MEMOIR OF GUYOT 695 



Entomological Fannas of Switzerland and Sonthern Germany — was a 

 stirring event, which threw new life into the quiet circle. After a 

 short time devoted to a mntual acquaintance, every one began to work. 

 The acquisition of knowledge was the rule of the day, and social en- 

 joyment the sweet condiment to more solid food." " My remembrance," 

 remarks Guyot, "of those few months of alternate work and play, at- 

 tended by so much real progress, are among the most delightful of my 

 younger days." "Add to these attractions the charm of the society of 

 a few select and intimate friends, professors, clergymen, and artists, 

 dropping in almost every -evening, and you will easily understand how 

 congenial, how fostering to all noble impulses, must have been the 

 atmosphere of this family for the young and happy guests assembled 

 under its hospitable roof." "Months were thus spent in constant and 

 immediate intercourse with nature, the subjects of investigation chang- 

 ing with the advancing season. Botany and entomology had their 

 turn," and "demonstrations of x>hyllotaxis," he says, "now reduced to 

 definite formula by Braun and Schimper, and shown in various plant 

 forms, but especially in jiine-coues, were of absorbing interest. The 

 whole plan of the present animal kingdom in its relations to the ex- 

 tinct paleontological forms was the theme of animated discussions." 

 He adds, "It would be idle to attempt to determine the measure of 

 mutual benefit derived by these yonng students of nature from their 

 meeting under such favorable circumstances. It certainly was great, 

 and we need no other proof of the strong impulse they all received from 

 it than the new ardor with which each pursued and subsequently per- 

 formed his lifework."* 



Guyot took in, equally with Agassiz, the newly developed views in 

 botany, embryology, and zoological classificationthat were the subjects 

 of thought and discussion, and became profoundly impressed thereby, 

 as his later work shows. 



From Carlsrnhe, Guyot went to Suttgart and took the course at the 

 gymnasium, where he made himself a proficient in the German language. 

 Returning to iSTeuchatel in 1827, and there quickened in his religious 

 faith and feelings by the preaching of the Eev. Samuel Petit-pierre, his 

 benevolent impulses, under a sense of duty, led him to turn from science 

 to theology and commence serious preparation for the ministry. In 

 1829, then twenty-two years of age, having this purpose still in view, 

 he went to Berlin to attend the lectures of Schleiermacher, Neander, 

 and Hengstenberg, and there remained for five years — 1830 to 1835. 

 In order to meet his expenses he accepted the invitation of Herr Mliller, 

 privy counselor to the King of Prussia, to live with him and give his 

 children the benefit of conversation in French, The position brought 

 him into intercourse with the highest of Berlin society, and was in 

 many ways of great benefit to him. 



While pursuing theology in earnest, his hours of recreation found 



* Gnyot's Academic Memoir of Agassiz, read April, 1878. (Biographical Memoirs, 

 vol. ir, pp. 44-47. 



