THE INSTITUTE OF FRANCE 



17 



Since that time the government has been generous. The republic 

 has not been behind the kings in providing the observatory with re- 

 sources. Its directors have been men of the highest standing in their 

 department, and the work which has been done has been of the utmost 

 importance, unsurpassed by that of any observatory in the world. 

 Equipments are now as good as can anywhere be found. The new 

 building is entirely of stone. The new telescope has an aperture of 

 1 m. 7/ Its weight is 10,000 kilograms. For twenty years improve- 

 ments in buildings and apparatus have constantly been made. It is 

 not probable that the observatory will be moved from Paris, although 

 the site is not the best that could be obtained for all kinds of work. 

 But as there are other observatories in France so that observations 

 which can not be taken in Paris can be taken elsewhere, removal is 



L'Ob^ervatoike de Montsouris, Paris 



not essential, perhaps not desirable. The establishment for the study 

 of astrophysics is at Meudon and is under the direction of Jansen. 



Its work is of the highest order. 



The Pasteur Institute 



Though not altogether a school for scientific research, the Pasteur 

 Institute is one of the most interesting and instructive establishments 

 in Paris. As it is the outgrowth of the energy, skill and devotion of 

 one man, it is fitting that considerable space should be given to his 

 history. Louis Pasteur, the son of a tanner, was born December 27, 

 1822, at Dole, in the Jura. He began his studies in the college of 



VOL. LXXII. — 2. 



