AXOTIIEIi LOOSE LEAF. 173 



bell pullers, or by a portier who is a sort of directory lor the whole 

 house. I left my card and drove home. I well knew that card would 

 bring my friend as soon as he returned. It was not long before a gen- 

 tleman rushed into my room, — he was about forty-five — extremely pre- 

 cise in dress — somewhat hurried in manner, and so rapid in utterance 

 that I could scarcely understand him. He came up to me as an old ac- 

 quaintance. He seized me eagerly by the hand and overwhelmed me 

 with congratulations, at such a rate, that I could not slip in a word with 

 the little end foremost. I attempted to speak, but it was in vain — he 

 loaded me with compliments — he welcomed me to Cassel — he offered 

 me his services — his house — every thing — he considered himself the 

 happiest man in the world at seeing me, and a long string of equally ex- 

 travagant " assurances of his distinguished consideration." This was 

 my friend Herr von R — . I at once accompanied him home and, such a 

 day as we spent none but a naturalist can imagine. He is a bachelor 

 and lives in a style becoming a high officer in the Hessian Government. 

 His entomological treasures were at once displayed, and we revelled in 

 delight as drawer after drawer was opened to our view. Herr von R — 

 is a most industrious naturalist, — he is quite distinguished in one depart- 

 ment and devotes all his spare time to the cultivation of Zoological sci- 

 ence. We were as intimate and familiar as friends of many years stand- 

 ing, and it was amusing to compare the ideas we had formed of each 

 other's personal appearance. In our case, as in most others, the idea 

 was entirely different from the reality. He thought I was an old man 

 in specs and wig, with a rather mahogany colored face and considerably 

 sprinkled with pock marks, — a sort of aquiline nose and high cheek 

 bones; and I thought he was a young man with a ruOled shirt and wide 

 wrist bands — with numerous rings on his fingers, and redolent of co- 

 logne and pomatum. A noble hearted, upright gentleman, is my friend, 

 Herr von R — . 



He conducted me to another Savanl of Cassel, who received me af- 

 ter the genuine German fashion, barring the kiss. He literally screamed 

 with delight, and in grasping my hand, jerked me half way across the 

 room. This was Professor D — , of the Gymnasium. He is a geologist, and 

 quite distinguished in his department. He is young, ardent in the pur- 

 suit of science, and enthusiastic in his attachment to friends. How flat- 

 tering it is to an American abroad, to hear such men speak in high terms 

 of our Savansat home. Prof. D — was well acquainted with the names 

 and labors of many of our geologists, and spoke in exalted strains of 

 the rapid strides our young republic had made in physical science. His 

 wife is one of the few really handsome women, according to our Amer- 

 ican standard, you meet in Germany. 



