34 The American Geologist. January, 1902, 
the fact proven—was like a religion to him. Evolution to him 
was the way in which the purposes of Providence are worked 
out, to renounce it would be irreligious. 
His sacrifices for his loyalty to truth had recompense at 
tast; for he lived to see the doctrine of evolution defended by 
theologians, and Darwin acknowledged to have made the 
greatest contribution to thought of the just ended century. 
The metamorphosis had been as radical as that from the 
witchcraft laws of Massachusetts of old, to those of the Com- 
monwealth of today. He lived to see Oxford and Cambridge 
accept dissenting students without signing the 39 articles; or 
swearing that the Queen was the head of the church; to see 
the University of London open its doors to women (his own 
wife having taken high honors there) and extend its degrees 
to any student who could pass its examinations. He had 
declined to come up for his doctor’s degree as long as an exam- 
ination for which one could cram was required; he could have 
crammed for it easily, but he believed this degree should be 
given for original work only; and finally, long aiter he had 
come to America, the University came to his way of thinking, 
and then he crossed the ocean and, on the strength of his 
original work on the geology of Pennsylvania and Ohio, re- 
ceived the degree of doctor of science. 
As a scholar he was exact and accurate; he hewed to the 
line as though by instinct. He did not try to remenyber 
everything, but he tried first to understand everything he read 
or considered, and then as a matter of fact he did remember 
nearly everything, and he could usually at a moment’s notice 
lay his hands on any fact or reference he needed. 
As a scientist speaking to the world he was slow and pains- 
taking lest he might send forth an immature message. It 
was modesty and self-effacement as well as love of truth that 
led to this, a want that has tempted men to rush into print with 
uproven facts and lame theories. He had a great aversion for 
unpondered declarations and unverified science. This led him 
to a degree of scrupulosity that probably retarded his pubtica- 
tions and restricted his fame; but it could not lessen his worth. 
The fame of the hour and especially the plaudits of the un- 
thinking had the least possible charm for him. To cater to 
