WALCOTT. — ALEXANDER AGASSIZ. 41 



in feeling, sympathetic and tender, not given to verbal expression, 

 but capable of great generosity not in money only, but in the things 

 that money never buys. 



They knew him in the serious work of life, wise, fearless and of an 

 indomitable energy, quick and fiery in temper, but harboring no 

 sullen enmities. Many a victim of some sudden expression of a 

 vigorous disapproval had found to his surprise in some future and 

 unmerited trouble no warmer friend or if occasion required more 

 strenuous advocate than Alexander Agassiz. 



His emotions were never under his complete control and he steadily 

 avoided the public occasions that might lead to their manifestation. 

 They were always, however, the emotions of a sensitive, generous and 

 strong nature. 



His actions often seemed hasty if not premature, but this was 

 in appearance merely, for his whole life long he thought for himself 

 and by himself, and when action came it was true that few, if any, 

 had knowledge of the long and patient thinking that led up to the 

 result. 



His intimate friends were comparatively few in number, but to 

 those who had earned his confidence, he showed no reserve, and had a 

 simple charm which made intercourse with him the delight of a life- 

 time. 



The unworthy things in life, or such that seemed so to him, moved 

 him to quick and impetuous judgments and expressions, but if cooler 

 thought led him to believe that he had made a mistake, it was quite 

 certain that any wrong that might have been done would be fully 

 repaired. 



His wealth, whatever it may have become, had little effect upon a 

 life simple and free from display. The man who was known all over 

 the world in the assemblies of the great men of science walked unrecog- 

 nized through the streets of Cambridge, and he would not have had it 

 otherwise. He was modest, somewhat diffident and shy, but he was 

 by no means unconscious of his powers and the recognition of them 

 by his peers was a source of legitimate satisfaction to him. He was 

 courageous, independent and quite ready to fight if need be, for the 

 losing cause. He was not a willing critic of the work of other men, 

 unless it dealt directly with subjects to which he had himself given 

 much attention. He was ever ready to recognize with unselfish praise 

 the results of any honest and thorough investigation. All the re- 

 sources of the Museum were at the disposal of him who could effec- 

 tively make use of them. 



