COLLECTION OF METEORITES 



27 



The assemblage is a striking and forcible tribute to Professor 

 Ward's enthusiasm and persistency. A moment's reflection upon the 

 order of events in the history of this great American collection of 

 meteorites is not without interest. Professor Ward had been known 

 as the indefatigable explorer of the continents and seas of the earth 

 for all kinds of natural objects 

 by which our American museums 

 have so largely profited, but it was 

 not until he had disposed of the 

 great collection of natural history 

 specimens which he exhibited at 

 the International Exposition at 

 Chicago in 1893 that he felt free 

 to seize an individual field of 

 study and enterprise. His mind 

 had been deeply moved by the ap- 

 peal made to it by these mute 

 messengers from space, and a cer- 

 tain challenge offered by them to 

 his ingenuity and skill to find and 

 possess them. He gave himself 

 over literally to this pursuit with 

 a single-minded persistence that 

 only success could reward. Pro- 

 fessor Ward has played the part 

 of exchanger to its fullest limits. 

 In this he has acted upon a very 

 acute design. In all large mu- 

 seums and with most active collectors, there are specimens that, as Pro- 

 fessor Ward puts it, ' money could not dislodge.' Only the actual offer 

 of pieces as rare, or more rare, and to which all approach was abso- 

 lutely closed, except by the avenue of exchange, could displace them. 

 Under such pressure Professor Ward has happily gathered into his 

 possession many a piece of celestial iron or stone, which otherwise 

 would have remained as immovable as Fitz-James before his less 

 capable assailants. 



But practical and effective as has been exchange, as a means to an 

 end, the infallible efficacy of money has been no less powerful. The 

 actual expenditure has been very great, and in this pursuit, as in war, 

 the cost for a successful issue must not be counted. Professor Ward 

 enjoyed two unusual opportunities for suddenly increasing the size of 

 his collection. The Gregory collection in England and the Siemaschko 

 collection in Eussia, vying with each other as the largest private col- 

 lections in Europe, fell into his hands at the death of their owners, and 



N'Govkema Meteorite, Soudan, Central 

 Africa. Fell June 15, 1900. 



