HIS CONVERSATION 415 



when a student, wine from his own vineyard, and yet he never 

 formed the taste for intoxicating liquors. Indeed, sometimes 

 he was at a loss to know what to do with the strong beverages 

 sent to him from Kentucky. Especially was this the case with 

 some gallons of apple jack which proved altogether too potent 

 for his palate, and which would have remained unused had not 

 the housekeeper, seized with a happy thought, resorted to it, 

 instead of wine, for the flavoring of jelly. The success of the 

 experiment was such that this particular refreshment became 

 a feature of Sunday evening suppers whose popularity grew as 

 the season advanced, for however dull the meal might begin it 

 was sure to be gay after the jelly was served. The hostess was 

 flattered by requests for its receipt, and by the relish with 

 which the confection was eaten ; but alas, when the apple jack 

 was consumed, the complaint arose that while the mould was 

 the same, the sensation was different. 



Whatever may be said of the lost art of conversation, so far 

 as Mr. Shaler was concerned it had not passed away, for he 

 was not afraid to say what he thought; and what others might 

 think had no terror for him. Overflowing with anecdotes and 

 reminiscences, brilliant and cheerful, his talk was an inspiration, 

 and the happy phrase which with most persons is an accidental 

 prize was with him habitual. He delighted in hearty intercourse 

 with people of vivid thought and feeling, with such as had some- 

 thing worth saying, though it might sometimes be difficult to 

 say it; for unless his interlocutor was unusually good at "tongue 

 fence" he was apt to get belated in the race. Mr. Shaler 's forty- 

 odd years of lecturing had doubtless confirmed in him the 

 habit of pretty continuous verbal expression. It has been said 

 that Lowell could talk in paragraphs ; with equal truth it may 

 be affirmed that Shaler could talk in chapters. His conversation 

 swung free, any subject serving for the deliverance of his versa- 

 tile mind. There was, however, no preaching, no "pontificat- 

 ing": what he said was spontaneous, epigrammatic, and in 

 accord with the occasion. With quip and joke he enlivened the 



