Weymouth High School - Campus / Reflector Yearbook (Weymouth, MA)

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EFORE one can enjoy the Agassiz Museum to its fullest extent it is necessary to become acquainted with the man who made it possible — Jean Louis Rodolphe Agassiz, better known as Louis Agassiz. Louis was born in 1807 in the little village of Me- tier, Switzerland. His love for nature was shown very earl)-. When he was a little fellow he turned the stone basin back of his home into an aquarium ; there he made his first collection of fishes. When he was ten years old he was sent to school at Bienne. Later, Agassiz studied medicine, but befo re taking his degree he changed his course of study to that of natural history. His first position was that of Professor of Natural History at Neuchatel. Agassiz left this position to accept the Professor- ship of Geology and Mineralogy at Geneva. He held this posi- tion until his departure for the United States in 1846. This journey to America was to be one of exploration in connection with his scientific work. When Agassiz left Europe, he ex- pected to return in about two years, but he did not return until 1859, and then only for a visit. Soon after his arrival in Amer- ica Agassiz became Professor of Natural history at Harvard University. From this time he was closely identified with Cam- bridge. When Agassiz accepted the professorship at Harvard there were neither collections nor laboratories to aid him in his work. The use of an old wooden shanty on the bank of the Charles River was allowed him however, and he soon had it fitted up for his collections. It also served as a dissection room. This fact is worth noting, for here was the beginning of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard. Agassiz ' s great ambition had been to have a zoological mu- seum that should be systematically arranged. He was able to carry out this desire to a marked degree by the legacy of Mr. Francis Gray for a Museum of Comparative Zoology with the provision that this money should not be used for buildings or salaries, but simply for the scientific needs of such an institu- tion. The will also stated that neither the collections nor any building which may contain the same shall ever be desig- nated by any other name than the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard. This provision has not been carried out for the museum is now commonly known, and justly too, as the Agassiz Museum. This contribution received, Agassiz went industriously to work to influence the Legislature to grant money for a build-

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' re ®ii ARGE bodies move slowly, and the final prepara- tions for the departure of the 1914 caravan proves quite complicated and confusing. After a long Hunt the whip is found to be missing, but Hollis, with his ever handy knife, says he will Whittle a new one. Wait for Irene, calls Edith, She stopped to call for Wintfred. Oh Florence, I just know we ' ll be too crowded when we get the Ry-an the Wh eat-on, moans Lil- lian. Well, by the Powers, we have a Young passenger. Let him be a Walker. Here ' s a Cain to help you, shouts Dwver. Wait for us at the herring brook. They say the (w)HoL(e)BRooK is R(e)illv, moans Susie to Grace. Scoot, Toby, to the Baker. We ' ll want a lunch. We can call on the Gardner at Nash ' s Corner for fresh lettuce, vol- unteered Tirrell. He ' s a New-man and Rosnell says he ' s fine. Pray tell us if we look presentable, Catherine M(e)uses. Shall we find any wild flowers? I can see a Marguerite that ' s not only Wild(e), but Wilder, chuckles Catherine, but she ' s such a Trainer, no one heeds her pun. Here come Ruth and Eleanor. Now we ' re Reidy. All aboard ! My, don ' t we ' Shine ' ! — F. D. P., ' 14. TO THE STARS Little Stars, O tell me, pray ! Who are you, that sparkle so ? We are but the host of angels Sent to Heaven, from earth below. Little Stars, what is your purpose In God ' s Heaven, in the sky ? We are sent here by our Father To be shining lights on High. Little Stars, so bright and holy, Shall I be with you some day ? Shall I shine so clear among you And light the wanderer on his way ? ' Little sister, you shall join us, You shall come some future day When the dear, kind loving Father Shall have taken your soul away. Then, O stars, I ' m now contented Here, on earth, with friends to be, For, through deeds of loving k : nJness My dearest wish is promised me. — H. B. H.: 14.

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ing. He obtained a grant of one hundred thousand dollars from this source on condition that a certain sum should be raised by private subscription. The sum of seventy-one thousand, one hundred twenty-five dollars was soon subscribed by people around Boston and Cambridge. The University granted land for the building site. As a result of persistent effort, the Mu- seum was dedicated in I860. The collections were immediately transferred to the new building, lecture rooms were opened, and laboratories were occupied by eager students. From this time the lecture rooms were open to women as well as men for Agassiz always seemed to have a sympathetic understanding of woman ' s desire to learn. The museum was supported by legislative grants and private subscriptions but these were inadequate, especially during war. The collections were increased in various ways. Agassiz ob- tained the aid of consuls in foreign lands, fishing fleets were asked to search for specimens, Agassiz ' s brother-in-law, Thomas Carey, aided him in collecting material. In 1S63, Agassiz began collecting fishes from the rivers of the world, and was success- ful to a surprising degree. The Emperor of Brazil aided him in this enterprise by sending him a collection of fishes from the Brazilian provinces. Additions to the Museum have been built from time to time, the latest one which joins the Agassiz and Peabody Museums was completed recently. The Museum is of advantage, not only to students, but to the public as it is open to visitors every day of the week. Since Agassiz ' s time the Ware collection of glass flowers has been added to the Museum. In this collection are both native and foreign flowers which look so natural when one looks at them that one is with difficulty convinced that they are not freshly picked blossoms. Adjoining the room devoted to these flowers is a room which contains the New England birds. There is also a large collection of humming-birds from all parts of the world. In the basen ent, enormous skeletons of extinct animals are to be seen. One of the most interesting rooms is the one which contains minerals. Some of the most beautiful specimens are the collection of agates, the sulphur stone from Mount Vesuvius, the meteorites, and the large group of ame- thyst crystals of a very deep, beautiful color. Agassiz and his wonderful personality continue to live and exert their influence through this Museum, his interest in which is demonstrated by these words spoken a short time before his death : Oh my Museum ! My Museum ! Always uppermost, by day and by night, in health and in sickness — always — always !