ADDRESS OF PROF. S. NEWCOMB. 471 



them was the very man he had met at the Smithsonian. The 

 sounds which the medium had emitted were then described to the 

 young man, who in reply explained the structure of the apparatus 

 by which they were produced, which apparatus had been constructed 

 by himself. The apparatus was fastened around the muscular part 

 of the upper arm, and was so arranged that the sounds would be 

 produced by a simple contraction of the muscle, unaccompanied by 

 any motion of the joints of the arm, and therefore entirely invisible 

 to a bystander. 



A trait of Professor Henry's character which contributed pow- 

 erfully to his success and usefulness was the many-sidedness of both 

 his intellect and his taste. The great development of the imagina- 

 tive and aesthetic faculties which led to the precocious dramatic 

 activity of his boyhood made itself felt throughout his life. 

 Although he did not seek to beautify his public addresses or com- 

 munications with ornaments drawn from foreign sources, he was 

 always ready with an apt quotation to clothe a sentiment. Apart 

 from all intellectual and scientific claims, American science could 

 not have desired a more fitting representative and leader at the 

 National Capital, or found one whose physical and mental constitu- 

 tion afforded so little ground for adverse criticism. His principles 

 kept him outside of all competition, jealousies, and cross purposes, 

 and all combined gave his recommendations a force, founded on the 

 assurance of their entire disinterestedness, which they otherwise 

 could not have commanded. If he had any eccentricities or preju- 

 dices they were those of the philosopher. The mental qualities so 

 well fitted to secure the affection as well as the respect of all with 

 whom he became intimately acquainted, were supplemented by a 

 healthy constitution, a well-built person, and a commanding yet 

 modest presence, finely calculated to win confidence. 



In conclusion, we believe that we but feebly express the senti- 

 ment of every member of the Academy, in saying that our late 

 President will be entitled to the gratitude of posterity as the 

 leader of that intellectual band of the last generation, to whom is 

 due the great advance in the national appreciation of scientific 

 research which has been witnessed during the last thirty years ; and 

 the state of society of which he would not be an ornament is still 

 beyond our intellectual vision. 



