268 IN MEMORIAM : AVALTER PERCY SLADEX, F.L.S., F.G.S., F.Z.S. 
Where once we held debate, a band 
Of youthful friends, on mind and art. 
And labour, and the changing mart, 
And all the framework of the land. 
When one would aim an arrow fair. 
But send it slackly from the string ; 
And one would pierce an outer ring, 
And one an inner, here and there ; 
And last the master bowman, he, 
Would clear the mark, a willing ear we lent him. 
It has been said that the man of science should have no 
master, but he may have his admirations ; Sladen's were for the 
best — Darwin, Huxley, Lyell, and Tyndall ; in love of truth, 
devotion to science, and goodness of heart, in honour he was of 
them. The end and aim of his life was truth. 
Somewhat conservative, he had no great love of popular 
science, yet he gave more than one lecture which was appreciated 
by the people. Genial and companionable, he yQt loved solitary 
working, and held that " Good work is best done alone." 
He was a great lover of good literature and of art ; his 
librar}^ is rich in rare books and manuscripts ; we remember how 
he prized the old editions of his books and the first instruments 
he worked with ; nothing could induce him to part with any of 
them ; his specimens were his treasures, and he would often 
remark that imperfect and broken specimens, and even portions 
of specimens, illustrated points which might otherwise be over- 
looked ; they were all indispensable to his work. 
His charity was genuine and unostentatious ; his gift of 
X2,000 to insure the Yeomanry and Volunteers going to the 
front in South Africa was only a public instance ; many private 
acts of benevolence are only known to the recipients. 
Much material was in his hands awaiting that renewed 
strength and energy which it was hoped his visit to Italy would 
give him. Cretaceous Echinoderms and the spoils of the 
" Albatross " expedition for description among the rest ; but it 
was not to be. Tliat competent naturalists, imbued with Sladen's 
genius, may be found to describe them, is a consummation devoutly 
to be wished. Wm. Cash. 
