FIRST PROFESSIONAL WORK 77 



the wave of results widens from a centre of 

 action as do the waves from a stone cast into 

 water. 



My stay with John Wallace continued until 

 some time in January. Early in that month, hav- 

 ing thought it over, and recalling my visit to 

 Princeton the previous summer, I concluded to 

 go to that town, call on some of the authorities of 

 the college, and find out what opening existed 

 there. Asking my boss for a holiday one Satur- 

 day, I visited Princeton, called on Professor 

 Arnold Guyot, and laid the whole matter before 

 him. I explained to him that I understood they 

 were about beginning a museum of natural history 

 in connection with a school of science. I told 

 him where I had studied, and what little I had 

 done ; and finally asked him if there was a chance 

 for me to get a place in the new institution. To 

 enforce my proposal I suggested that I would be 

 willing to work on trial for a given period without 

 compensation. As a result he promised he would, 

 after consideration, advise me. 



About two weeks later I received a letter from 

 Professor Guyot, stating that he had consulted 

 with the college authorities, and that, from Feb- 

 ruary i until Commencement, the trustees would 

 employ me to rearrange such collections as they 

 possessed, and to add to them if possible. In 

 return for my services they offered me, during 



