XV. 



ONCE more, and only once more, was 

 Agassiz to respond to a new opportu- 

 nity, and lead his followers to a new sort 

 of service. When he reached home in 

 1872, there was waiting him a plan for 

 a summer school of natural history, to 

 be established on the seacoast and 

 managed with special reference to those 

 teachers who wished to turn pupil again, 

 and could do so only in their vacation. 

 Observation, not memorising ; verifica- 

 tion of every statement 5 constant appeal 

 to nature these were the things to be 

 emphasised. Teaching directly from 

 nature is now, if not practised, at least 

 universally preached. But this was not 

 true in the American schools of a gene- 

 ration ago, and Agassiz was untiring in 

 his efforts for a fundamental reform. 

 " Appeal to Nature, " was his constant 

 precept : "No one can warp her to suit 

 his own views. She brings us back to 



