths’ work and prints. When his house overflowed, he would have a sale; and his sales were among the most attractive and amusing offered in our town. Finally he was a good Centurian, a man of resources on Twelfth Night celebrations.

Henry Osborn Taylor
1917 Century Association Yearbook