LOUIS AGASSIZ 9 



Life at the university marks Agassiz's 

 entrance upon an intellectual citizen- 

 ship, and the beginning of his influence 

 on other men. The fervour of his 

 scientific friendships was doubtless con- 

 nected with his passionate love of teach- 

 ing, both being at root a love of sharing 

 intellectual pleasures. Most men want 

 intellectual exchange and sympathy 

 much oftener than they get it ; but 

 there is a power of getting what one 

 wants, an ability to stimulate mental re- 

 sponse and to charm the best out of each 

 companion, and this is the teacher's 

 gift much the same in its essence as 

 the gift of leadership in any kind. This 

 trait was one which Agassiz had in its 

 highest development. It was not only 

 to his equals, but to children and work- 

 ingmen that he loved to pour out his 

 ideas. What is so contagious as enjoy- 

 ment 1 ? What so inspiring as enthusi- 

 asm 1 ! His wife tells us that in later 

 life he would talk of glacial phenomena 



