Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 142, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 June 1910 — TRUSTED AID OF AGASSIZ. [ARTICLE]

TRUSTED AID OF AGASSIZ.

Miss Clark, of Rare Ability, Has Mastered Secrets of Science. When Louis Agassiz, the great naturalist and scientist, was searching many years ago for keen young women to sort specimens for him at Harvard, he noticed among the dozen or more girls there one who seemed to show unusual interest in her work. Her name was Elizabeth H. Clarke, and she was destined to become one of the most efficient helpers of the late Prof. Alexander Agassiz, the son of the first distinguished Agassiz. A short time ago Prof. Agassiz died, and among his legacies was found one of $25,000 to Miss Clarke, who for thirty-seven years had been his private secretary in connection with his scientific Interests. It is the duty of any private secretary to lighten the cares of the person he is serving, but Miss Clarke did more than lighten Prof. Agassiz’s cares, for she anticipated his wishes, the Boston Globe says. His hopes, plans and aspirations she made her own and never did she fail him knowingly. No wonder that he gave such a woman $25,000, and in addition provided an annuity of SIO,OOO as long as she lives. Prof. Agassiz could go away on research trips and be absent for months and return, finding that everything had been done almost as well as if he-himself had been the directing genius. Indeed, at the time of his death he was abroad, leaving the carrying on of his work with his secretary. Prof. Agassiz had perfect confidence in Miss Clarke and their business relations were ideal. Miss Clarke’s executive ability made her work easy and she knows as much about the Agassiz museum as any living person. To her the history of most of the best specimens is known and she can tell what was gathered by Louis and what by Alexander Agassiz.