ROGER KENNEDY. XXI 



the particular world the man of thought lives in. To continue for 

 years under such conditions requires particular mental characteristics. 

 Without a certain amount of stamina there would be a break-down. 

 It is not in the final victory of battle where the real trial of the 

 soldier has been, but in the long march, and the weary watches, 

 where rest and rations were awanting, that the true power and pluck 

 of the man has been tested. The dull monotony of the campaign 

 is seldom thought of, it is only the triumph at the end which calls 

 forth the admiration and praise of the world. Roger Kennedy did 

 go through the weary toil of an uphill contest in life ; and although 

 he conquered, it was with the loss of much that most men value. 

 To a great extent he was a solitary. While others were enjoying 

 themselves, he was spending his time in his own room, often till far 

 in the night, among his botanical collections and with his micro- 

 scope. While he was at work on the fungi, there was a constant 

 fear that he might be found some morning poisoned, for some of 

 the descriptive tests depend upon the taste of these dangerous 

 growths, and he at times got his mouth into a dreadful condition 

 from the necessity of tasting doubtful plants. I once manifested my 

 perfect faith in his knowledge of the fungi by collecting a quantity, 

 under his supervision, in the Cumbrae ; after bringing them home 

 and being cooked by Mrs. Kennedy, although I knew they were 

 not mushrooms, yet, without fear, and in trust of my friend, I 

 partook heartily of the dish, and found them good. 



There is one adventure which I have heard Mr. Kennedy relate, 

 and it is worth recording, as it will show that he had a very strong 

 reliant spirit, the existence of which will explain how he was able 

 to remain faithful to his long course of study. It must have been 

 very early in his botanical period, for it was on his first finding of 

 the Royal Fern. It took place at the coast, and on a Sunday. I 

 can imagine his delight it was a splendid specimen and in good 

 condition. A treasure of this kind was not to be lost, and although 

 he had to return through the town, and people would look at such 

 a marked object the fern was about as long as himself and on a 

 Sunday too, still that must be faced, for he had to go up to Glasgow 

 early on Monday morning, and the gauntlet of public opinion must 

 be run coute qui coute and all are aware how particular Mrs. 

 G randy is in Scotland as to what constitutes propriety in the proper 



