Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-04-28
WIG Mo,I,er of Agnssiz.

IN the progress of his tour on the CONT
nent, Prof Silliman visited Lausanne, the
former residence of the eminent naturalist,
Agassiz of whose family he gives some agree
able details
Although it was raining, our new friend
took us a considerable distance to the residence
of this venerable lady who is passing the eve
ming of her life in the family of her son, She
soon made her appearance, and although
nearly four score, her beautiful person was
erect tall and dignifed, while her animated
and warm address placed usinstantly at ease.
Madame Fraoclloh had sent before us her
brothers Introductory note by her little son,
lad of ten years grandma had mislaid her
spectacles and could not read the note; she
said, however, thathe young grandson was
faithful commissionaire, and told her that
two American gentlemen and alady were COM
ing, in few minutes, to see her, and she felt
at once convinced that they were friends Of
her son Louis As soon as we explained to
her our intimacy with him-that he had been
often guest in our fanilies-that we had the
pleasure of knowing his interesting American
wife-and when we added the friendly notice
Of her sons domestic happiness, aud of his
high standing and success in his adopted coun-
try, her strong mind was agitated, her voice
trembled with emotion, and the flowing tears
told the story of a mothers heart, not yetchill-
ed by age. sas
A beautiful group of lovely grandchildren
! was gathered around to see and hear the
| strangers from a far distant land, beyond the
great ocean. When we inquired Of Madame
| Agassiz her entire number of grandchildren,
| she replied fifteen; and when she was inform
| ed that my whole number exceeded hers, she
was both amused and surprised, and smiles of
sympathy succeeded to tears: for she had con-
| FIR ofil IN
Travellers younger man than l am. She is
the widow Of Protestant clergyman, who was
the father of Agassiz. She has vigorous
mind, speaks with great spirit, and is mother
worthy of such son. She was grieved when
/, she heard that our stay was to be very brief,
and would hardly be denied that we should
become guests at her house; or, at least, that
the senior of the party should accept her hos
pitality. . sss
The next morning she came walking alone
! long distance in the rain, to bid us farewell;
and parted, evidently with deep emotion, and
| not concealed, for we had brought the image
other favorite son near to her mental vision
again. She brought for Mrs. S. little bou-
quet of pansies, and bid us to tell her son her
psnses were all for him.
Such scenes come near to every benevolent
heart, and prove that human sympathy has a
moral magnetism whose attraction is universal.
value highly the art of statuary, but prize
more highly still, such afamily scene as this;
scene away here in Switzerland, 1000 miles
from my home, on the borders of the beautiful
Lake Leman; and / would not exchange such
living exhibitions Of the human heart for all
the mute marble men and women in the Va
tician, although they havea high value as ex-
Libitions Of talent, and still more as represen-
tations of human character and feeling.
Agassiz, and many other excellent people
in countries bordering ON France, are descend
ants of French Huguenots who fed from per-
secution, and like the Puritans Of New Eng
land, they retain strong traits of the Profess
tant character-for they were the Purifans of
France. soc $3.50 a# g ~