176 LEADING AMERICAN MEN OF SCIENCE 



The compensation as demonstrator was slight and Wyman 

 felt that his father had already done enough in educating his sons. 

 He lived within his means, but there is no reason to think that his 

 health, strength or efficiency was impaired by undue frugality. As 

 was the custom in those days of a volunteer fire-department, he 

 accepted from Samuel A. Eliot, Mayor, an appointment dated 

 September i, 1838, and was assigned to Engine No. 18. The rule 

 was that the first comer to the engine-house should bear the lan- 

 tern and be absolved from other work ; Wyman lived near by and 

 his promptitude generally saved him from all severe labor than 

 that of enlightening his company. 



During this period there was offered a really extraordinary oppor- 

 tunity for usefulness and self-support. In 1839, by the bequest 

 of John Lowell, Jr., there had been founded in Boston the Lowell 

 Institute. This provided for the delivery, each winter, of several 

 courses upon various subjects by lecturers invited from all parts 

 of the civilized world. It has thus not only instructed the public 

 but also proved an incentive and an aid to the advancement of 

 knowledge. The first trustee, John Amory Lowell, appointed 

 Wyman as curator at $500 per annum. He held the office for 

 three years, and during the second (1840-41), gave a course upon 

 Comparative Anatomy which proved so attractive that its repeti- 

 tion was demanded. 1 For the lectures the compensation was 

 liberal (and has since been increased) ; with the funds thus earned 

 by his first essay in teaching others he went abroad to seek further 

 instruction for himself. 



He reached Paris in May, 1841. Although Cuvier had then 



the absence of Dr. Henry I. Bowditch. There is no evidence that Jeffries 

 Wyman served as house-physician during his medical course. 



1 The Boston Evening Transcript of December 3, 1840, and January 12, 

 1841, has somewhat extended notices of the opening and closing lectures of 

 this course. While regarding his manner and delivery as perhaps too quiet 

 they recognize that "he was a perfect master of the subject and indefatigable 

 in his efforts to disseminate among his hearers that ardent love of science 

 which is so manifest in himself. The drawings (the work of the lecturer him- 

 self) were spirited and conspicuous, very well executed, and precisely of the 

 kind wanted for illustration to a popular audience." 



