42 PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY. 



He suffered without complaint any criticism of his own opinions, 

 but was sure to be roused to instant wrath at any suggestion that he 

 had incorrectly reported observations or experiments. His declaration 

 of scientific faith was his father's adage, that a physical fact was as 

 sacred as a moral principle. 



One instance of his fine generosity may well be noted here. Some 

 years since it was announced that a notice of his father was about to 

 be published. Mrs. L. Agassiz and he had reason to believe that the 

 work was not in friendly hands. The printer's proofs of the paper 

 came into Agassiz's possession, together with the intimation that any 

 change he might wish to make would receive serious consideration. 

 He requested a trusted friend to read over the proofs and mark such 

 passages as might appear to him unfitting. The friends met to com- 

 pare notes, they agreed in substance with the exception of one passage 

 that seemed to the friend mischievous if not malevolent. Agassiz 

 said at once, "As to the spirit in which this statement is made I 

 quite agree with you, but it is a scientific question, and any scientific 

 man has the right to criticise my father's scientific views." The 

 passage remained. 



The lessons of the narrow circumstances of his youth and early 

 manhood never left him. He could be apparently reckless in discard- 

 ing machinery and tools which had served their purposes or were infe- 

 rior to newer inventions, but it was always with the object of getting 

 a larger return or a better product. For himself he never sought 

 luxuries, but li\ed without ostentation in the dignified manner that 

 became his station. He cast aside all the lessons of thrift, however, 

 when he turned to the human agencies in his employment. He 

 never discharged an employee who had been long in his service and 

 who was still capable of doing enough work to appear to be doing 

 something. 



One of Agassiz's most remarkable characteristics was the systematic 

 and accurate disposal of his time, he might be making a journey to 

 the Maldives or it might be to the barrier reef of Australia. The 

 date of his return was fixed, and punctual to the day he made his 

 appearance at the Museum, and quietly resumed his accustomed 

 occupations there. He made such thorough preparations for these 

 trips, and provided so carefully for any possible mishaps, that the 

 usual uncertainties of ocean voyages for him at least ceased to exist. 

 Many men take measures against the larger accidents, and forget the 

 trifles. Agassiz kept the great emergencies in mind but never neg- 

 lected the small things of life. 



