A LABORIOUS YOUTH 39 



in spite of the scanty equipment that he had at 

 his disposal. 



An event of great importance in the life of 

 Pasteur awaited him at Strasburg, and one 

 which was destined to have a most fortunate in- 

 fluence upon his whole career as a scientist. 

 For it was here that he was soon to find do- 

 mestic happiness. From his very first visit to 

 the president of the Faculty, M. Laurent, he 

 conceived a strong partiality for one of the 

 daughters, Mile Marie Laurent. With that 

 prevision which was characteristic of him, he 

 was straightway convinced that this young lady 

 was the one essential to his hearth and home, 

 and, having once made up his mind, he acted 

 with his customary prompt decision and asked 

 her hand in marriage. Between his arrival in 

 Strasburg and this request less than fifteen days 

 had intervened ! M. Laurent, to whom he pre- 

 sented a short note setting forth, with admira- 

 ble sincerity, his financial status, his position in 

 the University and his ambitions, accepted him 

 as son-in-law. This was a day to be marked 



