STUDIES IN FERMENTATION 63 



scientific discovery. When he was asked, 'What is 

 the use of it?' he replied, 'What is the use of a 

 baby?' Yes, gentlemen, what is the use of a baby? 

 And yet at this age of tender infancy there are 

 already unknown germs of the talents by which 

 you are distinguished. In your infants in arms, 

 in the little ones whom a breath would overthrow, 

 there are magistrates, scientists, heroes as valiant 

 as those who, at this time, are covering themselves 

 with glory under the walls of Sebastopol. Simi- 

 larly, gentlemen, theoretical discovery has only the 

 merit of existence. It awakens hope; that is all. 

 But let it be cultivated, let it grow, and you will 

 see what it will become." One sentence of this 

 address stands out as expressing a truth of which 

 his own career was destined to form a striking 

 illustration. Speaking of the role of good fortune 

 in discovery, Pasteur says, "In the field of obser- 

 vation chance favors only the mind which is pre- 

 pared." 



Pasteur's duties at Lille as teacher and dean 

 were discharged with that energy and capacity 

 which he applied to all the tasks that fell to his 

 lot. He did much to improve and enliven labora- 

 tory instruction. He took his students to visit the 

 factories in neighboring towns. And he frequently 



