340 ELIZABETH CARY AGASSIZ 



of success. Suddenly by no effort of my own, on 

 one fair and beautiful day of my life, the means for 

 this purpose were put into my hand. The impossible 

 became the possible. The road opened before me clear 

 of all obstructions. Indeed, it seemed that the ground 

 might be broken tomorrow for the building which 

 should represent to our students the refinement 

 and the charm of a home. By virtue of this gift we 

 hope that the more gracious and sympathetic side 

 of life without w^hich no education is perfect, may 

 accompany our academic instruction. 



I should vainly attempt to express here my own 

 gratitude or the thanks of our students for this 

 rare gift tendered to them through me. The future 

 history of Radcliffe must speak for us all. May 

 their loyal work, their well-bred manners and the 

 dignity of their life in this new Hall, show that this 

 act of generosity has been understood and deeply 

 appreciated by the students of Radcliffe as well 

 as by its oflicers and its Honorary President. 



Elizabeth Gary Agassiz 



With the gift of the Elizabeth Gary Agassiz House (a 

 name which Mrs. Agassiz confided to her diary was "quite 

 a mouthful") the college found itself in possession of three 

 of the four buildings that had been pronounced essential 

 to its welfare — the Gymnasium, a Hall of Residence, and 

 a Students' House. It may be added here that the fourth, 

 a Library, was later provided chiefly through Miss Irwin's 

 influence with Mr. Andrew Carnegie, who offered to give 

 $75,000 for a building provided an equal sum should be 

 given as an endowment — an amount that was contrib- 



