626 LOUIS AGASSIZ. 



and then asked me what plans I had formed 

 for the Museum, in connection with my jour- 

 ney. I answered that, thinking especially of 

 my health, I had provided only for the needs 

 of myself and my wife during an absence of 

 six or eight months. Then ensued the fol- 

 lowing conversation. 



" But, Agassiz, that is hardly like you ; you 

 have never been away from Cambridge with- 

 out thinking of your Museum." 



" True enough ; but I am tired, I need 

 rest. I am going to loaf a little in Brazil." 



" When you have had a fortnight of that 

 kind of thing you will be as ready for work 

 as ever, and you will be sorry that you have 

 not made some preparation to utilize the oc- 

 casion and the localities in the interest of the 

 Museum." 



" Yes, I have some such misgiving ; but I 

 have no means for anything beyond my per- 

 sonal expenses, and it is no time to ask sacri- 

 fices from any one in behalf of science. The 

 country claims all our resources." 



" But suppose some one offered you a sci- 

 entific assistant, all expenses paid, what would 

 you say ? " 



" Of that I had never thought." 



" How many assistants could you employ ? 



