AGASSIZ AT PENIKESE. 147 



them in for themselves. Take your text from the 

 brooks, not from the booksellers. It is better to 

 have a few forms -well known than to teach a little 

 about many hundred species. Better a dozen speci- 

 mens thoroughly studied as the result of the first 

 year's work, than to have two thousand dollars' 

 worth of shells and corals bought from a curiosity- 

 shop. The dozen animals would be your own." 



" You l will find the same elements of instruction 

 all about you wherever you may be teaching. You 

 can take your classes out and give them the same 

 lessons, and lead them up to the same subjects you 

 are yourselves studying here. And this method 

 of teaching children is so natural, so suggestive, so 

 true. That is the charm of teaching from Nature 

 herself. No one can warp her to suit his own 

 views. She brings us back to absolute truth as 

 often as we wander." 



" The study of Nature is an intercourse with the 

 highest mind. You should never trifle with Nature. 

 At the lowest her works are the works of the high* 

 est powers, the highest something in whatever way 

 we *nay look a$ it." 



" A laboratory of natural history is a sanctuary 

 where nothing profane should be tolerated. I feel 

 less agony at improprieties in churches than in a 

 scientific laboratory/' 



" In Europe I have been accused of taking my 

 scientific ideas from the Church. In America I 

 have been called a heretic, because I will not let 

 my church-going friends pat me on the head." 



1 In this paragraph, quoted by Mrs. Agassiz (Life and Letters 

 of Agassiz, p. 775), I have adopted the wording as given by her. 



