326 THE LIFE OF PASTEUR 



of perfect simplicity, so modest that he did not seem to realize 

 his own glory, pleased to answer — even to provoke — every 

 objection, only raising his voice to defend Truth, to exalt Work^ 

 and to inspire love for France, which he wished to see again in 

 the first rank of nations. He did not cease to repeat that the 

 country must regain her place through scientific progress. Boys 

 and youths — ever quick to penetrate the clever calculations of 

 those who seek their own interest instead of accomplishing a 

 duty — listened to him eagerly and, very soon conquered, 

 enrolled themselves among his followers. In him they recog- 

 nized the three rarely united qualities which go to form true 

 benefactors of humanity: a mighty genius, great force of 

 character, and genuine goodness. 



The Republican Government, desirous of recognizing this 

 great discovery of splenic fever vaccination, offered him the 

 Grand Cordon of the Legion of Honour. Pasteur put forward 

 one condition; he wanted, at the same time, the red ribbon for 

 his two collaborators. ^'What I have most set my heart upon is 

 to obtain the Cross for Chamberland and Roux,'* he wrote to 

 his son-in-law on June 26; ''only at that price will I accept the 

 Grand Cross. They are taking such trouble! Yesterday they 

 went to a place fifteen kilometres from Senlis, to vaccinate ten 

 cows and 250 sheep. On Thursday we vaccinated 300 sheep at 

 Vincennes. On Sunday they were near Coulommiers. On 

 Friday we are going to Pithiviers. What I chiefly wish is that 

 the discovery should be consecrated by an exceptional distinc- 

 tion to two devoted young men, full of merit and courage. I 

 wrote yesterday to Paul Bert, asking him to intervene most 

 warmly in their favour." 



One of Pasteur's earliest friends, who, in 1862, had greeted 

 with joy his election to the Academic des Sciences, and who 

 had never ceased to show the greatest interest in the progress 

 due to the experimental method, entered the Ecole Normale 

 laboratoi-y with a beaming face. Happy to bring good tidings, 

 he took his share of them like the devoted, hardworking, kindly 

 man that he was. ''M. Grandeau," wrote Mme. Pasteur to 

 her children, ''has just brought to the laboratory the news that 

 Eoux and Chamberland have the Cross and M. Pasteur the 

 Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour. Hearty congratulations 

 were exchanged in the midst of the rabbits and guinea-pigs.' 



») 



Those days were darkened by a great sorrow. Henri Saicte 



