New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-10-28
THE ABANDONMENT or PEyIEESE.

The close of the Anderson School OF Natural
History with no prospect OF re0penIng, ana
the sale of its effects, have awakened feel
ing of general regret. The project when ilrst
undertaken by Prof Agassiz, like everything
to which he lent helping hand. started with
the good wishes of the world. 1t was enough
to know that the thing was dear to the heart
of that old man eloquent, to touch the
chord of sympathy in "a thousand hearts.
HIS own knowledge of his power gave
him the Just confidence with which ne
embarked in tho project with any other man
it would have been an imprudeni undertaking.
Let it not be supposed that he went into 1t
recllessly. Speaking on the subject to a
friend, when on the island. and awaiting the
coming of the scholars. Prof. Agassiz, though
full of hope recognized the difficulties OF the
situation. The whole thing Mas an experiment
There was 10 precedent for 1T IN the history
of science or education. 1t seemed to him
quite possible that this scheme OF teaching
from nature, might arouse the angry opposition
of those who made 1t business
to teacl, from books Religious preiudlces
he thought might be arrayed against school
which ignored seciarlan influence. All the de-
tails of the undertaking involved hazard he
cause they were new But while on the ont
side surrounded by the chances of failure, lac
had within the serenity of assured success
Nor need 1t he doubted that if he had lived
his broad shoulders could have borne the
weight of the enterprise.
But after the death of Prof. Agassz, the
school could not long survive A sentiment OF
LOYALTY to his memory prompted the desperate
attempt to continue its existence last year. ana
honor is fairly due to those who made that
thankless effort. The assaults that have been
made upon the management since the resolve
to abandon the undertaking was announced,
showed neither good taste nor good temper
The original plan, like all of Prof. Agassz's
deyising would have required large income
That was out of the question after his death
A programme was put forth this year to test
the possibility of making the school self-snp-
porting That totally failed. There really WIS
nothing to do but to close up the concern
And this has been done.
But though the dormt0ries are torn down,
and the aquariums are sold, and the sea -gulis
have again taken possession OF Penikesc, the
work that was done there has not been thrown
away. The impulse that was there given to
the study of natural history by the method of
direct investigation, has produced already Il
marked effect throughout the country. One
reason for this was that the pupils taught on
the island came from distant as well As from
neighboring States, and took back with them
the methods of study besides the knowledge
they acquired. At the last meeting OF the
American Association for the Advance
mcnt of Science there was long list
of natural history papers. telling OF
original invcst ations, directly traceabc to
the impulse given at Penikesc. AT least five
Summer schools of science, carried OF III diff
fcrent parts of the United States, were this
year its offspring; they were mostly devoted to
natural history, and all followed the method
of Penikese in respect to studying from natn-
raj objects. These schools have been uni
formy successful. No portion of Mr. Amber
sons libcrality or of the gratuitous labors OF
men eminent i'll science, expended on that now
dcsolate island, are lost. Measured only by
present results, that which they have done for
science and for the youth of America is worthy
even of the high hopes which Prof. Agassiz
INDUCED.