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natural science news. 



PENIKESE — A Reminiscence. 



By One of its Pupils. 



Copyright secured 1895. 



head a small washstand, with its accompanying nec- 

 essary furniture. A chair, and a simple tallow dip 

 and tin candlestick, with a few matches in it com- 

 pleted each person's outfit. Our trunks were placed 

 behind our bureaus, and our valises, anywhere that 

 room could be found for them. 



We were obliged to pass our first night almost in 

 the open air. The window-sashes were without glass, 

 and the cool breeze swept through the long room 

 unrestrained; but it was not uncomfortable, and we 

 did not mind it greatly. It was late in the afternoon 

 before I had unpacked and satisfactorily arranged 

 the books, clothing and shooting and other materials 

 which I had brought with me. When it was at last 

 accomplished, I threw a shawl over my bed, put on my 

 slippers, and lay down to rest. I had placed the 

 pillow at the foot of the bed, that I might the better 

 drink in the delightful air and the broad ocean scene 

 which spread itself, in all its freshness, before me. 

 What a lovely view it indeed was! My eyes rested 

 upon a gentle sloping bank of the most delicate, vel- 

 vety green — appearing the more beautiful from the 

 scantiness of the surrounding vegetation — extending 

 to the sea itself, which rolled long lines of low surges 

 lightly toward it. Further on, dancing billows and 

 light whitecaps played merrily in the sunlight of the 

 departing day. Then the surface of all the water 

 was tinged with the most fascinating shadows from 

 the dark, fleecy clouds above; they changed constant- 

 ly; yet their very changes only made them the more 

 beautiful. In the far distance, sail after sail would 

 appear and disappear as a mere speck of light, visi- 

 ble only by long watching. Now a sail would shine, 

 white and clear, before my very eyes, — another and 

 another, farther on; the shadows had hidden them 

 before. There were nineteen of them in all — and, in 

 the distance, two large, three-masted schooners. 

 Then a steamer left a long, dark haze of smoke upon 

 the sky — poking its tall, black stack into sight for a 

 moment only to disappear, like many of the sails, a 

 long umbre cloud which lay against the horizon. 

 At last satisfied by the scene, and fanned by the deli- 

 cious atmosphere wafted in at my window, laden 

 with that peculiar salt sea air, so intoxicating to a 

 true sea lover, I fell asleep, to dream that I was far 

 out upon the ocean, and being softly rocked to and 

 fro from the "Nest" high up on the foremast, by the 

 winds and gently rolling waves. 



I do not know how long I slept, but I awoke with 

 the most delightfully refreshed sensation that one 

 can imagine, and ready for almost anything that 

 should present itself. I will not here enter into a 

 discussion of the question, as to how much sleep the 

 human frame needs, at what times, and for how long", 

 a time; for I am a firm believer in the theory, that 

 nature herself will not only inform us as to when we 

 should sleep, but will also determine for us how long 

 we should sleep. So far, at least, my theory has 

 never failed me. And now, after a most refreshing 

 slumber, I awoke and returned once again to the 

 realities of life. 



Upon arising, I found my companions still busy 

 arranging their effects. Though everything seemed 

 in apparently the most endless confusion, with every- 

 body and everything in everybody's way, there was 

 not a person present whose face did not glow with 

 happiness, and the most eager and intense enthus- 

 iasm. Each seemed specially to have partaken of 



the spirit of our leader, who was everywhere, — en- 

 couraging, aiding and directing. The workmen were 

 completing their unfinished labors, and he was guid- 

 ing them. What a sight to watch him! He was 

 neither haughty nor reserved, as many who were un- 

 acquainted with him would fain have had us believe; 

 but he mingled freely with all. His genial face, and 

 the sincere, earnest tones of his voice, attracted 

 everybody; while his approval of the work already 

 done, and the directions for the furtherance of his 

 plans, were given as if to equals rather than to ser- 

 vants paid to obey him, — nor did I hear a word of 

 complaint spoken, — against Professor Agassiz for 

 any cause whatever, by anybody, while I was upon 

 the island. 



Penikese and Agassiz. 



Supper time at last, our — our second, though real- 

 ly our first, meal at Penikese. The cooks had come 

 to the island in the same steamer that we ourselves 

 had arrived in, and were hardly yet fully established 

 in their new quarters, — one could hardly expect 

 everything to be perfected at once. It was no easy 

 task, that of opening and arranging boxes, bags, and 

 barrels, and sorting and storing their contents. Then 

 preparing the food for the table, with the limited 

 supply of culinary articles yet at their disposal, 

 would have taxed the patience of much more angelic 

 individuals than those same "colored brethren" were 

 supposed to be; but the supper, like the dinner was 

 on time, — as was everything that Professor Agassiz 

 superintended. 



There is a trite old Latin adage, that reads, 

 "Fames bene condimentum est," better known as 

 "hunger is the best sauce," — and I do not believe that 

 there was one amongst us that night, who did not 

 fully enjoy all that had been provided for the occas- 

 ion, notwithstanding the difficulties under which it 

 had been prepared. 



After supper "the school" scattered about the 

 island in every direction, singly or in groups which 

 were soon all lost sight of behind the hillocks and 

 surrounding rocks. As to many the position and 

 general appearance of Penikese may be unfamiliar, I 

 will try to give you a glimpse, though a very imper- 

 fect one, of its location, its surroundings, its beau- 

 ties, and its attractions; yet how I wish that you 

 might have seen it as I saw it, and know it as I 

 knew it. 



Penikese Island is situated almost directly south 

 of New Bedford, though perheps inclining a few 

 points, as the sailors say, to the westward, and is 

 fourteen miles from land. About three miles south 

 of it lies Cutty Hunk, which was, at the time our 

 school first opened, owned, in part at least, by a New 

 York club, the members of which spent their sum- 

 mers there in fishing, hunting, and in yachting. 

 About the same distance from Penikese, and east of 

 Cutty Hunk, lies Nashawena. It is an immense is- 

 land, and is nearly fourteen times the size of its little 

 near neighbor, our Penikese. Still farther eastward 

 lie Pasque, Naushon, Nonamessett, Uncatina, and 

 the minute Weepecket, ranged, with the exception of 

 the last, one after another, in a crescent, and the last 

 separated by only a narrow strait of water from 

 Wood's Hole, as it is on the maps, though someone 

 has perverted it into Wood's Hot/, the extremity of 

 the mainland in this direction. The "old-timers," of 

 New Bedford and its vicinity, arrange the names of 

 these islands in a little verse which, they say, enables 

 [to be continued.] 



