the calculations in question; but he assured me that this was no
drawback, as formulae for all the computations would be supplied me.
I was far from satisfied at the prospect of doing nothing more than
making routine calculations with formulae prepared by others; indeed,
it was almost a disappointment to find that I was considered qualified
for such a place. I could only console myself by the reflection that
the ease of the work would not hinder me from working my way up.
Shortly afterward I understood that it was at least worth while to
present myself at Cambridge, and so started out on a journey thither
about the last day of the year 1856.

At that time even a railroad journey was quite different from what it
is now. The cars were drawn through Baltimore by horses. At Havre
de Grace the train had to stop and the passengers were taken across
the river in a ferryboat to another train. At Philadelphia the city
had to be traversed by transfer coaches. Looking around for this
conveyance, I met a man who said he had it. He shoved me into it
and drove off. I remarked with suspicion that no other coaches were
accompanying us. After a pretty long drive the speed of the horses
gradually began to slacken. At length it came to a complete stop in
front of a large building, and I got out. But it was only a freight
station, locked up and dark throughout. The driver mumbled something
about his fare, then rolled back on his seat, seemingly dead drunk.
The nearest sign of life was at a tavern a block or two away. There I
found that I was only a short distance from the station of departure,
and reached my train barely in time.

Landing in New York at the first glimmer of dawn, near the end of the
line of passengers I was momentarily alarmed to see a man pick up what
seemed to be a leather purse from right between my feet. It was brown
and, so far as I could see, just like my own. I immediately felt
the breast pocket of my coat and found that my own was quite safe.
The man who picked up the purse inquired in the politest tone possible
if it was mine, to which I replied in the negative. He retreated a
short distance and then a bystander came up and chided me in a whisper
for my folly in not claiming the purse. The only reply he got was,
"Oh, I'm up to all your tricks." On a repetition of this assurance
the pair sneaked away.

Arriving at Cambridge, I sought out Professor Winlock and was
informed that no immediate emplo