THE INSTITUTE OF FRANCE n 



Interior of the Sorbonne. 



In it are installed the faculties of mathematics and natural history, 

 as well as those of literature. Here are their class-rooms and about 

 forty of their laboratories. Other laboratories are in the museum, or 

 in the Jardin des Plantes, the medical school. 



The Sorbonne is now a practical school for advanced students. It 

 has been defined as a complex of historical and philological seminaries 

 of scientific mathematical institutes which owe their existence to the 

 initiative of Minister Duruy in 18(38, and are designed to supplement 

 the theoretical instruction of the university with experiments and a 

 visible demonstration of the truth of principles laid down in text- 

 books or set forth in the lectures of professors. 



The Sorbonne furnishes only a few lectures which are free and 

 open to the public. These are given by men of note not connected with 

 the university, and are on topics of commanding interest either in 

 literature or in science. It is needless to add that these lectures attract 

 many listeners. The training in the Sorbonne is better than ever and 

 is worthy its history and its fame. 



The Museum of Natural History 



Another of the institutions which is an honor to Paris and to the 

 French people is the Museum of Natural History, or the Jardin des 

 Plantes. It attracts visitors from every part of the world and arranges 

 many profitable courses of study. It was known at first as the Jardin 



