758 FINAL JOURNEYS AND WORK. (1884, 
top (of several square miles) fringed with dark firs 
and spruces, and the open part adorned with thou- 
sands of clumps of Rhododendron Catawbiense, which 
when there last before, late in June, we saw all loaded 
with blossoms, while the sides were glorious with three 
species of Azalea, not to speak of many other botan- 
ical treasures. There, at top and at base, we passed 
four busy days. A narrow-gauge railway recently 
built, and new to us, reaches to the base of the moun- 
tain, up the Doe River, through most picturesque 
scenery, Showing to most advantage in the descent. 
On our way back we diverged to visit some striking 
rock scenery on the upper Kanawha River, and thence 
to a mountain-top lower than Roan, but with the 
advantage of a charming little lake, with banks all 
fringed with Rhododendron maximum and Kalmia, 
hanging over the water for a rod or two, except on 
the side where the little hotel stands. Well, I have 
written a deal here, little as I have managed to tell 
you. I think you and Lady Fry should come over and 
see for yourselves, just a pleasant summer vacation, if 
you can leave Failand for so long. 
TO J. D. HOOKER. 
September 26, 1884. 
So dear Bentham has gone,—not quite filled out 
his eighty-fourth year. Well, we could have wished 
this year of infirmity and suffering had been avoided. 
One would like to say good-evening promptly at the 
close of the working-day. But this we cannot order, 
so we must accept what comes. We shall miss him 
greatly. We have nobody left to look up to. He 
seems to have made a wise and good disposition of his 
effects. 
