CHAPTER XV 



•• As to thee, Hector, thou art to 

 me as a father and a revered mother 

 and a brother, and thou art my 

 husband." — The Iliad. 



Studies on childhood — The family in the upper flat — Lessons in zoology 

 — Second marriage — Private life — Visit and death of Lvovna 

 Nevahovna — Conjugal affection. 



Metchnikoff's anthropological researches led him 

 to the study of childhood, which in its turn suggested 

 reflections on questions of Pedagogy. His eyesight 

 was still weak and his hunger for activity very great ; 

 in order to satisfy it, he gave lessons in a Lycee and 

 public lectures in the Odessa University. Though 

 time was passing, Metchnikofi could not get used to 

 his solitude ; he spent his active kindness on his 

 friends and all around him, whilst living like an 

 ascetic and giving away all that he could spare. But 

 nothing could quench his thirst for a family life and 

 affectionate intimacy. 



My family at that time lived in the same house 

 as he did, on the floor above him ; we were eight 

 children, our ages ranging from one to sixteen years. 

 We were noisy neighbours and we incommoded Metch- 

 nikofi, who was awakened every morning by the 

 noise in our kitchen, where meat was being minced 

 for the children. One fine day he could stand it no 

 longer and went upstairs to ask if this nuisance could 

 not be stopped ; my father promised that he would 



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