obliged to turn back and seek easier fields to explore. This first journey into the wilds of Canada was followed by others more successful, until the region was thoroughly explored and the flora classified.

Dr.Asa Gray, of Harvard University, directed Mr. Pringle in 1885 to explore Northern Mexico for flora. Since that time Mexico has been the special field of investigation for the great naturalist, who has made from two to four trips to that country every year, seldom returning without bringing home some rare plants in his knapsack hitherto unclassified. Mr. Pringle's Herbarium in the Williams Science Building of the University of Vermont contains about one hundred thousand specimens, brought together from all parts of the globe. Besides the thousands which he himself has collected, his shelves contain many rare and beautiful specimens secured from exchanges with other institutions and with the leading botanists from the four corners of the world. The great botanical gardens of London, Paris, Berlin, Vienna, Tokyo, Ceylon, New Zealand, and others of equal note, have contributed to the wealth of scientific store which is watched over by Mr. Pringle. For some years he has been sending out an average of three hundred species of plants to these herbariums with an exchange of about an equal number. The past year he distributed about three thousand speci

mens.

The botanist has spent so many summers beneath the sunny skies of Mexico that he longs for the time when he packs his knapsack and sets out (by railway, of course) for that country. He is a philosophical traveller and a delightful companion, although modest to the point almost of diffidence. The position of his assistant in these trips to Mexico is eagerly sought after by young college students who recognize the excellent opportunity to acquire first-hand knowledge of botany.

Mr. Pringle has become very much attached to his Mexican guide and

companion in these long trips, Filemon L. Lozano. For years this educated and highly intelligent native has accompanied the botanist on his explorations and much of the success attained in his work there is due to Senor Lozano and to other assistants.

Having pretty effectually covered the field of Mexican phanerogams, concerning which he is a leading authority, Mr. Pringle has turned especially to the collection of cryptograms.

He has for several years been official collector for the Mexican Government, has put the National Herbarium upon a scientific basis and has been active in developing Mexican fibre plants.

Among the scores of young men who have been fortunate enough to have accompanied Mr. Pringle to Mexico during the past twenty-five years may be counted James A. Kelley, now a well-known merchant of Burlington; Charles Hammond and Judd Williams, also of that city; John H. McGlashan, of Michigan, and B. W. Estey, of Lincoln, Vermont.

Mr. Pringle has been honored by the University of Vermont with the degrees of Master of Arts and Doctor of Science. He is an associate member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, member of the Mexican Government and official collector for the country; member of Massachusetts Horticultural Society, and the Vermont Horticultural Society, etc.

During all these years Mr. Pringle has kept a complete daily journal, which it is to be hoped may be published some day in the interest of science. His collection of autograph letters from noted scientists is also valuable, indeed.

And above all, this quiet, kindly man still maintains his lofty ideals and his trusting simple faith in humanity that is, in part, a legacy from his mother and also from his early associations with a Quaker community within the borders of his home town. When not in Mexico he resides in Burlington, living close to his priceless treasure of leaf and frond and twig, gathered from almost every land under the sun.

A

GIRL descended the steps of the Holland House, bound for a walk up the avenue. She carried herself with an ease and assurance that came, partly from a knowledge of being properly gowned, partly from an innate self-sufficiency. She wore a large bunch of violets at her belt.

Just as she reached the sidewalk she saw a man she knew, and she stepped forward, eagerly to greet him. The man was apparently about twenty-five years of age. He had a pleasantly keen face, just then a little sober. His clothes were of a correct style and cut, but suggested somehow the lack of a tailor's recent attention. But, in spite of a certain lack of spruceness, the young man conveyed the impression of being well conditioned.

"Jack," called the girl, for he had passed without seeing her. When he did see her his face also lighted eagerly; then a doubtful look crossed it. The girl gave him both hands.

"Jack!" she said, "I'm so glad. Whoever thought of meeting you here in New York."

"Same here, Dorothy. What are you doing in this gay metropolis?"

She regarded him saucily, as she answered, "Just now I am going to let a man I know take me to luncheon, if you know anyone who is hungering for that privilege-and lunch. Mother's gone off with cousin Clara, heaven only knows where, so I am left to my own resources. How do you like being a resource, Jack?" she laughed gaily.

But her frank friendliness seemed to embarrass him, and for a second a doubt intruded itself on her. Could she have mistaken the terms of her intimacy with this young man? No,

not that. To misunderstand Jack was to confuse one of the primal elements of life.

Jack gazed troubledly up the avenue a moment before he said: "Dorothy, rather than have you think me absolutely a cad, I am going to tell you the plain facts."

She laughed incredulously, but there was a suggestion of distance to her little nod of acquiescence.

"I don't want you to think I shouldn't be awfully glad of the chance of lunching with you. It would be just like I rather do that than anything I can think of, just now. But-" he hesitated, as though not quite sure of what he wanted to say. She gave him no help. "The truth of the matter is that-if I lunch with you to-day, I shall probably not be able to lunch at all to-morrow."

"Jack, what has happened," broke from the girl. "Have you done some. thing foolish? Oh, come inside where we can talk."

She led the way into the hotel, and found seats away from the crowd who filled the place. Then she laughed a little over her own relief in finding Jack still Jack, as far as she was concerned.

"Now, tell me all about it?" she demanded. "Have you been more foolish than usual, and what do you mean about not having money? What are you doing in New York, and how long have you been here, to begin with?"

Jack nailed the last question as it flew past. "I've been here about a month and I'm learning the newspaper business."

"Well ?"

"Well, that's all. I'm still learning." "But why haven't you money," she insisted.