DEMAREST: A SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF CoE FINCH AUSTIN 33 
"May 11, 1858. In the fall of that year he went to Dennisville, 
Cape May County, N. J., taught school for a year, and it was while 
there that he met in his wanderings through woods and marshes 
Charles F. Parker, of Philadelphia. In the early days of their 
acquaintance the latter often visited him, and it was he who as- 
sisted him in the purchase of his microscope. 
Miss Warwick, a resident of Dennisville at that time, told the 
writer a few years ago that she had vivid recollection of the lectures 
delivered in her town by Professor Austin. He drew large gather- 
ings of people from the surrounding country, for the subjects were 
new to them, and his experiments were always very successful, 
which made the lectures attractive. 
In the middle of June, 1859, he, with his family, returned to 
Closter. About this time he became acquainted with Dr. Torrey, 
and through Torrey's influence became curator of the Columbia 
College Herbarium. He moved, in the autumn of 1861, to an 
apartment in the college. During this period he devoted himself 
to intensive study; his power of concentration was remarkably 
great. He remained at the college until after the spring of 1863, 
when he again returned to Closter, again taking up lecturing, going 
through the country for miles around, traveling with a little pony 
and a carry-all wagon. 
In 1865 and 1866 he taught school at Demarest, N. J., one 
mile south of Closter, and spent his noon hours in nearby woods, 
gathering mosses and other plants, which he often showed to his 
pupils, pointing out and explaining the peculiarities of each. 
Boys of neighboring villages were always on the lookout for him, 
and, when spied by опе,зооп there would be a group of them around 
him, for his pockets always contained something to interest them. 
Those were days when children were not noticed by grown-ups, 
as they are to-day, and the attention he paid to them was very 
acceptable. 
As a teacher he was fond of children, and if they could not 
keep up with their classes and showed a willingness to do so, he 
would help them after school hours, but he had no patience with 
those who could be termed lazy. 
His last lectures were delivered at the Englewood Institute in 
the winter of 1871-72. His interest in botany increased as time 
