THE NEWPORT LABORATORY 153 



knocked down a woman. Her escort jumped on to the 

 front seat, and Agassiz said it had given him the great- 

 est delight to see what a thorough pummeling he gave 

 the chauffeur. 



" But why/' asked his listener, " did n't the owner 

 come to his chauffeur's assistance ? " 



" Oh ! " exclaimed Agassiz, " I was holding him." 



Nothing would induce him to get into an automobile 

 in the East, but after Calumet acquired her subsidiary 

 companies, the ground to be covered became so great 

 that he found it convenient to employ one during his 

 inspections, a fact that found its way only gradually to 

 his friends in the East. One day, shortly after his first 

 use of them, the newly appointed manager was driving 

 him about. As he knew Agassiz's opinion of automobiles, 

 the younger man felt extremely nervous; but as they 

 were pressed for time he was obliged to run fast ; and 

 somehow he managed to run over a dog. "Now," 

 thought he, " that settles me." But to his intense sur- 

 prise, Agassiz looked back and remarked sharply, " Why 

 did n't that d dog keep out of the way ! " 



In Newport one room of the house was fitted as a 

 laboratory. In 1877, Agassiz replaced this by a very com- 

 plete little research laboratory, overhanging the creek on 

 his place. The vine-covered building suggests the chalets 

 of his native land. It was about twenty-five by forty-five 

 feet, to which a wing was afterward added for Agassiz's 

 private use. The main structure was fitted for some dozen 

 advanced students. The north side and east end were 

 studded with windows. At each of these stood a table for 

 a microscope, which rested on an independent brick pier ; 

 thus allowing any one to walk about without jarring the 

 instruments. On the south side were shelves crowded 



