BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH 65 
the place. A few quaint towers outline the town distinctly, 
as it nestles among soft, green trees. 
“ It was market day, and a band played folk-lore tunes from 
a high tower. This reminded me of the Moravian trombone 
playing.” 
She had no special letters of introduction, but, from the 
university directory, found who were the professors of chem¬ 
istry and botany, and sent in her card, together with “her 
dear Smithsonian letter,” which served her, as always, by open¬ 
ing to her at once all doors. 
“The building where the chemical laboratory is situated was 
originally a house, and not designed for the purpose, but the 
rooms, though small and old, were more attractive to me than 
the larger and more attractive rooms of the great laboratory. 
Dr. Geuther, the chemist, was an old man who spoke some 
English, and welcomed me so heartily that I at once felt at 
home. He took me to see his collection of specimens. All 
are made by himself, or students in the laboratory. . . . 
“The kind old chemist took me into his auditorium. The 
benches were primitive, as were also the appointments, and I 
felt almost pity for him as he apologized for his unattractive 
entourage. He doubtlessly thought that I had seen so much 
grander rooms that I would look down upon his. But the 
interesting lecture, illustrated by experiments, repaid for any 
lack of show. . . . 
“We passed from room to room. I found an assistant 
working in one of the fatty acids. I noticed such neatness in 
the arrangement of apparatus, cleanliness, and all absence of 
smut or dirt. They rarely have more than one or two opera¬ 
tions on hand at once, and seem to concentrate upon them 
their entire attention. . . . 
“Another assistant was distilling some plant extract. The 
old gentleman shook my hand most warmly on parting, and 
asked me to visit him again, should I ever return to Jena. He 
was very lovely in manner and most courteous. I have found 
it so often to be the case, where I have had no letter of intro¬ 
duction, there I have had the most attention and kindness 
on the part of the professors. It may be that the letters of 
