476 PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY 



could hardly be said to have an existence as a science. It became 

 necessary for Mahan to create his own text-books ; and even as late 

 as 1842, when the writer was a pupil under him, these text-books were, 

 in many cases, lithographic notes prepared at the presses of the 

 Academy, and lent to the students for their instruction. The whole 

 subject of permanent fortification and stereotomy was thus taught, and 

 there were no American books upon the subject existing at that time. 

 Even in the more elementary descriptive geometry the only American 

 book was by a professor at the Military Academy, and this omits en- 

 tirely the " Theorie des plans cotes, which forms the basis of fortification 

 drawing. 



But Mahan was one of those rare men who teach more by their 

 personality than by their books. While it is true that he created 

 books, and books which, though pioneers in their day, stand the test of 

 comparison with the best works of later explorers, it is equally true 

 that those who were so fortunate as to sit under his instruction learned 

 much more than the books ever revealed. In the magic power of his 

 personal communication with the pupil lay the great secret of his 

 success as a teacher. The pupil who came under his searching eye 

 felt that all shams were useless, that anything like pretension was at 

 once exposed and rebuked, while true, honest effort always met with a 

 cordial and hearty response, and found all the aids which it sought. 

 The writer had the privilege of being not only his pupil, but, at a later 

 period, his principal assistant ; and in this latter capacity he learned to 

 know the value of this great teacher. With a nature peculiarly 

 sensitive, and a very nervous organization, Mahan had so schooled 

 himself that he had become truly judicial in his estimate of what- 

 ever was presented to him. With a genuine love of science in any of 

 its developments, he had naturally that instinctive abhorrence of char- 

 latanry in its multiform manifestations, and that unsparing sarcasm 

 ever ready for its exhibition, which led those who did not know him 

 to regard him as cynical and morose. But none who had the honor 

 of his friendship ever looked at him in this guise. To them he was 

 the true, warm-hearted friend, to whose ready sympathy in everything 

 that was right and honest they would appeal without hesitation ; 

 but whom, on the contrary, they would dread to approach with any 

 proposition of doubtful or even questionable probity. Though small of 

 stature and thin of frame, Mahan had ever a commanding presence, 

 before which presumption and arrogance felt rebuked ; and this per- 



