96 A JOURNEY IN BRAZIL. 
A curiosity. When the first electric machine was in- 
vented, to what use was it put ? To make puppets dance 
for the amusement of children. To-day it is the most 
powerful engine of civilization. But should our work 
have no other result than this, to know that certain 
facts in nature are thus and not otherwise, that their 
causes were such and no others, this result in itself is 
good enough, and great enough, since the end of man, his 
aim, his glory, is the knowledge of the truth." 
One word upon these lectures, since we are told by the 
Brazilians themselves that the introduction of public lec- 
tures among them is a novelty and in a certain sense an 
era in their educational history. If any subject of science 
or letters is to be presented to the public here, it is done 
under special conditions before a selected audience, where 
the paper is read in presence of the Emperor with all 
due solemnity.. Popular instruction, with admittance for 
all who care to listen or to learn, has been hitherto a 
thing unknown. The suggestion was made by Dr. Pacheco, 
the Director of the Collegio Dom Pedro II., a man of liberal 
culture and great intelligence, who has already done much 
for the progress of education in Rio de Janeiro ; it found 
favor with the Emperor, who is keenly alive to anything 
which can stimulate the love of knowledge among his 
people, and at his request Mr. Agassiz has given a course of 
lectures in French on a variety of scientific subjects. Pie 
was indeed very glad to have an opportunity of introducing 
here a means of popular education which he believes to 
have been very salutary in its influence among us. At 
first the presence of ladies was objected to, as too great an 
innovation on national habits ; but even that was overcome, 
and the doors were opened to all comers, the lectures being 
