FIGHTING THE INSECTS 



of 1886. He will always be remembered for his great scientific 

 work, and more particularly for his successful labors in the cause 

 of Pure Food and Drugs, since he took up that idea at an 

 early date and labored manfully until he had achieved success. 

 In fact, one of my cherished recollections is a journey to Europe 

 on the old St. Louis in 1902, when we sat side by side, day 

 after day, and he talked to me at length about his plans for his 

 famous so-called "Borax Squad," by the aid of which he hoped 

 to show the exact function of borax as a preservative in canned 

 food and its effect upon the human system. 



But it was as a highly original and very delightful humorist 

 that Wiley will live longest in the minds of many. I have the 

 impression that I knew him for ten years before I ever heard 

 him talk seriously. He was one continuous sparkle of humor, 

 and the good things that he said will be quoted for years to 

 come. It was not a malicious humor. As I remember it, none 

 of the funny things he said ever hurt anyone. And he occa- 

 sionally wrote very comical poetry, some of which has been 

 published. I am sorry that I cannot place my hands on some of 

 his best, but there is one amusing little thing that comes to 

 my mind. 



Back in 1922, C. A. Jacobson, of the University of West Vir- 

 ginia, organized with the assistance of the chemical faculty of 

 the university a spelling match among the several hundred stu- 

 dents taking the course in General Inorganic Chemistry. It was 

 a public match for the spelling of chemical formula of such 

 compounds as are ordinarily included in a first-year college 

 course in chemistry. This match was described by Professor 

 Jacobson in the journal Science for September 29, 1922. I read 

 the article with interest, and sent Dr. Cattell the following note, 

 which was published in Science for October 20 of that year: 



"Hurrah for Professor Jacobson and his chemical spelling 



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