DIFFICULTIES OVERCOME. 769 



Few men would have thought it feasible to 

 build dormitories and laboratories, and pro- 

 vide working apparatus for fifty pupils as 

 well as for a large corps of teachers, between 

 May and July. But to Agassiz no obstacles 

 seemed insurmountable where great aims were 

 involved, and the opening of the school was 

 announced for the 8th of July. He left Bos- 

 ton on Friday, the 4th of July, for the island. 

 At New Bedford he was met by a warning 

 from the architect that it would be simply im- 

 possible to open the school at the appointed 

 date. With characteristic disregard of pfac- 

 tical difficulties, he answered that it must be 

 possible, for postponement was out of the 

 question. He reached the island on Satur- 

 day, the 5th, in the afternoon. The aspect 

 was certainly discouraging. The dormitory 

 was up, but only the frame was completed ; 

 there were no floors, nor was the roof shin- 

 gled. The next day was Sunday. Agassiz 

 called the carpenters together. He told them 

 that the scheme was neither for money, nor 

 for the making of money ; no personal gain 

 was involved in it. It was for the best in- 

 terests of education, and for that alone. Hav- 

 ing explained the object, and stated the emer- 

 gency, he asked whether, under these cir- 



49 



