Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1866-03-16
miscellaneous.
From the Vermont Record
THE SCIENTIFIC SHOEMAKER.
by PROP. A. d. HAGER.

by PROP A. D. HAGHR.
While it is eminenty proper to pay a
Just tribute to the memory olthose who have
passed away from us in the possession Of great
moral worth or eminent abilities, it is equally
appropriate to speak Of The living, especially
when the example is such as TO induce bet
ter state of society. or give encouragement to
Others in the pursuit OF knowledge.
For these reasons we propose TO give some
Of the circumstances attending the life of a
modest and unassuming man, who is Justly
entitled to the name which he enjoys in the
village where he resides" Tho Scientific
Shoemaker His contributions to science of
Botany, have introduced him 10 the acquaint-
ance OF most scientific men in New England,
and few, if any, names are rcckoned better
authority in the department Of Botany han
that of Charles c. Frost Of Bratte boro, VI.
Mddlebury and Dartmouth colleges have
each in appreciation Of his valuable contribu-
tions to science conferred on him the honora-
BILE degree of Master Of Arts, and the Boston
Natural History Society has enrolled him on
its list of Corresponding Members. His ad-
vantages for acquiring an education were quite
limited and his early attachments must have
been quite incomplete, for at the age Of four
teen, with the scanty information acquired at
common school, he was appTentced to the
shoemaking business which he has ever since
followed. He possessed an ardent love for
study, and about the time Of his apprentice
ship obtained copy OF Hutton's Mathe-
MATES of which he became perfect master
without the aid of teacher His thirst for
knowledge turned his mind to The study Of
Astronomy, Philosophy, Geology and Miner
alogy. He succeeded in acquiring tolerabe
knowledge of these sciences. His devotion
TO study and his close application to business
made sad inroads upon his health, and at the
age Of forty he found himself an invalid, with
dyspepsia and its attendant evils closely fas-
tened upon him and rendering it impossible
for him to attend to his business. After try
ing in vain to obtain the panacea that should
restore him again to health, he visited an
eminent physician in New York as the d1nier
resort. He called at the Office Of the physio-
ian, and while waiting till two or three, who
had reached the place before him, were ex-
amined, he observed some house plants in the
window of the office, and TO pass the time
stepped up to notice the various kinds Of
flowers upon them.
When his turn came, the physician, after
inshtutlng many inquiries, skod him II he was
fond Of flowers and had knowledge Of Bot
any, to which Mr.. Frost replied that he had
a tondness for any Of the works of Nature,
but knew but very little Of Botany. Upon
this the physician advised him to return home
and make it point to collect one flower d
day during the ensuing spring and summer
and when collected he was to put it with its
name into book. He remarked "Youl
health and strength will probably return tC
you in proportion to the distance you will be
obliged to 20 to obtain the new flower, aftei
you have gathered them awhile" He CAV,
no medicine and the above was the only pre-
scription which he made.
Mr.. Frost left the office greatly disappoint.
ed, mortified at the thought Of going 30 far
aud mourning so much expense for 40 simple
and as it appeared to him, 80 worthless
prescription. At times he queried whethe
the man was not an impostor, but his repu
tation as skilliul practitioner was too wei
established to suffer thought Of this kline
to remain longer in his mind, nor could he
believe that the physician intended it for
sell, therefore he determined to carry GU
fully the instructions which he had received
He returned home, picked his first flower
named and pressed il, and felt no worse. II,
soon obtained an elementary work on Botany
and before the lrosts Of winter came to Gu
down the remaining flowers, M Frost had
daily plucked his flower, given it its proper
name and place, and what was more, he hsC
in great measure regained his health, and
obtained tolerable knowledge Of Botany
With the return of spring, the benefits OBJ
tanned the previous year prompted him to re.
new his Investigations in the field, and he wa,
surprised at the great number Of plants tha
had previously escaped his observation. II,
soon found plants not described as indigo
nous to Vermont, and subsequently discovered
those not described in any American work
This somewhat embarrassed him, but wher
he had submitted the facts to his contempt.
raries, and they gave him credit for discover
ing new species, the inward satisfaction that
ever glowe in the heart OF "a naturalist wher
conscious of having contributed one new truth
to the science, awakened in his mind new
emotions, gave him strength and made hin
more jealous IN his search than before
His examinations were not restricted e
the field Of ordinary Botany, but extended &c
the study of Moses, Lchens snd Fungi
He made collections of these, but when he
attempted to determine their species, he found
no American work that sufficiently described
them 10 suit his purpose. In his studies b,
had seen reference made to foreign works a,
fries System a mycologicum," "Albertin
d. scweini'z Conspectus Fungorum," ant
Others, and hoping to get new light from them
sent to Europe and procured some OF thos,
which be suspected might be Of the creates
service to him. In due time the works ar
rived, when 10 they were all written il
Latin! In order that they might become Gvail
able TO him he mus. first learn the Laul
language At the age of iorty-tive most mel
would have considered this too great a tssl
TO commence but the desire to know tn
contents OF those dearly bought books wa