SHEFFIELD SCIENTIFIC SCHOOL 161 



truths of science. He was, in his own day, a master of 

 the theory of his profession in so far as it had then 

 been developed, and his skill in rendering useful to 

 practice the scientific and theoretical work of others, 

 together with his ability personally to contribute to 

 the sum of such work, was the foundation of his use- 

 fulness in the early days of agricultural science in this 

 country. 



Although Mr. Abner A. Johnson's strength was 

 rapidly declining, his house remained a center of hos- 

 pitality. Mrs. S. W. Johnson, writing to her husband 

 from Deer River in September of this year, told of the 

 entertainment of old friends. She added : 



Father put on his best coat and met them at the dinner 

 table most hospitably he received them, nice old gentleman 

 that he is! I have always admired your unfailing kindness 

 and courtesy to our visitors, and I see now you always had a 

 good example. 



Few more letters were written either to or from the 

 Deer River home, which was broken up the following 

 April, immediately after the death of its builder. 



