1880.] 145 [Hartshorne. 



Dr. Littell, " his purity was that of the snow or lily ; and 

 no one in his presence ever ventured to indulge in 

 ribald jest or unseemly remark." But once did I 

 know him, in a long acquaintance, to be for a moment 

 off his guard, in the measured dignity of his utterance ; 

 and then it was under somewhat unusual provocation. 

 It seemed not improbable, however, that he had natural- 

 ly an imperious temper ; kept, upon principle, under 

 admirable control. 



His conversation was agreeable and often very in- 

 structive, though not brilliant. In one respect, he was 

 extremely different from Dr. Nathaniel Chapman. Twice 

 only, in very frequent professional and social inter- 

 course, did I hear him utter a facetious remark; and, 

 then, it was rather the dry wit which brings a smile 

 than the humor which compels laughter. 



One of Dr. Wood's early formed habits, not uncom- 

 mon, perhaps, with toilsome authors, was that of doing 

 most of his literary work late at night. From ten 

 o'clock until two, three or four in the morning were his 

 usual hours for such employment. So inveterate did 

 this become, as a " second nature" with him, that when 

 in advanced age he laid his pen almost entirely aside, 

 he found it impossible to return to ordinary hours. He 

 was still obliged, almost to the last, to turn night into 

 day, and day into the time of his repose. 



Open-handed benevolence was a marked trait of 

 Dr. Wood's character. Privately, and to public insti- 

 tutions, he gave largely, although always with careful 



PROC. AMER. PHILOS. SOC. XIX. 107. S. PRINTED NOVEMBER 34, 1880. 



