CHAPTER VIII 



THE DARK DAYS OF THE WAR: STUDIES 



ON BEER 



When Pasteur returned to Paris the air was full 

 of rumors of an approaching war with Prussia. 

 Feelings of hostility on both sides had reached an 

 acute state, and many perceived that the coun- 

 tries were being carried inevitably toward conflict. 

 Many were confident of victory, but others, who 

 had followed the elaborate, well-planned prepara- 

 tions of Prussia for this event and who realized 

 the inadequate defenses of France and the demor- 

 alized condition of her army foresaw only unavoid- 

 able disaster. With the outbreak of hostilities most 

 of the students of the Ecole Normale, although 

 exempt from military service, volunteered as sol- 

 diers. Pasteur desired to join the National Guard, 

 but his half paralyzed condition caused him to be 

 rejected. The rapid successes of the Prussian 

 army greatly oppressed him. He desired to devote 

 himself to work that might be of value to his coun- 

 try, but as the deserted Ecole Normale had been 



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