166 ELIZABETH CARY AGASSIZ 
of “The Anderson School of Natural History,” and its 
opening was announced for July 8, in spite of the fact that 
this date allowed only two months for constructing the en- 
tire establishment and equipping it with all its apparatus 
and appointments. What took place when, on July 4, 
Agassiz and Mrs. Agassiz arrived on the scene, and the part 
that Mrs. Agassiz played in saving the situation is best 
described by herself in the following letter. 
TO MISS SARAH G. CARY 
Penikese Island, July 7, 1873 
I nave had a good many odd experiences in my life, 
but I think never one more original than this. When 
we arrived in New Bedford the first greeting was that 
the building on the island was utterly unfinished — 
no floors—no shingling —ete., etc., etc..—a tale 
of the most discouraging character. Agassiz took it 
all with a calmness perfectly amazing to me; he said 
the eighth of July was his date; this was the Fourth; 
by the eighth he dared say everything would be 
ready, and he should believe in no failure till he had 
seen it. My heart sank to my shoes, for I could 
not help asking myself what we should do with the 
fifty-eight people to be lodged, clothed and comforted. 
We passed the night at the hotel, listening to the 
little boys firing crackers under our windows and 
making night hideous; the next morning we started 
with the steamer at nine o’clock. We brought with 
us Professor Wilder, his wife and child, and invited 
a stray lady teacher, whom we found at the hotel, 
