Year: 1874

reporter OI Dostob Papef; W ue.


"Yes."


"Well, that is Agassis He kmoaos ers-
rythmg."


He was always indifferent to none,
wherever science was concerned. II,
spent it lavishly, whenever he could get it
Often for things which would not make
show for the public, but which were inval-
liable in the pursuit of scientific truth. Ht
was not business man nor fnancier i
he wanted money he appealed to his friend.
and the public, and was sure to get it,
Then he would spend it rapidly for collec
tions, confident that when he needed it he
could get more.


He was singularly unmethodical in his
habits. Men who live and work by rule
would be puzzled to understand how
Agassiz accomplished so much without
these helps He lived and worked by in
spiration. If he was suddenly seized with
an interest in some scientific inquiry, he
would pursue it at once, putting by per-
haps other work in which he had Just
fairly got started. Il always like to take
advantage of my productive moods" he
said to me. Thus often he had several
irons in the fire, only one of which might
ultimately be finished. Probably he saw
that the last iron promised to work up
better than the first. He never could be
made to work like machine, turning ont
definite quantity at regular intervals
lie never felt bouedto regard the rule
that You must finish one thing before you
begin another, so emphatically presented
in the I'D school books. His was meth
cd Of working which would be ruinons to
any man who had not his wonderful
faculties, his far-sight and insight With
his great logical brain and his marvellous
powers Of observation, there was united q
certain telescope intuition which made
his view Of probabilities something more
than guess He never proposed his own
methods Of working as o model for others
Once, however, in, my presence a near
relative ventured to ask him if lie did not
thiuk he would accomplish more if he 6n-
ishei one thing before he began another
"Evory man must work according to his
method" he replied He was in himself
great contradiction Of the methods by
which many have won success He achicv-
ed, but it was after his own way. 1t was
frequently hard thing to get him to sign
a paper, or write letter, except for
somebody else, } or to look over accounts
or reports, or do little routine work. Yet
he could never have attained his great
eminence in science if he had not paid in
this department great attention to the mi
nutcst and apparently the most insigni6-
cent dJtails. Looking at the drawing Of
fish made by his artist, he said, after ta-
king single glance, ut is beautiful
drawing, but don't you see you have left
out tvs cr three of the scales" This story,
which have seen elsewhere, is couched
for BY the draughtsman who formerly drew
his specimens for him.


l know what those silent lips would say
if just here their testimony could be gath
cred 1t would be testimony as sweet
and beautiful as that of John Smart Mill
to the hclpmate he so devoutly losed. 1t
may be fact less familiar to the public,
but it is one well known to Prof. Agassiz's
friends, that his wife was his compile
meut and in every sense helpmate.-
What the Professor lacked in order,
method, or business habits was abundantly
supplied by Mrs. Agassix 1t was her
graceful and assiduous pen that recast and
put into more classic moulds the Profes.
sor's ready English. 1t was her constant
encouragement and stimulus that support,
cd the Professor in new and difficult un.
dcrtakings. Her counsel was always lis
tened to with respect. 1t is safe to say
that We should not have had So many Of
his works put in permanent form in
English if it had not been for her earnest
co operation The Professor, as all know,
was ready lecturer and always delivered
his addresses without manuscript. In all
of his lectures and speeches near home
Mrs Aga'siz accompanied him whenever
possible and took copious notes, and thus
preserved the thought for future use. All
of his communications for the press passed
through her hands. She wrote much
from hi, dictation, attended to a great
many Of his business details, and in n
thousand ways forwarded his work Every