136 



NATUEAL SCIENCE NEWS. 



PENIKESE— A Reminiscence. 



By One of its Pupils. 



Copyright secured 1895. 

 merous, and exceed so much the accommodations of 

 the place as to embarass me greatly. I must make 

 hard work a condition of a continuous connection 

 with the School, and I desire particularly to impress 

 it upon the applicants for admission, that Penikese 

 Island is not to be regarded as a place of summer re- 

 sort for relaxation. I do not propose to give much 

 instruction in matters which may be learned in books; 

 nor do I wish books to be read during the summer 

 session of the School on Penikese Island. I want, on 

 the contrary, to prepare those we shall attend to ob- 

 serve for themselves, that they may hereafter be able to 

 make the most of their opportunities for study in na- 

 ture, in whatever part of the counfry they may reside, 

 as there are hardly two adjoining school-districts in 

 which the same objects may be collected for examina- 

 tion. 



"It will no doubt appear, to many, a wearisome 

 process to sit for hours before a specimen without 

 any but a very general direction what to do with it. 

 I would, therefore, advise all those who wish only to 

 be taught Natural History in the way in which it is 

 generally taught, by recitations, to give up their in- 

 tention of joining the Anderson School. 



"My plan will further imply the obligation, on the 

 part of all present, of making special collections to 

 carry home and use as a basis for the teaching others, 

 in the same way, I propose to teach myself, with the 

 assistance of many of my scientific friends. 



"My object in adopting this course is, not only to 

 give what I consider to be the best instructions, but 

 also to show how teaching should be conducted by 

 competent teachers. 



"I wish it were possible for me to state at this ear- 

 ly day what the expenses for board are liable to be 

 for the season. As there is no public house upon the 

 Island, everything must be provided for by private 

 arrangement. I can only say that it will be furnished 

 at cost, at the most economic rate; and that no tuition 

 fee is to be charged. 



"The course will probably open in the first days of 



J"iy- 



"Yours Very Truly, 



L. Agassiz. 



"Should you be prevented from attending please 

 inform me early, as there are many who wait anxious- 

 ly to fill vacancies. L. A." 



This was, doubtless, the "questioning circular" be- 

 fore referred to, and, after receiving it, I was in a 

 continual state of nervous excitement. Fears that 

 the School would begin without my receiving further 

 notification of it, of a thousand different things, pos- 

 sessed me; but I occupied the time as fully and as 

 profitably so I was able, and gave old bachelor tea 

 and coffee parties, in my room, daily and nightly, to 

 all my old chums and their friends, as often as they 

 could be induced to call upon me, in prospect of a 

 speedy departure. It was not until nearly a month's 

 time had elapsed, that I heard again from Penikese; 

 but, when I did, it was in the shape of a final circular 

 which gave all necessary information relating to the 

 subject. It read as follows: 



"Anderson School of Natural History. 



"Cambridge, Mass., June 26, 1873. 



"M 



"I have at last decided to open the Anderson 

 School of Natural History, on Penikese Island, at 12 



o'clock, on the 8th of July next. The place is four- 

 teen miles distant from New Bedford, Mass., and the 

 city is easily accessible by railroad from Boston or 

 from Providence, R. I. Persons coming to join the 

 School from a distance would do well to arrange their 

 journey so that they may reach New Bedford Monday 

 evening, the 7th of July. This place affords good 

 accommodations at the Parker House, where infor- 

 mation concerning the boat to the island may be had. 

 A few miles to the east of New Bebford is a watering 

 place, Mattapoisett, where those reaching this vicini- 

 ty a few days in advance may pass some time pleas- 

 antly. 



"It is necessary that all should remember that Pen- 

 ikese Island affords no accommodation for strangers, 

 and that therefore nobody can be invited to visit the 

 Island during the session of the School. I have pro- 

 vided rooms and board for all, but made no allowance 

 for supernumaries. As it is, I am not yet able to say 

 what the expenses will be. All the arrangements 

 have been made upon the most economical plan. 

 The dormitories have been built at the expense of 

 the School, and no rent will be charged, beyond a 

 percentage on the bedroom furniture. The board 

 will be charged at cost. A caterer has been engaged 

 who will provide for the table and keep the rooms in 

 order, superintend the washing, etc., and the expense 

 thus incurred will determine the charges. 



"It has already been stated that the instruction 

 will be free. Aquariums have been provided which 

 will take the place of books; and cans and other nec- 

 essaries for the preservation of specimens will be or- 

 dered, and may be bought at cost. The preparation 

 for these collections will not lead to any considerable 

 expenditure, and is optional. 



"Very truly yours. 



"L. Agassiz. 



"P. S. — Should you be prevented from coming, 

 give me early notice as there are many waiting for a 

 vacancy. " 



I regret, very much, that I am unable to discover 

 among my papers the circular containing the course 

 of instruction, and the names of the instructors, as 

 laid out for this first year of the Penikese Island 

 School. It would be both valuable and interesting. 

 I prefer giving such papers entire, when possible; but 

 as in this case it is impossible, I will describe to you 

 briefly our course. 



The programme for Penikese (or "Pune," as it is 

 sometimes called) hardly differed from that which had 

 been previously prepared for the Nantucket School. 

 The former certainly possessed many advantages over 

 the latter, — yet the main purpose and aim of the 

 "course" remained unchanged. 



Throughout the Summer we had daily lectures from 

 Professor Agassiz — upon Natural History, and upon 

 Geology; and his talks on the glaciers and the glacial 

 theory, of which he may now justly be called the 

 father, were full and very interesting. Then a gener- 

 ous citizen of Boston donated to the School a fine 

 yacht, for sailing and for dredging purposes, — and 

 the "Sprite," under the direction of that able Natur- 

 alist and seaman, Count Pourtales, carried dredging 

 parties almost daily, or as often as the weather would 

 allow, throughout the season. What material was 

 thus presented for study! What splendid collections 

 we made! How hard we worked to please Professor 

 Agassiz! 



Our lectures, the more important ones at least; were 

 given in the early and in the latter part of the day. 



(To be continued.) 



