New-York tribune., 1873-12-15
PROF. LOUIS AGASSIZ.

no many hearts az will mourn Prof Agasss.
who died at Cambridge, Mass. at 1O:is last night.
A grand simplicity Of character, and an earnest
warmth of feeling which the severe studies
of his life never abated. would have made hun
man not easily forgotten by those who have known
hm, II weearned and widespread fame had not
waited upon his labors. Even those who have only
formed their notions respecting him from his
writings have been impressed by the depth and
solemn fervOr Of his words, when he stepped aside
for moment from the drer details Of
science to its broader generalities. At the lecture
desk though handling themes that rarely interest
any but professional students. and speaking with
what might rather be termed foreign enuDcation
tLan an accent, ne never failed 10 kndle in others
tile enthusiasm that glowed within bin. Some
friends prepared social reception for him one
ing at Washington. lie asked TO hold himself
IN readiness. " You will not ask me to make =
speech ~ he inquired "Oh, no" was tho rcpy:
.'we only want you TO come and beam upon u.s."
The reception was great success. Agassiz," said
the hostess afterward merely shook hands There
was nothing formal but he beamed on everybody
with snch pleasant smile that it seemed as II be
was diiIusing happiness through the whole com
pany."
The secret of the great personal influence eXerted
by Prof Agassiz, and which enabled him to secure
from wealth the assistance that his extensive scien-
tiic undertakings required, lay principally IN MS
sngleness of soul. He had but one object over IN
view and other matters were not merely SUD
sdiary they were all but forgotten. 10 science ho
was not only an humble student, minlstering priest
he was a self-aband0ning deyotee one expression
indicating this characteristic has been often quoted
A business man was urging himto become partner
in some commercial undertaking in which the tech
nical knowledge Of Prof Agassiz to be regarded
r. 41.,. al mn
perience of the other members of the irm
"You would make any amount OF money IN tho
business" said the man of dollars
81 have no time to make money replied the man
of science.
Somewhat similar is Another incident which he
mentioned in private conversation, with the request
that it should not be repeated with names A pub
fishing firm wrote to him urging him to writo
book on natural history for in schools and offer
| ing him large pecuuiary inducement. wrote
themr said he and his eyes sparkled with lEdlgna-
ton, "that not the man to do this sort oil
work. And told them too, that the less of this
work was done, the better. 1t is not school books
that we want it is students. The book of nature is
ALWAYS open. All that can write and say shall bs
to make them study that book and not pin their
faith to any othern The sef-denial of Prof Agassis
| NAV be better appreciated when the fact Is mem
toned that the salary of his professorshp was only
|
| Sl,500 per year.
| His love for truth in science only equaled by
his antipathy to shams and falsehood In the rare
instances where he thought imposition was practiced
| il called forth from him fierce wrath that aston
shed those who had only the gentler side OF ms
| nature Some friends made an arrangement when q
noted exhibition of "spiritualists" was in progress
to have scientific Investigation q the alleged
phenomena and invited Prof. Agassz to mako
| one of the party. He turned his back upon MS
friends pointing them to the open door In almost
speechless anger, and only adverted to 1t afterwao
in expressions of surprise that anybody who knew
| him should insult him by asking him thus to waste
his time.
Prof Agassiz was simple in dress and mode Of
living. His figure was somewhat under the medium
hight His massive head, slightly inclined forward.
rested on thick-set and sturdy frame. The natu-
raj expression of his face of cordaliy and good
| humor. His large eyes of blush gray ever
ready to brighten with kindly interest when a stu
dent seeking information or telling of what
might. perhaps. be new discovery But whether
the thought presented new or old. Prof.
Agassz rarely failed to bring forth from the store
house of his memory some illustrative or cOgnate fact.
investing the subject with broader significance.
His lectures and public addresses were, with few
exceptions extemporaneous, at all events largely
dependent upon the inspiration of the mo-
ment for their form of words. He was q
fluent speaker using English, though evidently not
vernacular tongue, with ease and accuracy, hesi-
tatng, or rather pausing sometimes for moment.
not as If there was any deficiency of thought or
words, but as if he was In doubt which to select
from throng of ideas presenting themselves.
We have but space for brief account of the
crowded labors of his life. Louis John Rudolph
Aoassz vas of Hupuenot descent horn at Motiera
Switzerland May %, 1897. His linea ancestors for
six generations were clergymen. his father lbeng
pastor of the Protestant parish of st. Imier. His
mother, the daughter Of physician, superintendent
his education IN early youth, and for many years
his studies had in view the medical profession. Af-
ter leaving the college at Lausanne, he went to tho
medical school at Zurich and afterward to the Uni
versity of Heidelberg, where he studied anatomy
and physiology under Tiedemann, zoology under
Leuckart and botany under Bschoff At the age OF
20 he entered the University of Munich Already his
studies were especially advanced in the direction in
which he subsequently became o leader, and with
DolliDger, at whose house he lived he made special
Investigations in the embryology of animals Wagler.
Oken and Martius are named among the distin-
gulshed naturalists from whom he obtained instruc-
tion Rapid progress made by the students of Mu
mich under such tution his companions like himself
were absorbed in scientific researches and hs
began ut that time the publication of briof
treatises special subjects Upon the return
of the scientific exploring expedition from Brazil.
Agassiz called upon to compile for publication
the discoveries relating to fishes, and it while
engaged in this work that his destiny naturalist
was determined, and he relinquished the study Of
the healing art, after graduating Doctor of Med
cine at Munich. having in the same year obtained
the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Erangen.