PROCEEDINGS OF MEMORIAL MEETIXG. 231 



of a citizen of an afflicted State, or of a worker whose yoke-fellow is taken 

 from him ; I mourn the death of a personal friend. Thonjrli I first met Pro- 

 fessor Putnam within a year, our community of feelings and interests was so 

 perfect, our associations so uniformly harmonious, and our intercourse so 

 intimate, that my feeling for him was that of a man for his well-tried friend. 

 Thus, as a fellow-citizen, as a fellow- worker, and as a fellow-mourner, I join 

 with you in bearing his well-earned laurels to the tomb of our honored asso- 

 ciate and leader. 



Sincerely yours, 



W.J. McGEE. 



From Dr. H. I. Bowditch, Boston, Mass. 



BosTox, January 31, 1882. 

 Dear Madam: I presume I owe to your thoughtfulness the receipt of 

 the Proceedings of the Davenport Academy of Sciences. The tributes paid 

 to the dear youth were most appropriate. Wliat a brave, uncomplaining, but 

 ever- working youth he was! 



He has done more in his short life and while in ill health, than most 

 people do in a long life of health. I catniot associate sorrow with such a 

 life and such a death. Sucli .souls seem ever to minister to those who are 

 left. 



I congratulate you, my dear Madam, for the great fact, which is granted 

 to but few mothers, of having given birth to, and having loved and lived 

 with so long — such a son. 



I remain, my dear Mrs. Putnam, 



Very truly, and with great sympathy, 



HENRY I. BOWDITCH. 



From Baron K. Osten Sacken, formerly Secretary of Legation, Russian Embassy. 



Heidelberg, Germany, Jan. 31, 1882. 

 Dear Mrs. Putnam : You will easily understand with what feelings I 

 have heard of the death of your dear son. The five or six years that had 

 elapsed since I last saw liim, and the con.stant proofs of his activity in the 

 field of science whicli I could witness, had made me believe and hope that 

 he had gradually overcome the delicate state of health in which I had seen 

 him. But it was not so, and we have to submit to this, as we have to so many 

 other trials in this life. Please accept for yourself and husband the expres- 

 sion of the most sincere condolence of one who has a grateful remembrance 

 of your kindness to him 1 Whetlier it will ever be given to me to cross the 

 ocean again I do not know ; but I feel that my best friends are on the other 

 side of it. * * * H you should ever visit Europe, please let me know it 

 imd I will try to meet you. The two numbers of the " Star of Woodlawn,'" 

 which you gave me, have a well defined place in my library and refresh my 

 memories from time to time of your happy family circle. 



Believe me, ever sincerely and faithfully yours, 



R. OSTEN SACKEN. 



