348 ELIZABETH GARY AGASSIZ 



dency. The office seems to me to be analogous to that 

 of Professor Emeritus. Now the name of a Professor 

 Emeritus adorns our annual catalogue until his death. 

 No duties attach to it, but if he chooses he may give 

 instruction. No duties would attach necessarily to 

 the office of Honorary President; but if you chose 

 to take part in social functions you would do so in 

 that capacity. The retention of your name seems to 

 me very desirable, and I am sure that both the grad- 

 uates and the undergraduates of Radcliffe would 

 greatly prefer this arrangement. 



Sincerely yours, 



CHARLES W. ELIOT 



The suggestion contained in the above letter of Presi- 

 dent Eliot, though never formally adopted, was put into 

 effect, and Mrs. Agassiz will always remain in the hearts 

 of those who knew her the President Emerita of Radcliffe. 



A draft of the following undated letter lies in the pages 

 of Mrs. Agassiz's diary for 1902. The note from President 

 Eliot, which is given below immediately after it, was evi- 

 dently written in reply. 



TO PRESIDENT CHARLES W. ELIOT 



MY DEAR MR. ELIOT: Just a word (which you 

 must not answer in these days of countless letters 

 for you) to tell you that I have never failed to be 

 grateful for all you have done for me and for Radcliffe. 

 Personally your presence at our Commencements has 

 given me a sense of support and protection in my 

 official position without which I should have felt 



