The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-09-26


not have been more than a childish
guess was confirmed in my later
days." Then Mr.. Hamilton Gibson
paused. | cauld see he was recalling,
not without emotion, some memories
of the long past.
81 was very young, and playing in
the woods. l tossed over the fallen
leaves, when | came across chrysa-
lis. There was nothing remarkable
in that, for knew what it was. But,
wonderful to relate, providentially l
deem it, as l held the object in my
hand butterfly slowly emerged,
then futtered in my fingers"
"You were pleased with its beauty"
| said.
ooh! It was more than that. I
do not know whether [ was or was
not youngster with an imagination,
but suddenly the spiritual view of
new or of another life struck me. /
saw in this jewel born from an I'M
adorned casket some inkling of i'm
mortality. Yes, that butterfly break
ing from its chrysalis in my hand
shaped my future career"
But some young people my feel
passing impulses, but how account
for your artistic skill and literary
powers?"
"As to the art side, at least deft-
ness of hand came early. l had the
most methodical of grandmothers.
| Every day | had a certain task |
made square of patchwork for
quilt. | learned how to sew, and l
can sew neatly today. I knew how
to use my fingers"
did you like patch work." l in
quired.
II simply despised it. Sewing
must have helped me, for it was eye
training, and when | went to work
with pencil and paint brush l
really had no trouble. | read great
deal. l devoured Cooper's novels
and the Rollo series; but there was
one special volume, Harris on Insects,
| never tired of. | studied that over
and over again. 1t was the illustra-
tions of Marsh which fascinated me.
| never found bug, caterpillar, or
butterfly that l did not compare my
specimens with the Marsh pictures.
| learned this way much which have
never forgotten"
"Had you any particular advan-
tages?"
"Yes; my brother was doctor and
he let me use his microscope, and so
| acquired knowledge of the de-
tails of flowers and insects that es-
cape the TAXED eye. | pulled flowers
to pieces, but not in the spirit of de-
struction, but so that | might better
understand their structure. When |
was ten l had long illness. When
| was getting better, | was permitted
to take an hours or SO turn in the
garden. That hour / devoted to col
| Letting insects and flowers. On my
return to my room, what | had col
lected amused me until | could get
out again next day or the day after"
at was pleasure and study COM
bined," | said.
II was not conscious that | was
studying. Then in my sick-room |
began to draw and paint the insects.
| think | was conscientious about it,
and careful-perhaps infinitely SO. |
tried to put on paper exactly what l
saw, and nothing else. You say you
like Professor Wriggler.' l drew him
when | was ten or eleven, and | could
not make him any more accurate to-
day than did thirty years ago."
"Were you encouraged at your
work?" | inquired.
"Yes; once | was much pleased. |
came across curious insect. |
could not find it in the books. |
made drawing of it and sent it to
professor of the Smithsonian, asking
him to give me it's scientific name.
Back came by return mail my sketch
and under it the Latin name. The
professor wrote me that if the people
who were always annoying him with
pictures of impossible bugs would
only send him as accurate a picture
as was mine, he never would have
any more bother"
did you have any setbacksa"
"Yes; and l haven't forgotten it up
to today. / was always collecting,
and had brought together every in
sect had found in my neighborhood.
AS / took them home l pinned them
in the drawers of an old fash toned
bureau. In time the whole of the
drawers, bottom and sides, were full
of pinned specimens, and there was