The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-10-23
THE sCHOOL At PENIK RS E.
The Collapse Of tho Institution that Mr.. An
derron Founded and Professor ARaseiz
Orgauized-Win the Trustees ENplainf

The Collapse Of tho Institntiop that Mr.. An
derron Founded and Professor ARasriz
Orgauized-win the Trustees Exptains
When Mr.. John Anderson Of this city
founded The Penlkese School OF Natural History
he gave Penikese Island. bis summer home near
the mouth Of Narrneansett bay, for the site Of
the school, and added t5O.0O0 as "tne nucleus Of
an endowment fund" Prof. Agassiz devoted
much time during the last years Of his nobl life
to the establishmont OF the institution. lie
planned the school buildtngs himself, drew up a
schedule of tho furniture, aquaria, scientific in
struments, and other appliances needed all Of
which were arranged tn his satisfaction, and
this by the hberelity Of the founder The build
iDVs cost $2S.0O0; the equipment a little less
than $4,000. The benefaction was hailed In
every quarter o. a most hIdicious one; the
school came to be regarded as grand success.
Prof. Agassz hin self, not lcng before his death,
spoke Of the institution az hie IN Ost satisfactory
achievement in the cause Of scientific education.
Mr. Anderson has had the success of tho
grit uf f5O,0O and tho island, which was recently
valued by the tax assessors at not less than
$1,000, Mr. Anderson pr missed to give an add.
tlOnal fJO,0OO whenever f2000OO should he 2 ii.ed
from other sources, and gave his bond to that
erect. lie never interfered with the manage
ment Of the funds. Al times. when no saw that
the money might be more wisely employed, or
that expenditures were unnecessarily livish, he
maintained his policy Of silence. With just faith
pleasantest personal relations with that gentle
man, Mr.. Anderson doubtless felt that he could
OF Trustees.
II was provided In the charter that Prof Aras-
siz should name hts successor In the control Of
the Penikese school. When the great naturalist
died sealed paper was found among his effects,
bequeathing the care OF his cheri.ned institu-
ton to hts son, Prof. Alexander Agassiz. Mr.
Anderson went to Boston to attend the funeral
In the old house In Quincy street, and before
the remains had been carried TO the grave, Alex
still remained OF the original fund. The founder
minated his WILLINGNESS to give $4,000 more
management the institution should he found to
have prospcred and to give promise OF perma
neht usefulness. IL has been said by the Boston
press that Alexander Agassiz made his accept
ancc OF the trust conditional upon further
GIT OF $lO,UO by Mr.. Anderson. The latter gem
tlcman prOnounces this statement entirely I'M
true.
The Penkese school was conducted by Alex
ander Agasez during 1874 At tho end Of the
y ssion. in November OF that year. there was a
deficit OF more than Sl.3OO In the finances of the
institution, and br. Anderson, who had not
been advised OF the condition OF AFFAIRS was
asked by the trustees to make IL up. He
promptly returned his check for the amount de-
contribute further. From that time to the
present Mr. Anderson has been continually and
bitterly assailed by the press Of Boston for what
they aIe pleased 70 consider bis nigeardly and
churish demeanor. IL should be borne In mind
that no Massachusetts man has ever added n
dollar to the resources OF the school perhaps
they consider that this fact gives them the right
to crtticise Mr. Anderson's course, as from a
wholly disntcrested standpont.
The school has not been In session for year.
short time ago II was announced that the in
stitution had incurred further debt-in what
manner does not appear--and that the school
was to be dismantled IN order to satisfy credi-
tors. The apparatus aud movable property
which Agassiz gathered has been sold at auc-
ton. Not "a hand was raised ny the trustees to
prevent this sacrifice. Nota cent OF the 5000
contributed by tue school teachers Of the
country as an "Agassiz Memorial Fund for the
Cambridge Museum, IN connection with the
Anderson school nj PenlKese." was employed.
Z he trustees have vet to give an explann II on
Of the unacco untable debt, the extrayagant ex.
penses, anu the nnal abandonment OF plan
that had-thanks to Mr.. AndersOn's splendid
gift-cvery prospect OF bright future.