Eggs for professor Louis Agassiz
Eggs for professor Louis Agassiz
One of Louis
Agassiz’s books on the natural history of the united states has a small drawing
of the inside of a fresh turtle egg. And at the beginning of the
first volume, one line states: “In New England I received valuable help from
Mr. J. W. P. Jenks of Middleboro.”
What a story
lies hidden in that single line! Mr. J. M. P. Jenks of Middleboro,
Massachusetts, became, some years later, one of my college professors; and this
is the tale as he told it to me.
“I was the
principal of and academy in my younger days,” he began, “and was
busy one day with my class when a large man suddenly appeared in the doorway
and announced that he was professor Agassiz. Would I get him some turtle eggs?
Yes, I would.
“It seems
that the books he was writing were finished except for one small yet very
important bit of observation: Agassiz had traced the development of the turtle
egg through every stage but the earliest – when the cell begins to segment,
right after being laid. But he had been unable to get eggs fresh enough to show
this happening.”
Careful Planning
“We made our
plans. From the nearby pond, where numerous turtles lived, to the
railroad station was a drive of about three miles; from the station by express
train to Boston, 35 miles; from Boston to Cambridge, three – 41 miles
altogether. It could be done.
“I started
watching on May 14, two weeks ahead of the time that we expected turtles to lay
their eggs. Just before dawn I would drive to the pond, tie my horse and lie
down close to the shore, with my pail of sand ready for the
precious eggs. There I would eat my breakfast, eyes fixed on the pond, and they
hurry back to open the academy.
“What
mornings they were! The spring air, the fresh flowers, the wet grass – it was
the nicest reason of the year. I still remember that sounds of the waking day,
the birds breaking the stillness with the air of their feet and wings among the
trees.”
Watching and
Waiting
“There were
many such mornings, for the turtle evidently felt their
assistance to professor Agassiz could wait. I watched on, to the end of the
second week in June seeing mist rise and vanish
every morning. And the willingness with which I began my early morning trips to
the pond was also vanishing. But Agassiz was waiting for those turtle eggs, and
I would wait.”
A Turtle
Appears
“Then came a
Sunday around the middle of June. This was the day. As I slipped into my hiding
place, I saw and enormous turtle rise from the pond. The creature
headed straight for the shore and slowly out on the sand. Up a narrow cow path
she moved along, inch by inch. And up the path, on all fours like
another turtle, I followed her. Careful not to get too close, I went under
fences and around bushes, the pail of sand swinging from between my teeth.
“Suddenly
she came to a stop, turned and started moving at a faster pace. Turtle in
front, man behind, we went through a pasture,
across a road, under another fence and into a field of young corn.”
Turtle Eggs
at Last
“There she
stopped and began digging in the loose soil. She was going to lay eggs! Tail
first, she buried herself before my eyes until only part of her shell showed.
“Then, over
the deserted fields, I heard four strokes from the town clock. With a rush I
recalled something; this was Sunday morning, and there was no train till after
nine. But there in the sand were the eggs! And Agassiz had to have those eggs
by seven o’clock! A horse could cover 41 miles in three hours If he had to!
“Lifting the
surprised turtle, I took her round white eggs, packed them with trembling
fingers in my pail and ran for my horse. The rig left the field on two wheels
as I shouted at the horse, urging him to hurry.
“We sped
down the road. Rounding a turn, I heard a quick, sharp train whistle and the puff,
puff, puff of a starting train. But what train? I reached a road which
ran beside the track. Pulling up a long hill I saw a freight train
gathering speed, coming toward me – headed for Boston!
“I turned
the horse quickly and stopped on the track. The engineer saw me
waving my arms, the pail swinging in my teeth. He blew his whistle, but I
didn’t move off the track.”
A Strange
Ride
“The train
came to a stop. I took the horse and rig off the track and quickly climbed up
the side of the engine. The startled engineer and fireman mad no
objection. They didn’t have time, and I looked very strange, perhabs dangerous.
I was hatless, my clothes wet and spotted with dirt, and I was holding, as if
it were a baby, a little pail of sand.
“Quick,
let’s go!’ I commanded. “these are fresh turtle eggs for professor Agassiz of
Harvard college. He must have them before breakfast!”
