Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-02-26

MUSEUM OF NATURAL Observation-Disclosures
else the Legislature of this State, for the pres
ent year, may do or leave undone, we hope and
trust they viii not let the golden opportunity
pass unimproved, of securing for the State the
magnificent Cabinet of Professor Agassiz-
This is one of the things, the value of which
is not to be estimated in dollars and cents.
Every body who has travelled in Europe, or,
we were almost ready to say, who has ever
heard of Europe, knows that the great cabinets
of natural history, and the British Museum at
London, and the "Jardin des Plantes IN
Paris, are among the greatest attractions OF
those cities, bringing there scholars from all
| parts of the civilized world, in the pursuit OF
knowledge which can, no where else, be obtain
ed. In an educational point of view, this col
lection would be invaluable and the State
pride of Massachusetts, should be invoked to
! secure it, as it would, at once, give her SO
much the vantage ground in this respect over
any other place. on this continent, that there
would be no danger of its ever being taken
from her.
Professor Agassiz has expended $4,000 in
making this collection, besides twelve years of
the best portion of his life. In an examination
before the Legislative Committee having the
subject in charge, he demonstrated the educa-
tional advantages of such a museum. He
spoke of the well known liberality of this State
in the encouragement of education, and said |
that she should make the advantages for it SO
perfect, that no European should consider his
education complete, till he had given it the
finishing touch in Massachusetts. OF his col
lection, he said:
"He had endeavored to collect a complete |
form of the physical nature of North America. |
But he had not gone to any unnecessary ex-
pense, nor had he bought those things which |
were readily for sale. But the collection con-
sisted of those things which money would not
buy-which required, in their collection, knowl-
edge as well as opportunity. He had received
liberal assistance from all parts of the country,
after time, and the specimens now constantly
arriving were greater than the resources of any
museum in the world. If the collection al
ready made could be properly exhibited, in a
proper building, it would favorably compare |
with any museum in Germany. 1t remained |
only for the liberality of the Legislature to make
the museum, in three years, with only two |
better in the world-the British Museum and |
Jardines deS Pldntes-and in twenty years he
hoped to rival them and go above them all.
Professor Agassiz said that he never should
separate himself from the collection; if they
furnished depository for it they they would
have it, and would have him. He asked moth
ing for it. and nothing for himself He said
The building now occupied by the museum
was wooden building, on piles, about 80 by
40 feet, two stories and an attie--all slowed
full-and also a cellar in Harvard Hall.
He had assistants now all over the country
making collections for him. On being asked
how they were paid for their assistance, he re-
piled, by thanks" He had one friend in
San Francisco who had sent him more speci-
mems than all the scientific exploring expedi-
tons on the overland routes had sent to Wash
ington, and they had come with freight pre-
paid
We shall look with interest to the decision
of this question in the Legislature, trusting it
will be such as will be creditabe to the State,
and worthy of her name