64 Edward Livingston Youmans. 



nearly ready for the press he learned, from a review 

 in one of the morning papers, that Horace Mann had 

 just published an arithmetic on precisely the same 

 plan. His disappointment at being thus a second time 

 forestalled was very keen. But there was much con- 

 solation in the remarkable popularity of the chemical 

 chart, and he made up his mind to write the desired 

 chemical text-book. He attended Dr. J. W. Draper's 

 lectures on chemistry and physiology, and always 

 cordially acknowledged his indebtedness, for method 

 as well as for facts, to that eminent teacher. Of refer- 

 ence books he gathered all that he could find that 

 were of real authority. These, after they had been 

 read to him, he would ponder over and digest for 

 hours together. At length, filled with his subject, he 

 began to dictate his book. 



Miss Ketcham, at this time, chiefly at his instance, 

 had taken a large five-story boarding-house at 49 Cliff 

 Street. Here, on the fourth floor, he occupied a back 

 bedroom, about eight feet by twelve. Opposite the 

 door was a large west window, and under this was a 

 hinged shelf, which could be let down when not in 

 use. Little space was left for moving about, although 

 bedstead, washstand, bureau, and chairs were of the 

 severely simple type of furniture. During working 

 hours books of reference and manuscript covered 

 every inch of shelf and bed. At night all had to be 

 neatly gathered up and put away. Practice had made 

 our author, naturally a tidy man, very expert in stow- 

 age and in finding things exactly where he had placed 

 them. 



His idea of the kind of book he wished to write 

 was distinct ; he felt an enthusiasm for natural knowl- 

 edge, and meant to arouse that enthusiasm in others. 



