24 LOUIS AGASSIZ 



surprised to hear that lie missed a lecture 

 in consequence. The enemy will kindly 

 consult the university schedule, when 

 making engagements. 



The incurable optimism which buoyed 

 Agassiz through life was part of his 

 physical outfit. Such capacity for hap- 

 piness generally means capacity for 

 pain, but with Agassiz it really seems 

 as if one did not imply the other. He 

 is but the more picturesque for his pov- 

 erty, for which he took little thought 

 except when it interfered with scientific 

 ambitions. His life long, Agassiz could 

 not believe that those who worked un- 

 selfishly for the advancement of human 

 knowledge would not find their daily 

 bread in some way provided ; and his 

 of ten- quoted answer $0 a business offer 

 in his American days, "But, my dear 

 sir, I cannot spend my time in making 

 money ! 7 ? would have been given as 

 naturally when he had nothing as when 

 he was in comfort. During part of his 



