CHARLES HENRY FERNALD 



At Fernald's Point, on Mount Desert, the largest of the many 

 islands off the coast of Maine, is the Fernald homestead. It has been 

 the homestead since 1778. Here, close beside restless Atlantic waters, 

 Charles Henry Fernald was born, March 16, 1838. 



His father, Eben Fernald, was a successful farmer and ship-owner 

 at a time when Maine was noted for sailing craft. His mother had 

 taught school for a number of years before her marriage. In these 

 two facts, part of his mental heritage may be fairly accounted for — his 

 love of study, and his broad, hopeful, practical outlook. Upon the 

 realities presented in his seaside home, this outlook began early to 

 manifest itself. 



In that time and neighborhood, opportunities for education were 

 limited. School "held" about six weeks in winter, and two months 

 in summer. But the lack of school and teacher was not enough to 

 prevent the boy from acquiring about many subjects a knowledge far 

 beyond that of the best educated people around him. The result was 

 an early ability to choose his interests and direct his own study. His 

 was largely "self-education" — the self-reliant, purposeful pursuit of 

 knowledge that is typical of resolute and active minds — and in the 

 course of years it made him thoroughly familiar with a wide range 

 of subjects. 



His dominant boyhood ambition, very naturally, was to become a 

 ship captain ; and he began preparing himself with the greatest earnest- 

 ness. He learned to use a sextant (borrowed from a friend), taking 

 observations of the sun by means of an artificial horizon formed by 

 molasses in a plate. He soon became expert ; but the lunar and stellar 

 observations he found difficult without aid. It was the desire of his 

 parents that he study law; but the law did not at all appeal to him, 

 and he won consent to go to sea when fifteen years old. For six 

 years his summers were spent on shipboard, and his winters in study- 

 ing or teaching in the district school at home. 



With the observation of the innumerable forms of exquisitely 

 beautiful marine life — the corals, the sea fans, the sea feathers, 

 shells — which he collected on his voyages, began his interest in natural 

 history. He discovered that he could make pleasing drawings of these 

 objects, and was especially struck with the fact that in making a 

 drawing, he impressed the characteristics of the object deeply on his 

 memory. In later years, this realization became an important element 

 in his method as a successful teacher. 