“Then they
felt sure I was a madman. They started the engine and a away we went. They
watched me curiously and were ready to protect themselves if necessary. I heard
enough of their conversation above the roar of the engine to learn that they
intended to put me in the hands of the police as soon as we arrived in Boston.
“As we
travelled on, I smiled at them, and they at me. And the fireman smiled at the
engineer with an expression that said, ‘Look at this crazy fellow
smile. He likes the train ride. Let’s hurry to Boston and deliver him to the
city police.’
“The top of
the state house came in view. I wanted to leap from the engine
and run the rest of the way, but I saw the engineer was watching me.
“Suddenly,
as we neared the railroad yard, the train slowed down and stopped. Again I got
ready to jump but had no chance. They had nothing to do, apparently, but guard
me. I looked at my watch. It was six o’clock, with a whole hour to get to
Cambridge. But I didn’t like the delay.”
The Final
Dash
“ ‘Gentlemen,’
I began, but my words were lost as an express train went roaring past at that
instant. Then we were moving again, slowly, almost at a turtle’s pace.
“The
fireman, reaching for the bell rope, left the side of the engine clear for a
moment. I jumped, landed in soft sand and ran for the fence. I climbed over it
to the street and saw a cab.”
A Wild Ride
“Here was
the last part of my trip. The cabman saw me coming and started to drive away. I
waved a dollar at him. A dollar can pay for a good deal, but I was too much for
one dollar. I pulled out another dollar, handed both to him and got into the
cab, calling, ‘Harvard college. Professor Agassiz’s house. I’ve got eggs for
Agassiz!’ It was then nearly half-past six.
“Faster,’ I
ordered. ‘Another dollar if you reach Agassiz’s house in 20 minutes!”
“Rushing
along Cambridge street, we reached a bridge. It was a rough ride across it, and
the safety of the eggs worried me. Half-standing, half-sitting, I held the pail
with one hand and steadied myself, afraid to look at my watch.
“Suddenly
there was a lurch, and my head went forward against the front of the cab with a
bang. Half my pail of eggs had fallen to the floor.
“It was Agassiz's
house. I jumped out and pounded on the dollar. Soon a frightened maid appeared.
“ ‘Agassiz,’
I said. ‘Quick!’ “Go away, sir. Professor Agassiz is aslee. If you don’t go
away, I’ll call the police.’
“Just then a
door opened and a figure appeared on the stairs. In a loud voice he called,
‘Let him in! He has my turtle eggs!”
“The maid
vanished. The great man seized me with both hands and dragged me with my
precious pail into his study. Quickly he opened one of the eggs as the watch in
my hand showed seven o’clock.
“I was in
time. There you see my copies of Agassiz’s books. I am pleased that I was able
to help the professor.
“And here is
the picture of what the inside of a fresh turtle eggs looks like and a line of
thanks to me for making it possible.”
Vocabulary
Louis
Agassiz, a professor who made a special study of the natural history, or animal
and plant life, of the United States. His most important writings appeared in
four volumes called Contributions to the Natural History of the United
States. The drawing of the turtle egg was in one of the volumes.
Turtle, a
creature with a hard shell covering its soft body.
Academy, a
school
Segment,
divide; become divided
Pond, a
small body of water
Pail, a
round, open vessel with a handle.
Evidently,
plainly; clearly
Mist, water
in the air, in the form of very small drops
Enormous,
very large
On all
fours, on hands and knees
Pasture, a
field where cows and horses can graze. To graze is to eat growing grass.
Rig, a
vehicle pulled by one or more horses. A vehicle is anything on wheels used for
carrying people or goods.
Puff, puff,
puff, words representing the sounds of a train engine
Freight
train, a train that carries goods, not passengers
Engineer, a
man who drives a train engine
Startled, suddenly
surprised or alarmed
Crazy, mad;
showing signs of sickness in the mind
State House,
the building which is the headquarters of a state’s government
Cab, a
vehicle, with driver, which carries passengers for pay
Lurch, a
sudden roll or turn to one side
Bang, a hard
blow or knock
Frightened,
alarmed; suddenly fearful
Study, a
room of a house used for reading, writing and studying
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