108 ELIZABETH GARY AGASSIZ 



sions in a most agreeable manner. If I divide my ad- 

 miration equally between you, it is because I feel that 

 rare as it is to find a great observer who is also a rea- 

 soner and an organizer, it is as rare to find such a mate 

 for him as the lady who keeps side by side with our 

 Professor in all his travels through the realms of space 

 and of thought." 



Dr. Peabody , to whom we sent it, writes a very cor- 

 dial note in which he says," I have already read enough 

 to know how largely all lovers of good letters are in- 

 debted to you and Mrs. Agassiz for a work as charm- 

 ing as it is instructive and as rich in material as it is 

 graceful in execution." He has seen Agassiz since and 

 spoke very warmly about it. I waited with special 

 anxiety for Lizzie [Cabot] Lee's verdict; I trust so 

 much to her exquisite instincts in all matters of taste 

 and culture, and I thought I could judge by her note 

 whether anything had shocked or even displeased 

 her. She writes after having read it and says, "It 

 seems to me you have avoided all the shoals and quick- 

 sands that writers of such books are apt to fall into. 

 It has left a charming impression on my mind of hav- 

 ing travelled with you, and my dreams are full of 

 blue butterflies, passion flowers, paroquets and rush- 

 ing torrents." 



You see all these notes touch upon the points about 

 which I was most anxious, and whether the book is 

 generally liked or not — is attractive to the public 

 I mean — I feel reassured; I feel as if I had not com- 

 mitted any gross blunders. 



The book looks well; there is but one very impor- 



