In his methods of working he was most exact. Having carefully planned out in his own mind work to be done, he would enter the laboratory, and with his table unencumbered with anything beyond such things as he was using, would set to work in a grave, silent manner. After a time, however, as the experiment proceeded and the result which he had anticipated began to manifest itself, he would begin humming a tune, and even speak to his attendant of the expected result. On finishing such experimental work for the day, everything had to be put carefully away, all bottles stoppered, open vessels covered over, all instruments and materials returned to their various drawers, all rubbish cleared from the floor, and the laboratory left ready for the Professor to start work again. Faraday would then go upstairs to his study, and think further on the subject on which he happened to be working. In his later years we are told that he invariably carried about with him convenient sized cards on which he could jot down at once--in the street, in the lecture room, at a friend's, indeed anywhere--such thoughts as should flash across his mind. A few words deserve to be said with regard to Sergeant Anderson, who for over thirty years acted as Faraday's laboratory assistant at the Royal Institution. In 1829, when Faraday was working at experiments on the manufacture of glass for optical purposes, a special furnace was erected at the Royal Institution, and Anderson was engaged to assist at it. After the glass experiments were over, however, Anderson, who had demonstrated his usefulness, was retained, and he continued throughout the rest of Faraday's life as his assistant, having won the good opinion not only of the Professor but of all with whom he had anything to do. There is one good story told of Anderson, who had been chosen for his post on account of the habits of strict obedience, which his military training had given him. His duty was to keep the furnaces always at the same heat, and the water in the ashpit always at the same level. In the evening he was released; but one night Faraday forgot to tell Anderson he could go, and early next morning he found his faithful servant still stoking the glowing furnace, as he had been doing all night long. FOOTNOTES: [11] A non-metallic element first discovered in 1774 by Scheele, and the subject of much research to succeeding chemists. [12] _Engineering_ for June 19th, 1891. [Illustration] CHAPTER X. ABOUT THE ROYAL INSTITUTION. "The heights by great men reached and kept Were not attained by sudden flight, But they, while their companions slept, Were toiling upward in the night. Standing on what too long we bore, With shoulders bent and downcast eyes, We may discern--unseen before-- A path to higher destinies.