374 NATHANIEL SOUTHGATE SHALER 



of automatic response that might involve the heart even though 

 the brain were benumbed. At any rate, stupidity he reckoned 

 as something firmly established in human nature that had to 

 be put up with. The confirmed in dulness he often counselled 

 to seek their strength in manual dexterities. He by no means 

 despised a small talent if it fulfilled its task. Nor did he over- 

 emphasize attainment. He used to say "it was not worth while 

 for humanity to be bumptious about what it had accomplished, 

 for the little that is done seems nothing when we look forward 

 and see how much we have to do." This conception of the vast 

 and unattainable field of knowledge came to him at an early 

 age as will be seen from the accompanying extract from his 

 journal. 



Sept. 18, 1859. When one appreciates the shortness of life and the vastness 

 of nature every moment lost to study and contemplation seems a loss irre- 

 parable; the days, weeks and months, as they glide by, are each bearing in 

 its course a portion of our life without adding to our store of wisdom. . . . 

 Like a wanderer in a labyrinth trying first one path and then another and 

 hurrying with eager steps to reach the goal, one finds himself at length at 

 the place of his departure. ... To many this view of all the end of philo- 

 sophy might be discouraging, and indeed it would be if the end of all study 

 were to gain the object of our search. But the true philosopher has more than 

 mere curiosity to tempt him to give his life to contemplation and research, 

 for although at last he but gains a knowledge of his own insignificance, his 

 studies have brought him nearer his Creator. 



The truth is, as time wore on, mere intellectual distinction 

 unaccompanied by high character was held in only moderate 

 esteem ; to his mind the supreme excellence consisted in being 

 a gentleman. But in whatever shape it presented itself, 

 whether able-minded or dull-witted, he had great reverence 

 for the organism called man, and was ever conscious of the 

 immense struggle the ages had witnessed to bring him to the 

 place where he now stands. He not infrequently quoted Em- 

 erson's saying, that it was something for man to have got up 

 on his hind legs and shuffled off some of his animal propensi- 

 ties. It was this historic sense that enabled him to see the 



