THE STORY OF AN ENTOMOLOGIST 



When we were studying beetles we got the names from Henry 

 Ulke, who was an amateur in science, but who was locally 

 famous as a portrait painter, and at the same time was a pianist. 

 When we wanted to know the names of the little flies we sent 

 them to Edward Burgess of Boston, who was also more or less 

 of an amateur, but whose real interest during his later years was 

 centered in the designing of yachts. It will be remembered that 

 he was the designer of the famous Mayflower I, which won its 

 race against the British competitor some time during the '8o's. 

 We were constantly rearing little moths, and the American who 

 then knew the most about these forms was Professor C. H. 

 Fernald, of Amherst, Massachusetts. During one of his summer 

 vacations (I think it was in 1880) Fernald and his wife came 

 to Washington and spent part of July and August in the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture, working in the same room with me. Corn- 

 stock and his wife being absent in California, where Comstock 

 had gone to round out his knowledge of the scale-insects of 

 the United States. The Fernalds were delightful people. Professor 

 Fernald having a somewhat boyish humor that filled me with 

 joy. At that time beggars and selling agents of all kinds had 

 the run of the government offices, and I shall never forget the 

 dear old Professor's method of getting rid of them. When an 

 unmistakable beggar entered the room, Fernald would imme- 

 diately jump to his feet, rush over to him, grasp him by the 

 hand, and say, "How do you do? I am so glad to see you. How 

 did you leave the folks at home?" Almost invariably this so 

 embarrassed the beggar that he turned and left. 



And this reminds me of a story that was told at that time of 

 a certain high official of die Treasury Department, named 

 Trenholm— a very dignified and cultured South Carolina gentle- 

 man. He had issued strict orders that no beggars were to be 

 allowed to enter his office. One day a deaf mute slipped by the 



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