92 McGEE MEMORIAL MEETING 



trees, the scene was certainly a perfect one. This was in the early 

 days of Iowa when forest primeval and all else showed the work of the 

 Infinite Hand that makes no mistakes. The Divine Artist is the 

 best one. 



To gaze on a scene of transcendent splendor, which baffles the power 

 of human tongue to describe, especially early in life, is soul inspiring, 

 and might have wielded a subtle influence over the life of our brother 

 to aspire and achieve. 



It is useless to reiterate anything about the scientific work accom- 

 lished by Doctor McGee during his life all too short. It has been told 

 and retold in scientific journals. It was asserted in the long ago, 

 "A prophet is not without honor save in his own country." The 

 following item appeared in his home paper (The Telegraph Herald, 

 published at Dubuque, Iowa) soon after his demise, which is a refu- 

 tation of the old figure of speech : 



Let it be written imperishably in the records of Dubuque County that 

 one of the greatest geologists, anthropologists, and hydrologists this Nation 

 has produced was born in Dubuque County. 



Doctor W J McGee, whose death occurred in Washington last week, 

 was born near Farley, of poor parents. He created his own educational 

 opportunities, and he wrote his name among the men first in the knowledge 

 of sciences wholly by his own unaided efforts. 



There are brain records which time can never efface. This is one 

 of them. 



When my brother left home to enter his duties on the United States 

 Geological Survey, it was with a heavy heart that we bade him good- 

 bye, for there was a premonition at the time, which was afterward 

 realized, that he was gone never to return as a link in the chain of the 

 family circle. No more could we go to him for counsel, or to obtain 

 information on any subject, as was our wont. He frequently came 

 home afterward for a short visit, and it was our habit to go part way 

 with him when he departed. If the weather was inclement mother 

 objected to our going out; but father said to mother: "Let her go," so 

 we went. Life has never been quite the same to his only sister since 

 Don has been taken from it. Probably a little sooner will she cross 

 the Mystic River than had he tarried longer. In closing, we will 



