Page:Percival Lowell - an afterglow.djvu/69

 THE QUOTATIONS FROM LETTERS

COMPREHENSIVE biography of Percival Lowell would include much information concerning his many sided personality taken from his correspondence. As a scholar, scientist, man among men or wise observer of things and events, and particularly as considerate friend he was continually disclosing himself in let- ters and impromptu scribblings. In this grouping no effort has been made to present a wide gath- ering of these contributions:—only excerpts, from some letters which the writer received from Dr. Lowell in the course of a long association, are pre- sented. But these notes are valuable as expressing excellently much of his serious thoughtfulness and knowledge, as well as showing some of his peculiar pleasantries of fancy and his varying moods. It has seemed desirable to add these quotations with the hope that they may aid in making Dr. Lowell's personality more distinct in the light of his own flowing and informal phrasings.

The notes quoted are in chronological order. 51