The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-04-02
PROFESSOR AGASSTZ.

To THE EDITION ~ The SUN-SIr. The
career Of the late Professor Agas-z will.
Rs In it, Just due fasten public attention
on the scientific and social SID" That bee
was eminsut in science almost every
| learned society in the woThh has from
time to time Ia the recent past officially
certified, but the commercial aspect Of
his great career will probably have less
comment
After he was graduated 10y Harvard
in IsSS IL was a source OF unhappiness for
the illuat riOus father that his only snn
was disino lins,d "a the pursuits ia which
the father had made "a wortN de fame
The son preferred civil engineering He
made his studies In the Lawrence SSien-
tihc school. and To earn livelihood
entered the United States Coast Survey
He was ordered to the northern part Of
the Pacific coast
II may be said in passing that Mr..
Manning while at the head Of the Treasury
advised President Cleveland To offer to
Professor Agassiz the office Of chief Of
the Coast Survey. then vacant. which he
did in Iss4. but IL was declined because
Mr. Agassiz was unwilling To- abandon the
private scientific and mining work which
then absorbed him. He had opinions re
garding the deleterious influence OF the
political government on the scientific pur-
suits Of private individuals, which il IA to
be hoped his biography will when the time
comes fully display.
II 40 happened that when on duty on
the northwest coast usdO -GS). bad weather
preventing coast survey work. he amused
himself with marine animal life and sent
notes. sketches and specimens to his
father. who was greatly gratified by the
son = reappearinR interest therein. soon
afterward he was induced by the involve
mont ~ his brother -in-law Mr. Quincy
shaw 81 Boston. and others in Lake SUI
perior copper mining. To go 10 their aid
He abandoned work In the Coast Survey
and became a mining business man in
very practical and laborinR way He
made his home In the vicinity and was
chief Of every department ~ the business.
scientific. financial and commercial, IN
Guiding the labor problems He visited
south American and South African mines
and studied the newest appliances ~
machinery and the savings 81 by-prod-
ucts He made great business success
- Calumet and Hecla by the cooperation
81 Mr. shaw and other associates He
continued "a general supervision " that
very productive property till his death
When his great pecuniary income from
the mines had been established he began
to devote portion Of II and his own
studies To the pursuits ~ his father IN
which he earned name and fam" now
everywhere recognized. Keeping ~ tho
same time "A careful eve on the mining
enterprise in Michigan
In addition TO those two great occuna-
tiona Of commerce and science in which VIZ
ARassiz achieved success me- had in per
lection that which Gibbon has described
as the -ine~timable art which Soft"ns and
refinea our social intercourS" lie was
a prince - good fellows. simple. unpr"-
tending. cordial hut ever with a sincere
mode~ty ~ bearing. even after his great
Successes had been won. which was
real candle To his merit
His political opinions on the current
questions ~ the last few years were fixed
and strong He did not conceal. when
proper occasion called for its expression.
his intellectual contempt for the pro
feasional politicians who for office holding
purposes were attempting 20 sup~rviS"
and manage nv national Legislation tho-.'
W no were conducting the business AFFAIRS
and economic prosperity Of the country
HARVARD
c.NaavroR Maaa Anil