26 ELIZABETH GARY AGASSIZ 



stairs, made my excuses to kind Mr. Greenough, and 

 smoothed life for me once more. 



The outhne of Mrs. Agassiz's girlhood that we form 

 from these various reminiscences and letters is filled in by 

 a few of her letters written in 1843 and 1844. The affection- 

 ate elder-sisterly tone of interest and pride in the voice 

 of Salhe, eight years her junior, — a just pride that never 

 waned, as will be seen later, — her high spirits, her joy in 

 music, all give a pleasant conception of the atmosphere in 

 which she lived and which she helped create. It should be 

 said by way of preface to these letters that the interest in 

 dramatics and tableaux vivants was very keen among the 

 young Carys and their "set," and that they had formed 

 a theatrical company of their own which won great eclat 

 among their friends. A diary kept by Mrs. Agassiz's 

 brother, Thomas, gives a lively picture of the animated 

 doings at the performances, not to mention the rehearsals. 

 Mrs. Agassiz figures on only one occasion in the diary. In 

 February, 1847, her brother none too cordially records: 

 " We were forced to make an acquisition to our female force 

 in Lizzie Gary and Mary Gardiner." The addition seems 

 to have proved satisfactory, however, for a fortnight 

 later when the company had given The Waterman^ he re- 

 ports that "the debutante, Lizzie, being new, deserves a 

 word; her whole performance was one of great merit, cor- 

 rect without being stiff, and very eas}'^ on the stage without 

 being familiar with the audience. She was much admired 

 by all and won the hearts of the old gentlemen generally." 

 This story has a sequel, for The Waterman was repeated 

 w4th the original caste after all the members had reached 

 middle life, and Mrs. Agassiz took her former part, to 



