1874.] SENATE— No. 200. 27 



he had an irresistible impulse to join hands with all who were 

 pursuing the paths of knowledge, and because he felt that his 

 own enthusiasm might operate as a new incentive to his asso- 

 ciates. Whoever has listened to his conversation with those 

 who surrounded him at agricultural and educational assem- 

 blies, must have been struck with the prominence which he 

 gave in his own inquiries for the views and opinions of others, 

 even of those who hung upon his lips, eager for the knowl- 

 edge which he might impart. And so he encouraged every 

 effort after knowledge ; was impatient of a pretence — but was 

 warm-hearted and paternal towards a genuine effort and a 

 reality ; was grateful to the farmer who stated a fact in em- 

 bryology drawn from observation ; rejoiced over every suc- 

 cessful endeavor of the agricultural college ; could travel side 

 by side with the humblest explorer ; and could at a moment's 

 warning, with a wealth of knowledge and a fervid eloquence 

 unequalled, sweep away the fallacies of an antagonist. He 

 was indeed the genius of a scientific American ; for whether 

 engage i in the most elaborate investigations at the Museum, 

 or in discussions before the board of education, or in a popu- 

 lar lecture, or in a thousand-times debated question in the 

 board of agriculture, he always displayed the same modesty, 

 the same desire to learn, the same vast knowledge, the same 

 fascinating power of conveying his knowledge to others. The 

 influence of this unceasing effort and this manifold faculty it 

 is difficult to estimate. But we do know that he engrafted 

 science upon our republic, put it into all our colleges, intro- 

 duced it in familiar form to our people, gave existence to 

 scientific schools everywhere, sent his pupils into every 

 corner of our land, brought its mysteries into our schools, 

 brought the spirit of our rulers up to a just appreciation of its 

 life-giving influences, and taught the world that the tribute 

 which an educated people are ready to bestow upon their 

 great teachers and guides, cannot be eclipsed by the patron- 

 age of kings. 



But there are those who cannot forget the influence which 

 Agassiz exerted by the force and quality of his character 

 alone. Actuated by high motives himself, he always appealed 

 to the high motives of others. He expected to be forgiven, 

 and so he was always ready to forgive. He carried with him 



