76 PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIELY OF WASHINGTON. 
the best mental activity of many assistants; and thus the whole 
body of men under his control worked together as one organic in- 
teger for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men. 
In his work with his assistants he scrupulously provided that 
every one should receive the meed of honor due for successful re- 
search and treated all with generosity. Many an investigation 
begun by himself was turned over to assistants when he found that 
valuable conclusions could be reached; and these assistants, who 
were his warm friends, his younger brothers, reaped the reward ; 
and he had more joy over every young man’s success than over the 
triumphs and honors heaped upon himself from every quarter of 
the globe. He was the sympathetic counsellor of many men; into 
his ears were poured the sorrows and joys of others, and he 
mourned with the mourning and rejoiced with the rejoicing. To 
those in need his hand was ready and his purse was open, and 
many and many were the poor who called him “blessed.” Though 
aman of great force of character, a man of great learning, a man 
upon whom had been showered the honors of the scientific world, 
in character he was as simple as a child. He had a fund of 
“folk-lore,” and loved the books and papers written for children. 
In his later years, weakened with disease and burdened with many 
labors, he still read St. Nicholas from month to month, and kept 
the run of every little story, and was glad to be “a child again.” 
His life at home was pure and sweet, and full of joys, for he gave 
and received love and trust and tender care. But the history of 
his home life is sacred. Its words and acts abide in the hearts of 
the wife and the daughter. 
For many long months he contemplated the day of parting. 
Labor that knew no rest, responsibility that was never lifted from 
his shoulders, too soon brought his life to an end. In the summer of 
the past year he returned to his work by the seaside, that he might 
die in its midst. There at Wood’s Holl he had created the greatest 
biologic laboratory of the world; and in that laboratory, with the 
best results of his life-work all about him, he calmly and philosoph- 
ically waited for the time of times. Three days before he died he 
asked to be placed in a chair provided with wheels. On this he 
was moved around the pier, past the vessels which he had built for 
research, and through the laboratory, where many men were at 
work at their biologic investigations. For every one he had a word 
of good cheer, though he knew it was the last. At the same time, 
