I believe I first met Wiley at Buffalo in August, 1886. We visited Niagara together as part of a jolly crowd and had a happy day. Nearly every year for many years after I met Wiley at these meetings. I also met him elsewhere. He came to Easton nearly every year for awhile to lecture to my students. The lecture room was large enough to hold the audience at first, but as he became better known we moved over to Pardee Hall into a room large enough to hold the crowd that came to enjoy the treat. Presently the “old man,” as we called him, was asked to go to Lehigh whenever he came to Lafayette. I always went up with him and listened again. His lectures were always new, never twice the same.
On one occasion he wrote me asking whether he might spend an extra day with me and I gladly acceded. We rode all day through the hills and woods over Scott’s Mountain and had a jolly day. When the attempt to pass pure food legislation became strenuous Frear and I conspired in its behalf and carried our point. When he became President of the American Chemical Society he chose me as editor and we toiled together at the heavy task. Afterwards I printed and published his great work on Agricultural Chemical Analysis. In all this work and play he was the kind, indulgent older brother.
For many years he led the lonely imperfect life of a bachelor until he had reached the ripe age of 62 when his love of many years yielded to his wishes and they were married. I shall never forget the glad smile on his face as my wife and I came up to congratulate them and he realized that we had traveled all the way from Easton to wish him joy.
Upon a later occasion we visited Washington with a large party of chemists and, with many others were the guests of Dr. and Mrs. Wiley at a dinner at the Raleigh. But we had the advantage of most of the other guests, for we were admitted behind the scenes before the dinner came off. Mrs. Wiley and Nan Pierce, Dr. Wiley’s Secretary, told us about some of the funny things that had occurred. Dr. Wiley was away from home and they were forced to make all the arrangements. They knew only a few of his friends and succeeded in inviting several dead people to the feast.
Upon another occasion we were in Washington with a party of Rotarians and the Wileys invited us to dinner at their home in Ashmead Place. Here we met the Wiley boys, Harvey Jr. and John, for the first time, while my wife told us, to our great joy, how, by a series of amusing misunderstandings, she had narrowly escaped being a guest at one of Mrs. Harding’s private parties. In the evening we attended a literary soiree with Dr. and Mrs. Wiley and greatly enjoyed the papers read and the chaff that formed a part. It was a real literary treat.
Then we learned that his eyesight was failing and that he was soon to be operated upon for cataract. The day of the operation passed and we had no news. We dare not telegraph for fear the operation had not succeeded. Thus a week passed. At last we learned that he saw once more though not so well as of old.
We saw Dr. Wiley again at the Golden Wedding of Dr. and Mrs. W. H. Nichols at Sherry’s last winter. Dr. Wiley seemed well and in good spirits. We saw comparatively little of him here because so many of his friends were present and each claimed a share of his time.
Several months later a letter arrived telling us that the family expected to start for Cambridge, Mass., shortly, where Wiley was to attend the fiftieth reunion of his class at Harvard. They would arrive in Easton in the evening by auto and would spend the night with us. I immediately replied that the road up College Hill was closed for repairs and that they must telephone me on arrival and allow me to join and pilot them.
Accordingly, at 8 P. M. the telephone rang and Mrs. Wiley’s voice announced their arrival. They were dusty and tired and soon after dinner retired to rest.
We have quite a good-sized house but the family is large and only two extra rooms were available. One of these contained a large wooden bedstead heavy and strong enough to support a hippopotamus; this was dedicated to Dr. and Mrs. Wiley. The other room had a large brass bedstead which had been used for many years. Originally it had been well and strong; but long continued use by our four stocky boys as a spring-board and general exercise ground had weakened our confidence in its ability to sustain heavy weights. We thought, however, it would surely sustain the two boys. After they had all retired and it was too late to interfere, from sundry movements and murmurings overhead, it became evident that a readjustment had taken place and that Dr. Wiley and his huskiest son were in the weak bed while Nan and the younger boy occupied the bed for elephants. We listened in dreadful suspense for a breakdown. Fortunately none came and the extra weight was safely carried.