190 THE LIFE OF PASTEUR 



the future opened to medical studies by his work, and he was 

 proud to show the Degree he had received. 



"Now," he wrote (January 18, 1871), to the Head of the 

 Faculty of Medicine, after recalling his former sentiments, 

 ' ' now the sight of that parchment is odious to me , and I feel 

 offended at seeing my name, with the qualification of Virum 

 clarissimum that you have given it, placed under a name which 

 is henceforth an object of execration to my country, that of 

 Rex Gulielmus. 



"While highly asseverating my profound respect for you, 

 Sir, and for the celebrated professors who have affixed their 

 signatures to the decision of the members of your Order, I 

 am called upon by my conscience to ask you to efface my 

 name from the archives of your Faculty, and to take back 

 that diploma, as a sign of the indignation inspired in a French 

 scientist by the barbarity and hypocrisy of him who, in order 

 to satisfy his criminal pride, persists in the massacre of two 

 great nations." Pasteur's protest ended with these words 



" Written at Arbois (Jura) on January 18, 1871, after read- 

 ing the mark of infamy inscribed on the forehead of your King 

 by the illustrious director of the Museum of Natural History 

 M. Chevreul." 



" This letter will not have much weight with a people whose 

 principles differ so totally from those that inspire us," said 

 Pasteur, " but it will at least echo the indignation of French 

 scientists." 



He made a collection of stories, of episodes, and letters, 

 which fell in his way ; amongst other things we find an open 

 letter from General Chanzy to the commandant of the Prussian 

 troops at Vendome, denouncing the insults, outrages, and in- 

 excusable violence of the Prussians towards the inhabitants of 

 St. Calais, who had shown great kindness to the enemy's sick 

 and wounded. 



"You respond by insolence, destruction and pillage 'to the 

 generosity with which we treat your prisoners and wounded. 

 I indignantly protest, in the name of humanity and of the 

 rights of men, which you trample under foot." 



Pasteur also gathered up tales of bravery, of heroism, and of 

 resignation that form of heroism so often illustrated by women 

 during the terrible siege of Paris. And, from all those things, 

 arose the psychology of war in its two aspects : in the invading 

 army a spirit of conquest carried to oppression, and even apart 



