Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-03-08
The Scientific shoemaker.
ny PROF. A. D. HAGAR,

luSI lIluult W INC Va shSoN 49,
have passed away from us in the pos
session of great moral worth or eminent |
abilities, tits equally appropriate to speak |
of the living, especially when the eX-
ample is such as TO induce better |
state of society, or give encouragement |
TO others II 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 enioyes in the village where he re-
sides-"The Scientific Shoemaker" His
contributions to science, and especially
to the science of Botony, have intro.
duced him to the acquaintance of most
scientific men In New England, and few,
If any, names are reCkoned better au-
thority in the department of Botany
than that of Charles G. Frost of Brattle'
boro, Vt. Middlebury and Dartmouth
colleges have each in appreciation OF
his valuable contributions to science
conferred on him the honorable degree OF
Master of Arts, and the Boston Natural
History Society has enrolled him on its
list of Corresponding Members. His
advantages for acquiring an education
WtTG quito llluibtNl duu Ills 11Salh-
ments must have been quite incomplete,
for at the age of fourteen, with the scan
ty information acquired at a common
school, he was apprenticed to the shoe
making business which he has ever
since followed He possessed an ardent
love for study, and about the time OF
his apprenticeship obtained copy Of
"Hutton's Mathematics" of which he
became perfect master without the aid
of a teacher. His thirst for knowledge
turned his mind to the study of Astron-
omy, Philosophy, Geology and Min
| eralogy. He succeeded in acquiring a
, tolerable knowledge OF these sciences.
His devotion &c &c study ana mis- close APP
plication to business made sad inroads
! upon his health and at the age OF forty
he found himself an invalid, with dis
| pepsia and its attendant evils closely
! fastened upon him and rendering it i'm
possible for him to attend to his bust
ness. After trying in vain to obtain the
panacea that should restore him again
to health, he visited an eminent physi-
clan in New York as the derHier resort.
He called at the office of the physician,
and while waiting till two or three, who
had reached the place before him, were
examined, 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 instituting many inquiries, asked
him if he was fond Of flowers and had
a knowledge Of Botany, to which Mr.
Frost replied that he had fondness 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 flow
er day during the ensuing spring and
summer, and when collected he was to
put it with its name into a book. he
remarked, your health and strength
will probably return to you in proper
ton to the distance you will be obliged
to go to obtain the new flower, after
| you have gathered them awhile" He
gave no medicine and the above was the
only prescription which he made.
Mr.. Frost left the Office greatly dis
appointed mortified at the thought Of
going so far, and mourning so much ex-
pense for so simple, and as it appeared
to him, so worthless prescription. At
times he qHeried whether the man was
not an impOstor but his reputation as a
skillful practitioner was too well estab-
lished to suffer q thought of this kind
to remain longer in his mind, nor could
he believe that the physician intended
it for ''sell, " therefore he determined to
carry out fully the instructions which
he had received.
He returned home, picked his first
flower named and pressed it, and felt no
worse. He soon obtained an elementary
work on Botany, and before the frosts OF
, winter came to cut down the remaining
flowers, Mr., Frost had daily plucked his
flower, given it its proper name and
place, and what was more, he had in a
great measure regained his health, and
/, obtained tOlerabie knowledge of Bot
any. With the return of spring, the
benefits obtained the previous yesl
prompted him to renew his investiga
tions in the field and he was surprised
at the great number of plants that had
previously escaped his observation
He soon found plants not described as
indigenous to Vermont aud subse.
quently discovered those not described
in any American work. This somewhat
embarrassed him, but when he had sub
mitted the facts to his contemporaries
and they gave him credit for discover.
ing new species, the inward satiSfaCtlo
that ever glows in the heart of natur
E alist when conscious of having contrib,
uted one new truth to the science
awakened in his mind new emotions
gave him strength and made him more
Jealous in his search than before
His examinations were not restricted
!, to the field of ordinary Botany but ex
, tended to tue study of Moses, Lchen,
and Fungi. He made collections O
these, but when he attempted to deter
mine their species, he found no Ameri
can work that sufficiently described
. them to suit his purpose. In his stud
a les he had seen reference made to for
! elgn works as Fries System mycolog
. lcDm, "Albertini & Seventh Conspec,
tus tungOrHm," "Acharius methodus
qua omnes delectos Lichenes" &c, hoping
TO get new light IRON them, sent TO Eu.
p rope and procured some OF those which
> ne suspected might be OF the greatest
service TO him. Ia due time the works