LOUIS AGASSIZ. 313 



painting for him fresh-water fishes from the life, 

 while he was at my side, sometimes writing out his 

 descriptions, sometimes directing me. . . . He never 

 lost his temper, though often under great trial ; he 

 remained self-possessed, and did everything calmly, 

 having a friendly smile for every one, and a help- 

 ing hand for those who were in need. He was at 

 that time scarcely twenty years old, and was already 

 the most prominent among the students of Munich. 

 They loved him, and had a high consideration for 

 him. ... He liked merry society, but he himself 

 was in general reserved, and never noisy. He 

 picked out the gifted and highly learned students, 

 and would not waste his time in ordinary conver- 

 sation. Often, when he saw a number of students 

 going off on some empty pleasure-trip, he said to 

 me, ' There they go with the other fellows. ... I 

 will go my own way, Mr. Dinkel, and not alone. 

 I will be a leader of others.' " 



Agassiz writes to his brother Auguste : " It will 

 interest you to know that I am working with a 

 young Dr. *Born upon an anatomy and natural his- 

 tory of the fresh-water fishes of Europe. We have 

 already gathered a great deal of material, and I 

 think by the spring, or in the course of the summer, 

 we shall be able to publish the first number. . . . 

 I earnestly advise you to while away your leisure 

 hours with study. Eead much, but only good and 

 useful books. . . . Remember that statistical and 

 political knowledge alone distinguishes the true 

 merchant from the mere tradesmen, and guides him 



