1822—1843 23 



now from one to eight. ** There is nothing more simple," he 

 said, "than to come regularly at six o'clock on Thursdays and 

 give the schoolboys a physical science class." 



"I am very pleased," wrote his father, **that you are 

 giving lessons at M. Barbet's. He has been so kind to us that 

 I was anxious that you should show him some gratitude; be 

 therefore always most obliging towards him. You should do 

 so, not only for your own sake, but for others; it will 

 encourage him to show the same kindness to other studious 

 young men, whose future might depend upon it." 



Generosity, self-sacrifice, kindliness even to unknown 

 strangers, cost not the least effort to the father and son, but 

 seemed to them the most natural thing possible. Just as 

 their little house at Arbois was transformed by a ray of the 

 ideal, the broken down walls of the old Ecole Normale — then 

 a sort of annex of the Louis Le Grand college, and looking, 

 said Jules Simon, like an old hospital or barracks — reflected 

 within them the ideas and sentiments which inspire useful 

 Hves. Joseph Pasteur wrote (Nov. 18, 1843) : "The details 

 you give me on the way your work is directed please me very 

 much; everything seems organized so as to produce dis- 

 tinguished scholars. Honour be to those who founded this 

 School." Only one thing troubled him, he mentioned it in 

 every letter. "You know how we worry about your health; 

 you do work so immoderately. Are you not injuring your 

 eyesight by so much night work? Your ambition ought to be 

 satisfied now that you have reached your present position!" 

 He also wrote to Chappuis: "Do tell Louis not to work so 

 much; it is not good to strain one's brain. That is not the way 

 to succeed but to compromise one's health." And with some 

 little irony as to the cogitations of Chappuis the philosopher: 

 "Believe me, you are but poor philosophers if you do not know 

 that one can be happy even as a poor professor in Arbois 

 College." 



Another letter, December, 1843, to his son this time: "Tell 

 Chappuis that I have bottled some 1834 bought on purpose to 

 drink the health of the Ecole Normale during the next holidays. 

 There is more wit in those 100 Litres than in all the books on 

 philosophy in the world; but, as to mathematical formulae, 

 there are none, I believe. Mind you tell him that we shall 

 drink the first bottle with him. Remain two good friends." 

 Pasteur's letters during this first period at the Normale havpi 



