1858-64.] ARRANGEMENT OF THE MUSEUM, 89 



From the beginning, Agassiz adopted a very question- 

 able method of giving his directions and instructions for 

 the arrangement of the Museum, by calling together 

 all his assistants and pupils into the lecture room, and 

 there making known his plans for organization, rear- 

 rangement, classification, method, etc., explaining every- 

 thing at great length and with great force. Naturally 

 every one applauded ; and Agassiz came away from 

 each of those numerous meetings convinced that his 

 new directions and reforms were well understood, and 

 that they would be put directly into operation and soon 

 executed. Instead of giving orders, Agassiz, with great 

 naivete, tried to convince. The result may be easily 

 imagined. Every assistant and pupil after the delivery 

 of the address, for it was nothing more nor less than 

 one of the usual speeches of the director, returned to 

 his place in the laboratories, and continued to study the 

 work he was engaged upon, without once thinking of 

 the advice and fresh directions just heard. They felt a 

 sort of inertia, which finally irritated Agassiz, who did 

 not understand why his clear directions and instruc- 

 tions were not better followed. At times he was in- 

 clined to think that it was due to the too independent 

 American character; at other times, to ill-nature and 

 even to conspiracies among his young pupils and assist- 

 ants. The teaching of Agassiz was unique, but the 

 organization of the Museum was rather deficient ; for 

 the pupils, outside of their studies, had no time to 

 arrange collections, and besides, they did not know how 

 to proceed. On the whole, there was considerable con- 

 fusion, but no anarchy, thanks to the help and generous 



