Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-30
YALE's FAMOUS GEOLOGIsT.
Prof. Dana and His Oddities-He's Too
ssCute'' to be 'sSold.o
From the New York Herald.

From the New York Herald.
l met a shire wd-looking, feet-footed little
body bustling up Broadway few days ago as
if his very life depended upon his understanding
every other pedestrian on the thoroughfare.
His features were strong, handsome and venera-
BILE, and, as he hastily picked his way through
the crowd, his long, flowing gray locks were
blown this way and that, forming q sort of
aureole about a remarkable brow.
This curious piece Of nervous energy was
recognized by more than one he went spin
ming up the street, for it was none other than
Yale's famous geOlogist, Prof. DANA graph
cally dubbed Roxy" by his youthful disciples
Prof. Dana passed his three score years and
ten limit several years ago, but he still con-
tlnues to hustle aud to explain tho mystery of
the rocks with the same ardor that he displayed
In his youth. As pedestrian he is indefatiga-
Die, and when he conducts party of geological
students across the hills and fells of New
Haven, as he is in the habit of doing frequently
during term time. he invariably oyerwearies
even the sturdiest among them.
The venerable professor is a hard man to
circumvent, though the fun loving Yalensjans
| have frequently made the effort 1t was ON
the occasion OF one of these excursions that a
couple OF frisky juniors attempted a bit&f
trickery that only ended in their own chagrin.
The entire class was invited to accompany the
professor to, Huntergreen lake, On an ap-
pointed day, to inspect some ancient rocks that
bore evidence Of having been scratched by
glaciers in a very early age. On the day pre-
cedlng tho proposed excursion these willy
juniors visited the lake and decorated some
rocks in the neighborhood with a clever imita
ton OF the real glacial scratches.
Then, on the next day, they directed Prof.
Danas attention to these new marks with no
little flourish of trumpets. "And were those,
too made by the glsciers?" they queried inno-
Gently. They are precisely similar to the
others"
But the professor was equal to the emer-
geney. His glasses had bridged his nose in a
moment and his eyes undertaken close sur
vey OF the cabilistic signs. They appear
more as If they had been made by Irishmen."
was his laconic explanation, enforced by
twinkiing eye. And then the band of geologist,
who were waiting for different denouement.
mad the laugh on their comrades.
Proi. Dana gave a some what similar lllustra-
tlon OF his shrewdness one day in the recitation
room. 1t Is customary for the students to
orlnR with them from time to time such bits of
stone as they have CHANGED across and to SUBJ
init them to him for examination and explana-
ton. This is piesh Of shyenite and that
very fine speshimen of mica shist," he would
customsrily explain, with an accent peculiarly
his own. And what is this, professor?
| questioned an eager youth one day, rs
ne placed before HIM . small red specimen
that was strikingly suggestive of bit OF brick.
The professor held il up to the light and
scrutinized 1t with the closest attention. Then
his brow contracted, and he said slowly and
ponderously: This, sir, 10 q rare piesh Of i'm
| pudence."