ii.j QUALITIES. 125 



to be interested in things more than in persons. 

 One would have expected to find it developed 

 among physicists ; and, as a fact, eight of them 

 possess it in a high degree, .and similarly 

 among mechanicians and engineers, all of whom 

 must possess it, and four of whom testify to 

 it, but it seems just as strong among the rest. 

 Here are instances and extracts : 



Chemistry. 1. " Constructed a reflecting 

 telescope, with 12-inch aperture." 2. " Ground, 

 polished, and silvered a 7-inch glass speculum, 

 and mounted it equatorially." Geology. 3. 

 "Considerable mechanical skill." Biology. 4. 

 " Always fond of constructing ; school nickname, 

 'Archimedes/ If I had followed my profession 

 should probably have been [very successful as] 

 an engineer." 5. "Very fond of mechanical 

 contrivances. Invented and made my own toys 

 as a child. Mechanical tastes are still largely 

 indulged in intervals of leisure." 6. "Special 

 love of mechanics ; a good amateur cabinet- 

 maker and blacksmith. Made lithotrites." 7. 

 " Talent for mechanics." 8. [Was extremely 

 ingenious in devising modes of preserving and 



