230 LEADING AMERICAN MEN OF SCIENCE 



lookout for some pleasant feature in the people of whom he writes, 

 and to give kindliness and equity to his judgment. 



"And what a life of labors it was! I am perfectly aghast at the 

 amoiillf 61 grinding work of whicK these papers are the indirect 

 evidence. . . . 



"For they [his religious views] were a most characteristic part 

 of the man, and the seriousness and earnest conviction with which 

 he let them be known had, I am convinced, a most wholesome 

 effect on the development of the great scientific theory in which 

 he was so much interested. It took off a great deal of the theo- 

 logical edge, which was its danger, both to those who upheld and 

 those who opposed it. I am sure things would have gone more 

 crossly and unreasonably, if his combination of fearless religion 

 and clearness of mind, and wise love of truth, had not told on the 

 controversy." 



On November 18, 1885, Professor Gray's seventy-fifth birthday, 

 there was an outpouring of expressions of admiration and affec- 

 tion from American botanists that was remarkable. At the sugges- 

 tion of the editors of the Botanical Gazette, the expression took the 

 form of a silver memorial vase and personal letters of congratula- 

 tion. The responses were so prompt and generous that the whole 

 movement was really spontaneous, waiting only for the opportu- 

 nity. The legend upon the vase read 



" 1810 November eighteenth 1885 



Asa Gray 

 in token of the universal esteem of American botanists" 



Beautifully wrought upon the vase were appropriate representa- 

 tives of the North American flora; and it was a keen pleasure to 

 see with what almost boyish delight the venerable but ever youth- 

 ful botanist recognized and named them. There were also greet- 

 ings from 1 80 American botanists; in fact from all who could be 

 notified of the anniversary; and James Russell Lowell contributed 

 the following sentiment: 



"Just Fate, prolong his life well-spent 

 Whose indefatigable hours 

 Have been as gaily innocent 

 And fragrant as his flowers." 



