Climbing the Ladder. 



43 



was a delight ; a period often looked back upon in 

 later years as one of the bright spots in his career. 

 In all probability, Agassiz's friends did not appre- 

 ciate the poverty of the young student at this time, 

 and his struggles to pay his artist and actual ex- 

 penses and make a presentable appearance were truly 

 heroic. Some idea of his condition is obtained from 

 a letter to his brother in March, 1832, in which he 

 apologises for not sending him a book which though 

 costing but little would have left him penniless. 

 Agassiz had an income of forty dollars a month. 

 Out of this he paid his artist about twenty-five dollars, 

 leaving him fifteen dollars for maintenance. This 

 lack of sufificient means was a serious drawback in 

 every way, and he found himself so reduced that he 

 was ashamed to present certain letters of introduction 

 having no suitable coat. There is no doubt that 

 at this time he often without a murmur denied him- 

 self proper food that he might store his brain with 

 toothsome facts. A new species of fossil fish, doubt- 

 less, sometimes constituted his mental dinner, his 

 eyes feasting upon it while the inner man vainly 

 protested. 



Nothing could tempt him from the path laid out, 

 and at this very time he refused a position as editor 

 of the zoological section of the Bulletin^ which 

 would have given him an income of two hundred 

 dollars, because it would take two hours a day from 

 his studies. His parents, who knew of his financial 

 condition, entreated him to leave Paris ; but he 

 would not consent, and put off the loved ones with 

 many excuses often ingenious if not pathetic. 



