The Life of Jean Henri Fabre 



the magnificent herbarium which stand in a 

 row beneath them, and before the innumer- 

 able portfolios of mycological plates, in 

 which vivid colour is blended so well with 

 delicacy of drawing, and before the registers 

 and stacks of notes in fine, clear handwriting, 

 without erasures, which promised a fresh 

 series of Souvenirs, 



Must they be left thus abandoned previous 

 to their being dispersed or falling Into other 

 hands — all these precious fragments of an 

 incomparable life, and these venerable 

 premises, consecrated by such rare memo- 

 ries? 



The great naturalist's disciples could not 

 resign themselves to the thought, and by a 

 touching inspiration of filial piety they have 

 found the means to secure these treasures, as 

 by a love stronger than death, against this 

 harrowing dispersal. 



To keep the dead in their last dwelling, or 

 attract them thither, the ancient Egyptians 

 used to place there the Image of their earthly 

 dwelling, offering them at least a reduced 

 facsimile of their life's environment, of the 

 objects and premises which had in some 

 sort made part of their life and their soul. 



Fabre's friends sought to do still better. 

 In order to preserve it In Its integrity, they 



388 



