The Washington herald., 1908-01-05


the accident:
7 vas studying on the slow construc-
ton of hydrogen and the gases evoiVeu
when steel Is dissolved. 1t didn [ go
slowly. but rather went quickly. The
mixture exploded and caused the acci-
dent" Then he added:
II took the same gases by another and
safer. method and from the gaseous pro-
ducts of the solution OF steel FORMED
the present hypothesis OF the eonstruc-
ton OF steel which l published IN 1888 IN
the Journal of the Iron and steel lns'i-
tute and have not changed my funda-
mental ideas since that article was pub
lished.'
Continued at His work.
Al the time OF the accident to Prof
Campbell there was no clearly formed
conception OF the formation Of steel
Prof Campbell worked on the aeeumu-
lation Of facts for I'VE years and then
from this accumulation formed the work
ing hypothesis Since then he mas peeh
testing che validity of these facts ana
has found nothing as yet to contradict
the correctness Of the hypothesis. In
short. he is accommodating fundamental
ideas TO get experimental evidence that
every scientist will accept; many have
accepted his hypothesis.
Within two hours after his eyesish'
had been destroyed. Prof. Campbell was
planning for his future life and work,
and two weeks after the accident he
was working with the same gases on
the same problem, directing other hands
and ewes 70 do and see for him what he
could no longer do and see. Rather re-
Gently he is said to have discovered a
vav to perform without danger the ex-
pertinent which deprived him or a sense.
At present he has from eight to twelve
men working under him on the intricate
problem which he is pursuing with an
energy that outlasts the endurance OF
any OF his assistants. In order TO get
| the accurate measurements on which ne
rigidly insists. he has been compelled
many times TO devise delicate instru-
ments to measure quantity and degree
with minute accuracy. These feats OF
workmanship he has trained his hands
10 perform with amazing Skill indeed
| his hands are trained as remarkably as
are those of Ierreshoff who. simply by
running his hands along a yachts huh,
can tell her speed.
Man OF Many Ideas.
As his position at the head OF Ann Ar
boris chemical laboratory implies, Prof.
Campbell is decidedly a man Of more
than one idea. Numerous chemical e.
! periments that have nothing TO do with
/ the construction Of steel are directed
daily by him. Since no became blind the
Portland cement industry Of the coun-
| try has been developed. As a chemist
/ Prof Campbell played "a prominent part
| In the development, and is recognized
authority on Portland cement. In 1898
the output OF this cement in this country
was about one barrel TO every 80 per
| sons: now Il is about one-haf barrel for
| each person.
How have YOU managed TO accom-
plish so much, especially with such "A
handicap 10 contend witb?' l asked
/ Prof. Campbell.
Il found. at the time OF my accident.
| that 1 must do one of two things" he
answered 7 was doing my college
work and also a great deal OF outside
work as a consulting chemist for sew
eraI concerns. ! found that I had 10
sacrifice one or the other; that ! must
choose between the two 1 gave up the
outside commercial work, and gave my
entire time and energy to the scientific
work. All that I can say Is that one
can accomplish anything by attending to
business and saving wood. and not get
ting discouraged. Sometimes you study
a month. six months. or possibly two
years or one idea. only TO find out at
! the end Of that time that it is not worth
working out Then you lay Il aside and
put It down to experience and begin all
over again.
Devotes Much Time 10 Exercise.
| One reason of Prof Campbells ability
to accomplish so much in a given period
Of time is to be found, doubtless. in his
enthusiasm for physical exercise. He
devotes an hour a day during the college
year to work In the gymnasium, in order
to keep in good muscular condition. AT
IN o'clock every morning he leaves his
Laboratory with an assistant and goes
TO the gymnasium in the northeast corner
Of the campus. BY Y ne has exercised
for thirty-fve minutes. taken his bath,
and subjected himself 10 a lively rub
down. While exercising he uses the
horses, parallel bars and dumbbells, be-
ling as clever with them as a full-sighted
gym team star.
No professor at Ann Arbor sets such
long working hours for himself; none
works as many weeks in the year. just
fifty: none is in better heaith none car
show q better cared for set OF muscles
Prof Campbell was fOrty-four years
old last September. He is a member OF
the American Chemical Society, the
American Institute Of Mining Engineer
ing, and the Iron and Steel Institute, and
an honorary member OF the Michigan Gas
Association.
How CARL Wrote His Books.
Lewis B. CARL. whose fame among
mathematicians is even greater than
Prof. CampbelTs among chemists, de-
spite the handicap of sightless eyes
pressed Seth Low, who afterward be-
came mayor Of Greater New York. fol
first place in the class in which they
graduated from Columbia University
That was in 1870 AS a student young
CARL had the text books read to him by
companion while the two were travei.
ing between the university and Mr. Carll's
home on Long Island. His companion
was a boyhood friend sent through Co
lumbia by Mr.. Carlrs father, that hi.
son might have some one to read his les
sons 10 him. Thus, Mr.. CARL took a col
lege course wholly by sound as it were
On graduation he planned to become
a teacher OF the classics, but soon found
TO his sorrow that nearly every one whC
desired his services wanted to be in
structed in mathematics. In college h,
: had been a fair mathematician. Con.
fronting the situation squarely, he de
, termined to become as proficient in thli
. branch OF study as his mental equip
ment would let him. and from that da!
! to this he has been a solver of the mos
abstruse mathematical problems known
to man.
Had to Get Many Papers,
When he decided TO produce his bool
on Calculus of Variations" he discov
cred that only one book had ever beer