04 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [1888. 



it should be. 1 had written my first tscientific paper at least six times, 

 and each time thought it was as well done as could be; certainly as 

 well done as I was capable of doing it. But my critic was merciless. 

 I mentally resolved each time, that I would not re-write it; but I 

 did re-write it ; and was obliged to continue doing so until he thought 

 it might be allowed to pass. I can see now the benefit of all that 

 criticism. It was the most helpful lesson I ever received in the art 

 of stating things. How much easier it would have been for Professor 

 Gray to have made a mere perfunctory criticism, and then allowed 

 the paper to have gone, with the statement, — it will do, but it should 

 have been better! The fact that he did not do so, however, is just 

 the point that I desire to bring out in illustration of his conscientious 

 discharge of duty. I have no doubt he sighed more over having to 

 take time to re-read it, than I did over having to re-write it. But, 

 though to him lost time, he was good enough to regard it as a duty, 

 and as such he did it. His chai-acter as a teacher came out in the 

 fact that he did not allow it to ])ass. It was this disregard of his 

 own time when a duty to a student was apparent, which jjlaces him 

 now so high in the esteem of scores of ])upils. 



During working hours Professor Grvj would allow no talking for 

 talk-sake, at least but for a moment. He would, howevei', volunteer a 

 hint, to place a student on the track in a difficult problem, or if 

 necessary he would cheerfully give an hour for the same purpose, 

 though he would not reveal anything which it were better that the 

 student should discover for himself 



So far as I am aware he never forgot or lost interest in any one 

 whom he had instructed. This is certainly true of those who had 

 spent any considerable period with him. Time and time again, 

 have I known him to be on the watch for a chance to help a student 

 make an honorable name. Is it strange then that all over the land 

 there are those who have heart aches when it is remembered we 

 shall see that loved teacher no more? 



When a great, good leader has been taken it hardly alters the 

 case that he went full of years and honor. We are even then not 

 ready to spare him. We never would have been ready to spare 

 Asa Gray. 



Each year the aspect of a science changes and some new phase 

 becomes the popular one : and this for the time being is apt to be re- 

 garded, as, if not the whole, then at least as the better or the major 

 part of the science. It is simply the expression of an old human 



