I cordially hated it, as did my younger brother and sister.
Practically all the enjoyment we had was in exploring any ruins or mountains when we could get away from our elders, and in playing in the different hotels.

Our one desire was to get back to America, and we regarded Europe with the most ignorant chauvinism and contempt.

Four years later, however, I made another journey to Europe, and was old enough to enjoy it thoroughly and profit by it.
While still a small boy I began to take an interest in natural history.
I remember distinctly the first day that I started on my career as zoologist.

I was walking up Broadway, and as I passed the market to which I used sometimes to be sent before breakfast to get strawberries I suddenly saw a dead seal laid out on a slab of wood.

That seal filled me with every possible feeling of romance and adventure.