River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1882-07-13
Apassiz.

our infancy, and SO cling to us long as
we live.
| Tread before the Teachers Association, held
! at River Falls, by Miss Rose Trippe
When we find man thonhtf lily
wrapped up in some particular thing,
whose mind from childhood is direct
ed by love of some peculiar work in
one direction; we find that obstacles
vanish from. before him, he sees but
the end to be gained, the thing that
he loves just beyond, and all work, all
endeavor toward that end is but
counted a pleasure by him.
He masters Greek that he may en-
| joy Homer, he studies mathematics
that he may calculate the distances of
the stars. lie searches for long days
through sun and rain that he may find
the fossil that will prove his theory
correct.
| Such man was Louis Jean Ro.
dolph Agassiz, born at Motier III Swift
zerland, who from earliest boyhood
showed great love for nature, and
to pry into and find out her secrets
was his chief delight.
Comparative anatomy was his IA
vorite study while boy, and he pur-
sued it with thoroughness that gave
promise of the work he would do in
the years ahead of him.
Probably of all enthusiasts, all spec
| ialists, the earnest scientist has done
the most for mankind. Nature re-
wards richly those who will take her
for teacher, and follow her footsteps
with care and patience. She has re-
warded the botanist by teaching him
the healing properties of the plants he
loves. She shows the minerologist
how to obtain and use the minerals
layed away for the use of man, in her
wonderful store house.
Agassiz's attention was first directed
to the study of fishes by the death of
the noted Brazilian traveller Spix who
left his collection In his care. Agassiz
published description of these in Lat
in and thus gave us his first book.
1t was in 1916 that he first came on
scientific expedition to this country;
so much pleased was he with what he
saw, that he resolved to make it his
permanent home. lie accepted chair
of zoology and geology in Harvard,
and then in the capacity of teacher be
began to give to others the fruits Of
his industry and labor; but more than
this he created in those under him a
genuine love for these things for
which he spent his life. For such
hearty enthusiasm is sure to kindle
similar fires in the breasts of those
with whom it comes in contact.
His wife loved the work as much as
her husband, indeed his book ga
Journey to Brazil" was chiefly writ
ten by her, and had she disliked the
work she must have had a very miser.
able life, for she says she never knew
in what odd corner she would stumble
on some queer pet. She relates how
in attempting to put on her shoe one
morning she found it already occupied
by curious little snake which her
husband had brought home late the
night before and in seeking for cosy
nest for his pet had placed it in her
shoe.
His thoroughness IN teaching is
shown by his treatment of young
would-be naturalist who came to him
for instruction; it is said that Agassiz
gave him for his first lesson fish,
telling him to study it for three days;
at the end of that time the young man
presented himself to his teacher sup
posing he had fully mastered his SUBJ
| ject. After hearing what he had to
say Agassiz sent him back to study it
three days more, again he presented
himself and again lie was sent back.
and even after his third trial Agassiz
| told him many things he had failed to
discover.
1t is said that probably no one ex-
cept Hugh Miller did more to popular
| ize science in our times than AgaSsiz,
and no other teacher trained so many
young and rising naturalists.
Some of his favorite opinions are
not now held by many living natural
| lists.
More than any other scientific lead
er Agassiz insisted upon a theistic
view Of creation as opposed to self
evolution of nature.
Mr.. Whipple says: ale is not
merely a scientific thinker; he is "A sci
entlic force; and no small portion of
| the immense influence he exerts is due
to the energy, intensity, and geniality
which distinguishes the nature of the
man. In personal intercourse he in
| spires as well as performs, commune
Gates not only knowledge, but the love
of knowledge"
lie died at Cambridge. Mass, Dec.
II, 1873.
We see from his life what can be
done by patient endeavor, and earnest
devotion; for he was not man OF
great ability, but he had an untiring
love for his work that nothing could
discourage or wear out. He had that
greatest of all geniuses, which George
Eliot calls genius for hare work. F"