“I don’t know that you have told me where it came from.”

A small glimpse of his continuing curiosity about the provenance of objects · Letter concerning a gift of snake skin

• Curiosity
• Knowledge
• Nature

“A library like ours must exercise the largest hospitality. A great many books may be found in every large collection which remind us of those apostolic-looking old men who figure on the platform.”

A humorous defence of allowing even obsolete or imperfect books a place on the shelves · Address at the opening of the Medical Library at Boston

• Books
• Hospitality
• Humour

“Mistakes in rhyme, rhythm, and even in spelling are very common in young writers.”

A practical reminder that technical accuracy matters when presenting poetry to readers · Letter to Mrs. E. S. Sinclair, September 16, 1882

• Poetry
• Precision
• Writing