206 WOMAN IN SCIENCE 



ciative students from all parts of Europe. She was espe- 

 cially popular with the students from Greece, Germany 

 and Poland, and her popularity, far from waning, waxed 

 greater with the passing years. 



At the time of Laura 's entering upon her professional 

 career the senate of Bologna had a medal coined in her 

 honor, on the obverse of which was her name and effigy, 

 while on the reverse there was an image of Minerva, with 

 the inscription, Soli cui fas vidisse Minervam. 



Far from interrupting her studies, which had hitherto 

 been the joy of her life, Laura's university work gave new 

 zest to the literary and scientific pursuits which had al- 

 ways such a fascination for her. Among the subjects that 

 specially engaged her attention were studies so diverse as 

 Greek and the higher mathematics. She was particularly 

 interested in the great physico-mathematical work of New- 

 ton, and did not rest until she had thoroughly mastered 

 the contents of his epoch-making Principia. 



A few years after she had become a member of the uni- 

 versity faculty Laura was a European celebrity, and no 

 one eminent by learning or birth passed through Bologna 

 without availing himself of the opportunity of making the 

 acquaintance of so extraordinary a woman. Men of sci- 

 ence and letters vied with princes and emperors in doing 

 honor to one who was looked upon by many as being, like 

 Arete of old, endowed with a soul and a genius far above 

 that of ordinary mortals, and as being the possessor of a 

 talent that indicated something superhuman. 



Laura Bassi was in constant correspondence with the 

 most celebrated scholars of Europe, and more especially 

 with those who had attained eminence in her special line 

 of work. Among the letters received from her illustrious 

 correspondents were two from Voltaire. They were writ- 

 ten shortly after the author had been refused admittance 

 into the French academy. He then bethought himself of 

 securing membership in the Academy of Sciences of 



