168 ELIZABETH CARY AGASSIZ 
Now let me tell you about the new ones. There 
were (or are to be eventually) two big and very nice 
looking barracks — each to have four laboratories 
on the lower floor and twenty-five sleeping-rooms 
on the upper. Of these one building is up, but when 
we arrived had no floors — the other is represented 
only by the foundation. The wonder is that they 
are there in any shape, considering that the lumber 
was landed on the island hardly five weeks ago. At 
first the aspect of things was discouraging, but the 
architect does not accept failure any more than 
Agassiz, and he told us his plan was to complete 
the floor of the first story, put up a partition, and di- 
vide it into great camps, one for the ladies and one for 
the gentlemen, — then the furniture could all be 
put out and arranged, and gradually as the rooms 
were completed above, each could move to their own 
quarters. The next day was Sunday, but Flanders 
made a thrilling address to the carpenters — told 
them the object of the building — not for business, 
not for money, but for instruction, and he thought 
that on this occasion, considering the emergency 
and the motive, their duty was to make the day one 
of work, not of rest. They agreed, and before night 
the floors above and below were nearly completed. 
With the help of one or two boys and Dr. Wilder, 
Mrs. Burns, Mrs. Wilder, and I unpacked and 
washed all the glass and china for dormitories and 
dining-room, — no light task, I can tell you, for it 
consisted of twenty-four dozen plates, six dozen 
cups and saucers, vegetable and meat dishes without 
