Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-01-01
Ngassiz nj Cambridge. .

Inc professor was OF SWISS origin ANA
his accent was at times charmingIy
broken. He had few striking peculiar
tiles OF pronunciation, one or two Of
which cling to me with great pertinacity
even now. One. in particular. is fresh
in my memory. For example, the words
respiratory and respiratory he would
accent on the third syilable-rat; and,
bless me, if to this day 1 don't have to
think twice before l am sure which is
right This shows what indelible i'm
pressious his words left upon his pupils.
His beautiful "liquid" brown eyes would
| moisten with emotion as he traced the
hand of the great Create" (his favorite
expression) in every minute detail of
nature. Herein was shown the great.
ness of the man.
With what tender pathos he was &c
customed to allude to Gods works and
what testimony he gave. as scientist,
that natural and revealed religion were
inseparable How strongly he would
denounce the skeptic, and tell him to
unfold natures pages and study them,
should he declare there was no God
His words were intensely interesting
and thrilling upon this subject and left
such indehble impressions upon the
minds of his scholars that time can never
etface. What weight of moral power
such lessons conveyed. 1t seemed as
though an atheist could not breathe the
same atmosphere Agassiz did. Ma
lures God was to him always
an Omniscient and Omnipresent
Being, that spoke to him in every
specimen of the animal. mineral or veg
etable kingdom he handled-ay, in every
blade OF grass, every stone by the way
side, and every pulsation of beating
heart. His own heart and life and ma
ture were as pure. as noble and grand as
palure itself; and he caught that in
effably lovely spirit of his by close COM
muuion with II and its Maker. Who can
tell what influence the early education
of Agassiz had in giving him this bent
of mind? What powerfully sweet and
sacred atmosphere emanated from that
pretty and picturesque home life 10 the
parsonage on the Lske of Morat-
in Switzerland - his birthplace - for
his father was clergyman. Bere,
also, it seems he had his first
aquarium. in his childhood, in a great
stone basin back Of the house. into
which emptied beautiful, clear spring
OF water, flowing from its Alpine source
was 1t any wonder that in this chain OF
the Beruese Alps where he was born.
and passed his early boyish days, that
he should have given so much research.
aud impaired so much knowledge TO us.
upon the glacial history Of the Alps:
His little hut" or scientific station. st
Aar, where he studied the glaciers. was
the early parsnt-the ataat eoryter-ot
the present highest scientific station in
the world, which now graces the sum
nit of Mount Blanc, over 1900
feet above the level of the sea.
he was inspired, because in this
section the word "home'' attached a
greater significance 70 his discoveries.
Here. in his charming switzerland, he
found abundant opportunity for the
growth of his love of natural history,
which showed symptoms Of develop
ment in him from earliest infancy, we
are told He Is also said to have had
the fondest love for his mother, Mime.
Asssslz Probably her sympathy, so
well directed. gave the keynote to his
iife.-Clsra Conant Gilsou, in Frank
LesIie's Popular Monthly.