56 
GEOLOGICAL MENTALITY 
from medicine, not half a hundred scientists and a scant half 
dozen starred men; while clodhopper Iowa, half-way across the 
continent from the “Big Six” universities, supplies nearly 400 men 
of science, no less than 35 of whom shine in the One Thousand 
class. 
Perhaps we get clue to this great riddle in a chance remark of 
that eminent English naturalist, Alfred Wallace, when he writes: 
“As I found that amid the distractions and excitement of London, 
its scientific meetings, dinner parties, and sight-seeing, I could 
not settle down to work at the more scientific chapters of my 
‘Malay Archipelago’ I let my house in London for a year, from 
midsummer 1867, and went to live with my wife’s family at 
Hurstpenpont. There, in perfect quiet, and with beautiful fields 
and downs around me, I was able to work steadily. * * *” 
My Last Meotng with Gilbert 
A few months before his demise I quite unexpectedly came 
upon Grove Karl Gilbert one evening in Berkeley, California. 
Accidental as was the meeting it was one of the memorable 
events of my experience. Lawson and I entered the Faculty 
. Club, at the State University, for a little visit together and an 
old time chat. At this very moment, it seemed, the veteran geol¬ 
ogist happened to be at play at billiards, a recreation which on 
an occasional evening appeared to have caught his fancy in later 
years. Evidently spying us first through the archway he dropped 
his cue and immediately greeted us in the lounge. Expressing 
surprise at finding him there he explained that he was making 
this secluded spot his residence while he was at work on his 
Sierra monographs. That evening he seemed to be in an unusual¬ 
ly joyous frame of mind. More jovial and entertaining he cer¬ 
tainly never was. Conversation sped on in ever widening circles 
until dinner was served; and then there was also feast that was 
not corporeal. 
That evening our nestor of American Geology appeared at his 
best. Other days came back. Octogenerian turned youth again 
once for a night. At dinner table he grew resplendently remin¬ 
iscent. The larger lineaments of earth drew near. Geological 
details took on global aspect. Despite the fact that tripartite de¬ 
bate became at times spirited and even acrimonious it left no 
