360 Arnold Guyot. 



gifted co-laborer of Braun in the discovery of phyllotaxis, and 

 Imhoff of Bale, the future author of one of the best Entomo- 

 logical Faunas of Switzerland and Southern Germany, was a 

 stirring event, which threw new life into the quiet circle. 

 "After a short time devoted to a mutual acquaintance, every 

 one began to work. The acquisition of knowledge was the 

 rule of the day, and social enjoyment was but the sweet condi- 

 ment to more solid food." " My remembrance," remarks Guyot, 

 "of those few months of alternate work and play, attended by 

 so much real progress, are among the most delightful of my 

 younger days." '"Add to these attractions the charm of the 

 society of a few select and intimate friends — professors, clergy- 

 men and artists, dropping in almost every evening, and you 

 will easily understand how congenial, how fostering to all 

 noble impulses, must have been the atmosphere of this family 

 for the young and happy guests assembled under its hospitable 

 roof." "Months were thus spent in constant and immediate 

 intercourse with nature, the subjects of investigation changing 

 with the advancing seasons. Botany and Entomology had 

 their turn; "and demonstrations of phyllotaxis," he says, 

 "now reduced to definite formula by Braun and Schimper, 

 and shown in various plant forms, but especially in pine cones, 

 were of absorbing interest. The whole plan of the present 

 animal kingdom in its relations to the extinct paleontological 

 forms was the theme of animated discussions." He adds: "It 

 would be idle to attempt to determine the measure of mutual 

 benefit derived by these young students of nature from their 

 meeting under such favorable circumstances. It certainly was 

 great, and we need no other proof of the strong impulse they 

 all received from it than the new ardor with which each pursued, 

 and subsequently performed, his life-work."* Guyot took in, 

 equally with Agassiz, the newly developed views in botany, 

 embryology and zoological classification, that were the subjects 

 of thought and discussion, and became profoundly impressed 

 thereby, as his later work shows. 



From Carlsruhe, Guyot went to Stuttgart and took the course 

 at the Gymnasium, where he made himself a proficient in the 

 German language. 



Beturning to JNTeucbatel in 1827, and there quickened in his 

 religious faith and feelings by the preaching of the Bev. Samuel 

 Petit-pierre, his benevolent impulses under a sense of duty led 

 him to turn from science to theology, and commence serious 

 preparation for the ministry. In 1829, then 22 years of age, 

 having this purpose still in view, he went to Berlin to attend 

 the lectures of Schleiermacher, Neander and Hengstenberg, 

 and there remained for five years (1830-1835). In order to 

 * Guyot's Academic Memoir on Agassiz, pp. 8-12. 



