Febeuaey 25, 1898.] 



SCIENCE. 



265 



to principle, Dr. Allen was non-combative, 

 and sometimes suifered injustice rather 

 than engage in controversy. But in the 

 advocacy of a principle he could be tena- 

 cious and even aggressive. Twenty-one 

 years ago, during Huxley's visit to this 

 country, an address on Medical Education 

 was interpreted by Dr. Allen as contro- 

 verting his doctrine as to the inclusion of 

 Comparative Anatomy in a medical course. 

 He promptly protested in a daily journal 

 and discussed the subject with marked em- 

 phasis in a paper before the American As- 

 sociation for the Advancement of Science, 

 in 1880. In view of the enormous pres- 

 tige of Huxley's utterances upon any sub- 

 ject at that period, opposition to him de- 

 manded no little courage. 



Preeminent among Dr. Allen's many ad- 

 mirable traits was his readiness to recog- 

 nize the good qualities of others. Even 

 respecting bores or those who wronged him 

 I do not recall an unkind remark. So de- 

 cided, indeed, was his predisposition to find 

 some extenuating quality in even the most 

 flagitious transgressor that had the devil 

 been objurgated in his presence we may im- 

 agine him to add : " His satanic majesty 

 has doubtless many sins to answer for, but 

 let us not forget his extraordinary ability, 

 activity, and enterprise." 



In this package are all my letters from 

 Dr. Allen, nearly forty in number. The 

 first is dated December 2, 1867. As may 

 be imagined, many of the more recent dis- 

 cuss the formation, progress and prospects 

 of this Association. The second letter so 

 clearly exhibits his modesty, his unselfish- 

 ness, and his loyalty to his friends, that I 

 quote from it.* 



I could occupy much time with details of 

 my dear friend's life and nature, but con- 



*There was then vacant a higli position for which 

 he had been strongly recommended by one who had 

 declined it. He asked if I were a candidate, imply- 

 ing that if so he would withdraw. Under date of 

 Dtcember 16, 1896, he wrote: "I shall gladly be 

 your disciple in all matters of nomenclatnre." 



tent myself with enumerating what seem to 

 me rare combinations of characteristics. An 

 ardent naturalist, and daily handling speci- 

 mens variously preserved, he was fastidi- 

 ously neat in person and apparel. He was 

 simple in his tastes, yet conformed to the 

 customs of the most conventional of cities. 

 Rigid in the performance of duty, yet con- 

 siderate of the shortcomings of others. Dig- 

 nified, but not haughty. Aifable, yet insist- 

 ing upon the respect due to scholarship and 

 culture. A delightful conversationalist, yet 

 an equally accomplished listener. Mirthful, 

 yet never condescending to buffoonery. 

 Sociable in the company of men, yet neither 

 uttering nor tolerating what might not be 

 said before the other sex. Emulous of all 

 excellence, yet never envious of those who 

 surpassed him in special directions. " Let 

 us cherish his memory and profit by his ex- 

 ample." ISTay, perhaps, take warning there- 

 from. For,humanly speaking, had he worked 

 less incessantly, and especially less far into 

 the night, he might be with us to-day. 



Intimate as we were, and freely as we 

 conversed upon matters involving the du- 

 ties of human beings toward one another, 

 no theologic point was ever mentioned be- 

 tween us, and I am absolutely ignorant of 

 the nature of his religious convictions. 

 But whatever may have been his belief, and 

 whatever may be our own, I feel that no 

 violence is done by the repetition of three 

 verses of the twenty-fourth Psalm that have 

 arisen in my memory repeatedly during the 

 past six weeks while reflecting upon Harri- 

 son Allen : 



" Who shall ascend into the hill of the 

 Lord ? or who shall stand in his holy place ? 

 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; 

 who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, 

 nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive 

 the blessing fi'om the Loed, and righteous- 

 ness from the God of his salvation." 



BUET G. "WiLDEE. 

 COENELL TjNrVEESITY. 



