140 Edward Livingston Youmans. 



exploding them together; third, bursting iron bottles by 

 freezing ; fourth, exhibiting the formations of crystals by 

 the electric light in a vacuum ; fifth, formation of an im- 

 mense spectrum on a screen absorption of its different parts 

 by coloured glasses ; and, sixth, regelation of iron. He had 

 splendid diagrams of the glaciers, but hardly referred to 

 them ; was chiefly occupied with the watery vapour of the air 

 and its relations to obscure radiant heat. Tyndall has suffi- 

 cient Irish blood and temperament not brogue to remind 

 me constantly of Plunkett. He was not still a moment, but 

 bending and twisting in all possible shapes, as if he had the 

 St. Vitus's dance twisting his legs together, bending down 

 to the desk, and working and jerking himself in all possi- 

 ble directions. Everybody was kept wide awake, enter- 

 tained, and instructed. It was a work of enthusiasm. 



At Cambridge and elsewhere Youmans learned 

 much, and picked up many hints for future work, but 

 on the whole he was not sorry to return home after an 

 absence of four months. 



