258 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



present in definite equivalents. He had not found this recorded any- 

 where, and had, therefore, taken great pains to establish the accuracy 

 of his observations. When the investigation was finished, he went 

 one morning early to M. de la Rive, and timidly submitted to him the 

 manuscript embodying the results of his inquiry. While glancing over 

 it, M. de la Rive could not conceal his surprise. When he had come 

 to the end he said to the young student, " Is it you, my boy, who have 

 made these experiments?" " Certainly." " And they have taken you 

 a good deal of time to perform ? " " Of course they have." " Then I 

 must tell you that you have had the good fortune to meet Berzelius on 

 the same field of research. He has preceded you, but he is older than 

 you, and so you ought not to bear him ill will on this account. " Dumas, 

 not a little embarrassed, was unable to utter a single word. It was, in 

 fact, his first interview with M. de la Rive, whose lectures he had at- 

 tended, but whom he had never personally accosted. But his perplex- 

 ity was not to last long. With the utmost good nature M. de la Rive 

 put an end to his gloomy reflections by taking his arm and saying, 

 " Come along and breakfast with me." Before long the conversation 

 had become animated and cheerful. The acquaintance was made, and 

 the kindly feeling of his teacher won by Dumas at this breakfast never 

 subsequently failed him. 



This was when Dumas was eighteen years of age. For the next 

 four years he worked with great assiduity in experimental chemistry, 

 and especially, in association with Prevost, upon the problems of or- 

 ganic chemistry, in which they were pioneers. 



In 1822 Dumas might have settled at Geneva, and many circum- 

 stances led him to think seriously of doing so. An incident, however, 

 which happened at that time, and which at first sight seemed in no way 

 likely to influence a well-matured plan of life, induced him within a few 

 days to change his mind. He made the acquaintance of a man, among 

 whose varied gifts the fascinating sway he exercised over youthful 

 minds was not the least. Let me try to give the story in the very words 

 in which I heard it from Dumas's mouth. 



" One day," he said, " when I was in my study completing some 

 drawings at the microscope, and, it must be added, rather negligently 

 attired, in order to enable me to move more freely, some one mounted 

 the stairs, stopped on my landing, and gently knocked at the door. 

 * Come in,' said I, without looking up from my work. On turning 

 round I was surprised to find myself face to face with a gentleman, in 

 a bright blue coat with metal buttons, a white waistcoat, nankeen 

 breeches, and top-boots. This costume, which might have been the 

 fashion under the Directory, was then quite out of date. The wearer 

 of it, his head somewhat bent, his eyes deep-set but keen, advanced 

 with a pleasant smile, saying, 'Monsieur Dumas?' 'The same, sir; 

 but excuse me.' ' Don't disturb yourself. I am M. de Humboldt, and 

 did not wish to pass through Geneva without having had the pleasure 



