Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 74.djvu/253

Rh In September 1840, Mr. Shaw made his first visit to Europe, stopping on his way at Rochester, New York, where his parents and sisters resided. He took an extended tour on the continent and, returning to St. Louis in the autumn of 1843, arranged his affairs for another absence in Europe. This lasted for about three years, during which time he visited all of the accessible European localities, together with Constantinople and Egypt. A journey to Palestine was prevented by the prevalence of the plague in that country.

Early in 1851 his last trip abroad was made, the first World's Fair being then held in London. While on this visit the idea first occurred to him to make a garden of his own, modeled after those which are so well known upon the great private estates of England. Mr. Shaw returned in December, 1851; the mansion at Tower Grove had been finished in 1849, and the one on the corner of Seventh and Locust streets was then being built. After this time he was in St. Louis, with the exception of short summer vacations at the Atlantic coast or the northern lakes. Seemingly a man of leisure, he was really a very busy man for the next thirty years, and was never an idler until compelled to be.

In 1857 the late Dr. Engelmann, who was then in Europe, was commissioned by Mr. Shaw to examine botanical gardens and to obtain such suggestions as he might think of value. About this time a correspondence was begun with Sir William J. Hooker, Director of Kew Gardens, who wrote on August 10, 1857:

Very few appendages to a garden of this kind are of more importance for instruction than a library and economic museum, and these gradually increase like a rolling snowball.

Accordingly, Mr. Shaw in 1858-9 erected a building for this purpose. The selection of books was entrusted largely to Dr. Engelmann in consultation with Hooker, Decaisne, Alexander Braun and others of his botanical friends. At the same time Dr. Engelmann urged upon Mr. Shaw the purchase of the herbarium of the recently deceased Professor Bernhardi, of Erfurth, Germany, which was offered at a very small price. Hooker wrote January 1, 1858:

He [Engelmann] tells me of the herbarium of the late Dr. Bernhardi, of Erfurth, which he expects to buy for St. Louis. That ought to be a good commencement for the more scientific part of the establishment. . . . The state ought to feel that it owes you much for so much public spirit, and so well directed.

Mr. Shaw has told that he at one time planned a grand school of botany, with residences for the faculty, laboratories, etc., opposite the main gate; but he abandoned the project because of the advice of Dr. Asa Gray.

In 1866 Mr. Shaw secured the services of Mr. James Gurney from the Royal Botanical Gardens of London, whose practical experience and