42 PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMHERST MEETING 



fossil fishes. For this he acquired a large amount of material through 

 his own efforts; besides, he had free access to the fine collections of Mr. 

 Frank Springer. Although much investigation was done along this line, 

 full consummation was not to be. 



Lure of industrial geology proved too strong and too long; and before 

 its spell was broken painful periods of illness set in in such rapid succes- 

 sion, and with often entire incapacity for work, that the intervals of sci- 

 entific effort became fewer and fewer and farther and farther apart, until 

 they ceased altogether. When it was finally determined that he could not 

 probably finish this great work, similar collections of the Iowa Paleozoic 

 fishes which had been brought together in the meanwhile were studied, 

 described, and figured by Dr. Charles E. Eastman, another Iowa lad, and 

 the report was published in a sumptuous volume by the Iowa Geological 

 Survey. 



It is probable that a deterring factor to Saint John's return to the 

 strictly scientific field was the outcome of a painful accident which befell 

 him. In an unguarded moment, when going through the dark pine for- 

 ests of the Eaton Mountains one evening, he struck the sharp stub of a 

 low bough that penetrated his eye and completely blinded him for sev- 

 eral days. Sight was entirely destroyed in the one eye, and it was long 

 months before all danger from loss of the other eye was passed. Doubt- 

 less at sixty years the artistic hand had lost something of its early cun- 

 ning, which the eye accident suddenly brought home to him, and the 

 outlook into the future ended in discouragement. No one ever heard 

 him complain. 



Personally Saint John was a man of singular charm of character, of 

 pure motive, and of stainless life. He was unassuming and modest to 

 high degree, perhaps too much so for his own best interests. He made 

 lew acquaintances, and devoted himself, something after the manner of 

 a recluse, to his scientific work, in which he found lifelong happiness. 

 Affable, thoughtful of the comfort of others, and ever willing to advise 

 and help whomsoever called on him for aid, he made a most delightful 

 companion to be with in the field. 



Keen to observe, quick to interpret, and an artist of no mean ability, 

 his notes were always clear, illuminating, and pertinent. When his work 

 was sent to the press it was invariably finished in style and arrangement 

 and complete to the last detail. There was nothing left to chance; nor 

 was there opportunity to misinterpret his meaning. 



Saint John was not a voluminous writer, yet his contributions to 

 knowledge were important. They all display the same painstaking effort 

 and completeness which is seldom attained. The list of his memoirs show 

 bow wide was his knowledge. 



