42 Rhodora [MARCH 
one of those was, unfortunately, a reluctance to speak much about 
her own experiences. It thus happens that even those who worked 
in her company for many years knew little of her earlier life and 
activities. The Day family moved from Nelson during the Civil 
War and took up their residence at Lancaster, Massachusetts, and 
it was in the Lancaster Academy that Miss Day received her educa- 
tion in the later sixties. From 1871 to 1878 she taught in the Mas- 
sachusetts public schools, first at Sudbury, then in Clinton, where 
she later was for six years the first assistant in the Clinton Public 
Library. Here she also acquired some experience as an accountant. 
In the autumn of 1892, from a desire to improve her position, she 
wrote to Mr. W. C. Lane, the Librarian of Harvard College, asking 
whether she would be eligible for work in his staff. It happened that 
the librarian of the Gray Herbarium, Miss Josephine A. Clark, had 
just accepted a call to the United States Department of Agriculture, 
and Miss Day’s application, together with several others, was re- 
ferred to the Curator of the Herbarium while he was considering 
candidates to fill the vacancy. Though brief and formal her note 
was striking from the unusual excellence of its writing, which was a 
“library hand” in the best sense, combining regularity and perfect 
clearness with individuality and strength. She was invited to a con- 
ference, came promptly, and produced a decidedly favorable impres- 
sion. It was evident—indeed she took conscientious pains to make 
it so—that she knew nothing of botany or of botanical literature 
beyond the titles of three or four current text-books; but she had 
had practical experience in library work and it soon became clear 
that she had a special genius for all matters relating to records, files, 
accounts, and the like. i 
As to appearance she was of medium height and slight in build, 
suggesting "wiriness" rather than robust health. Her hair was 
already graying and without being asked she stated her age to be 
forty. She conveyed the impression of capability, evenness of temper, 
and of probable industry, with a goodly dash of the * New England 
conscience." Offsetting her inexperience in botany she showed more 
than ordinary confidence that she could make good if allowed to try 
and perfect herself in this new field. Being by far the most promising 
of the available candidates Miss Day was given the position, for 
which the salary was lamentably small. She came to Cambridge, 
and began her work at the Herbarium, January 1, 1893. 
