T 1 1 E AG ASS I Z ASS( )CI AT I ( ) X . 



263 



cult to inspire and maintain among the 

 young- a strong and growing" interest in 

 these matters. The first of these objec- 

 tions can he met by making the associa- 

 tion-work an avocation instead of a vo- 

 cation; a calling from work, instead of 

 a calling to it. Take your pupils with 

 yon for an occasional afternoon, if yon 

 can get leave of absence; and, my word 

 for it, yon and they will fare none the 

 worse at the end of the term for the ex- 

 change of one or two grammar recita- 

 tions, or examinations in geography, for 

 a little practical knowledge of what lives 

 and moves and has its being out of 

 doors, and a few lungfuls of crisp June 

 or October oxygen. 



Your own ignorance, if that is what 

 you do own on these matters will the 

 better enable yon to study with your pu- 

 pils ; and next to instruction from the 

 most gifted master, nothing is more in- 

 spiring than such friendly companion- 

 ship in learning. As for failing to in- 

 terest your pupils, remember that a taste 

 for the pure pleasures of natural science, 

 like a taste for olives, must be cultivated 

 by persistent tasting. After one or two 

 excursions, followed by a careful study 

 of the specimens obtained, with the per- 

 sonal use of microscope or blow pipe, 

 enthusiasm generally grows like purs- 

 lane. Yon will find, too, that the Asso- 

 ciation will be a great help to you. We 

 have now about fifty scientific specialists 

 always ready to aid the members by an- 

 swering their letters of inquiry, and by 

 determining their specimens for them, 

 free of cost, save postage. 



A bov in a grammar school in the ut- 

 termost parts of Dakota becomes inter- 

 ested in fishes. He finds the common 

 varieties that he knows, and studies 

 them. By and by he takes in his net or 

 on his hook a stranger. He finds no ac- 

 count of him in the small zoology in the 

 school library. The teacher cannot help 

 him. He studies the fish with his eyes, 

 examines fins, and scales, and skeleton. 

 Then he prepares a description as ac- 

 curately as he can, perhaps aided in this 

 by the teacher, and sends it with a rude 

 sketch, it may be, to one of the gentle- 

 men who kindly assist our students. In 

 a few days he receives a letter, giving 

 him the name of his fish, and, what is 



better, the name of a book from which 

 he can learn much more about fishes 

 than from any volume that ever before 

 found its way into his village. How he 

 is encouraged by this graceful sympathy ! 

 He hoards his earnings till the book is 

 bought. He studies it by candlelight 

 after the chores are done. He masters 

 it and presents it to his little society, 

 where it becomes the nucleus of a scien- 

 tific library, which ten years from now 

 may require a building to protect it. By 

 the time this boy has finished school he 

 knows more about the fish in the local 

 waters than his parents or instructors, 

 and he has become fired with ambition to 

 go to some place where he can meet men 

 who know enough to teach him more. 

 He enters a college or higher scientific 

 school ,and becomes, before many years 

 are gone, himself a specialist, ready, nay 

 eager, to help other poor boys in other 

 isolated places. This is no fancy sketch, 

 but has been realized over and over 

 asain since the A^assiz Association was 

 founded in 1875. 



"XO OTHER THAT APPRO ACHES IT." 



BY GEORGE W. CARVER, DIRECTOR DEPT. 

 AGRICULTURAL INSTRUCTION AND EX- 

 PERIMENT STATION, TUSKEGEE 

 INSTITUTE, ALA. 



As to the objects and aims set forth by 

 the AA, it seems to me that they are very 

 clear and concise, and well put. I do 

 not know what could be added to im- 

 prove them. Each one sets forth a pe- 

 culiar need and mission of the associa- 

 tion which, to my mind, is unquestion- 

 able. Let us hope that this will be one 

 institution for the training of the many. 

 I know of no other that approaches it. 

 It certainly shall have my support, as 

 far as I am able to render service. 



In the election of Dr. Edward F. Bige- 

 low as president of The Agassiz Asso- 

 ciation, the trustees have bestowed a 

 well-earned honor and secured a most 

 enthusiastic nature lover as executive 

 head. — The School journal. Xew York 

 City. 



