THE MUSEUM HIS HEADQUARTERS 31 



to make the most abject apologies, while their attitude 

 suggested a caterpillar, who when poked with a stick 

 curls up and tries to disappear. As quickly as possible 

 they got into their buggy and drove off, two deeply 

 humiliated men. Then Agassiz turned to his son and 

 observed in perfect good faith, " You see how insolent 

 they are ! " 



Before speaking of the early work of his scientific 

 life, it might be well to say a few words in regard to 

 the origin of the institution with which it was ever after- 

 ward connected. The elder Agassiz on settling in Cam- 

 bridge had stored his treasures in a shanty built on piles 

 on the marshes of the Charles River, close to the bridge 

 that now leads to the Harvard Stadium. In 1850, the 

 collections, having outgrown this primitive shelter, were 

 removed to a wooden building on the site of the present 

 gymnasium. By 1852, the care of the collection had 

 grown to be more than the very modest means of Louis 

 Agassiz could meet, and a fund of $12,000 was raised 

 by private subscription to purchase it for the college. 

 The expense of its charge, however, still remained in 

 his hands, and he devoted untiring enthusiasm and in- 

 genuity to increasing and maintaining the specimens. 



In 1858, the Corporation of Harvard College made 

 a small allowance for the care of the collections, and in 

 the same year, $50,000 left by Mr. Francis C. Gray to 

 found a museum, was placed at the disposal of the 

 elder Agassiz, under the condition that the institution 

 should always be known as " The Museum of Compara- 

 tive Zoology." Accustomed to the European method of 

 seeking government aid, Louis Agassiz went to the 

 State Legislature, and to every one's amazement ex- 

 tracted $100,000 from those hard-headed New Eng- 



