James Dwight Dana. — Beecher. 
D 
the cry stall o-cliemical system now in use. Yet it was clone, 
not gradually, but all at once, as is stated in the preface to the 
third edition, “notwithstanding the former adoption of what 
has been called the natural history system, and the pledge 
to its ^support given by the author in supplying it with a Latin 
nomenclature, the whole system, its classes, orders, genera, and 
Latin names have been rejected, and even the trace of it which 
the synonymy might perhaps rightly bear has been discarded.’ 
Thus it is that Dana’s text books have shown such life. 
Their author was not satisfied with a mere reprint for a new 
edition, but each underwent revision, and was an ad¬ 
vance over the preceding. His active mineralogical studies 
were practically suspended after the publication of the fifth 
edition of the System of 31 ineralogy in 1868, in which he en¬ 
listed the aid of Professor G-eorge J. Brush. The subsequent 
thorough editing and revision of this great work has been 
carried on b} 7 his son, Edward S. Dana. 
President Dwight, who is most familiar with and compe¬ 
tent to speak of his work as a teacher, says, “In the later 
years he gave instruction only in geology. The students were, 
however, glad to meet him when the privilege was given them, 
and no man in the company of teachers stood higher in their 
esteem both for character and attainments. They felt, as they 
saw him. that they were in the presence of a master in science 
and of one who honored the institution and themselves as he 
lived in the academic community. He had the ardor of youth 
in his studies and in his instructions, even to the latest period 
of his active service. Notwithstanding the long-continued 
interruptions which he experienced by reason of ill-health, he 
always returned to his work, even on partial recovery, with 
full enthusiasm. His walks with selected students in the 
country region about New Haven, and the teaching which he 
gave as he moved from point to point, will ever be remem¬ 
bered by those who shared in the pleasant excursions. As a 
lecturer he was attractive. His style was clear and impres- , 
sive; his language admirably chosen; his manner adapted to 
his subject and material; his whole presentation of his 
thoughts and views thoroughly characteristic of a truly sci¬ 
entific man. He had a mingling of the poetic element in his 
writing which gave an interest to what he said, and at times 
