New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-02-24
THE TREASURES OF AGAsSIz.
THE MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY |
AT CAMBRIDGE.

,tusTUM-ITs FUTURE GL0RlES--Irs PRESENT
CoNprTIoN-ITs ADVANTAGES FOR THE STU
pENT-ITs ATTRACTIONS FOR TIE sIEhl-
SEER. .
,,som A REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THB TRIBuNE'l
BoSroN, Feb. 21-The recent application for
state aud in behalf Of the Museum of Comparative
yo6oey" in connection with Harvard College has leu W
fresh discussion o. the needs and merits OF 'ha' is
tuition. Hearing IT much talked about, was lu'er
ested to for myself its present condition. anu "e'
ont TO Cambridge for the purpose, day or TWO since,
NY first call at the house OF Prof. AgasSE' isnou"
hike 70 describe 20 you sunny pleasant room into
which was shOwn-a room where all unts were mar
onous enriched by numerous works OF ART ana prlgh'
and fragrant with flowers most dantiy arranged ~
was the ut frame for the picture which was supplied
when Prof AgasSiz himself came down STAIRS Do
you know how handsome man he isl certain gra-
sious amplitude Characterizes him. His figure is
porty His voice is full and rich. His smile Is geniay
itself lie smiles not with his lips alone, 0nt Wth MS
merry brown eyes with his whole kind' expressive
eeaining face. And then his enthusiasm Is something
magnetic and contag iOus. do nj see now even sour
les corporation could refuse request OF MS lie mas
asked I believe for a present state appropriation OF
$4,000 But" inquired, /" how much money DO you
need to put the Museum in such CONDITION as you nc
sire ~ A million OF dollars" was the answer anu
felt al once that he ought to have it, Last year. ne
=, ,rith only guaranteed income for the Museum OF
,,o zoo he had spent 600 all the $4,000 the gft
of pcrsona friends of his OWL One does not Wohuer
that his fricnds fred by contact with his enthusiasm
should give any amount, however large IN ald OF MS
pursuits / think If saw him every day should VIII
nney bcrrar myself II there were an opportunity TO
,rocurc hlm fresh fish, be IL understood tsh
that he had before not fresh water hSh Tor
which 90 not know that he has any particular par
tabty.
P,cf. Ac,ssiz has been the soul OF the Museum-its
tpsp,rtioahc breath Of life Of its every department,
A. well as the director OF the whole. 1t is his child and
he urals, il with certain proud shyncss parental
though If he could but pro
perry display treasures, there are many respects III
winch lie would not fear comparison with even the
Brush Museum. the Jardin des Pantes at PARIS.
His Election OF fishes instance is larger than that
IN these together though the British Museum mas
a Government endowment of 100000 year, and the
Jardin dies Plautes has $200OO Moro assistants are
employed by Prof Agassz than in either Of the others
Ia assistants aud eight subassisants being constantly
OIL duty Think what must have been the inspiring SOUL
The creative energy Of this man, 10 have formed IN the
brief space OF years, Museum which already IN
many regards takes rank with the finest collections OF
the OLD World When Prof Tyndali was in this country
he visited the Museum at Cambridge, and expressed
himself with much enthusiasm concerning II. the
British Museum he said could not at all compare with
&c. in either its laboratory the facilities which 1t
s9Orded 10 students
THE EARLY YEARS OF THE MUSEUM.
But IL already the Museum is comprehensive and so
valuable what does Prof Agassiz want of million of
ADAsAHS-'N 49,
ton Will presently appear will preface with brief
resume inception and progress Of the institution,
for the material for which chiefly indebted TO Mr.
II G. Cary who las written admirable account OF the
Museum. In 1887 the late Hon. Abbott Lawrence gave
E9OOO to Harvard University for the purpose OF estab
hsing the Lawrence Scientific School, and Prof Louis
Acassa accepted the appointment OF Lawrence Professor
of ZOOLOGY and geology. But, on entering npon MS
duties found that there no collections in Cam
bridge with which Illustrate hts lectures and that no
al heeu de in
purchase or otherwise He therefore obliged TO do
without them, make them at his own expenses and
be did the latter unit, the outgrew his individual
means aud powers. In 1852. Mr.. Samuel Eliot, who
was NJ that time treasurer Of Harvard Uni
yersity raised by subscription the of $4,000
60 purchase and properly accommodate the collections
already made 10y Prof Agassiz and ineonvenienty
Stored partly the cellar Of Harvard Hall, partly IN
shanty on the BrghtOn-road, and partly IL his own
house Prof Acassiz, however, continued TO spend all
that he could spare of his time and his earnings in
adding 70 these treasures, urtl in 1853, they had out
grown the Of the College and the scientific stu-
dents and movement made 10 build up and organ
ze the Museum as an independent institution. In 1888
MI Francis Gray Of Boston died leaving beques OF
s50CO for the purpose Of establishing and maintaining
a Museum Of Comparative Zoology, leaving 1t optional
with his nephew, Mr.. VIM. Gray, whether
II should ne connected with Harvard Col
Iece or with other Institution OF the
game kim Mr.. WIN. Gray made the present
alton Of the thus left IL lls discretion by his uncle
10 the President aud Fellows Of Harvard University,
the 2Oth Of December, 1855 In the April Of 1852 the
Legislature Of Massachusetts voted that aid should be
granted 10 the Museum of Comparative Zoology TO the
Of more than 100000, payable from the sales
Of land belonging TO the Commonwealth in the Back
BAY The sum OF S7ll25 was also raised by private sub
ecrlpti1n among the citizens OF Boston "fOr the pur
pore OF erecting hre-proof building In Cambridge,
suabe receive. protect, and 10 exhibit advanta
ceousy freely 10 all Corners the collection of OBJ
,ects in natural science brought together by Prof
LOui- Agas H. with such additions as may hereafter be
made TO H."
TIE PRESENT BUILDING.
IN June. 1859, Harvard College decided TO the Museum
piece Of land about five extent the site OF
the future building. From time time Prof gassiz
had been IN The habit OF discussing with Mr.. Henry
GrecnOng Of Cambridge the plan of requirements for
his ideal structure and that the land secured,
M Greeuough and Mr.. George sne Boston architect
vo!nui cred Aer services TO prepare plans and esti-
msics ior lie erection When competed-but that
spacious dream Of the future-the Museum was TO con
sist ol main building, 364 feet In length by GA feet in
width With WINGS feet in length and "a feet in
width hut as the present object 10 meet the Dme
diaie requirements Of the collection, IL decided that
the first portion built should be only two-nfths Of the
north wing The cornerstone laid with appropri-
ate ceremonies OIL the Ih Of June, 1882 In October
The year the Professor presented to the trustees
valuable collections which he lad made since
and in December the building advanced that
he began 20 remove into IL his treasures, In May,
lecO. It's completion, IL was found 10 he so
well fitted for the purposes intended that Prof Agassz,
fresh from an examination Of the principal museums OF
EarOpc, declared that far it went, he would not
alter 1t IN auy sect 1t he could do by wish The
repo''s OF the next two years contain little beyond
,cS1- Of additions eI,ts 40, - ~ tggl s
latnre If sacldoctts gTanted SlOVU IVf the puoca