LOUIS AGASSIZ. 329 



one of his co-workers, " an incredible energy, of 

 which the history of science offers, perhaps, no 

 other example." He worked always till midnight, 

 often till two or three o'clock, sitting for hours at 

 his microscope, troubled much with congestion of 

 the head and eyes. The expense involved in his 

 work was enormous, and he was burdening him- 

 self with debts, which are more wearing and de- 

 struetive to health and happiness than any amount 

 of work can ever be. 



Still he struggled on, through these dark days of 

 poverty. He was only thirty-three, so young-look- 

 ing that, on seeing him, people asked if he were 

 "the son of the celebrated professor of Neuchatel." 

 He had already been chosen a member of the Eoyal 

 Society of London. 



In 1840 he made his first permanent station on 

 the Alps, taking with him barometers, thermome- 

 ters, hygrometers, psychometers, boring appara- 

 tus, and microscopes, making the Hospice of the 

 Grimsel his base of supplies, and the lower Aar 

 glacier the scene of his work. A huge boulder, its 

 upper surface forming a roof, with a stone wall 

 constructed on one side, became the sleeping-room 

 of Agassiz and five friends. This abode was called 

 the Hotel des Neuchatelois. Jacob Leuthold, an 

 intrepid Swiss, was their chief guide. He died at 

 thirty-seven, sincerely mourned by all. They made 

 dangerous ascents of snow-covered peaks, meas- 

 ured the depth and forward movement of glaciers, 

 Agassiz even being lowered by ropes one hundred 



