1896.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 225 



year, he wrote home asking for a microscope, books on natural his- 

 tory, chemical apparatus, etc. His restless spirit caused him to 

 drop out of the school for good after a few months. 



He taught school in the neighborhood of Loudon and afterward 

 in the High School of the county for three years. He was quite suc- 

 cessful and was much esteemed by all who were brought in contact 

 with him. 



We now find Ryder in his twenty-second year with the best 

 equipment it was possible to secure for him in a rural district. His 

 tastes were defined, and he at once made up his mind to devote him- 

 self to the study of science. This decision was quickened by the 

 failure of his father in business, so that Ryder was thrown entirely 

 upon his own resources. Of a proud disposition, he refused all 

 assistance from his relatives, and learning that the Jessup Fund of 

 the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia afibrded assist- 

 ance to young men who were desirous of devoting themselves to the 

 study of natural history, he came to Philadelphia in the spring of 

 1874, and appealed to Mr. Thomas Meehan, an old friend of his 

 father, for advice. Mr. jNIeehan states that Ryder visited him at his 

 residence in Germantown. His funds were low, and to save money 

 he had walked the entire distance, twelve miles, from Philadelphia. 

 Mr. Meehan was interested in Ryder, who was, however, urged not 

 to attempt to live on the small amount of five dollars a week per- 

 mitted by the fund. But Ryder was not to be deterred. He felt 

 confident that he could in some way manage, and accordingly, 

 armed with a letter of introduction, he visited the Academy and 

 made formal application. This was, at first, unsuccessful, 1)ut in 

 the latter part of the year he was duly appointed. He remained in 

 the Academy as a beneficiary of the Fund for six years. 



Little is known of his private life during the greater j^art of this 

 time. In 1879, Mr. J. S. Kingsley, now Professor of Biology in 

 Tuft's College, Massachusetts, was his associate, and through him it 

 is ascertained that Ryder lived on the top floor of No. 1118 Chest- 

 nut Street. His chamber and laboratory were one. Upper rooms 

 in business blocks were then cheap, and food at moderate prices, 

 offered for the use of employes of newspaper offices in, the neighbor- 

 hood, could be obtained day and night. The markets and restaur- 

 ants of Philadelphia furnish plain, wholesome food at rates which 

 compare favorably with those in any American city. Meals at 

 fifteen cents each are important factors in solving a problem of 



