342 ELIZABETH GARY AGASSIZ 



material that have to do with these changes and show 

 the spirit in which Mrs. Agassiz shared in them follow. 



TO MRS. LOUIS AGASSIZ FROM MAJOR HENRY L. 

 HIGGINSON 



Manchester-by-the-Sea, May 13, 1903 

 The committee, as you know, wishes to have Dean 

 Briggs as President — but it needs to know what 

 positions and duties and rights you wish, if any. You 

 are honorary president and are expected to perform 

 certain duties. My notion has been that you would 

 prefer the pleasures — after all these years of serv- 

 ice and of essentialness (to coin a word) I think that 

 you should reap the joys only — hold your teas, if 

 you like, know what is going on, but feel no weight 

 and be held to no meetings or consultations. 



But you are grown up and will decide. Will you 

 send me a line at an early time and settle the matter 

 — and tell me if you prefer to resign everything 

 but your joys ? 



TO MAJOR HENRY L. HIGGINSON 



I SHOULD like to give up all. My age and my deafness 

 make even the small share I have retained in the 

 work very difficult of fulfilment. I can never cease 

 to love Radcliffe College and to take the deepest in- 

 terest in its concerns, but I am really no longer strong 

 enough to take any share in its direction. I cannot 

 trust myself nor can I be depended upon to take part 

 in any of the meetings (as Council, Associate meeting, 



