THE AGASSIZ ASSOCIATION 



397 



once gratifying and unexpected. A 

 very general interest in the study of 

 nature has been evinced by young and 

 old. Classes or chapters have been 

 formed in different towns, under the 

 direction of the central organization, 

 and, where this has been impractica- 

 ble, individuals have joined as corres- 

 ponding members. Since 1880, more 

 than twenty thousand students have 

 been aided, and more than twelve hun- 

 dred local scientific societies estab- 

 lished. 



In April, 1892, The Agassiz Associa- 

 tion, first established in 1875, became 

 an incorporated society. 



"The Purpose for which the corpo- 

 ration is constituted is the promotion 

 of scientific education ; the advance- 

 ment of science the collection in mu- 

 seums of natural and scientific speci- 

 mens ; the employment of observers 

 and teachers in the different depart- 

 ments of science, and the general dif- 

 fusion of knowledge." — From Articles 

 of Agreement. 



The Agassiz Association will be best 

 understood by regarding it as an edu- 

 cational institution. It is not primarily 

 a scientific society. It does not attempt 

 the sort of work undertaken by the 

 American Association for the Advance- 

 ment of Science. It does not hope to 

 add much, directly, to the sum of 

 human knowledge. 



Its aim is rather, and always has 

 been, to interest fresh minds in the 

 study of nature and science, and to 

 train them to intelligent methods of 

 study, and to honest work. 



The methods by which The Agassiz 

 Association seeks to educate its mem- 

 bers, are based on a single principle, 

 which must be clearly apprehended, 

 and fully accepted by everyone who 

 hones to understand and sympathize 

 with our work. 



Physical power grows by the exer- 

 cise of the muscles. Yon cannot train 

 a crew by teaching them a theory of 

 rowing, nor by presenting to them a 

 boat and oars of the latest and best 

 construction, nor by hiring men to run, 

 and row, and pull weights for them. 

 They must learn to row by rowing. 

 The only way a weak rower can be- 



come strong is to row just as well as 

 he can for his strength. 



So brain power grows by exercise 

 of the brain. Dumb-bells can't make 

 a man intelligent; neither can books. 

 A man must learn to think by think- 

 ing. There's no other way. The brain 

 is not a receptacle to be filled ; it is 

 not merely an instrument to be used; 



HARLAN H. BALLARD, 



Pittsfield, Mass. 



it is a living organ and must grow. 

 It must acquire strength by exercise, 

 and it must gain skill by practice. 



The study of natural objects not 

 only trains the perceptive faculties 

 and ministers to the love of beauty, 

 but, as we pursue it, it leads us out of 

 doors, into the fresh air and the life- 

 giving influence of the sun ; and by 

 these and the vigorous exercise gained 

 by mountain climbing and valley ram- 

 bling, adds to the health of the body 

 and the invigorating of the mind. 



What, then, is the Agassiz Associa- 

 tion as it appears to-day? And what 



