New-York tribune., 1885-10-18

concluded the lesson by eating the speclmens.
practical illustration which they greatly enjoyed:
very largo wooden globe. on the surface OF
which tho various features OF the earth as tIcV
came mp for discussion could be shown. seiNen 10
make. them more clear and vivid. The childleh
took their own share i'll the lnstructloI ana WeIe
themselves made to point ont ana deserlDc i thle
which had Just been explained to thCm ihey loOh
home Their collections. and rs preparation lor ny
next lesson often called np0n TO- classliy ana
describe some unusual specimen by tncir own In u,
aided efforts. There was no tcdium In tnc cIaSS
Aeassiz's lively. clear, and attractlye ihctho u
teaching awakened their own powers OF oOScrN @
in his little pupils. and to some at least opened per-
mancnt sources of enjoyment
His influence over pupils and his faculty OF in
spring them with a love for their work were not
less marked in the United States, and are still TIC
theme of many an affect ionate published reminlS-
cence The adem0cratic" spirit to which MS
biographer refers in the preceding extract was cei
tainly not impaired in tho new world. Here tEe
Nahant fishermen, whom he had his sumner
cottage were among his warmest friends ana DIS
efficient coadiutors: and on his dredging and coast
survey voyages the sailors were delighted listeners
to his explanations of the wonders of the Oeep III
is hardly an exaggcratiOn to say that he captVa'eu
the American at first sight. HIS WIDE range oi
learning his enthusiasm. and his absolute devotion
to science were set in brilliant relief by winning
disposition which expressed absolute simplicity ot
self in a small house in East Boston near enough
tho sea TO he a convenient station for marine col
cctiOns Here he gathered about him number OF
his artists and other members of his workn Sccrps
including Count FRANCOIS dc Pourtacs, WHO had
accompanied him to this country
II must lie confessed that this rather original
establishment had the aspect OF laboratory IathtI
than home, domestic comfort beng suuordlhac
to scientific convenience Every room served III
some sort the purposes of an aquarium or 2 Siiulo
while garret and cellar were devoted 10
The rnes of the household were suIclGntiy cIastic
to suit tho most crratic student A slhilnH Acalc
for meals allowed the greatest freedom 1or cAcui
sions along the nelglborng shores ana pcach.s' iu
punctnaty in work was the ouly punctuailly
demanded.
The suprort Of the little colony depended largely
upon Agassizs excrtions lecturer. when nc
first removed to Cambridge affairs were not greatly
changed 4 number Of old friends AMI colleagues
from Switzerland drtcl in there. and an Old SWISS
clergyman known in tho household as "Iapa
Cbristinat" presided over the domestic arrange
mcnts. After his second marriage Tins hrSt wiic
died in Europc) Agassz lived much more comfort
ably and his last years were never disturbed by
pecuniaIy troubles. Harvard built house for him
to which lie became much attached
For his WORK also the house was extremely con
venicnt His habits i'll this respect were. however
siugulary independent OF place ana Circumstance.
Unlike most studiouS men lie had no hNed spot IN
the house for writing Although the library Win
the usual outfit of well-fed shelves maps. large
tables etc held his materials. he brought what he
needed for the evening by preference TO TIE draw;
ing-rOom and there, with his papcr on his knee ana
his books for reference on chair beside hlil he
wrote and read rs busily if he were quite alone
Sometimes when dancing and music were gong on
amolg the young people of the family and their
guests he drew little table into the corner OF thc
room and continued his occupations as un llSturhcd
and engrosscd as if lie had been III complete sol
itudc-onv looking mp from time TO time WIN
pleased smile or an apt remark, which showed tnat
lie did not lose but rather enjoyed what was gong
on about him. -.
Ills childrcn's friends were his friends. As hls
daughters grew mp lie had the habit of inviting
their more intimate companions to his library Tor
an afternoon weekly. On these occasions there
| was olways some subject connected with the study
of nature under discussion, but the talk was SO easy
and so fully illustrated that It did not seem ik"
! lesson The daughters of Mr.. Ralph Waldo Liner
son were members of this class, ana II Is plcisl
! to remember that in later years lie revived thc
custom and their friends being. indeed The same
set of Young people as had formerly met IN AgassH
! library used TO meet in Mr.. EncrsonS study nj
Concord for n similar object. lie talked 10 thciA
of poetry and literature and phllosophy rs AFiSSN
| had talked to them of nature Those were gol'ch
| DAYS not to he forgotten by any who shared thelr
| happy privilege.
In this happy home and in the splendid Museum
of Comparative Zoology which is at once tie result
of his lifelong uLors and the trhrte of America t.
his scientific distinction and his personal. .Virtue'' ah
! honorcd and fruitful old age upcnel to n peaceful
| c1OSp