The weekly Minnesotian., 1854-02-25
Prof. Siniman and Axassii.


such our firmly fixed purpose. -
Prof. SiHiman and AKassii. .-s
The venerable Professor silliman. in his late
book, entitled 8. A Visit to Europe" devotes .
part Of a chapter to day at Lausanne in Swift
zerland, when he visited the family and the
mother ofAgassiH. 1t is beautiful domestic
description. and indicates the deep attachment
Of Prof S. for his distinguished brother in sci
ence. We copy Us follows
The distinguished Swiss naturalist, now
adoted among US in the United States. whose
american home is in Cambridge. New England
formerly lived in Lausanne, where we found his
sister and mother, who resides with her eon
Introduced by Agass:z, we soon made our way
to the house of ". Fraucillon. the brother-n-law
o. AgassiZ. We were conducted by q valet to
rarlor in the third story, and soon Madame
Francil!On appeared, with smiling face and
brilliant black eyes, the softened features of
her brother she gave US n hearty welcome,
which was promptly repeated by her husband,
who soon came in. lie IL ID. Francillon .agos-
si=. according to a custom which prevails here;
rh.le the wife, as with us, takes the name OF
the husband ; ard if the lady be Of high stand
:n9 in socity, .hc adds her own name to her has:
bands.
1t was near the hour of evening repast and
we soon perceived = movement OF hospitality.
\ centre table was in a few minutes garnishcd
with the requisite furniture and we were drawn
around the Eospitable board as if it were mat
ter of course, and needed no formal invitation
Excellent bread and butter, and the best OF
raspberrics. now in full season here, with the
luxury OF cream in our finely favored tea, gave
Us, exactly as in New Eli. land, most refresh
ing repast cspcc ally to me 10 whom tea is .
cordial. They have lovely flock of children.
a beautiful group, seven in number the young
est plump, joyOns little fellow, full of physics
al happiness, with promise cf mental enjoy
mcnt as his higher powers unfold.
Although it WIS raining, our new friends
tooi, Us considerable distance to the residence
of this venerable lady in the family of her son.
She soon made her appearance, and although
nearly fOurscore. her hca!thful person was erect,
tall and digniied, while her animated and
warm address placed US instantly at case.
Madame Francillon had sent before us her bro
ther's Introductory note by her little son, a lad
OF ten years; grandma had mislaid her spccta-
cles and could not read the note she said how
ever, that her young grandson was q faithful
commissonare. and told her that two Ameri-
can gentlemen and a lady were Coming; in a
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 in
timacy with hinl-t!at We had the pleasure OF
knowing his interesting American wifc-and
when we added a friendly notice Of her sons
domestic happiness, and Of his high standing
and success in his adopted country. her strong
frame was agitated, her voice trtmblcd with
emotion, and the flowing tears told the story Of
a mothers heart not yet chilled by age.
y beautiful group Of lovely grand children
was gathered around to see and hear the stran-
gers IRON far distant land, beyond the great
ocean. When we inquired of Madame Agassiz
her entire number OF grand children. she re-
piled Is; and when she was informed that my
whole number exceeded hers, she was both
amused and surprised, and smiles of sympathy
succeeded to tears ; for she had considered me
from my being still an active traveller--a
younger man than / 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 stop was to be very brief, and would
hardly be denied that we should become her
guests at her house or, at least, that the Sc
nior Of the party should accept her hospitality
She next morning she came walking alone a
long distance in the rain, to bid us farewell,
and parted, evidently with deep emotion, and
not concealed, for We had brought the image OF
her favorite son near to her mental vision
again. She brought for Mrs S. q little bouquet
OF pansces, and bid Us tell her son her pensees
were all for him.
Such scenes come near to every benevolent
heart and prove that human sympathies have
u moral magnetism whose attraction is univer.
sal. Ivaluc highly the art of statuary, but 1
prize more highly still such family scene
away here in Switzerland, four thousand miles
from my home, On the borders of the beautiful
Lake Leman and would not exchange such
living habitations the human heart for all the
mute marble men and women in the Vatican,
although they have high value as exhibitions
OF talent, and still more as representations OF
human character and feeling
Agassiz, and many others of the excellent
people in these countries bordering on France,
are descendants of French HuguenOts who fed
from persecution, and, like the Puritans Of New
England. they retain strong traits Of the Pro-
testant character-for they we're the Puritans
Of France.