420 LEADING AMERICAN MEN OF SCIENCE 



such care that it to-day offers to the world the most complete 

 monument to human reason. This is the mind which is destined 

 to govern the world in the future and to solve the problems pertain- 

 ing to politics and humanity as well as to inanimate nature. 



"It is the only mind which appreciates the imperfections of the 

 human reason and is thus careful to guard against them. It is 

 the only mind that values the truth as it should be valued and 

 ignores all personal feeling in its pursuit. And this is the mind 

 the physical laboratory is built to cultivate." 



This passage is thoroughly characteristic of Rowland in form 

 and substance. He felt, and felt intensely as usual, that natural 

 science was the only subject really worthy of study except in so 

 far as study of other subjects might contribute to the advance- 

 ment of science. He retained to the end his abhorrence of the 

 ancient languages and would not listen to arguments in their 

 favor. He could not understand how anyone could spend his life 

 in studying them. He could not understand how their study 

 could be of the slightest benefit to the world. He was entirely 

 sincere in this. He was incapable of insincerity. It must be 

 acknowledged that this was his blind side. But why complain? 

 A man who has the keenness of vision possessed by Rowland can 

 afford to have a blind side, and the world can afford to be blind 

 to the imperfection. 



Though the man has been revealed to some extent in what has 

 already been said, there are some traits which have not been 

 touched upon. He was tall and lithe and quick in motion. His 

 head would attract attention anywhere on account of the size of 

 the brain above the ears and the size and strength of the lower 

 jaw. Withal it was a head of refinement. His face had an intent 

 expression which was increased by his near-sightedness. Probably 

 his expression would have been described as severe by those who 

 did not know him well. It was a masterful expression and was 

 therefore a true index of his character. 



In 1890 he married Miss Henrietta Harrison of Baltimore. 

 The marriage was an unusually happy one. Of the three children 

 of this marriage two are boys and one a girl. It is perhaps too 

 early to speak with confidence of the future of these children. The 



