176 Louis Valentine Pirsson. 



atioii was one of a hard struggle to earn a living while 

 pursuing his own studies in chemistry looking toward a 

 career as teacher and investigator. He paid his debts 

 and became self-supporting. He also succeeded in estab- 

 lishing himself as a teacher of analytical chemistry, he 

 made many valuable friendships continuing through life, 

 but he did not really "find himself" by discovering the 

 field of scientific work in which he was best adapted to 

 engage with enthusiasm. 



For two years he supported himself by odd jobs, assist- 

 ing in the chemical laboratories of Professors Allen and 

 Mixter and in the physical lectures by Professor Lyman. 

 He also worked in the Sheffield library at this time, and, 

 as in several succeeding years, he earned a large part of 

 his scanty income by tutoring. Professor Allen's health 

 was poor and during the academic year 1884-5 he was 

 absent, the laboratory being placed in charge of H. L. 

 Wells, with Pirsson and T. B. Osborne as assistants. 

 Later, on Allen's retirement, "Wells became his successor 

 with. Pirsson as first assistant. This relation continued 

 until the summer of 1888. 



During these years Pirsson became an expert analyst 

 and attempted to begin a career as an investigator but 

 he felt the lack of fundamental training in research 

 methods and it was not until later years that he found the 

 proper field for the successful application of his skill as an 

 analytical chemist. 



The school year 1888-9 Pirsson spent at the Brooklyn 

 Polytechnic Institute, nominally as professor of analyti- 

 cal chemistry, but actually called on for elementary in- 

 struction in several sciences. Such a position was 

 naturally not suitable for a man desiring a career as an 

 investigator. 



In the summer of 1889 the opportunity appeared 

 through which Pirsson was to recognize beyond any ques- 

 tion the line of scientific work which appealed most 

 strongly to him. Through his kindly and constant friend 

 Professor Brush he was offered the position as field assist- 

 ant in the party of the U. S. Geological Survey under 

 Arnold Hague, engaged in the study of the Yellowstone 

 Xational Park. He was actually occupied as immediate 

 assistant to Joseph P. Iddings and "Walter H. Weed, with 

 both of whom he was to maintain intimate relations for 

 many years. While Pirsson had very little training to 

 qualify him as a useful assistant in geological field work 



