LIFE OF JAMES DWIGHT DANA 



That humorous reference to " the trilobites, and the 

 story they could tell," is quite an exceptional passage in 

 his writings.* Yet he was easily drawn into conversa- 

 tion upon scientific subjects; and with those whom he 

 saw familiarly, like Guyot, Brush, Marsh, Verrill, and 

 Williams, the conversations were spirited, controversial, 

 inquisitive, and instructive. 



To his students he was devoted. One of his lectures 

 upon the Coral Islands was a great favorite with them, 

 and it was often repeated by request. Vivid pictures of 

 those beautiful formations were presented by the lecturer, 

 year after year, with the enthusiasm of a voyager just re- 

 turned from the exploration of the South Seas. When 

 the earlier writings of Darwin appeared, and all educated 

 people were eager to know how these startling generali- 

 zations should be received, Dana lectured to the college 

 world upon this subject, and his guarded utterances con- 

 tributed not a little to the acceptance, among his fol- 

 lowers, of the doctrine of evolution. 



His domestic life was as serene as it could be. Next 

 door dwelt his father-in-law, Professor Silliman, to the 

 end of his days, and next door beyond, on Hillhouse 

 avenue, his brother-in-law, the younger Silliman. The 

 avenue was lined with the houses of colleagues and 

 friends. Shaded by the beautiful elms which were 

 planted by James Hillhouse, it was one of the most at- 

 tractive places of residence in New England. It was 

 within sound of the lively college bell, and far enough 

 from the public green to be as quiet as a country lane. 



As the reader has already become aware, Dana's re- 

 ligious life was simple and devout, full of good-will to all 

 men, absolutely free from dogmatism and obtrusiveness. 

 Even among his most intimate friends he rarely referred 

 to his inmost convictions and hopes. Only when some 

 sermon or some book spoke contemptuously of the pursuit 



* Page 183. 

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