1844—1849 47 



better that they were large enough for him to entertain one of 

 his relations. His father wrote in one of his letters : " You 

 say that you will not marry for a long time, that you will ask 

 one of your sisters to live with you. I could wish it for you 

 and for them, for neither of them wishes for a greater happi- 

 ness. Both desire nothing better than to look after your 

 comfort ; you are absolutely everything to them. One may 

 meet with sisters as good as they are, but certainly with none 

 better." 



Louis Pasteur's circle of dear ones was presently enlarged 

 by his intimacy with another family. The new Rector of the 

 Academy of Strasburg, M. Laurent, had arrived in October. 

 He was no relation to the chemist of the same name, and the 

 place he was about to take in Pasteur's life was much greater 

 than that held by Auguste Laurent at the time when they were 

 working together in Balard's laboratory. 



After having begun, in 1812, as preparation master in the 

 then Imperial College of Louis le Grand, M. Laurent had 

 become, in 1826, head master of the College of Riom. He 

 found at Riom more tutors than pupils ; there were only three 

 boys in the school ! Thanks to M. Laurent, those three soon 

 became one hundred and thirty-four. From Riom he was sent 

 to Gueret, then to Saintes, to save a college in imminent 

 danger of disappearing ; there were struggles between the 

 former head master and the Mayor, the town refused the 

 subsidies, all was confusion. Peace immediately followed his 

 arrival. " Those who have known him," wrote M. Pierron 

 in the Revue de V Instruction Publique, " will not be surprised 

 at such miracles coming from a man so intelligent and so 

 active, so clever, amiable, and warm-hearted." Wherever he 

 was afterwards sent, at Orleans, Angouleme, Douai, Toulouse, 

 Cahors, he worked the same charm, born of kindness. At 

 Strasburg, he had made of the Academie a home where all the 

 Faculty found a simple and cordial welcome. Madame 

 Laurent was a modest woman who tried to efface herself, but 

 whose exquisite qualities of heart and mind could not remain 

 hidden. The eldest of her daughters was married to M. 

 Zevort, whose name became doubly dear to the Universite. 

 The two younger ones, brought up in habits of industry and 

 unselfishness which seemed natural to them, brightened the 

 home by their youthful gaiety. 



