PROCEEDINGS FOR 1912 XI 
our dear lamented colleague, from the point of view of a friend and near 
neighbour; for he and the present writer were next door neighbors 
during nearly sixteen years, and close friends for nearly twenty years? 
Dr. Ells had in rich measure personal qualities which are far rarer 
than high intellectual gifts. No one could have made less display of 
scholarly accomplishments, yet he was gifted intellectually in an ex- 
ceptional degree, and his high University honours were many, while his 
range of knowledge was wide, and extended over a large and varied 
field. Friends were sometimes startled by his unsuspected stores of 
knowledge, his acquaintance with Indian lore, with archaeological and 
historical research, with philosophical speculation, especially as it bore 
on physical science. He had a remarkable personal knowledge of the 
most distant parts of our Dominion, and no one did more strenuous work 
in the field from the Maritime Provinces on the east to British Columbia 
on the west. One of his latest expeditions was an exploratory trip into 
some little-known portions of Queen Charlotte Islands, where hardships 
and dangers were faced which would have deterred much younger 
men. Devotion to public duty was one of his outstanding char- 
acteristics. He really died in harness. Never had the Dominion 
Government a more loyal and devoted official, and he remained 
at work until the last. His friends as they recall his treasured per- 
sonality, vividly remember his unbounding good nature, his unfailing ur- 
banity, his faithful comradeship, his unflinching loyalty and his sterling 
sincerity of character. His keen sense of humour was irrepressible 
and no company of friends, if he were present, could be otherwise than 
genial. Even the austere rooms of the Royal Society’s meetings, would 
ring with welcome laughter, when Dr. Ells ventured on some humorous 
strain, or essayed a little banter in the course of somewhat dull and 
grave discussions. His geniality was infectious, and his presence will be 
sorely missed at the annual gatherings of the Royal Society, and other 
scientific conclaves. His place as a gifted geologist, and as a genial 
confrère cannot be filled. Our most recentmethods of research do not 
develop personality, but rather tend to efface strong personal elements. 
Amidst our complex technical modes of investigation the personality of 
the scientist seems to count for less, seems indeed to be vanishing. The 
pioneer originality is overshadowed and effaced by technical routine 
and impersonal methods. The specialist is supreme. 
Ever youthful as he was in mind and manner, yet Dr. Ells belonged 
to that ‘Golden Age’ of the old Geological Survey, whose members loom 
like giants to us now. Sir William Logan’s influence was still strong 
when Dr. Ells began his geological researches and it is undeniable that, 
when Sir William Dawson, Sterry Hunt, George Mercer Dawson, Alfred 
Selwyn and their compeers held sway, their work won a unique place in 
