The Washington herald., 1910-03-13

experience in seeking a position IN the
cotton mills. and OF an Interview he had
with their president, the senior Walcott,
who was placed in this important position
when he was scarcely thirty-four years
old. Had ne lived, Mr. Walcott would
doubtless have left his son a millionaire.
for he was already started on the road to
wealth when he died a comparatively
young man-but the gods dispose.
Had Charles Walcott been so unfortu-
nate as TO have inherited great wealth,
up forever. and the world the poorer
thereby, for he is not only a conspicuous
figure in scientific circles. but an efficient
and inspiring official and a public-spirited
man, who has done much for the develop
ment and advancement of science and al
lied subjects in this country. DR.. Wal
colts brilliant father died, however, when
his son was a mere lad. and left him little
save a splendid physique and a fine brain,
the best inheritance he could have be-
queathed. FOR they have helped his son
to an interesting, helpful, and successful
career.
Begins as GeOIOgIst.
BY taste. training. and profession. DR..
Walcott Is a geologist He began his
preparations for a career in this science
while ne was still fodder and boarded
up pretty stones in childish fashion,
which he separated and arranged in
fashion not childish. Then he began col
lecting bugs. butterflies. any attractive
thing that came his way, and between
the ages of thirteen and twenty he made
a collection of fossils OF Central New
York. which contained many new speci-
mems and a number of valuable trilobites
showing for the first time their whole
anatomy. This collection compelled wide
spread attention and the young collector
finally sold it to Prof. Agassiz for the
Museum of Comparative Geology at Cam
bridge.
RecognitioA from such an authority
fred the lads enthusiasm and he decided
to carry with his own hands the precious
treasure 10 his great colleague. He was
moved to this decision not alone because
it offered an opportunity to visit Agassiz.
but because he was unwilling TO trust TO
untried and unsympathetic, perhaps. car
riers, his cherished collection. He had
planned, too, to remain under Prof Agas-
sizs instruction for three years at least,
but the death of the master prevented
this and he accepted instead position
on the staff of Prof. James Hall, State
geologist Of New York, where he estab-
lished such a reputation for conscientious
and brilliant work that, when the Geo
logical Survey was removed from the con-
troll of the Smithsonian and formed into
q separate bureau its first director, Clar-
ence King. appointed Mr. Walcott as as
sistant geologist III the same year he
was advanced TO the position of paleon-
tologist in charge Of the inveriebrate and
three years later he was made chief pa
leontologist His appointment as geoIo-
gist in 1923 included a general direction
Of the branches Of geology and paIeon-
tology.
Director Of the survey.
So he climbed, step by step, leading
his associates in their common work un-
til, upon the retirement of Prof. Powell.
in 1894, he was appointed to the director
ship of the survey. His connection with
the survey proved DR.. Walcott TO be
more than photographic
geologist. worthy Of the Bigsby medal
and of decorations from great universities
and scientific societies. It proved him an
man. man OF catholic tastes
and broad culture, and q marvellous or