1858-64.] .J/A'. AND MRS. GEORGE TICKNOR. 133 



on the 26th of February, 1862, a second attack prema- 

 turely ended the life of one who had been a most 

 devoted friend and true brother to Agassiz. 



Ever since his arrival in Boston, in 1846, Agassiz 

 had been not only a welcome guest, but a great 

 favourite, at the house of Mrs. George Ticknor. Mrs. 

 Ticknor's literary " salon " exerted, during the middle 

 of the nineteenth century, a great influence on New 

 England society. There gentlemen and ladies, distin- 

 guished for their literary attainments, their education, 

 their high official position, met daily. Foreigners, as 

 well as Americans, came and went constantly under 

 this charmingly hospitable roof ; and Agassiz, when in 

 Cambridge, was one of the most assiduous " habitues." 

 Although not scientific, both Mr. and Mrs. Ticknor 

 enjoyed the conversation of savants. Sir Charles Lyell 

 and Lady Lyell were guests at the Ticknors' during 

 each of their visits to America ; and Agassiz ran in 

 almost every time he came to Boston, sure to find there, 

 not only friends, but sympathizers and often helpers of 

 his never-ending schemes for the progress of natural 

 history in North America. 



Another house where Agassiz was often a most wel- 

 come guest was that of the director of the Perkins 

 Asylum for the Blind at South Boston. Dr. S. G. 

 Howe, the philanthropist, and his gifted wife, Mrs. 

 Julia Ward Howe, appreciated Agassiz at his real value 

 as soon as they knew him. The friendship was recip- 

 rocated ; and it was no small privilege and enjoyment 

 to hear a conversation between him and Mrs. Howe, 

 both geniuses, and spirited and witty to a rare degree. 



