THE SECRETARY, 1878-1887 405 



and the new officials had to be confirmed by the Senate, 

 the erring auditor found that confirmation could not be 

 had as a matter of course. Baird was well known, admired 

 and respected by members of both parties, who resented 

 the slanders which had been flung broadcast with the 

 knowledge, if not the guilty connivance, of the auditor. 

 It is alleged that he even was told that without the sup- 

 port of Professor Baird his appointment would not be 

 confirmed. At any rate, on December I2th, 1885, this 

 person called on Professor Baird at his residence, apolo- 

 gized for the false reports, avowed he was not responsible 

 for them, and successfully begged the intervention of the 

 Professor to secure his confirmation by the Senate. There 

 was no further unwarranted interference with the Com- 

 mission and no more printed slanders. 



All this had told severely on the Professor's strength. 

 His periods of illness were more frequent. In December 

 he went to New York to consult the best specialists. He 

 was warned to avoid overwork. When he returned he 

 notes in the Journal that he had decided to do no more 

 work after his (6 P.M.) dinner! 



In 1886 the burden had to be lightened. February 

 1 8th he turned over the management of his pet carp-ponds 

 to the Assistant Commissioner. Early in May he went 

 to a consultation with Dr. Weir Mitchell and Dr. Osier in 

 Philadelphia. Massage, electricity, drives in the open 

 air, and, above all, as little work as possible, were recom- 

 mended. In July the party went to Wood's Hole as usual. 

 Here, for the members of his working staff, their families 

 and visiting friends, he held informal receptions at the 

 residence for four successive Mondays, perhaps the last 

 social events of the kind in which he was to join. He left 

 Wood's Hole and reached Washington on the 25th of 



