18 LOUIS AGASSIZ. 



them to the parsonage, where he introduced 

 himself to their parents. Some days after- 

 ward M. Agassiz received a letter from this 

 chance acquaintance, who proved to be a man 

 in affluent circumstances, of good social posi- 

 tion, living at the time in Geneva. He wrote 

 to M. Agassiz that he had been singularly at- 

 tracted by his elder son, Louis, and that he 

 wished to adopt him, assuming henceforth all 

 the responsibility of his education and his es- 

 tablishment in life. This proposition fell like 

 a bomb-shell into the quiet parsonage. M. 

 Agassiz was poor, and every advantage for his 

 children was gained with painful self-sacrifice 

 on the part of both parents. How then re- 

 fuse such an opportunity for one among them, 

 and that one so gifted ? After anxious reflec- 

 tion, however, the father, with the full con- 

 currence of his son, decided to decline an offer 

 which, brilliant as it seemed, involved a sepa- 

 ration and might lead to a false position. A 

 correspondence was kept up for years between 

 Louis and the friend he had so suddenly won, 

 and who continued to interest himself in his 

 career. Although it had no sequel, this inci- 

 dent is mentioned as showing a kind of per- 

 sonal magnetism which, even as child and boy, 

 Agassiz unconsciously exercised over others. 



