424 LEADING AMERICAN MEN OF SCIENCE 



tance of mine, and I imagine Rowland got enough of English 

 fox-hunting, for on my return from Birmingham, one evening, I 

 found him stretched on the bed, a symphony in brown and red 

 mud, his once glossy hat crushed into nothingness, his top-boots, 

 once so new, a mass of Warwickshire mud. He dryly remarked 

 that he guessed there wouldn't be any trouble about getting his 

 hunting-suit through the custom-house now. He came very near 

 breaking his neck, having been thrown on his head before he 

 'could calculate his orbit,' as he remarked." In the last years 

 of his life he rode regularly though not after the hounds. He felt 

 the importance of outdoor exercise for his health, and fortunately 

 he enjoyed it. He did not care to ride in the park or along the 

 broad frequented roads. Cross-country was his preference. At 

 one period I rode with him daily, and learned more about riding 

 than I had learned in all my previous existence. He had his 

 doubts as to my ability to do some of the things he wanted to do. 

 It must be confessed that I had my own doubts. Once we were 

 flying along through the woods when with little warning we came 

 upon what appeared to me a preternaturally and unnecessarily 

 wide ditch. Without a moment's hesitation his horse made the 

 leap. Mine followed and by good fortune I retained my seat and 

 looked comfortable on the other side. Rowland turned to me and 

 said simply: "Remsen, my respect for you has gone up." On 

 another occasion my horse refused a fence which his had taken 

 nicely. I tried it a second time without success and was about to 

 give it up when Rowland called out: "Don't spoil the horse. 

 Make him take it." He took it in time. 



One of his greatest pleasures in life was his annual visit to his 

 country home at Seal Harbor, Mt. Desert, Maine. Some years 

 ago he bought a small piece of ground on a rocky hill with a mag- 

 nificent view and on it he built a comfortable, modest house. Here 

 he went every summer with his family, and spent most of his time 

 out of doors either sailing or walking, though he was not over fond 

 of walking unless he wanted to get somewhere. For twelve or 

 more years he knew that he had an incurable disease and that his 

 life could not be a long one. This was one reason, perhaps the 



