Milestones 25 



the origin of our present policy of concentration solely on New 

 England's natural phenomena to the foresight and common sense 

 of those who, sixty years ago, realized how they could best serve 

 the people of New England and took practical steps to this end. 



The Forty-Third Milestone 



iS 7 ) 



TOWARDS the end of this year our Society sustained a griev- 

 ous loss through the death of Louis Agassiz, who had been an 

 honorary member of the Society from 1837 until his death. Presi- 

 dent Thomas T. Bouve, speaking at a meeting of the Society on 

 January 7, 187-4, shortly after his death, said of him: 



" Since we last met, an event has occurred that has brought deep 

 sorrow to our hearts, and indeed moves with grief those of the whole 

 community; for whilst in the death of the great Naturalist we have 

 lost a distinguished honorary member, a pioneer in the paths we 

 love to tread, one whose name deservedly ranks high among the 

 most illustrious of those who have explored the world of matter and 

 of life, the great body of the community has lost one whom it has 

 long and justly regarded as preeminently the great teacher in Sci- 

 ence, the man of all men, who inspired the love of knowledge and 

 who was never weary in his efforts to impart the best he knew to 

 every seeking soul. 



"Truly, all alike, learned or unlearned, high in attainments and 

 position, or humble seekers of truth, may well weep the loss of him 

 whose presence alone was to everybody an inspiration. 



"To those of us who have been in any degree sharers in his labors 

 or companions in literary or scientific circles, his loss is irreparable. 



"The advent of Agassiz is to be considered a most important 



