Tlic Class-Hook of Chemistry. 59 



ing and arranging materials. Every day they paid 

 long- visits to the public libraries to consult authorities 

 and make extracts. In those days New York was no 

 larger than Buffalo is now, and its public libraries 

 were near together. The Mercantile Library was on 

 Nassau Street, the Library of the American Institute 

 on Chambers Street, the Society Library on the cor- 

 ner of Broadway and Franklin Street. Sometimes the 

 needed book was not to be found in any of these 

 places, and recourse would be had to the book-stores. 

 Sometimes those who had books to sell were unwill- 

 ing to lend them, even in a good cause ; but this was 

 not always the case. One morning, on their round of 

 calls, Miss Youmans led her brother into D. Appleton 

 & Co.'s store, then on Broadway below the City Hall, 

 in quest of a volume. Mr. William H. Appleton at 

 once offered him the loan of it, and of any other book 

 he might want. He frequently availed himself of the 

 privilege so kindly extended, with welcome saving to 

 his slender purse. That chance visit, as we shall see, 

 was a capital incident in Youmans's life, and the Ap- 

 pletons now look back upon it as one of the most 

 auspicious events in the annals of their firm. 



After several months of hard work, when the his- 

 tory was well on its way to completion, Youmans 

 learned to his deep chagrin that Mr. George Putnam, 

 the publisher, had just brought out a similar book 

 The World's Progress. After recovering from this 

 bitter disappointment, he resumed his usual round of 

 literary work and scientific study. Somewhat more 

 than two years ran uneventfully on. Then, at the 

 close of 1849, a combination of untoward circum- 

 stances plunged him into the deepest despondency of 

 his life. His relapses into total blindness became 



