LETTERS FROM BRAZIL 83 



He looked rather doubtful and said his own country- 

 women were so ignorant they would not know what 

 the Professor was talking about, but still he had no 

 objection and would think about it, — but how should 

 they be invited? "Not at all," said Agassiz, "let them 

 come with their husbands and fathers, as they do with 

 us, and make part of the audience, and if Brazilian 

 ladies are so ignorant as Your Majesty represents them 

 to be, the sooner you put them in the way of learning 

 something, the better for them and for their children." 

 So after some discussion it was settled that ladies 

 should be allowed to go. Mrs. Davis came here to go 

 with me, and we had the escort of several gentlemen, 

 Agassiz having gone in advance. When we arrived, 

 we were shown into a room where were the Emperor 

 and his suite, and where we were received by the 

 daughter of Dr. Pacheco. By the way the few ladies 

 who did make their appearance were in a kind of demi- 

 toilette; there was evidently great uncertainty as to 

 the proper way in which to appear on so novel an 

 occasion. I had some very pleasant talk with the 

 Emperor, and after standing round for some time we 

 were shown to the hall. Here were several seats re- 

 served for the "strong minded women." In front of 

 them was the Emperor's seat which had been ar- 

 ranged under a canopy as a kind of throne; but Agassiz 

 told me when he first arrived he looked into the hall 

 and seeing the royal arrangement desired them to take 

 it down — said he had enough of that sort of thing 

 and liked to avoid it when he could. So his chair only 

 stood in front of a purple velvet curtain. Before him 



