FRrPARATORv TO Ri:si:ak( 11 Cari:i:r 85 



VVol f "s Nciturwissenschaftlich-rniilhematisches Vnd erne cum had 

 been ordered early in the spring and during the summer the four- 

 volume dictionary, M. H. Baillon's Le Dictiotiaire cie Botanique, 

 may have been added. It was ordered but, since Smith asked 

 Bailey at Harvard to consult with Dr. Gray with regard to the set's 

 merit for his purposes, he may have countermanded the order, 

 awaiting word from Bailey. In later years Smith possessed an 

 eleven-volume edition of this work. 



While in Ann Arbor, Smith had dinner with Dr. J. B. Stccre, 

 professor of zoology at the university who had contributed to the 

 -science department of Michigan School Moderator ^^'' two articles, 

 "Lessons in Zoology," one on birds and one on reptiles. Dr. 

 Stecrc thought highly of Smith and later recommended him as 

 "an indefatigable student in Botany," whose published Michigan 

 flora was " the most valuable and complete work in existence." 

 "I consider him excellently fitted," wrote Dr. Steere, "both by 

 training and by natural tastes and talents for Scientific teaching." 

 Smith also called on Dr. Victor C. Vaughan, then an assistant 

 professor and soon to be full professor of hygiene and physio- 

 logical chemistry in the university's medical department. While 

 on this visit, he was probably told by these leaders of the faculty 

 of science that, conditioned upon his passing each of the requisite 

 examinations and with one year of resident study, he would be 

 granted a degree. In the next chapter will be described more fully 

 the circumstances of Smith's enrollment, but that the arrangement 

 was perhaps unparalleled was later indicated by Professor Spald- 

 ing, who commented that accrediting Smith "with the work of 

 three years [was] a thing that [he did] not remember to have 

 occurred in any similar case since [he had] been" with the uni- 

 versity. Obviously, the arrangement was a tribute to Smith's work- 

 manship and thoroughness of preparation. Dr. Vaughan believed 

 in Smith's superior worth and erudition in sanitary science. By 

 June 5 of the following year, Smith had in possession a terse 

 letter from him, which read, " Dear Mr. Smith, I can pass you on 

 the course in Sanitary Science." 



Erwin, however, was not to specialize in sanitation and hygiene, 



*" 3 (27): 473, March 22, 1883; also, the June 7 issue of the same volume and 

 year. Smith would have accepted more of these articles for publication, but the 

 next was submitted after he had resigned from this position and was giving his 

 spare time to Sanitary News. 



