556 SYLVESTER R, KOEHLER. 



honesty in all work which they might be called upon to perform either 

 as students or in professional life. He is remembered by them with the 

 most affectionate regard. 



Reference has already been made to the interference of ill-health with 

 the prosecution of the labors of Professor Holman. In fact, after reach- 

 ing manhood he was never in good health, and during almost the whole 

 of his active life as a teacher he struggled with a painful chronic disease, 

 which gradually, though with some intermissions, sapped his strength. 

 His cheerful disposition and persistence in carrying on his work were 

 such tliat none but those who knew him well were aware of the fact that 

 it was only his indomitable courage which prevented him from yielding 

 to his malady for some years before it finally overcame him. In the 

 spring of 1890 he was obliged to discontinue work for a time. He spent 

 the following year abroad, and came home much improved in healtli, but 

 the relief was only temporary. In 1895 he finally gave up his work of 

 instruction. For some years after this, however, though confined to his 

 chair, and at last even deprived of sight, he continued to labor diligently, 

 and published the tables of logarithms and the work on Matter and Energy 

 mentioned above. His mind was clear to the last, and his cheerfulness 

 never forsook him. His latest years were his best ones, and his whole 

 life was a fine illustration of the manner in which a noble spirit may rise 

 superior to circumstances and produce the best results under conditions 

 to which an ordinary mind would utterly succumb. 



Chas. R. Cross. 



SYLVESTER R. KOEHLER. 



Sylvester R. Koehler was born in Leipsic in 1837. He came to 

 America at the age of twelve years. Son of an artist, grandson of a 

 miusician, he was destined by inheritance to an artistic career. Its bent 

 was determined by his moving to Boston in 1868 and entering the estab- 

 lishment of L. Prang & Co. as technical manager. This position, after 

 ten years, was given up, that he might devote himself exclusively to his 

 art studies. With Charles C. Perkins and William C. Prime as asso- 

 ciate editors, he launched the " Art Review," the most dignified and 

 scholarly periodical devoted to art that has been published in the United 

 States. It was aimed, to quote the preface, " to dwell upon the larger, 

 more robust, more serious features of modern art," but it was in advance 

 of its time, — the circle to which it appealed was small, and when after 



