HOW AGASSIZ TAUGHT 



early hour I concluded that lunch was necessary; 

 so, with infinite relief, the fish was carefully 

 replaced in the jar, and for an hour I was free. 



On my return, I learned that Professor 

 Agassiz had been at the Museum, but had gone, 

 and would not return for several hours. My 

 fellow-students were too busy to be disturbed 

 by continued conversation. Slowly I drew 

 forth that hideous fish, and with a feeling of 

 desperation again looked at it. I might not 

 use a magnifying-glass; instruments of all 

 kinds were interdicted. My two hands, my 

 two eyes, and the fish : it seemed a most limited 

 field. I pushed my finger down its throat to 

 feel how sharp the teeth were. I began to 

 count the scales in the different rows, until I 

 was convinced that that was nonsense. At last 

 a happy thought struck me I would draw the 

 fish; and now with surprise I began to discover 

 new features in the creature. Just then the 

 Professor returned. 



'That is right/ said he; 'a pencil is one of the 

 best of eyes. I am glad to notice, too, that you 

 keep your specimen wet, and your bottle 



corked.' 



4 [43] 



