HOW AGASSIZ TAUGHT 



nently social nature and his lifelong habit 

 rendered it easier for him to address a group of 

 interested listeners. The following incident 

 does not seem to have been recorded in my 

 diary, but it is distinctly remembered. During 

 the publication of the Journey in Brazil, a 

 French translation was made by M. Felix 

 Vogeli. With this the publishers desired to 

 incorporate a chapter giving the latest views 

 of Agassiz upon classification and evolution. 

 In vain was he besought to write it. He hated 

 writing, and was too busy. At last, in despera- 

 tion, M. Vogeli came to the Museum with 

 Mrs. Agassiz, and together they persuaded the 

 Professor to dictate the required matter in the 

 form of a lecture. For this, however, an 

 audience was indispensable. The exigency was 

 explained to the Museum staff; we assembled in 

 the lecture-room, and the discourse began. 

 To the dismay of some of us it proved to be in 

 French, but we tried to look as if we compre- 

 hended it all. 



■ Agassiz handled all specimens with the great- 

 est care, and naturally had little patience with 

 clumsiness; the following incident illustrates 



[37] 



