342 ELIZABETH CARY AGASSIZ 
material that have to do with these changes and show 
the spirit in which Mrs. Agassiz shared in them follow. 
TO MRS. LOUIS AGASSIZ FROM MAJOR HENRY L. 
HIGGINSON 
Manchester-by-the-Sea, May 13, 1903 
THE committee, as you know, wishes to have Dean 
Briggs as President — but it needs to know what 
positions and duties and rights you wish, if any. You 
are honorary president and are expected to perform 
certain duties. My notion has been that you would 
prefer the pleasures — after all these years of serv- 
ice and of essentialness (to coin a word) I think that 
you should reap the joys only — hold your teas, if 
you like, know what is going on, but feel no weight 
and be held to no meetings or consultations. 
But you are grown up and will decide. Will you 
send me a line at an early time and settle the matter 
—and tell me if you prefer to resign everything 
but your joys? 
TO MAJOR HENRY L. HIGGINSON 
I sHouxp like to give up all. My age and my deafness 
make even the small share I have retained in the 
work very difficult of fulfilment. I can never cease 
to love Radcliffe College and to take the deepest in- 
terest in its concerns, but I am really no longer strong 
enough to take any share in its direction. I cannot 
trust myself nor can I be depended upon to take part 
in any of the meetings (as Council, Associate meeting, 
