37 



is tempted to suicide, it is Hopeful that rises equal to the 

 crisis and persuades his despondent friend to thrust the 

 key called "promise" into the prison lock and give it a 

 turn. He does it. The door flies open and they escape. 

 Well, Doctor Cook was our Mr. Hopeful. How apt and 

 skillful he was in converting a disadvantage into profit 

 He was an expert in opening locks with the key of prom- 

 ise. His courage was contagious. He never despaired 

 himself nor allowed us to despair. Many a time we 

 followed him from the darkness of doubt into the open 

 day of faith. 



HIS FERTILITY OF RESOURCES. 



Nor was he less versatile than hopeful. He was always 

 projecting new plans for improving the curriculum, for 

 multiplying professorships, for erecting new buildings, 

 and for bringing the scientific department into more vital 

 relations with the State, so as to widen its usefulness and 

 influence. Here are a few instances of his versatility and 

 perseverance. This institution upon his arrival was desti- 

 tute both of scientific collections and an exhibition hall. 

 He did not, however, deem a beginning useless, nor did he 

 despise the day of small things. It was one of his grand- 

 est characteristics never to despise the day of small 

 things, but to detect an oak in an acorn and to predict the 

 century flower from the germ of the century plant. 

 Accordingly he organized his classes into a natural his- 

 tory society and kindled among them a flame of enthu- 

 siasm akin to his own for gathering minerals, birds and 

 insects, coins and curiosities of all kinds. 



But at what a pathetic cost to himself and his scientific 

 future was this work carried on ! Think of the priceless 

 value of such a man's time ; think of those superb ener- 

 gies of his frittered away upon us when they might have 



