holds in its center a strange exotic looking creature which is struggling 
for its food, and in its effort, throwing pollen (glass dust) on its back 
— thus obviously playing its part in the wonderful drama of Nature. 
The Collection was formed through the efforts of Professor 
Goodale, Director of the Botanic Gardens in Cambridge, and was made 
possible by the generosity of Mrs. Elizabeth Ware and her daughter, 
as a memorial to the late Dr. Charles Eliot Ware of Boston. 
In 1886 Professor Goodale went abroad for the purpose of obtain- 
ing glass models of certain forms of lower marine life, — the so-called 
marine invertebrates — for the Cambridge Museum. He was directed 
to the studio of Leopold Blaschka, a widely known worker in glass, who 
lived in Pilnitz on the Elbe river not far from Dresden, and close by 
the Royal Botanical Gardens. The elder Blaschka, Leopold, and his 
son Rudolph, comprised the entire working force of the atelier, their 
ideals of the old fashioned type without the modem passion for ex- 
pansion. 
Here in the studio Professor Goodale saw some beautiful orchids 
which were so perfect that he did not at first realize they were artificial. 
Like other teachers of Botany he had long felt the need of some true 
and permanent representation of plants and flowers for his students 
which would be more satisfactory than flat paintings, or wax and 
papier-mache models, and impressed with the beauty of the orchids 
and with the possibility of glass models from the standpoint of educa- 
tion, permanence and aesthetic value as well, he determined to secure 
a collection for his University. 
The extensive Botanical Gardens of the German cities furnished 
the Blaschkas with many specimens, and they had always met with 
sympathy and co-operation from the various directors, so that when 
Professor Goodale explained his idea, naturally wanting examples of 
the flora of America, it was not easy to pursuade them to undertake 
a new work. But six years later, the Blaschkas, realizing that they 
must go further afield to secure material for study, consented to 
consider Professor Goodale's offer, and came to the United States in 
search of specimens, preserving many of them to take home with 
them, and making sketches and models. Three years later they made 
another visit to this country, and the final outcome of their love of 
beauty and passion for perfection, and Professor Goodale's vision and 
patience, is this unique collection. It numbers 160 families, 540 
genera, and 803 species." 
Helen J. James, 
Cold Spring Harbor. 
Don't forget to send news of your Club to the editor of this 
Department. Martha H. B. McNight. 
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