454 Professor Elias Loomis. 



of others. Bat this was mainly due to appearances only. 

 The tear would at times come unbidden to his eye. His 

 correspondence with his classmates in the years immediately 

 following graduation shows warm interest in all that concerned 

 them. From Hudson he wrote often to Mr. Herrick, and 

 complained much of isolation, but more especially of isolation 

 from scientific companions and books. 



In 1840 he married Miss Julia E. Upson, of Talmadge, 

 Ohio, a lady about whom those who knew her have spoken 

 to me only in terms of praise, and for whose memory Professor 

 Loomis cherished a tender reverence. She died in 1854, 

 leaving two sons. From this time Professor Loomis lived in 

 apartments, surrounded by his books and devoted to his 

 studies. His sons after passing their school and college days 

 went to their own fields of work. During many years of his 

 New Haven life he was unable to receive visitors in the 

 evening. He made very few new friends, and one after 

 another of his old ones passed away. To his work he was 

 able to give undivided his time and his strength. His mind 

 did not seem to require the excitement of social intercourse 

 for its full and healthful activity. Isolated though he was 

 there was in him no trace whatever of selfish or morbid 

 feeling. In council his advice was always marked by his clear 

 judgment of what was important, and at the same time what 

 was practicable. Whatever he himself had the right to decide 

 was promptly decided by a yes or a no. and few persons cared 

 to question the finality of his decision. But when his col- 

 leagues, or others, had the right to decide he accepted their 

 decision without questioning or subsequent murmur. Upon 

 being told that his letters to Mr. Herrick had come to the 

 College Library, and that he could, if he chose, examine them 

 and see whether there were among them any which he would 

 prefer not to leave in this quasi public place, he promptly 

 replied : " ~No, I never wrote a letter which I should be 

 ashamed to see published." 



After coming to New York he had a generous income from 

 his books, besides his salary as professor. The amount he 

 saved from his income was carefully and prudently invested, 



