670 LOUIS AGASSIZ, 



mense expense in the great centres of human 

 civilization, were accumulated mainly as an 

 evidence of man's knowledge and skill in ex- 

 hibiting to the best advantage, not only the 

 animals, but the products and curiosities of all 

 sorts from various parts of the world. While 

 we admire and emulate the industry and per- 

 severance of the men who collected these ma- 

 terials, and did in the best way the work it 

 was possible to do in their time for science, 

 we have no longer the right to build museums 

 after this fashion. The originality and vigor 

 of one generation become the subservience 

 and indolence of the next, if we only repeat 

 the work of our predecessors. They prepared 

 the ground for us by accumulating the mate- 

 rials for extensive comparison and research. 

 They presented the problem ; we ought to be 

 ready with the solution. If I mistake not, the 

 great object of our museums should be to ex- 

 hibit the whole animal kingdom as a mani- 

 festation of the Supreme Intellect. Scientific 

 investigation in our day should be inspired by 

 a purpose as animating to the general sympa- 

 thy, as was the religious zeal which built the 

 Cathedral of Cologne or the Basilica of St. 

 Peter's. The time is passed when men ex- 

 pressed their deepest convictions by these 



