DESCENT AND BOYHOOD 3 



taking a semester here and another there, as is still cus- 

 tomary in pursuing a university education on the Con- 

 tinent of Europe, Louis Agassiz fell in with young 

 Alexander Braun, afterwards a distinguished botanist, 

 son of Carl Braun, Postmaster-General of the Grand 

 Duchy of Baden. The two became boon companions, 

 and through the resulting friendship Louis met Braun's 

 sister Cecile, who became his wife, and the mother of 

 Alexander Agassiz. 



Her father, Carl Braun, the son of a village school- 

 master, was a man of rare sagacity, great energy, and 

 affectionate disposition. His leisure hours were devoted 

 to scientific studies, chiefly astronomy and mineralogy. 

 His wife, a woman of much intelligence and charm, had 

 enjoyed all the advantages of an unusually liberal and 

 careful education. In their spacious house at Carlsruhe 

 their four children 1 lived in an atmosphere that was 

 delightful and unique. The father possessed an admira- 

 ble collection of minerals and plants, and his sons were 

 provided with work-tables, microscopes, and books of 

 reference. The father's habit of talking over all the 

 questions of the day with his family, the mother's en- 

 couragement of everything that could cultivate a love 

 of beauty, made the family life of the Brauns particu- 

 larly stimulating. Music was one of the favorite pas- 

 times of the brothers and sisters, who were constantly 

 practicing four-part songs, which they sang at home and 

 during their walks. 



In such surroundings Cecile grew up, shy, reserved, 

 sensitive, and artistic. Her gifted nature found its ex- 



1 The youngest member of the family, Maximilian, afterward became 

 a noted mining engineer, a fact worth recording in view of his nephew 

 Alexander's achievements in a like capacity. 



