84 THE I.I it: OF PA8TEUB 



lationized certain branches of industry, of 



ricultui thology. One is struck with admiration 



v. hen seeing that so many, and such di\ nits, proceed— 



through an unbroken chain of facts, nothing being left to 

 hypothesil — from theoretical studies on the manner in whi 



•aric acid deviates polarized light. Never was the famous 

 Baying. '( I nius consists in ■ufficient patience,' more amply 

 The Government now proposes that you should 

 honour this admirable combination of theoretical and practical 

 study by a national use; your Commission unani- 



nio approves of this proposition. 



"The bu 1 recompense consists in a life annuity of 



12,000 francs, which is the approximate amount of the salary 

 of the Sorbonne professorship, which M. Pasteur's ill health 

 has compelled him to give up. It is indeed small when corn- 

 ed with the value of the services rendered, and your 

 Commission much regrets that the state of our finances d 

 not allow us to increase that amount. But the Commission 

 with its learned chairman (M. Mares) 'that the eco- 

 nomic nnd hygienic results of M. Pasteur's discoveries will 

 tly become so considerable that the French nation will 

 desire to increase later on its testimony of gratitude towards 

 him and towards Science, of which he is one of the most 

 glorious representatives.' " 



II :'f the amount of the annuity i t to .steur's 



widow. The Bill was passed by 582 \ A b again- 



" Where is the governmi ut which has secured 6uch a 

 majority?" wrote ' ir's old friend Chappuis, now 1 



of the Grenoble Academy. The value of the recompei 

 was inly much enhanced by the fact that the Assembly. 



divided upon BO many subjects, had been almost unanimous 

 in its feeling of gratitude towards him who had laboured so 

 bard for Science, for the country and for Humanity. 



"Bravo, my & ■' ! I ur : 1 am glad for you and for 



myself, and proud for us all. Your d< friend. Saints 



" You og to be b happy scientist." wrote M. Duclaux, 



" for you can already see, and you will ass more and more, the 

 fcrium] trines and of your disc 



Those who imagined that this national recompense was the 



^e of I perhaps even the last chapter of the 



book of his life, gave him, in their well-meaning ignorance, 



