HELEN ABBOTT MICHAEL 
56 
that by beginning on a small scale I could collect the plants 
or these models and also have the chemical compounds con¬ 
tained in these plants, at least those compounds of sufficient 
importance. Blaschka has offered for $1000 to make Pro¬ 
fessor Goodale, of Harvard, a unique collection. He has as 
yet not replied, and I asked him to write me in case Goodale 
should not be able to accomplish it. 1 
“They said it would be necessary to deposit a certain amount, 
perhaps the sum that I wished to expend for the collection, 
and they would furnish by degrees, the flowers. They pre¬ 
ferred to make the flowers directly from the growing plants 
and not from drawings. The matter was left in such a way 
that I was to write him what I wanted and the amount I was 
willing to expend on the plants. It is difficult yet to decide 
upon what I would order, whether flowers to illustrate an 
evolutionary order, or those which apply directly to my work. 
It will be later decided. I have an idea of forming a collection 
to become an embryo museum where the chemical compounds 
contained in any plant would be exhibited, and all else in con¬ 
nection with the plant also shown. But the chemical side 
made the most conspicuous. 
“It would be a stupendous work to carry out such a plan 
as I have conceived. But with a great fixed purpose, there would 
be little time left for outside matters to come along as inter¬ 
ruptions. I know of no place where the two ideas of botany 
and chemistry could be combined. 
“The workshop of these men was a very small room. The 
flame was furnished by a paraffine lamp. It is not only glass 
blowing, but they called it modeling. Various colors of glass 
are used, and the flowers are also painted.” 
Her time being so limited, she determined to concentrate 
it on the Polytechnic which she learned ranked almost with a 
university for the grade of studies followed, though the students 
rarely studied for the love of study, but generally because 
they wished to follow some profession or business. Women 
1 The arrangement was subsequently made, and Harvard University has a 
unique collection of the Blaschka glass flowers, which are the admiration of 
every visitor. 
