8 



similar invitation. But it had a great effect. 

 Natural history must indeed be a godlike pursuit, 

 if such a man as this can so adore it, people said ; 

 and the very definition and meaning of the Avord 

 naturalist underwent a favorable alteration in the 

 common mind. 



Certain sayings of Agassiz's, as the famous one 

 that he " had no time for making money," and his 

 habit of naming his occupation simply as that of 

 " teacher," have caught the public fancy, and are 

 permanent benefactions. AVe all enjoy more con- 

 sideration for the fact that he manifested himself 

 here thus before us in his day. 



He was a splendid example of the temperament 

 that looks forward and not backward, and never 

 wastes a moment in regrets for the irrevocable. I 

 had the privilege of admission to his society during 

 the Thayer expedition to Brazil. I w^ell remember 

 at night, as w^e all swung in our hammocks in the 

 fairy-like moonlight, on the deck of the steamer that 

 throbbed its way up the Amazon between the forests 

 o'uardino; the stream on either side, how he turned 

 and whispered, "James, are you awake?" and con- 

 tinued, ^' / cannot sleep ; I am too happy ; I keep 

 thinking of these glorious plans." The plans con- 

 templated following the Amazon to its head-waters, 

 and penetrating the Andes in Peru. And yet, w^hen 

 he arrived at the Peruvian frontier and learned that 

 that country had broken into revolution, that his 

 letters to officials would be useless, and that that part 



