Clarence King — Geologist 



esteem, but in the opinion of the 

 best literary writers of the day, with 

 most of whom he was on terms of 

 friendly and intimate intercourse, his 

 writings, and even more his affluent 

 and delightful talks, disclosed a liter- 

 ary quality that might have given 

 him a foremost place among Ameri- 

 can men of letters. 



He was a man of remarkable in- 

 tellectual versatility, and has been 

 probably as widely known and ap- 

 preciated for his literary as for his 

 scientific ability, though his published 

 literary writings have been singularly 

 few in number. The recollection of 

 his consummate art as a conversation- 

 alist and raconteur, of the delicate 

 wit and irrepressible humor that 

 showed itself at times even in his 

 scientific writings, of the kindly spirit 

 and refined courtesy that character- 

 ized his every action, and of his 

 irresistibly attractive smile, has left 

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