1888.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 401 



He was taught the rudiments of learniug at home. After he had 

 passed through one or two private schools for children, it was detere 

 mined that he should receive academic instruction in the Friends' 

 Central School, because it was regarded to be the best available. It 

 was then in Race between Fourtli and Fifth streets, and now is at 

 the S. W. corner of Race and Fifteenth streets. 



He became a pupil of the institution in October 1850, and con- 

 tinued till his school days ended, June 1853. During the almost 

 three years here his attention was given only to English studies 

 and drawing. The transfer of the family residence, in 1852, to 

 Pittville, one of the purlieus of Germantown, live or six miles 

 from the business centre of Philadelphia, did not interrupt his regu- 

 lar attendance at school, nor hinder the growth of his museum. 

 The family returned to, and was permanently established in the city, 

 in 1869. 



Very soon after leaving the Friends' Central School he employed 

 tutors in the city and studied French, German, and Music until he 

 had acquired knowledge enough, to write and speak the languages 

 sufficiently well for practical purposes, and to understand the princi- 

 ples of musical composition. About this time with some of his 

 young friends he formed a musical society or club. Their perform- 

 ances enlivened the evenings at their country homes. 



His interest in books created in him a desire to be an author. 

 His first effort in this direction was a history of the United States 

 finished when he was twelve years old, but not printed. A few 

 years later he announced that literary and scientific work would be 

 his permanent occupation. But, at the earnest request of his parents, 

 he relinquished the project, for a time, and engaged in mercantile 

 work in his father's establishment. At the age of nineteen, 1857, 

 he was given a share in the business, and on the retirement of his 

 father in 1864, he became the principal of the firm, and so contin- 

 ued till 1868, when he retired with a modest income, sufficient in 

 his estimation to justify indulgence in unrestrained pursuit of science 

 and letters. 



He found relaxation from business cares in music. Though not a 

 notably skilful player on any instrument, he was acquainted with 

 the science of music. 



He wrote a comic opera in three acts, entitled. Amy Cassonet or 

 the Eloj^ement, which was acted at the Amateur Drawing Room, 

 and published ; but it was in no sense successful. The copyright is 

 dated 1875. 

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