300 JOSEPH HENRY, LL.D. 



the mysterious light shone from the lantern of an 

 attendant who was required at nine o'clock each 

 evening to observe and record the indications of the 

 meteorological instruments placed on the tower. 

 The painful confusion of the officious informant at 

 once appealed to Henry's sensibility, and, quite un- 

 mindful of the President, he approached the visitor, 

 offering his hand, and with a courteous regard 

 counselled him never to be abashed at the issue of 

 a conscientious discharge of duty, and never to let 

 the fear of ridicule interfere with its faithful exe- 

 cution." 



Henry had learned how to triumph over the mis- 

 fortunes of life. In 1865, the Smithsonian build- 

 ing was partially burned, with nearly one hundred 

 thousand letters, his notes of original research 

 for thirty years, the annual report in manuscript, 

 ready for the press, a valuable library, etc. 



" A few years ago," he said, " such a calamity 

 would have paralyzed me for future efforts, but in 

 my present view of life I take it as the dispensa- 

 tion of a kind and wise Providence, and trust that 

 it will work to my spiritual advantage." 



A bronze statue of Joseph Henry, by W. W. 

 Story, costing fifteen thousand dollars, was un- 

 veiled in the grounds of the Smithsonian Institu- 

 tion, April 19, 1883. Ten thousand people were 

 assembled to witness the ceremonies. Noah Por- 

 ter, ex-president of Yale College, delivered the 

 oration. There it will tell the story of a self-made 

 man of whom Garfield said : " Remembering his 



