BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH 
61 
professors at the University. Wislecenus thought he might 
admit me, and Von Meyer said that if he had sufficient notice 
in advance, he would make a place for me. He said he only 
took very advanced students, those who were preparing their 
dissertation, or who were pursuing researches. The labora¬ 
tory is particularly a research laboratory. 
“The rooms are few and small, but such a place as one 
would be willing to study in. He said that Strohmann, professor 
of agricultural chemistry and physiology, was my man, and 
gave me a card to him, which I presented at once. Von Meyer 
is an elegant gentleman, and the writer of a ‘Handbuch der 
Chemie,’ — I believe a new edition of Kolbe, but I am not sure 
of this. His reference library was small, but contained the 
best. I noticed very few, if any, American publications, and it 
just occurred to me how inconvenient it would be not to have 
access to English publications as well in investigation. This 
is where we have the advantage in our libraries, since we buy 
all the foreign and have our own, too. 
“Strohman looks like an intelligent but more affable copy 
of Von Blilow, with gray hair, bright eye, and a very penetrat¬ 
ing glance. He spoke and understood English so well that 
I was able to talk very freely with him about work and the fu¬ 
ture lines in which to pursue my studies. He was of the opin¬ 
ion that saponin and the study of the saponin plants was where 
I ought to stop and work up the matter thoroughly. 
“In regard to the study of the chemistry of growing plants 
in different stages, he agreed to have anything planted and 
started in a plot of ground belonging to the Agricultural 
Station for my investigations. In order to save time, I should 
have my plants all ready to bring over, in order that there 
should be no delay, and that I should get to work at once. I 
might have some plants cultivated at home during this next 
summer, and at different stages of growth have them taken 
up, dried, and ready to study during the winter. It seems 
absolutely necessary to concentrate energies upon one group, or 
a limited number, for studying generally results in accom¬ 
plishing little. Strohmann said he would take me into his own 
private laboratory as a special student. He seemed most anx- 
