10 KANSAS ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 



in order to accomplish the largest possible results for the new State — the 

 former giving most of his time to living forms, the latter to fossil forms. 

 While at Topeka, at one time, the attention of Prof. Mudge was elicited by 

 seeing impressions on the flagging stones of the sidewalks, and this led to 

 the valuable discovery in science of the so-called bird tracks of the Osage 

 valley. He did much original work in science, and several species which he 

 discovered bear his name. 



But Prof Mudge did not confine his whole attention to scientific pursuits. 

 He was a keen observer of events, and was essentially a man of the people. 

 There was an earnestness and enthusiasm which glimmered in all he said, 

 like sunshine on a beautiful day. All who knew him were charmed with 

 the truthfulness and simplicity of manner which he possessed. He was the 

 most companionable of men, and people everywhere were attracted to him. 

 He was not afraid of the truth, no matter where it might lead him. No 

 road was so rugged he would not follow it in the pursuit of truth. He 

 would give up the most cherished opinions unhesitatingly, when newly- 

 discovered facts did not sustain them. Still, with all his enthusiasm, he was 

 conservative and prudent, and seldom made mistakes. Those who were in- 

 timate with him during our civil war, remember how cheerfully he awaited 

 unfoldiug'events, with a supreme faith in the darkest hours that the right 

 would be triumphant. With him there was no cloud that did not have a 

 silver lining. He manifested the deepest interest in educational progress, 

 and in the growth of the State institutions. He was the life of teachers' 

 associations, and was a favorite lecturer at teachers' institutes. Prof Mudge 

 was an earnest temperance worker, and a permanent member of many tem- 

 perance organizations, both in Massachusetts and Kansas. While living at 

 Quindaro, during the war, oiie of the border towns of Kansas, there was 

 great excitement on the slavery question. Some runaway slaves from Mis- 

 soiiH came to Prof. Mudge for work and protection. Their masters offered 

 a large reward for their recovery, and his home and life were threatened in a 

 midnight attack. He would not yield to threats, however, but protected the 

 refugees, and saved them from being dragged back into slavery. 



Prof Mudge possessed fortitude, or passive courage, which is character- 

 istic of great minds. While living in the West, his sensitive nature suflfered 

 many things incident to a formative condition of affairs. But as a pioneer 

 in laying the foundations of society, he moved calmly forward in the dis- 

 charge of duty, regardless of personal consequences. He possessed great 

 benevolence of being, and always took the most charitable view of human 

 actions. He worked harmoniously with his associates, and as far as possible 

 lived peaceably with all men. 



As a teacher. Prof. Mudge was loved and revered by all his pupils. His 

 pleasant and genial manner encouraged the timid, his unfailing knowledge 

 and warm memory served to quicken the ambitious, and his tact and prac- 

 tical insight into personal things developed many a dull scholar to a promi- 



