HENRY AUGUSTUS ROWLAND 413 



that Rowland made on me was not favorable. Knowing that, in 

 the natural course of things, we were to be thrown much together, 

 I could not help wondering whether this was to be a pleasant or an 

 unpleasant experience. I had my doubts. We were both, in 

 those days, somewhat high-strung. It soon became evident that 

 we should not always agree, and that between us there were likely 

 to be heated conversations, but let me say at once that in a short 

 time we came to know each other as well as two men can know 

 each other, and for twenty-five years we were intimate, most inti- 

 mate, friends. We understood each other and were ready to make 

 such allowances as must always be made between friends if friend- 

 ship is to continue. Strangers and casual acquaintances had a 

 wrong conception of Rowland. This is easily understood. He 

 was apt to put his worst foot forward. He made no attempt to 

 conciliate rather the contrary. It took time to get over this first 

 impression, but those who knew him best learned that he had 

 many most attractive traits of character. He was a staunch 

 friend, incapable of anything mean. He was absolutely sincere. 

 He was generous and affectionate. He had the highest ideals and 

 tried earnestly to attain them. On the other hand, he despised 

 sham and, whenever he detected it he did not hesitate to express 

 his opinion in strong language not always strictly parliamentary. 

 Indeed it must be said that he appeared to derive a certain amount 

 of pleasure from this kind of activity, and he no doubt often gave 

 offense by it. He was a merciless critic, and no doubt the world 

 offered him abundant opportunity for the exercise of his powers. 



But let us now return to Baltimore where Rowland began work 

 on the foundations of the Johns Hopkins University in the autumn 

 of 1876. The little faculty of the University at that time felt that 

 the best thing they could do was to lay emphasis on graduate 

 work and especially on research. Rowland had this in mind in 

 ordering apparatus in Europe, and in a short time he had probably 

 the best collection of apparatus for research in America. It should 

 be said here that the policy of the faculty was, in fact, the policy 

 of President Gilman. We all agreed. To some of us, probably to 

 all the younger members, the President said repeatedly, "Do your 



