DR. LAFFERTY Dr. Lafferty, long identified with The Richmond Christian Advocate, paid the school a visit. While seated in the place of honor at the table, his clear, forceful voice would penetrate to the farthest corners of the dining-room and his well-chosen words exemplified in a very convincing way what the Naturalist had been trying to teach his English pupils. Dr. Lafferty fulfilled all of Bacon's requirements; being a man of wide learning, an excellent writer, and a ready speaker. His face was molded in clearcut lines, his mouth was flexible and expressive, and his whitening hair gave a touch of dignity and sweetness to his positive, virile features. DR. PAUL Whitehead Some of the most interesting articles on wild flowers ever written were contributed to The Richmond Christian Advocate by Rev. Paul Whitehead, who traveled through many parts of eastern Virginia on horseback. He had a keen appreciation of the beauties of nature, an intimate acquaintance with the more conspicuous native flowers of the region, and the ability to express what he saw and felt in a lucid and pleasing way. There is no doubt that his articles added greatly to the popular knowledge concerning Virginia wild flowers and to the appreciation of plants in general. PROFESSOR APGAR During a portion of one vacation period, the Naturalist attended a Summer Normal School at Bedford City, Virginia, where many of the leading lights in the educational world were assembled; among them Professor Austin C. Apgar, of Trenton, New Jersey. To meet Professor Apgar personally and hear him lecture and go with him into the fields proved to be a great privilege. His enthusiasm was unbounded, and he was such a gifted speaker that his hearers sat on the edges of the seats. In drawing on the blackboard, he used both hands at once and used them quickly and skilfully. His eyes were like objectives on a double nose-piece; one saw large and the other small, and between the two nothing escaped him. When he came in to lecture on trees, he was so extensively camouflaged that one thought "Birnam wood to Dunsinane had come." The Naturalist never saw the Carolina hemlock until Professor Apgar showed him a tree growing on the southern slope of one of the Peaks of Otter. That was a day long to be remembered. The Orator and his charming wife, the Physicist and his wife, and Professor Apgar and the Naturalist filled. a large service hack and started toward The Peaks early one bright morning, ready for any excitement the day might bring. As the hack wound slowly up the mountain road, Professor Apgar kept seeing things, and reeling out long Latin names, and jumping over the off wheel to secure fragments of this and that, until the whole crowd became enthusiastic naturalists and wanted to get out and walk. Near the top, they all had to walk, because it was much too steep and rough for the vehicle. Nestled among the giant rocks on the summit, was a little guest-house where the party had lunch. The Orator called for lemonade, and was given a glass of water with one thin slice of lemon floating on its surface. He called for another glass, and got another slice. As he reached for the sixth glass, he turned to the Naturalist and said sotto voce, "I was determined to get the rest of that lemon." After lunch, there was some climbing and some collecting, but more lying in the shadows of the rocks and enjoying the cool breezes, while the land scape spread far out in every direction from the very sharp peak 4,000 feet above the sea. The nearest mountain was Flat-top, the other twin, and beyond it Apple Orchard, where the Carolina rhododendron grows so abundantly. When it came time to return, Professor Apgar and the Naturalist walked half way down the mountain through the woods to take a look at the Carolina hemlock. Many years before, an immense stone had rolled down from the top in this same direction, crushing all the trees and causing a veritable avalanche of stones and earth. It had been poised on the summit as a rocking-stone and was considered a great natural wonder; until some foolish boys blew it off with a charge of blasting powder. CHAPTER XI NOTES FROM THE NATURALIST'S DIARY MARCH 10, 1895 This is Sunday; a caressing, real spring day. One blackbird came to see us and perched high in a tree exhibiting his burnished coat. A total eclipse of the moon occurred at 9:51-11:27 P. M. All the girls stayed up to see it. At 11:30, the dull red sphere began to brighten on one side, when it appeared like a little silver saucer holding a large orange a little brightness holding much darkness—a little right supporting and embracing a big wrong! APRIL 14, 1895 I took a party of girls to Washington and spent Easter week there showing them the sights. They had a wonderful time. APRIL 25, 1895 When I came in for supper tonight, I was rather surprised to find a number of girls rather timidly offering to shake hands with me in the halls and on |