116 



NATUBAL SCIENCE NEWS. 



PENIKESE— A Reminiscence. 



By One of its Pupils. 



Copyright secured 1895. 



From this scene I wandered about amongst the old 

 whale ships, which, like huge ghosts, reared high in 

 air their whitened spars and exposed their bleaching 

 sides to the hot sun, or lay, in various posture, 

 awaiting as the case might be the hands of time or 

 the renorvating touch of busy workmen, while upon 

 some the carpenters were already at their labors. 

 Then I walked up and down the narrow streets close 

 by the wharves; I visited many of the shops and 

 small warehouses; and amused myself in every way 

 possible until, at length, aroused by the shrill scream 

 of the tug -boat, I hastened to the scene of hurry and 

 confusion consequent upon our starting for Penikese. 



On arriving at the wharf, where the tug-boat lay, 

 I found it literally one mass of moving heads and 

 wagon-tops. Everything appeared to be in the 

 wildest disorder and everybody to have lost their 

 senses completely, — at least judging from the crazy 

 manner in which people presisted in getting in each 

 others way; nor was the confusion less noticeable on 

 board the steamer, which was small and crowded. 

 There were trunks, hat-boxes, valises, boxes, crates 

 and baskets; general kitchen-ware, cooking utensils 

 of all sorts and furniture mixed with Natural History 

 stores and apparatus; all lying tumbled together so 

 promiscuously and occupying so much room, that, 

 in company with several others, I vainly wandered 

 seeking a place of repose and momentary quiet from 

 the human storm which everywhere surrounded me, 

 and was fain almost to envy even the dirty little 

 urchins, whom I had so recently left, their peace and 

 quiet. 



At length comparative calm reigned, and I found 

 a moment in which to look about me, and to note the 

 forms and faces of those gathered upon the deck and 

 in the waiting-room of our little steamer — all of 

 whom were eager for her departure. What a jolly 

 set they were; these strange forms and faces! Old 

 men and young men; elderly ladies and young, fair 

 maidens. A varied group indeed, — yet, for all, it 

 looked like an agreeable one. 



When the second whistle sounded, a particularly 

 shrill and startling one it seemed to me, what a scene 

 ensued; — what a profusion of hand-shakings and 

 good-byes were given and taken upon every side; 

 slowly the tide of humanity poured down the boat's 

 side and on to the wharf below. And now the steam- 

 er had completed its load. The dull beat of her 

 paddles and her heavy column of black smoke an- 

 nounced that we had left the pier and were on the 

 move. One by one the wagons started leaving the 

 wharf; one by one the scattered groups of people 

 turned from the dock and followed; then, finally, 

 wharf, people and wagons grew further and further 

 away as, with regular puff and plunge, the little 

 "Helen Augusta" steamed quietly away from the 

 dull, hot city, and out into a clearer atmosphere — 

 upon the fair, heaving bosom of the bay. 



Agassiz and Penikese. 

 Buzzards Bay! What a glorious mingling of land 

 and water! Well worthy its illustrious discoverer, 

 the famous Bartholomew Gosnald. In fact, both our 

 little Penikese, and its larger neighbor, Cutty Hunk, 

 have contended successively for the distinguished 

 title of "Gosnold's Hat." Adown the broad bosom 

 of this bay we glide. The passengers crowd the 

 prow and stern of our small craft, to drink in the del- 



icious draughts of cool, fresh air, that fan the cheek 

 into fairly blushing at itself as it tells, so plainly to 

 all around, its secret joy at this occasion: and this is 

 the group most of whom are to bear me company, 

 during a cooling summer sail, in an enterprise which 

 is to unite professor and pupil, heart to heart and 

 hand in hand; hearts devoted, and hands ever ready, 

 to do the work which the Master shall assign them. 



Our sail to Penikese was a very pleasant one, — and 

 now mark our surprise: . As we approach the wharf, 

 there stood Professor Agassiz himself, who had thus 

 anticipated our arrival, with beaming face, ready to 

 welcome us; and his warm, enthusiastic shake of the 

 hand, and gentle, winning words, which were ever 

 new and fresh to each one, sent a glad thrill through 

 each heart. How proud he looked. How like the 

 kind, benignant father to us all that he indeed was. 



After the handshakings, he lead the way, up the 

 old lane or cartpath, to the place of meeting. There 

 all seated themselves save Professor Agassiz, he 

 alone remained standing. What a sight! What a 

 scene! Would that some canvas might-contain that 

 picture. 



The Hall, or place of meeting, was an old barn — . 

 still retaining its ancient, barn-like appearance with- 

 out though entirely renovated and somewhat remod- 

 eled within. Great pains had been taken to leave its 

 side and rafters as they had been, and bare, — yet per- 

 fectly clean. By a partition, was made a small, 

 square room, at the farther end of which were ranged 

 the chairs in which the pupils and company sat; in 

 front was a long table, extending nearly across the 

 room, around which the more highly honored guests 

 were placed; behind and near the center of the table, 

 stood Professor Agassiz, with head uncovered — with 

 the fingers of one hand barely touching the table 

 with their tips, and the other hand within the breast 

 of his coat. In a moment all were silent: 



"Then[the Master, 

 With a gesture of command, 

 Waved his hand; 



and Professor Agassiz addressed us: 



"My friends!" he said, "you know not what a 

 pleasure it is for me to meet you all here today! I 

 have looked forward to this as being a very happy 

 event in my life, and I am not disappointed; but, 

 before proceeding with our business, let us look .to 

 the giver of all our good things in thanksgiving. I 

 know not any of you, therefore cannot feel free to 

 ask of any of you that favor which I otherwise should 

 do. I will ask you all, therefore, to join with me, 

 for a few moments, in silent prayer." Bowed heads 

 and silence responded to the call, as all joined in 

 that solemn occasion, — and the waves dashing upon 

 the rocks, seemed like the utterances of those un- 

 spoken words — while a thousand white- winged gulls, 

 upon noiseless pinion, filled the air, and seemed like 

 messengers from Heaven, awaiting only to catch the 

 spirit of those words that they might bear them up- 

 ward. - 



After a few moments the professor addressed . us. 

 He thanked us all for coming to meet him on. that 

 far off, lonely island, and he thanked himself for 

 being able to be present; he thanked the kind giver 

 of the island and its endowment, Mr. Anderson, for 

 himself and for all, that he had been moved to such 

 a generous bestowment of property and happiness ,to 

 the community; and he thanked the friends there 

 present at its opening, for their sympathy with the 



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