70 BARON CUVIER. 



species of cuttle-fish, influenced him to study the 

 anatomy of mollusca, which afterward led to his 

 great classification of the whole animal kingdom. 

 In this obscure corner of Normandy, the young 

 teacher observed, and committed his observations 

 to paper. Some young men would not have found 

 time for such work. Those only succeed who have 

 sufficient force of character to make time for what 

 they wish to do. To allow one's time to be wasted, 

 is to allow one's opportunities for eminence to go 

 by forever. 



Xearly every evening Cuvier attended a small 

 society of which he was secretary, which gathered 

 chiefly to discuss agricultural and kindred topics. 

 M. Tessier, living there in exile under an assumed 

 name, the author of several valuable articles in 

 the Encyclopedia, was often present, and be- 

 tween him and the young secretary a warm 

 friendship soon existed. As the friendship of the 

 Marquis Guidubaldo proved valuable to Galileo, so 

 that of M. Tessier proved of great benefit to 

 Cuvier. He led the young and comparatively 

 unknown naturalist, though some of his articles 

 had been published in learned journals, to corre- 

 spond with Geoffroy St. Hilaire, De Lacepede, 

 and others on scientific subjects. Through their 

 influence he was finally called to Paris, made a 

 member of the Commission of Arts, and professor 

 at the Central School of the Pantheon. 



He was only twenty-six, and this was but the 

 beginning of honors. Here he composed his " Ele- 



