The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-02-11
PRESIDENT JORDAN ON AGASS|l|
Meeting of the County Educa-
tional Association.
An Interesting Discourse by the
President Of Stanford.
He Graphically Outlines the Career and
Achievements Of the Great
American Naturalist,
Agassiz.

The Los Angeles County Educational
association met in the assembly room oil
the High school yesterday morning,
with Prof. Hutton in the chair and Mr..
Hutchison ct the secretary's desk, 81
usual.
There was but one thing ON the pros
gramme, but that was q lecture on
Louis Agassiz by one of his pupils,
President David Starr Jordan Of Stsns
lord university.
Louis Agassiz was born in Western
Switzerland in 1907. His father dc.
signed him for the medical profession
but he himself wanted to be natural
list. He once wrote to his father, say-
ing: II want to be a naturalist, and
feel that have within me the stren 9Th
OF generation for this purpose, He
was taken into the family of DR.. Der
linger as a boarder. DIR. Derlinger was
the man who frat studied and showed
to the world the principles OF embryolo-
gy. Agassiz was for three years
boarder IN the house OF DR.. Derlinger,
and his inspiring leadership was Of
great help to Agassiz. Most OF the
American scientists of this age were
pupils of Agassiz, and drew nearly all
their inspiration from him; just a. the
future leaders in science are now get
ting their inspiration from Le Conte
and others, who are now living. There
is hardly teacher of science in Califor-
mia who has not learned of LIE Conte.
Afterward Agsssiz lived in the Latin
quarter in Paris. The Latin quarter il
the place where are gathered together
the artists. actors. Italians, Bohemians,
thieves and rascals of every grade.
Here Agsssiz worked in poverty and
patience. He had but one room, and
into it were piled all manner of speci-
mems, books. papers, etc.
About this time Humboldt's expedi-
ton to Siberia was preparing, and Agas-
siz applied for a position with it, but,
being unknown, he was not accepted.
At about the same time two young
men-Thomas Huxley and John Tyn-
dall-were rejected applicants for posi-
tions at the University Of Toronto.
Men called upon to judge OF others are
sometimes sadly mistaken. Had Toronto
gained two such men as Huxley and
Tyndall the university would have been
one of the greatest in the world.
Humboldt once called upon Aga1eiz,
and, thinking square meal would do
the latter good, he invited him to dine
with him at one of the finest cafes in
Paris. After the meal, to which Agassix
did ample iustice, the two men put in
the night talking as only such men can
talk. That nights talk was of incalcu-
liable value to Agsssiz.
For several years the young scientist
studied and wrote and soon became
recognized, and one of the foremost in
vestigators of his time. His experiments
on the great glaciers OF the Alps were
the foundation OF modern glacical
science. Explorations and observations
in England and America confirmed his
theory concerning the great lice cap" Of
ages ago.
At about the same time his studies OF
fishes began to attract much attention.
The great scientist was rapidly growing
in favor, not only with scientific men,
but with the common people and those
in authority.
Agassiz was offered the sdperintend-
ency of the Jardln des Plantee in Paris,
but he rejected that position and other
honors and came to America, whore he
could teach and be free.
He found our colleges in worse con-
dition than those OF Southern CALI
fornia are in even now. He accepted
position at Harvard and kept boardsrr
to help out his slender income.
From the coming of Agassiz science
in America dates its period OF useful
ness. Observation and truth began to
be recognized as of some value.
The speaker was one of those who
went from Illinois to join AgasBiz's
summer school OF Sciences" held on
an island near Martha's Vineyard dur
ing the summer of 1873. That was the
first and greatest of all summer schools.
In the following December the great
Agassiz died.
The association expressed it's ohliga-
ton to DR.. Jordan by vote OF thanks.
Arrangements were made for the society
to meet at Whittier and visit the state
reform school and other institutions Of
Whittier on March 10th. The Southern
Pacific company offers 40 cent rate for
round trip tickets on that day.
After ordering the payment OF several
! LII, 81 aooiatv oAfouruad