The Agassi z Memorials. 223 



upon all other branches of science. Remarkably 

 well versed in every science, and intimate with the 

 scientists in their specialties, he imparted to them, 

 as the magnet to the steel, an equal amount of his 

 force, directness, and thoroughness ; he cheered the 

 struggling, re-invigorated the diffident, and diffused 

 a halo of attractiveness around each one's study. 



He was especially earnest and forcible in expressing 

 his views of scientific education. He contended for 

 broader studies than those prescribed in the old, 

 dogmatic curriculum ; for something more than 

 heavy, reiterated book-learning. He demanded 

 original research, exhaustive observation, and rigor- 

 ous comparison. And whilst garnering the treasures, 

 he was peculiarly chary of propounding hypotheses 

 and theories. To him the time had not come for 

 laying down the law of development. He could not 

 bear with superficial study : a man should give his 

 whole life to the object he had undertaken to inves- 

 tigate. He felt that desultory, isolated, spasmodic 

 working avails nothing, but curses with narrowness 

 and mediocrity. Although strongly wedded to his 

 particular objects and course, he fully realised and 

 ably advocated the equal value and importance of 

 the other special branches. He appreciated the 

 fact that the tastes and peculiar mental fibre of 

 others would lead them in other channels, and he 

 looked forward to the time when their results should 

 be brought into harmony with his own. 



We hear so much of weak, inconsequent condem- 

 nation of specialists, that an erroneous but wide- 

 spread misapprehension would appear to exist upon 



