SKETCH OF WILLIAM WILLIAMS MATHER. 



555 



In his various expeditions he collected large numbers of min- 

 erals and geological specimens. His collection was much increased 

 by exchanges with American and foreign geologists, and at his 

 death contained about twenty-six thousand specimens. At pres- 

 ent it is owned by his son Richard, of Ironton, Ohio. 



Mr. Austin thus describes his character : " Equable in his dis- 

 position and gentle in his manners, considerate of others and just 

 in his judgment of them, modest, but manly and self-reliant, thor- 

 oughly versed in the branches of science to which he devoted him- 

 self, he had neither dogmatism nor ostentation. As he observed 

 in a letter to a personal friend, who differed from him in regard 

 to a geological question, ' I am not wedded to any theory, but seek 

 the truth and when found adopt it/ " He was not inclined to 

 court popularity, neither was his manner forbidding. Letters 

 preserved by his family and friends give abundant evidence of 

 his gentle disposition, firm principles, and high sense of honor. 



The supremacy of his will-power over physical pain is illus- 

 trated in the following anecdote : " While making an examina- 

 tion of coal lands near Pomeroy, in Ohio, he was wounded in the 

 second finger of his right hand. This wound induced a partial 

 paralysis, and required an amputation of the finger. The cause 

 of it was supposed to be a snake bite. As soon as he was con- 

 vinced by the examination that amputation was inevitable, he 

 directed the surgeon to procure a block, a chisel, and a mallet, 

 and, placing his finger on the block, told him to sever the finger at 

 one blow. This was attempted, but proved a sad failure. The 

 chisel was too thin and highly tempered, and the edge crumbled. 

 Nevertheless, he directed the surgeon to go on, and several blows 

 were required before a complete severance could be made ; although 

 in this painful operation the bone was crushed instead of being 

 cut, he bore it without flinching." 



The substantial national reputation as a geologist won by 

 William W. Mather was the result of the steady and conscientious 

 application of a natural aptitude. "Not possessing the genius 

 which dazzles," says his friend Austin, "he had the intellect 

 which, continually improved by exercise, achieved valuable re- 

 sults by patient and conscientious industry. What duty de- 

 manded, that he performed regardless of consequences, either to 

 himself or others. Not indifferent to fame, he never sought it by 

 doubtful or devious courses. His object was not to enhance his 

 reputation, but faithfully to do the work before him. Through 

 the whole of his active and laborious life of thirty years in the 

 cause of science, in all the various and important public positions 

 which he occupied, no breath of censure assailed his integrity, 

 which was a law of Nature with him, rather than a choice or a 

 principle." 



