328 NATHANIEL SOUTHGATE SHALER 



in inventions and mining problems. The side of his character 

 which Mr. McKay presented to his friend was one of great 

 dignity and kindliness. Moreover, his mind was constantly 

 reaching out to large enterprises and in these excursions he 

 sought for sympathy and suggestions from a source which he 

 well knew would never fail him. On his part Mr. Shaler found, 

 in many ways, great satisfaction in his business relations with 

 Mr. McKay, who could imaginatively project himself into any 

 large enterprise and grasp the possibilities of an unverified 

 hypothesis, whereas with prosaic men of affairs of the average 

 type Mr. Shaler's imagination was often a barrier. Because he 

 saw far beyond the immediate question, they sometimes seemed 

 to doubt his practical grasp of the concrete problem itself. Not 

 so with Mr. McKay ; he eagerly followed him in his scientific and 

 practical quests and showed an inspiring faith in his forecasting 

 power as well as in his capacity to meet the unforeseeable diffi- 

 culty. But aside from the advice which Mr. McKay asked in 

 mining matters, he especially sought Mr. Shaler's counsel with 

 reference to the best uses of money intended for the public good, 

 and particularly the conditions of his own proposed bequests 

 were the subject of continuous discussion. So far from having 

 a predilection for the College, he began with a serious dislike, 

 which it was Mr. Shaler's special task to overcome. Mr. McKay, 

 however, did believe very firmly that the men whose work 

 tended toward applied science had better be educated with 

 those trained in the liberal arts. This conviction remained fixed 

 in his mind until the time came to make his final decision. After 

 1891 there was no longer a shadow of doubt as to the destina- 

 tion of his fortune, and he always alluded to Mr. Shaler as the 

 one person of all others whom he looked to for the carrying 

 out of his wishes. 

 To his sister: 



CAMBRIDGE, March 26, 1885. 



I have your two letters. Nothing could induce me to take the place of 

 Director U. S. Geological Survey. As Hosea Biglow says, " 'Taint a knowin' 



