SKETCH OF PROF. GRAY. 495 



"When this work first appeared, distinguished botanists abroad 

 thought it either a waste of time or beneath their dignity to be en- 

 gaged upon popular works ; but of late years we find that the most 

 eminent of them are putting out their " Hand-books " and " Popular 

 Floras." 



As highly as we value the " Text-Book," we think that in books of 

 this character his " First Lessons " is not only a superior work, but the 

 best work upon elementary science of any kind that we are acquainted 

 with. It is indeed a wonderful attempt at popularizing science. What 

 are considered abstruse points in physiology are told with such a matter- 

 of-fact simplicity, that the reader is ch armed as with a tale, and, after 

 reading it, is in possession of more of the philosophy of botany than 

 he could obtain from a dozen more pretentious volumes. We can only 

 just allude to his charming works for young people, "How Plants 

 Grow" and "How Plants Behave," works which, though written for 

 children, will be found to contain bits of wisdom for older heads. 



The work that we have indicated implies a great amount of labor, 

 and Dr. Gray is essentially a worker. No mechanic goes to his daily 

 task more faithfully or continues at it with more assiduity than he. 

 Very few, who are not familiar with the laboratories and studios of sci- 

 entific men, have any idea of the amount of labor performed in them. 

 Their work is by the many looked upon as a sort of half play, not to be 

 compared, in its demand upon the physical and mental resources, with 

 the daily task of the book-keeper or cashier. There are not many who 

 work harder than Dr. Gray, but, when work is over, few more keenly 

 enjoy the relaxation. One of of our pleasantest recollections of him is 

 seeing him, after a hard day's work, engaged in a rough-and-tumble 

 frolic with an enormous Newfoundlander. 



It is supposed by many that a student's life diminishes bodily vigor. 

 We can name several striking illustrations to the contrary, and 

 eminent among them is the subject of our sketch. We have not tried 

 a walk with him for several years, but we venture to say that few 

 young men of twenty could take an afternoon's tramp with him and 

 not feel a sense of relief when the excursion was ended. 



Outside of the domain of botany, Prof. Gray's contributions to 

 literature are not a few, but, as these were contributed to the North 

 American Review and other magazines anonymously, their authorship is 

 not known outside of a small circle. Some of his reviews are remark- 

 able specimens of acute criticism, in which the subject could forget the 

 sharpness with which he was flayed, in admiration at the dexterity of 

 the operator. The estimation in which Dr. Gray is held by his scientific 

 compeers is attested by the fact that he has for several years been 

 the president of that distinguished body of scientists, The American 

 Academy of Arts and Sciences, and is for the current year the presi- 

 dent of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. 



