Edward Livingston Youmans 73 



show what a low view publishers take of the aver- 

 age intelligence of teachers ! It was not a very 

 hopeful way of studying such a subject as chem- 

 istry ; but doubtless the time was not wasted, and 

 the foundations for a future knowledge of chemis- 

 try were laid. The experience of farm work which 

 accompanied these studies explains the interest 

 which in later years Mr. Youmans felt in agricul- 

 tural chemistry. He came to realize how crude 

 and primitive are our methods of making the earth 

 yield its produce, and it was his opinion that 

 when men have once learned how to conduct agri- 

 culture upon sound scientific principles, farming 

 will become at once the most wholesome and the 

 most attractive form of human industry. 



Along with the elementary studies in science 

 there went a great deal of miscellaneous reading, 

 mostly, it would appear, of good solid books. Ap- 

 parently there was at that time no study of lan- 

 guages, ancient or modern. At the age of seven- 

 teen the young man had shown so much promise 

 that it was decided he should study law, and he 

 had already entered upon a more extensive course 

 of preparation in an academy in Saratoga County 

 when the event occurred which changed the whole 

 course of his life. He had been naturally gifted 

 with keen and accurate vision, was a good sports- 



