600 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XLI. No. 1060 



by Hofmeister. The belated introduction of 

 American students to tbis new field of botany 

 was brought about by Professor Bessey, when 

 in 1881 bis " Botany " appeared. This volume 

 not only brought the atmosphere of Sach's 

 Lehrhuch to American colleges, but also com- 

 pelled the development of botanical labora- 

 tories. For the first time, all plant groups be- 

 came available, and cells and tissues became 

 materials for study. The original " Botany " 

 was the first of a long series of texts, and for 

 many years " Bessey's text-books " set the 

 standard for modern work. If Professor 

 Bessey had made no other contribution to 

 American botany than the publication of this 

 book at the psychological moment, he would 

 have made for himself an enduring place in 

 the history of American botany. 



The qualities that led him to discover and 

 introduce to American colleges the new 

 botany, also suggest that he was a great 

 teacher. Perhaps no American botanist has 

 left his mark on so many students as did Pro- 

 fessor Bessey. He was certainly " apt to 

 teach," and this was shown not merely by his 

 neverfailing enthusiasm for his subject, but 

 also by his stimulating companionship with 

 his students. He lived in his subject and lived 

 with his students, and his " dingy and cramped 

 quarters," as they were called, seemed to culti- 

 vate the spirit of camaraderie in the whole de- 

 partment. The students of Professor Bessey 

 are scattered everjrwhere in responsible posi- 

 tions, and the writer has never met one of 

 them who has failed to pay the warmest tribute 

 of loyal affection to the man who taught him. 

 Professor Bessey was not merely a great 

 teacher, both through his text-books and in 

 contact with his students, but he was also a 

 public-spirited citizen. He felt that the whole 

 state of Nebraska was entitled to his services, 

 and he gave of his time freely to organizations 

 of all kinds that were seeking to develop the 

 various interests of the state. The plant life 

 of the state, the agricultural possibilities of the 

 state, the teaching of agriculture in the 

 schools, all engaged his attention. 



Recognition of Professor Bessey by his col- 

 leagues throughout the country came as a 

 matter of course. He was not only a member 



of the various national organizations, but he 

 was elected to almost every office to which an 

 A m erican botanist can aspire, culminating in 

 the presidency of the American Association for 

 the Advancement of Science. One of the 

 characteristics of Professor Bessey most fre- 

 quently remarked among his colleagues was his 

 refusal to speak unkindly of any one. No one 

 ever heard from him the sharp and occa- 

 sionally envious criticism that too often mars 

 the fine qualities of scientific men. Even in 

 his work as a reviewer, where criticism is in- 

 vited, he always searched for the pleasant 

 things to say, and left the unpleasant things 

 unsaid. Those of us who knew him best real- 

 ize that he did not even think of the un- 

 pleasant things, but that his kindly nature was 

 always seeing the good in every botanist. 



Professor Bessey was a voluminous writer, 

 as a man full of ideas, energy and of the teach- 

 ing spirit is apt to be, so that it would be 

 impossible to cite his bibliography here ; it will 

 doubtless appear in fitting form in some more 

 appropriate connection. The present purpose 

 is simply to express an appreciation of a great 

 teacher of botany by a colleague who has known 

 him intimately throughout almost his entire 

 public career. John M. Coulter 



FBANK OLIN MASVIN 

 Professor Frank OLm Marvin, dean of the 

 school of engineering of the University of 

 Kansas, died in San Diego, Calif., on February 

 6, 19155. Dean Marvin was born in Alfred 

 Center, N. T., in 1852. He was the son of 

 Dr. James Marvin, for many years professor 

 of mathematics in Alleghany College, and 

 later chancellor of the University of Kansas. 



Graduating in 18Y1 at Alleghany College, 

 Professor Marvin devoted several years to 

 practical engineering work, and was in 1875 

 appointed instructor in mathematics and phys- 

 ics at the University of Kansas. In 1883 he 

 was appointed professor of civil engineering, 

 and when, in 1891. the university was reor- 

 ganized and a school of engineering was estab- 

 lished he was elected to the position of dean. 

 He was untiring in his labors for the upbuild- 

 ing of this most important school, from this 



