20 



Louis Agassiz. 



the other, while Latin, Greek, Enghsh and Italian 

 were all familiar to him. 



The school life of the young student at Heidelberg 

 was a season of constant endeavour to perfect himself 

 in the various branches of study. He had selected 

 a boarding-place that had many of the attractions of 

 the home at Motier, it being in the faubourg of the 

 city which his window faced, while- at the rear was 

 a fine garden with trees and shrubs which Agassiz 

 soon found abounded in birds with which he was 

 familiar. His habits were severe and methodical, 

 and his strict manner of living shows that he had 

 himself under complete control. An early riser, he 

 breakfasted at half-past six, and less than an hour 

 later was listening to the lectures given in the Mu- 

 seum. There was no recess in the modern accepta- 

 tion of the word, as if half an hour was gained from 

 lecture or lesson it was devoted to a study of the 

 anatomical preparations or to some special investiga- 

 tion suggested by Professor Schinz. After this and 

 often before the hour previous to dinner, Agassiz 

 practised fencing with a friend, believing that it 

 cultivated the eyes as well as all the faculties ; and 

 that he accomplished so much in later years was un- 

 doubtedly due to the fact that he took an abundance 

 of physical exercise with the mental. 



After dinner at one, Agassiz with some friend 

 would stroll through the country for an hour, then 

 returning to study until five, when a lecture by the 

 Chancellor of the University occupied an hour. 

 This was followed by a walk, or by a bath in the 

 Neckar. The evenings were devoted to study until 



