68 McGEE MEMORIAL MEETING 



multitude of his interests. From early manhood he was a strong ad- 

 vocate of the diffusion of knowledge, and his last efforts were devoted 

 to this lifelong purpose. 



From Doctor Arthur Hollick, of the New York Botanical Garden : 



The Cosmos Club brought Doctor McGee and me into social con- 

 tact, and when our dining hour chanced to be identical we were ac- 

 customed to sit at the same table and discuss scientific subjects of 

 mutual interest in an informal and unconventional way. I can well 

 recall the last of these impromptu meals together, because it was 

 such a short time before his death, and I learned afterwards, as we 

 all are now aware, that he knew he was doomed at that time; yet no 

 hint of what he knew ever intruded itself into our conversation, and 

 his discussions and comments were apparently just as much con- 

 cerned with work to be done in the future as with that already ac- 

 complished. It is this which makes me realize now, as I never did 

 when he was alive, his wonderful self-control and will power char- 

 acteristics which make him appear to me as unique and conspicuous 

 and inspiring a personality as that with which we all associate his 

 scientific attainments. 



The latter require no comment on my part. The reputation 

 which he has achieved in such connection assures that those best 

 qualified to recall them will not fail to do so. We were never asso- 

 ciated together in scientific work, either as co-laborers or otherwise; 

 but it is interesting to refer to the casual correspondence which 

 passed between us during a period of over twenty years, and to note 

 the variety of subjects in regard to which I had occasion to communi- 

 cate with him time estimates in connection with the subdivisions of 

 the Pleistocene; paleolithic implements; lithologic characters of the 

 Potomac clays; subdivision of the "yellow gravel;" soil erosion, etc. 



It was a privilege to have known him, even as superficially as I 

 did, and I appreciate the opportunity which permits me to tender 

 this little contribution to his memory. 



From Arthur Hooker, of the International Irrigation Congress: 



W J McGee was born in Iowa on April 17, 1853, and died in 

 Washington, D. C., September 4, 1912, aged 59 years. He had very 



