New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-31
4 RAINY DAY AT PENIKESE.
THE SCHOOL AT IT'S WORK.

AN ENFORCED STAY On THE 1SLAND-IHE slUDENls
AND PROFESSORS AND THEIR METHODS OF WORK
STUDIES WITHOUT BooKs-A THEOLOGICAL DIS
cUssIoy-AGAssIzs DISBELIEF IN DARWIN AND
pARwIN's RETALIATION.
fvpou ISoocAsIoNAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIpUYE.l
PHILADELPHIA, Oct. M.-The Anderson School
OF Natural History at Penikese inauguraed but few
months oeo and now closed for the season, is already
n famous institution. The fact that seaside
laboratory devoted to tho study OF living forms
was TO be founded, proved In ITSELF sumcieht 10
awaken a wide spread interest," for no similar expert
ment had ever been attempted and when III auuoh ~
This the friends OF education were Informed that the
dictatorship had been ntrustcd to one OF the most
famous biologists Of his time, its success was assured
pro, hpassiz entered into his work with his usual
| enthusiasm He was ably assisted by Count Pour
tales OF the u g. Coast Survey, Dr. j. s. Packard OF the
Peabody Institute Prof Burt g. Wilder OF Cornell Uni
yersity Mr.. waterhouso Hawkins OF sydenham Palace
| fame Mr.. Bicknall the microscopic, and Others
In little ravne between the two hills the island OF
peniese can boast Is thequondam Summer residence OF
Mr. John Anderson which served as the private quar-
ters of Prof Agassz and his assistants lis an unpre
tending structure Of frame, with pretty lawn hopnR
10 the east ornamented with little group IN lroI OF
boy and swan. Behind the house stands the bar used
last Summer as dinng-a and near by are the abora-
tories These two bIrracklike structures umteu
AZ their midway by third much shorter one IL IL IN tho
design 10 use both OF the buildings for Laboratories
and dormtores reseryng the smaller one as lecture
| ROOM At the time of my visit, last Summer put one
| OF the buildings was in use.
Isbau endeayor TO descrbe the scene Just It was
| presented TO me. Catering by side door
find the institution IN full tide Of successful expert
mcutp Arranged along the side OF the room are mum
beers OF small but firm tables In the middle OF the room
stand aquariums; the walls, diagrams; suspended
from the ceilings dried tissues OF various animals
running entirely around the room is single she'll appro
prated bottles OF specimens At one end OF the apart
ment ia huge blackboard, with hopeless arabcsquc
| OF colored chalk marks thereon, and at the
other shelves for books, and of alcohol. What
earnest groups are there about the tIbes Men and
women engaged in study-teachers themselves now pu-
pills But few books seem for their ue is discour-
| aged I notice among those on tho tables Harveys
"Nfarine Algp," Packards Entomology" and Aeas'
szs methods" wander at will from table 10 table,
overlooking the workers.
After dinner the students reassemble. This time 10
listen 10 lecture from Prof Agasslz He delivers an
eloquent discourse Types Of Animal Life He speaks
without notes few gestures He tells us OF the va
rying standards for comparison In dierClt groups OF
animals their distinctness-Of their immutabiity In
the Batrachia is the group OF animals having
tadpoe stare this standard obtained by tho study Oh
their development But In the reptiles Is Otherwise
for here ia place OF development which an Indifferent
standard must take comprehensive view OF all the
structures other animals, such as some OF the fishes
do not reveal their type in Its perfection, but contnu
ally remind us Of something higher yet TO come There
are prophetic types for while some fishes as the stur-
eeon and the gar remind OF reptiles. others again,
the sharks hint OF forms yet higher than tho reptiles
viz those having social instincts and which retain
their young in close relation to their own tissues The
Professor became warmed up as he andes 70 the doc
trne OF evolution some cries me- H9uiu nave US ne
velOp the AmphtOrus ttsh from an Ascldian QnOlusEl
sSrdiIy~itisa he Il would give Darwin a new sens.
ton TO hear this After tue Lecture more Looking lGto
nations Then supper and darkness After supper the
horn gave another toot. what now, boyi Lecture
this evening" sir" And now, as closing exercise OF
the day, We have fine stereopte0n exhibition by MI
The following day, Thursday, dlwned gray and DESC
late beating winds ana pelting rain The sea, even In
the haven between the islands was tu OF angry caps
heavy surf beat the shore ana the air was hlcd with
flying scum No getting away today, so indoors AGAIN
1t is an i'll wind that blows one good While pris
oner at Penkese was the witness OF scene on that
rainy Thursday which will never be forgotten by those
present IL historic of two thingsOi the first rainy
day at Penikese counting It's birth insti-
tuition, aud OF the first recorded meeting OF
the friends Of Natural Theology How the former came
about old Probabilities" has told How the latter,
perhaps no tell The spirit OF the chronicle is
announced that lecture would be delvered-ths time
by Prof. Wder-On the Structure OF Fishes the wind
was blowing Hereby about the buildings and the rain
beating steadily against them, keeping up a CON
slant eatteE agaat tne n sarnnge
audience Of perhaps 50 persons Of both seHes Their
average IN native intelligence.
Prof Agassz informs the class that Prof Perce Of the
"A
sented TO address them prior to the lecture Prof.
PIERCE is on his feet Ito show by example tho
said he, had always resulted from the clash OF OPP
posing theories. All that was needed the eager
geology Prof. Agassz has told that from the discus
sioos Of the NePtGnsts and the Pluonsts have arisen
exerted by water and fire IN the formation Of the ears
stimulus" He in addition, spoke of the lasting good
resulting to the study OF ogarthms by the contentious
between the French and German mathematcians over
sign the letter c, or the letter
Some one In the class here suggested that the same
kind OF good to natural history might result from
debates between the evolutonists aud the nonevolu
We'll" replied Agassiz rather evasiveiy, personally
/ like Mr. Darwin very much; he is my friend
Here cluster OF pupils began making merry.
what is IT. Let Us have itV
Voice" Darwins Frank once told that
Agassz did not accept evolution That's all right said
Frank father does not believe In the glacial theory"
We'll. now,o said Agas.z. turning to Prof wilder
DR.. Wilder. give us some fish"
But no, We were doomed TO 10 without that to
Or, Wilder arose prompt nervous man. with a
gan, s the director here and when he says thing
e to be done, It is done But must confess that after
listening 10 the delightful exercises OF this morning,
have become rebelliou and uo.f say anything about
fish" lLaughterl
ectng the subject OF freedom OF thought as neces
y 70 70, true re and deemed Il NJ occasion to
the theological world fairly defined He then boldly
natural and revealed religions. lie oontended that
there should be no compromise The Bible and Nature
stand confessed the revelations OF the God and
moreover. II never intended they should conflict.
cannot follow him, nor the remarks which his sd-
dress called forth. The occasion bad become
long silence ensued after this last topic which
had grown naturally out or the first address OF Prof
PIERCE Each one apparently thinking tho same
thought drinking In the influence. Ifelt
others present while the storm beat about
withdrawn from the world for a time. As now write
OF that scene, its truth and beauty return ali
force.
Whatever may be the proper sphere of woman