Vlll INTRODUCTION 



with him. Emile was the apple of his eye; on him was 

 lavished all his interest, rather to the neglect of the other 

 children who were allowed to play as they would while 

 Kmile must stick to his lessons, to become the scholar of 

 the family. In this respect the father was a second 

 James ]\lill or Etienne Pascal. ''Sometimes, Mamma, 

 taking pity, sent to inquire after the young recluse. The 

 little brothers entered the study softly and waited re- 

 ligiously until they were spoken to. Sometimes they 

 found the scrivener drawing up a legal paper, but more 

 often they saw him seated at the work-table of his son 

 explaining to him some old author. The opportune 

 moment come, the children clasped the knees of the 

 father and, while he stroked their heads with a distracted 

 hand, he said: 'You have come for Emile? but he can- 

 not go yet. Especially do not talk!' And the lesson 

 went on and on, until the two lads, desperate, withdrew 

 on tiptoe, leaving the elder to his endless task." * * * * 

 "Father dreamy, incommunicative; mother sensitive 

 and lively. Such without doubt is an excellent com- 

 bination for the production of a superior man. Such 

 at least were the parents of Louis Pasteur and such those 

 of Ernest Renan." 



From his father he inherited a character of rare eleva- 

 tion, an absolute sincerity, and a spirit at once per- 

 spicacious and free, a little inclined to criticise, which 

 made him so "generous" in the sense of Descartes; but 

 it was from his mother, the amiable Agnes Farges, that 

 he inherited that overflowing goodness, the openness of 

 mind which he blended witli so fine a sagacity, the ban- 

 tering good nature, always tender so that it did not 

 wound. What he had of skillful and prudent in his 

 character came also from his mother. 



The child loved his two parents equally, confided all 

 his thoughts to his father and drew the sweetness of life 



