HIS EXPRESSION OF FACE 413 



shrouded by evident self-consciousness, could be read neither 

 in the look nor manner of the young man. In the course of time, 

 however, his interest in his work and in his fellow men delivered 

 his soul of this burden, and he became the most self -forgetting 

 and self-sacrificing of men. The centre of his thoughts was so 

 successfully shifted from himself to the universe that he often 

 seemed to be lost in the vast field of time ; and again, he would 

 shelter himself in a sort of humorous detachment from the 

 paltry and commonplace, deeming them as part of the infirmity 

 of poor human nature poor, but none the less lovable. More 

 and more he looked upon all the elements of life, however small, 

 as involved in the great whole, as different actors in different 

 parts. His mind thus occupied with large conceptions, his ap- 

 pearance could not fail in a measure to reflect his thoughts. One 

 saw in his face that his ideal of what a man should be and the 

 right way of looking at things had done their work there ; when 

 in repose its expression was lofty and noble; it showed both 

 kindliness and wisdom, that final crown of attainment. 



Mr. Shaler had great power of endurance, and though often 

 assailed by sickness he was no example of "lamed misery." He 

 rallied quickly and went about his business as if nothing had 

 happened. This ready recovery was partly due to natural re- 

 siliency, but more especially to the will to be well. Recognizing 

 the danger of hypochondria to one gifted with an active imagina- 

 tion, he set himself against the impulse to yield to its manifold 

 suggestions of evil, and thus fought his way out of the Slough 

 of Despond the borders of which he touched, though its 

 depths he did not enter. He did his duty thoroughly by his 

 body, except perhaps by overtaxing it at times, but even this 

 was in accordance with a theory and not the result of careless- 

 ness. He believed that it was well to use one's powers, mental 

 and physical, up to their full limit, and to vary occupations 

 when weary rather than suspend labor altogether. He exercised 

 regularly and persistently, preferring long walks off in the coun- 

 try, but if these were not to be had he walked in and out of 



