a
short distance apart, while the boys in awed silence watched the white
light flash between the links of the chain and the blocks.

So interested did Finley become in experiments along that line, that
when at vacation time he found he could not afford to take the trip
home, he was not much disappointed, but spent his time making tests in
the laboratory. That his problems were much the same as those of young
men of today is shown by this letter to his father. He says:

"I find it impossible to live in college without spending money. At
one time a letter is to be paid for, then comes up a great tax from
the class or society, which keeps me constantly running after
money.... The amount of my expenses for the last term was fifteen
dollars expended in the following manner:

Postage $ 2.05
Oil .50
Taxes, fines, etc 3.00
Oysters .50
Washbowl .37-1/2
Skillet .33
Axe, $1.33; Catalogues, 12c 1.45
Powder and shots 1.12
Cakes, etc. etc. etc. 1.75
Wine, Thanks Day .20
Toll on bridge .15
Grinding axe .08
Museum .25
Poor man .14
Carriage for trunk 1.00
Pitcher .41
Sharpening skates .37-1/2
Circ. Library .25
Post Papers .57
Lent, never to be returned .25
----------
$14.75
Paid for cutting wood .25
----------
$15.00"

Surely it would do the college boy of today good to read that list of
expenses. It might be a revelation to him.

A postscript to the letter adds, "The students are very fond of raising
balloons at present. I will (with your leave) when I return home, make
one. They are pleasant sights."

At that time, he was as much interested in drawing as he was in
electrical experiments, and could get a remarkable likeness of anyone
who would pose for him. As there were no photographs in those days, his
portraits were in great demand, and needing money, to help with his
expenses he b