I1.] QUALITIES. 125
to be interested in things more than in persons. One would have expected to find it developed among physicists ; and, as a fact, eight of them possess it in a high degree, and similarly among mechanicians and engineers, all of whom must possess it, and four of whom testify to it, but it seems just as strong among the rest. Here are instances and extracts :
Chemistry.-1. " Constructed a reflecting telescope, with 12-inch aperture." 2. " Ground, polished, and silvered a 7-inch glass speculum, and mounted it equatorially." Geology.-3. " Considerable mechanical skill." Biology.-4. " Always fond of constructing ; school nickname, ` Archimedes.' If I had followed my profession should probably have been [very successful as] an engineer." 5. "Very fond of mechanical contrivances. Invented and made my own toys as a child. Mechanical tastes are still largely indulged in intervals of leisure." 6. "Special love of mechanics ; a good amateur cabinetmaker and blacksmith. Made lithotrites." 7.
" Talent for mechanics." . S. [WVas extremely
ingenious in devising modes of preserving aind
