XVill CHARLES OTIS WHITMAN 
Louis Agassiz died in December, 1873, and the Penikese school 
was opened again in 1874 for the last time by his son, Alexander 
Agassiz. Whitman was again one of the privileged fifty who 
worked there, though ninety other applicants had to be refused 
admission for lack of accommodations. The Penikese school 
started a tide of biological work at the sea-shore in American which 
ebbed indeed for a while, but began to flow again in the decade 
of the eighties and has been running stronger ever isnce. No doubt 
the germ of the Marine Biological Laboratory, Whitman’s most 
significant scientific enterprise, was implanted there in Whitman’s 
heart and in the hearts of others. Doctor Craig states that 
Whitman felt that he got his first start in scientific zoology from 
Agassiz, but that he did not really get under way until he worked 
with Leuckart on Clepsine in Germany. Asked by Doctor Craig 
(in August, 1910) what he thought of Agassiz’s method, Whitman 
replied that he did not think much of it at first but that as time 
went on he thought more and more of it. ‘‘We are apt to do 
the work for the student too much. What we should do is to 
set him a problem and let him work it out.” 
In 1875 Whitman decided to go to Germany to study natural 
history. Apparently he had not yet decided to abandon his 
career as teacher in the high school, for he left open the possibility 
of returning to his position after a year’s absence. He sailed in 
July, 1875, and settled in Leipzig. From there he wrote to his 
successor in Westford Academy, Mr. William E. Frost, May 28, 
1876: ‘‘Mr. Seaver (the head-master of the English High School 
at that time) says he will secure my re-election and another 
year’s absence if possible. JI have not much doubt of his ability 
to do this. At any rate I shall remain another year.” But 
when 1877 arrived he was not yet ready to leave and he decided 
to remain a part, at least, of a third year. In 1878 he received 
the degree of doctor of philosophy from the University of Leipzig, 
and sailed for America in July of the same year, although he still 
wished ‘‘to remain a little longer in Deutschland, but the Fates 
say no!’’3 
3 Letter to Mr. Frost, July 6, 1878. 
