44 LIFE OF ELIE METCHNIKOFF 



his stay abroad. He did not wish to ask for more 

 from his parents and decided on the following plan, 

 which he expounded in the following letter to his 

 mother, the constant confidante of all his aspirations : 



HELIGOLAND, Aug. 12, 1864. 



DEAR MAMMA, ... I am thinking of staying here another 

 month, after which I shall go (at least that is my desire) for ten 

 days toGiessen, where there will be a General Congress of natural- 

 ists and physicians from the whole of Europe. This Congress 

 tempts me so much that I want to do my utmost to attend it. 



Besides all the scientific benefit that I shall reap from 

 conversations with scientists, I can also study Professor 

 Leuckart's rich collections. This would complete the studies 

 which I am successfully pursuing at the seaside. 



In order to realise my ardent wish to profit by such treasures, 

 I must remain three weeks longer at Heligoland, travel to 

 Giessen and live there for ten days ; all that out of the money 

 which was to keep me here until the 26 Aug. only. . . . 

 Therefore, instead of living in the hotel, I have taken a room 

 at a fisherman's, for half the price ; instead of a dinner and 

 coffee I eat what I can get and I only spend 90 centimes a 

 day for my food. (Food is dear, as all the provisions come 

 from Hamburg and from England.) Instead of changing my 

 linen two or three times a week, I only do so once or twice, 

 which allows me to spend less on laundry. 



The money thus economised, together with the sum which 

 I had put aside for my first installation at Petersburg, con- 

 stitutes a sufficient capital to provide the following joys and 

 advantages : 1, I shall stay three weeks longer at the seaside, 

 which will allow me to get on with my researches and to 

 increase my collections ; 2, I shall attend the Congress ; 3, 

 I shall be able to study Leuckart's collections and take advan- 

 tage of his books and counsel. 



I beseech you not to look upon this description of my 

 present life as a complaint or a murmur ; on the contrary I 

 am delighted to procure so many advantages at so small a 



