414 ALEXANDER AGASSIZ 



closing the conversation with the consoling reflection, — 

 " Oh ! well, anyway, Mr. Agassiz lives here, and he is 

 thoroughly well known in the civilized world/' 



Agassiz had resigned the direction of the Museum in 

 1898, giving his collections and library to the University 

 on the condition that he should retain his work-rooms 

 and certain other privileges at the Museum, including 

 the right to control (and pay for) the publications 

 relating to his expeditions and the collections made on 

 them, which constituted the bulk of the volumes issued. 



While his resignation was in part due to his wish 

 to be able to devote more time to his own work, it was 

 also in a degree because of the somewhat strained 

 relations that had crept into his connection with the 

 University. It is unfortunately true that his feelings 

 toward the great Museum, which his efforts and re- 

 sources had created, were in his later life not untouched 

 by bitterness and sorrow. For years he had carried its 

 development on his own shoulders alone, and in mo- 

 ments of depression and gloom, which were charac- 

 teristic of his temperament, he would dwell on his lack 

 of support from the outside public, and on the want of 

 sympathy and encouragement from those highest in 

 authority in the administration of the University ; till 

 in the end he almost grew to regret the time and energy 

 he had devoted to the realization of his father's dreams, 

 and wished that he had spent his funds in an ampler 

 development of his own scientific work. 



In 1900, Agassiz and his sisters, Mrs. Shaw and Mrs. 

 Higginson, presented the University with the funds 

 necessary to build the southwest corner piece of the 

 Museum, completing, with the exception of a portion 

 of the south wing, which will be an extension of the 



