218 Proceedings of Indiana Academy of Science. 
work of the Waterman Institute and discussed minutely the work in 
progress. But what impressed the writer even more than the aged 
Doctor’s knowledge cf and continued interest in science was his knowl- 
edge of language, literature and history. He rarely faltered on Latin 
or Greek derivatives and he read Spanish readily. In fact, he was at 
that time reading a history of Mexico in Spanish. He had made an 
extended trip into Mexico in 1886 and had acquired some knowledge of 
the Spanish language. Thirty years later, at an age of more than four 
score, we find him reading Spanish and studying Mexican history. Here 
we find the secret of Dr. Waterman’s success. He had the desire to 
know, and he had the perseverance and energy required to acquire the 
knowledge. In addition he had the instincts of the scientist, the faculty 
of observing details and appreciating their importance. This is strik- 
ingly illustrated in a paper presented to the writer a few years ago. 
It is a four-page description of an aurora witnessed by the Doctor when 
a young man, written as the display was taking place. For vividness 
of description and terse, straight-forward English it is superior to most 
of the studied memoirs published in our magazines of science. Dr. 
Waterman’s ability was recognized by his alma mater, Miami Univer- 
sity, by conferring upon him in 1892 the honorary degree M. A. 
Dr. Waterman was originally a Whig, but became a Republican when 
that party came into ascendancy and remained a staunch Republican all 
his life. When Fremont was running for President the Doctor stumped 
Howard County in his behalf. Throughout his life he remained more 
or less active in his party’s councils. 
At the time of his visits to Europe, 1878 and 1881, also to Mexico, 
1886, Dr. Waterman wrote a number of articles for the Indianapolis 
papers descriptive of his travels. He published a paper on “The Regi- 
mental Surgeon” in the Indiana Medical Journal, February, 1906, and 
a book of verse, entitled “Phantoms of Life,’ in 1883. In this little 
volume he “presented his philosophy of existence in stately phrasing. 
The ideals there shown are high, and those who knew him may well 
believe that he tried to fulfill them.” Dr. Waterman, the son of a 
minister, was not himself an enrolled member of any church. Yet he 
was in thought and deed a deeply religious man. At his funeral both 
Jew and Gentile attested to the nobility of his character and the grief 
his death brought to them. 
At a meeting of the Trustees of Indiana University, May 12, 1915, 
Dr. Waterman placed in their hands deeds to property amounting in 
value to one hundred thousand dollars for the purpose of founding an 
Institute for Scientific Research. This is the largest gift for scientific 
research ever made in Indiana. Dr. Waterman believed the highest 
form of charity is to discover useful truth, and for this purpose he 
