34 



Louis Agassis. 



side. Among them is my uncle here, who never 

 speaks of you now but with enthusiasm.'* 



The spectacle of a young student of twenty-one 

 writing a book on BraziHan fishes in Latin, while 

 pursuing a course of surgery and medicine was a 

 remarkable one then and would be equally so to-day. 

 Agassiz was soon recognised as a leader by his 

 fellows, and so lovable and kind was his disposition 

 that he had their friendship as well. 



The work of Spix required the services of an 

 artist ; and J. C. Weber was engaged and later 

 Joseph Dinkel, both of whom were associated with 

 Agassiz for many years. The latter is described by 

 one of the artists as being at this time a most exem- 

 plary and lovable person; always bright, never ill- 

 tempered, and with a cheery word for every one. 

 He enjoyed the club life and merry times with other 

 of the students but never was an active participant, 

 rather holding himself aloof, being reserved and 

 dignified in his demeanour. His intimate associates 

 were the scholarly men who were known to each 

 other in ''The Little Academy" by such nicknames 

 as Cyprinus, Molluscus, Rhubarb, and others. Let 

 it not be understood that Agassiz was a prude, or 

 over dignified from a false sense of superiority; 

 nothing could be further from the truth. He was 

 manly, brave, open hearted and handed ; a nature's 

 gentleman in every sense of the term ; a youth in 

 tastes and desires but a man in ambition. All his 

 mental faculties seemed to have developed early, 

 and while not yet of age the desire to become 

 eminent was firmly implanted and grew day by day. 



