Kansas Academy of Science. 



ral History Society and its history. They are from my gleanings, from contributions 

 by different friends, especially Mrs. Mudge, and from personal recollections. "The first 

 brief report of the geological survey of Kansas gives an outline of his early scientific 

 labors in the State of his adoption. ... It was during the war, and attended with 

 many difficulties. The Held was new, and the geological features entirely different from 

 those to which he had been accustomed in his New England home. Though harder for 

 him, it only added zest to his enthusiasm, and he bravely overcame obstacles which 

 would have discouraged one less in love with Nature and her laws. His own wants were 

 few and simple. With public funds he was strictly conscientious, yet the appropriations 

 for the survey were so small as to hamper him greatly, and he supplied provisions for the 

 early part of his trip from the home larder to lessen expenses. His travels were some- 

 times perilous, and frequently involved very hard labor. He was much perplexed when 

 he had the main part of the report ready, to find that characteristic specimens, which he 

 had sent to the paleontologist carefully labeled, had been disarranged or lost, so that, 

 .after embarrassing delays, the report was finally put through the press incomplete. He 

 never despaired of having more generous appropriations from the State, when he or some 

 other geologist would complete so important a survey." . . . '■ In lecturing he pre- 

 pared his thoughts with care ; but-once having clearly fixed in his mind what he wanted to 

 say, his retentive memory had no further use for the notes." And how much we did enjoy 

 those lectures ! How the memory of them hangs like a fragrance about the walls of even 

 this dingy capitol building, where we have listened to him year after year! How conta- 

 gious and inspiring was that exbaustless enthusiasm to all the young men with whom he 

 came in contact ! It was my privilege to have him for a near friend for many years, and 

 many are the precious moments, in private conversation as well as in public lectures, that 

 I have sat drinking at the fountain of knowledge which fiowed in charming streams from 

 his lips. How well I remember a day. years ago, when he came hurriedly into my office, 

 on Kansas avenue, all aglow with excitement, to inquire if I had seen the tracks on a 

 piece of < >sage flagging which was being used as a crosswalk on the avenue at Sixth street. 

 I was loth to admit that I had crossed and rccrossed on the stone with the rest, and like 

 them had never noticed the tracks; but we went together to see the stone, and sure 

 enough there were the marks, as distinct as could be, and his beautiful enthusiasm was 

 at its height*. That was one of the first examples he bad seen of these tracks, which he 

 afterwards investigated and described so charmingly. He dropped all his affairs, went 

 directly to the quarries the very next day, and procured a quantity of the rocks with 

 tracks. 



"While State Geologist, the delightful experience of discovering hitherto unknown 

 fossils and the valuable economic deposits of Kansas, awakened in him a strong desire 

 for the formation of scientific societies, not only for a wider dissemination of knowledge 

 of these resources, but the preservation within our own borders of such rare specimens. 

 He improved every opportunity by lectures and conversations to encourage a growing 

 interest in science. The large area and the few railroads were discouragements to most 

 people regarding a State organization, with perhaps a lack of interest. He really longed 

 for the scientific companionship which he had enjoyed in the East from boyhood — the 

 libraries, public societies, parlor clubs, field meetings of the Essex (now Peabody) Insti- 

 tute, long botanical excursions with congenial companions — how much he missed them! 

 But in 1867 Rev. J. D. Parker Professor-elect of Lincoln College at Topeka, spent some 

 weeks at Manhattan. He was fresh from his studies and an enthusiastic lover of nature, 

 and together with Professor Mudge they prospected and walked, talked and planned." 

 It is probable that it was at the tea-table of Hon. I. T. Goodnow, with Professors Mudge 

 and Parker, that the subject of a Natural History Society for Kansas was first broached. 

 That is Mr. Goodnow's recollection of it. Prof. J. D. Parker writes in his obituary 

 sketch of Prof. Mudge in the Kansas City Journal of Science (vol. 8, page 570), that, 



