IS49-5 2 J PROFESSOR FELTON. 33 



him and Agassiz together in an intimacy which lasted 

 until the death of Felton in 1862. 



Mrs. Felton saw quickly the influence she exercised 

 over Agassiz, and used it for his advantage. Agassiz 

 was always in need of good advice ; for in almost all 

 the walks of life outside of science he was like a child, 

 completely lacking in knowledge of men and good judg- 

 ment in matters of domestic life. He formed the habit 

 of asking the advice of Professor and Mrs. Felton, and 

 what is better, he followed it as far as it was possible 

 with his enthusiastic nature. 



When a youth in Germany, Switzerland, and Paris, 

 Agassiz wore a heavy moustache, which he was obliged 

 to cut rather reluctantly when appointed professor at 

 Neuchatel, where the society was then formal and con- 

 ventional. During his exploration on Lake Superior 

 he had let his moustaches grow, and came back to Cam- 

 bridge with a formidable pair. Then moustaches were 

 absolutely abhorred in America, so much so that I was 

 insulted repeatedly in the streets of Buffalo, Cleveland, 

 and Detroit, because I wore a light moustache and a 

 light beard. As soon as Mrs. Felton saw Agassiz on 

 his return, she had no difficulty in persuading him that 

 a moustache was not becoming to him, which was true 

 enough ; and the next day Agassiz appeared completely 

 shaved, with the exception of slight whiskers, which he 

 wore until the end of his life. 1 



1 It may seem too unimportant and even trivial to refer to such a small 

 matter, hut it shows the strong prejudice then existing in America against 

 moustaches, a prejudice which was soon to disappear with the great Civil 

 War. 



VOL. II. D 



