144 LIFE OF ELIE METCHNIKOFF 



the possibility of a correction of the disharmonies 

 of human nature through knowledge and will. This 

 evolution had taken years. " In order to understand 

 the meaning of life," he said, " it is necessary to live 

 a long time, without which one finds oneself in the 

 position of a congenitally blind man before whom 

 the beauties of colour are spread out." 



During the twenty-eight years that he lived in 

 France, nearly all his time was devoted to the labora- 

 tory. Whilst the Institute was still in its beginning, 

 work there was calm and collected ; but, as its 

 growing renown attracted many people, this quietude 

 decreased considerably. Metchnikoff felt this, but 

 could not bring himself to refuse to admit those who 

 came ; he compensated himself by peaceful Sundays 

 and holidays. 



For a long time we inhabited the neighbourhood 

 of the Institute and spent the summers at Sevres ; 

 in 1898 we bought a small villa there with a sum 

 of money which we inherited from an aunt. In 1905 

 we settled there altogether, for Metchnikoff, confined 

 in the laboratory all day, felt the need of fresh air ; 

 the daily walk that he was obliged to take to reach 

 the house and the absolute calm, away from the noise 

 of the city, suited him ; he even fancied that the hill 

 on which the house was built provided him with a 

 wholesome exercise for his heart. 



The return to Sevres, which he greatly liked, was 

 to him a daily source of pleasure. I can see him now, 

 hastily coming out of the train, his pockets full of 

 papers and brochures which he read in the train and 

 parcels in his hands, for he loved to bring home little 

 presents. A kindly smile illumined his face and he 



