JEFFRIES WYMAN 207 



(like the killing of mortally wounded soldiers by old Ambrose 

 Pare), "doucement et sans cholere." 



This rare combination of judicial severity with gentle toleration 

 in Wyman's character is admirably portrayed by Dr. Holmes: 



"If he had been one of the twelve around the Master, whom 

 they had seen hanging on the cross, no doubt, like Thomas, he 

 would have asked to see the print of the nails, and know for him- 

 self if those palms were pierced, and if that side had received the 

 soldier's spear thrust. But if he had something of the question- 

 ing follower in how many ways he reminded us of the beloved 

 disciple ! His characteristic excellencies recall many of the apostle's 

 descriptions of the virtue which never faileth. He suffered long 

 and was kind; he envied not; he vaunted not himself; he was not 

 puffed up; he sought not his own; was not easily provoked; thought 

 no evil; and rejoiced in the truth. If he differed from Charity in 

 not believing all things, he followed the apostolic precept of trying 

 all things, and holding fast that which stood the trial." 



Without brilliancy, Wyman combined qualities rarely found in 

 the same individual. No man of our time has surpassed him in 

 the love of nature for its own sake, free from the hope of position, 

 power, or profit, in keenness of vision both physical and mental, 

 in absolute integrity with the least as well as the greatest things, 

 in industry and perseverance, and in method, whether for the 

 arrangement of collections, or the presentation of an idea. And 

 if to these had been adjoined a tithe of the ambition displayed by 

 lesser men, and had his health and strength been at all equal to 

 his mental powers, no one can doubt that his attainments, his pro- 

 ductions, and his reputation with the world at large would have 

 been surpassed by those of none of his contemporaries. 



However much we may, for our own sakes, regret that such was 

 not the case, we know that into his mind never entered the shadow 

 of bitterness. His recognition of others' labors was full and gener- 

 ous: his mind was upon the facts and principles of nature, and 

 regarded not the medium through which they were obtained; and, 

 if he ever prayed for health and strength, it was surely not for his 

 own advancement, but because he felt within himself the desire 

 and the ability to learn and to teach the truth. 



