CHAPTER IV. 



THE HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL. 



I have now introduced you to Penikese. Before 

 unfolding the plan of our work there, bear with me a 

 little, while I go back and rehearse somewhat of the 

 history of the school thereon, since it is very prop- 

 erly a part of our little volume. 



Before starting for Penikese Island, we had each of 

 us received a variety of letters and circulars, both 

 printed and written, relating to and descriptive of the 

 manner in which the school was to be conducted, and 

 the line of study to be pursued there. From the na- 

 ture of the case, I judge that all of the scholars re- 

 ceived similar information. I do not possess all of 

 these valuable papers, I only wish that I did, but 

 those which I have, embrace the most important ones 

 and are fully sufficient for our present purpose. We 

 will open the package and select those which seem 

 most clearly to convey to us a knowledge of the in- 

 tentions of the founders, and of Professor Agassiz, 

 regarding both the school and its pupils. 



The first letter, in order of time, appears to bear 

 the stamp of Professor Agassiz's personal dictation 

 and so I will quote it entirely: 



CAMBRIDGE, MASS., 



May 18, 1873. 

 Dear Madam:* 



Applications for admission to the Anderson School 

 of Natural History are pouring in at an embarrassing 



