344 NATHANIEL SOUTHGATE SHALER 



stance might add to his nervousness, for in the outside world 

 there was always enough to disturb the equipoise of one of his 

 ardent temperament. 



In 1886 there came about a change of residence, and the 

 Bow Street house, now the site of Westmorly Hall, where he 

 had spent many happy years, was sold. The street, from hav- 

 ing been a quiet little side passage, had become the highway to 

 boat-house and students' lodgings. The purchase of this place 

 had been in a way the outcome of what is recognized as an ideal 

 state of society the condition where every man owns his own 

 house. At least such seemed to be the case in Cambridge in 

 1867, for after searching vainly to find a dwelling for rent, hap- 

 pening one day to walk through the old part of the town, Mr. 

 Shaler noticed an auctioneer's flag hanging from the house 

 he was passing. Taking counsel at home, he returned in a few 

 minutes to the site and before the next half-hour was over he 

 had become the owner of the old-fashioned abode that for some 

 obscure reason had been put on the market. The big chimneys 

 were its chief attractions, built at a time when a hole in the 

 floor was not recognized as a substitute for the family hearth. 

 In re-introducing the open wood fire, Mr. Shaler felt that he 

 was doing good service ; the air-tight stove and furnace doubt- 

 less had their uses, but were not to be depended upon as sources 

 of joy in the library, or any place where good fellowship was 

 expected. He lived to see fires blazing on the hearths of most 

 of his friends, and insisted that the open fire and the open heart 

 were two things that naturally went together. 



The Quincy Street house, overlooking the College Yard, was 

 charmingly placed. It was sunny, quiet, and nearer to his 

 office, especially when that was transferred from the Museum 

 to University Hall. And henceforth all that went on within the 

 College enclosure became a part of his life, from the ringing of 

 the early morning bell to the "rushes" on " Bloody Monday." 

 He had a keen scent for a fire and was always among the first to 

 appear on the scene. His quick response to the call of the fire- 



