232 The University of Califoryiia Magaziiie. 



cialists in one domain of science, in order to understand its 

 full meanings and bearings upon other branches, and its place 

 in the world-plan. Le Conte never doubted the existence of 

 such a plan, and he looked upon nature reverently as one part 

 of its manifestations; but without undervaluing for a moment 

 the other, the spiritual part, which is now so commonly cast 

 aside as a mere "property of matter in an advanced state of 

 evolution;" while, on the other hand, there are still those who 

 claim to evolve its nature from their inner consciousness, in- 

 dependently of observed phenomena. 1,6 Conte's early edu- 

 cation and experience as a physician laid the foundations of 

 the broad knowledge which later made him equally at home 

 in the purely phj'sical sciences and in the biological field. 

 While his geological writings are, perhaps, best known to the 

 American public, through the wide use made of his books on 

 that subject, both in universities and in the secondary schools, 

 his early and warm advocacy of the doctrine of evolution has 

 probably served most to make him known and appreciated in 

 the Old World, where he was warmly welcomed and honored 

 in scientific assemblies, among the foremost men. His elec- 

 tion to the Presidency of the International Geological Con- 

 gress, held at Washington in 1891, and to that of the Ameri- 

 can Association for the Advancement of Science in 1892, were 

 manifestations of the high esteem in which he was held by 

 his scientific colleagues. 



It is sometimes said that those who undertake to generalize 

 in science are apt to be unable to make accurate observations 

 themselves. While this is true in some cases, it was certainly 

 otherwise in that of Le Conte. His scientific writings and 

 special papers show an eminent capacity for close observation; 

 yet his glance was always upon the bearings of what he saw, 

 upon general problems rather than upon the minor details of 

 each field of view, which he was quite content to leave to oth- 

 ers. At the same time, he had the true scientific spirit in the 

 absence of all dogmatism, and the readiness at all times to 

 consider candidly any observations or opinions at variance 



