It was in this way that the collection was begun. As he added to it in succeeding years, every piece had a history that lent it an individual interest. Much of it continued to be produced by his own hand, or at least under his own superintendence, and at the expense of himself, or of his friends, who at his solicitation contributed money for this use. Some of the larger and more costly articles were donated by people to whom he appealed for help, and therefore peculiar personal associations clustered about them. For instance, when home on his first furlough, he met Cyrus W. Field, on a voyage to Europe, and interested him in the Tengchow School. After reaching China again, he wrote a letter to Mr. Field and solicited from him the gift of a dynamo. In the course of some months a favorable response was received; and, eventually, that dynamo rendered most valuable service in lighting the buildings. Two friends, whose acquaintance he had made in the United States,—Mr. Stuart, of New York, and Mrs. Baird, of Philadelphia,—gave him money to buy a ten-inch reflecting telescope, with proper mountings and accompaniments; and when, as so often happens in such matters, there was a considerable deficit, his “Uncle John” came to the relief. In ordering through an acquaintance a set of telegraph instruments he explained that the Board was not furnishing the means to pay for it, but that it was purchased with his own money, supplemented by the gifts of certain friends of missions and education. This must suffice as to the history of that collection of apparatus. It is, however, enough to show why he had so much pride in it.