1901.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PIIILADEEI'IIIA. 9 



high ?" The remarkable accuracy that marks the botanical 

 labors of the last quarter of a century is in a great measui'e due to 

 the impulse given to extra care by Charles E. Smith, The last 

 edition of Leidy's Elementary Treatise on Human Anatomy, 

 although carefully read by the author, would have described a 

 certain process of the brain as the " Hippopotamus " — instead of 

 the Hippocampus — minor, had it not been for Smith's supervision. 

 It is not only in the superior accuracy of the literature of botany 

 and allied studies that science is indebted to our friend. He was 

 ever ready tfith encouragement for all botanical enterprises, and 

 especially in the case of younger students. He took an especially 

 warm interest in the establishment of the Ladies' Botanical Club 

 of Syracuse, N. Y. , aiding the society by advice and material. 



The ablest leaders relied on his judgment. Before the appearance 

 of one of the editions of his Manual, Dr. Gray proposed extend- 

 ing the area covered by it. The question was left to Mr. Smith, 

 who decided adversely. He believed in thorough work, and held 

 that this was favored by concentration rather than diffusion of 

 effort. In this spirit he commenced a herbarium of the plants 

 growing within fifteen miles of Philadelphia. This collection he 

 bequeathed to the Academy, and it is regarded as a masterpiece of 

 accurate labor. Every locality is exactly noted, and in every case 

 the existence of the plant on the spot was verified by a personal 

 examination, its identity being carefully ascertained. 



The Recording Secretary of the Academy, whose official rela- 

 tions brought him into intimate communication Avith Mr. Smith, 

 remarks in reply to a note of inquiry : 



" Although he Avas not a frequent visitor to the xA-cademy, he 

 impressed me in the early years of his connection Avith it as a man 

 of singular directness and personal force. A tone of command 

 and authority, resonant voice, clear enunciation, and erect bearing 

 conveyed the idea of perfect mental poise and a habit of rather 

 directing than of conferring with his associates — but all this with- 

 out a suspicion of arrogance or superciliousness." 



He died on Sunday, the 15th of April, 1900, in the eightieth 

 year of his age. The Academy, proud of its contributors to the 

 advancement of knowledge among mankind, places with them in 

 grateful remembrance the name of Charles Eastwick Smith. 



