LOUIS AGASSIZ. 207 



himself again to tlie examination and arrangement of the great stores 

 of his recent collection, with a devotion and enthusiasm which tilled the 

 hearts of his friends with fear lest he should again break down. But 

 he could not refrain from living among his treasures, and directing the 

 orderly and scientific study of everything. And so perfectly was it 

 done, that in his last report he says, " The scientific officers of the 

 museum have so efficiently carried on the work that the past year has 

 X)roved beyond question that it is now so organized (vitalized as it 

 were with the spirit of thought and connected with work) that my 

 presence or absence is of little importance. It will keep on its course 

 without any new or repeated stimulus beyond the necessary ai^pro- 

 priations for its maintenance." 



It would seem that there was now nothing left for him to do but to 

 fold the robes of half a century's labors and honors around him and 

 watch the descending sun. Ino, rest was not for him. He would work 

 while his pulse beat, and he planned to open a free school at Xantucket 

 for the instruction of all who wished to avail themselves of its privi- 

 leges, in the in vestigatiou of livi^ig objects. Mr. Anderson, of Kew York, 

 heard of his purpose and generously presented him with the island 

 Peuikese for the purpose. Agassiz unhesitatingly accepted the princely 

 offer; he could not let the golden opportunity pass. His friends 

 were troubled. But his enthusiasm sustained his diseased frame and 

 carried it through the exhausting labors and excitements of the work. 

 Sometimes his weakness conquered his resolution, and then he said, " I 

 want rest; I am ready to go; I am tired!" Great soul! No wonder 

 thou wast tired! ISTo wonder thou didst pine for rest ! '■'■ But," he con- 

 tinues, " I will work while I live. While I have strength I will labor;" 

 and he arranged courses of lectures and series of investigations, and an- 

 nounced that he desired to die with the harness all on, the dust on his 

 sandals, the word on his lip, the sketch on the blackboard, the object under 

 the glass. And his prayer was answered. His first article of a long 

 serieswas going through the press ; tickets were sold for his lectures in 

 ifew Haven, l^ew York, and Washington. He had just returned to his 

 home from his favorite laboratory in his museum, and — the curtain fell; 

 not thick and impenetrable, but thin and translucent; and for a few 

 days slight communicatious passed, and then all was still. Agassiz 

 was dead! Nay, not dead. He was translated to fields whose glory 

 and luxuriance will furnish opportunities of research which no gorgeous- 

 ness of tro]3ical abundance can rival. Every living thing has lost a 

 friend, an interpreter; every student of nature a guide and inspirer. 



Snch is a glim'pse of the gigantic labor which this devoted student per- 

 formed ; such is a hint of the success which he achieved. It would be 

 difficult to tell which most kindled his enthusiasm, ohtaining or impart- 

 ing knowledge. How his face shone, how his whole massive frame 

 trembled, when he discovered some new phenomenon ! How his eyes 

 beamed when he narrated his discovery ! I have heard him pour out the 



