Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-04-29
INIHE LABORATORY WITH AGAS'
SIZ.
BY A FORMER PUPIL.

entered the laboratory of Professor Agas-
siz. and told him | had enrolled my
name in the scientific school as stu
dent of natural history. He asked me
a few questions about my object in COM
| ing, my antecedents generally the mode
| in which | afterward proposed to use the
knowledge l might acquire, and finally,
whether | wished to study any special
branch. To the latter | replied that,
while wished to be well ground in all
departments Of zoology, l purposed to
devote myself specially to insects.
When do you wish to begin" he
asked.
NOW" l replied.
This seemed to please him, and with
an energetic very well" he reached
from shelf huge jar of specimens in
yellow alcohol.
Take this fish, said he, and look
| at it; we call it hemulon; by and by
| will ask what you have seem.
With that he left me, but in a moment
returned with explicit instructions as to
the care of the object entrusted to me.
No man is fit to be naturalist,"
said he, "who does not know how to
take care of specimens"
| was told to keep the fish before me
In tin tray, and occasionally moisten
the surface with alcohol from the jar
always taking care to replace the stop.
per tightly. Those were not the days Of
ground glass shoppers and elegantly
shaped exhibition jars; all the old stu
dents will recall the huge neckless glass
| bottles, with their leaky, wax-besmeared
corks, half eaten by insects and begrimed
with cellar dust. Entomology was a
cleaner science than ichtbyology, but
the example of the Professor, who had
unhesitatingly plunged to the bottom of
the jar to produce the fish, was infec-
tious; and though this alcohol had a
very ancient and fsh.like smell" l
really dared not show any aversion within
these sacred precincts, and treated the
alcohol as though it were water. Still
was conscious of a passing feeling OF
disappointment, for gazing at a fish
did not commend itself TO an ardent
entomologist. My friends at home, too,
were annoyed when they discovered
that no amount of eau de Cologne would
drown the perfume which haunted me
like shadow
In ten minutes l had seen all that
could be seen in that fish, and started
in search of the Professor, who had,
however, left the museum; and when l
returned, after lingering over some OF
the odd animals stored in the upper
apartment, my specimen was dry all
over. l dashed the fluid over the fish as
if to resuscitate the beast from faint
ing fit, and looked with anxiety for
return Of the normal sloppy appearance.
This little excitement over, nothing was
to be done but to return to steadfast
gaze at my mute companion. Halt an
hour passed-an hour-another hour;
the fish began to look loathsome. |
turned it over and around; looked it in
the face-ghastly; from behind, beneath,
above, sideways, at a three quarters
view, just as ghastly. was in despair
at an early hour ! concluded that lunch
was necessary; so, with infinite relief,
the fish was carefully replaced in the
jar, and for an hour / was free.
On my return, learned that Professor
Agassiz had been at the museum, but
had gone and would not return for seve-
raj hours. My fellow students were too
busy to be disturbed by continued con-
versation. Slowly drew forth that hid.
eous fish, and with feeling of despera-
tion again looked at it. / might not use
a magnifying glass; instruments of all
kinds were interdicted. Ny two hands,
my two eyes, and the fish; it seemed a
most limited feld pushed my finger
down its throat to feel how sharp the
teeth were began TO count the scales
in the different rows, until was con-
vinced that that was nonsense. AT last
a happy thought struck mel would
draw the fish; and now with surprise
began to discover new features in the
creature. just then the Professor re-
turned.
"Thatis right, said he, "a pencil is
one Of the best Of eyes. am glad to
notice, too, that you keep your speci-
men wet and your bottle corked.