xviii OBITUARY NOTICES. 



ment of Agriculture, published in Science (Nov. 17, 1916) a fitting 

 tribute to Professor Abbe from which we may quote as follows : 



" During twenty years of his service I was intimately associated with 

 Abbe as his subordinate and pupil, as a co-worker, and as his administrative 

 chief. During this term of years there inevitably developed situations which 

 were complex, annoying and embarrassing to the scientific force. Yet in all 

 such conditions I never knew him to display bad temper, to unduly prolong 

 discussions, to advance personal interests, nor to abate his most strenuous 

 efforts to carry out such policies as were judged needful for the good of the 

 service — even though they had not originally met with his approval." 



In August, 1893, Professor Abbe was made the responsible 

 editor of the MontJily JVcatJier Rcviezv, a work he found most con- 

 genial. Editorial comments, annotations and original articles there- 

 in contribute much of value to the publication and constitute a last- 

 ing monument to his fame. 



It is quite impossible, in this brief memoir, even to indicate the 

 number, scope and character of his literary works. The list is a 

 very long one and includes a wide range of scientific subjects. His 

 enthusiasm led him to undertake many tasks which the inevitable 

 lack of strength and opportunity prevented him from bringing to 

 completion. Notably among these must be mentioned a study of 

 clouds and atmospheric motions observed by him with a special 

 marine nephoscope of his own invention while on a trip to the west 

 coast of Africa to witness the solar eclipse of 1889. Similarly the 

 scientific papers presented at the International Meteorological Con- 

 gress, held in Chicago in August, 1893, were only partly published 

 for lack of funds, to Abbe's lasting regret, and he never ceased to 

 urge the fulfillment of the obligation upon American meteorologists 

 to complete this work. 



However the genealogy of the Abbe family, the preparation of 

 which received his most feeling and sympathetic attention for many 

 years, and which was so dear to his heart, fortunately was submitted 

 to the publishers in the very last months of his long life. 



The scientific societies in which he held membership would also 

 make up another long list. During the active portion of his life he 

 accumulated a very large library dealing with meteorology and re- 

 lated sciences, the care of which in the later years of his life became 

 so great a responsibility that with commendable foresight for the 



