114 THE LIFE OF PASTEUR 



going the gradual action of the oxygen in the air the only 

 cause, as I think, of its improvement with age it is evident 

 that this process offers every advantage." 



It seems as if that simple and practical means, applicable 

 to every quality of wine, now only had to be tried. But not so. 

 Every progress is opposed by prejudice, petty jealousies, in- 

 dolence even. A devoted obstinacy is required in order to 

 overcome this opposition. Pasteur's desire was that his 

 country should benefit by his discovery. An Englishman had 

 written to him : " People are astonished in France that the 

 sale of French wines should not have become more extended 

 here since the Commercial Treaties. The reason is simple 

 enough. At first we eagerly welcomed those wines, but we 

 soon had the sad experience that there was too much loss 

 occasioned by the diseases to which they are subject." 



Pasteur was in the midst of those discussions, experimental 

 sittings, etc., when J. B. Dumas suddenly asked of him the 

 greatest of sacrifices, that of leaving the laboratory. 



