LIFE AND LABOES OF PROF. JOHN TORREY. 217 



rare pleasure of viewing in their native soil, and plucking with his own 

 hands, many a flower which he had himself named and described from 

 dried specimens in the herbarium, and in which he felt a kind of pater- 

 nal interest. Perhaps this interest culminated last summer, when he 

 stood on the flank of the lofty and beautiful snow-clad peak to which a 

 grateful former pupil and ardent explorer, ten years before, gave his 

 name, and gathered charming alpine plants which he had himself named 

 lifty years before, when the botany of the Colorado Eocky Mountains 

 was first opened. That age and fast-failing strength had not dimmed 

 his enjoyment may be inferred from his remark, when, on his return 

 from Florida the x)revious spring, with a grievous cough allayed, he was 

 rallied for having gone to seek Ponce de Leon's I ountain of Youth. 

 "iSTo," said he, "give me the Fountain of Old Age. The longer I live 

 the more I enjoy life." He evideutlj" did so. If never robust, he was 

 rarely ill, and his last sickness brought little sufiering and no diminution 

 of his characteristic cheerfulness. To him, indeed, never came the " evil 

 days" of which he could say, " I have no pleasure in them." 



Evincing in age much of the ardor and all of the ingenuousness of 

 youth, he enjoyed the society of young men and students, and was help- 

 ful to them long after he ceased to teach, if, indeed, he ever did cease; 

 for, as Emeritus Professor in Columbia College, (with which his old 

 medical school was united,) he not only opened liis herbarium, but gave 

 some lectures almost every j^ear, and as a trustee of the college for many 

 years he rendered faithful and important service. His large and truly 

 invaluable herbarium, along with a clioice botanical library, he several 

 years ago made over to Columbia College, which, charges itself with it's 

 safe preservation and maintenance. 



Dr. Torrey leaves three daughters, a son, vvho has been appointed 

 United States assayer in his father's })lace, and a grandson. 



This sketch of Dr. Torrey 's public life and works, Ydiich it is our main 

 duty to exhibit, would fall short of its object if it did not convey, however 

 briefly and incidentally, some just idea of what manner of man he was. 

 That he was earnest, indefatigable, and able, it is needless to say. His 

 gifts as a teacher were largely proved, and are widely known through a 

 long generation of pupils. As an investigator, he was characterized by 

 a scrupulous accuracy, a remarkable fertility of mind, especially as shown 

 in devising ways and means of research, and perhaps by some excess of 

 caution. 



Other biographers will doubtless dwell upon the more personal aspects 

 and characteristics of our distinguished and lamented associate. To 

 them, indeed, may fittingly be left rhe full delineation and illustration 

 of the traits of a singularly transparent, genial, delicate and conscien- 

 tious, unselfish character, which beautified and fructiiied a most indus- 

 trious and useful life, and won the affection of all who knew him. For 

 one thing, they cannot fail to notice his thorough love of truth for its 

 own sake, and his entire confidence that the legitim.ate results of sci- 



