148 PASTEUR 



old national literature of France; and on the 

 occasion of his reception the illustrious scientist, 

 J. Bertrand, who responded to his address, told 

 some delicious anecdotes of Pasteur, his works 

 and his character. 



"Already illustrious," he said, "but not yet 

 celebrated, Pasteur was appointed to express, 

 before the statue of Thenard, the homage of 

 the Ecole Normale. He was scheduled to speak 

 among the very last of the orators. When he 

 arose to make his address the crowd, weary of 

 eloquence, continued to applaud, but had 

 ceased to listen. Without wasting time by re- 

 lating for the fifteenth occasion trivial anec- 

 dotes and doubtful legends, without even men- 

 tioning hydrogen peroxide, Pasteur paid The- 

 nard the admirable tribute of dwelling only on 

 his kindliness, recalling only his sense of justice. 

 From the opening words his earnest and effec- 

 tive phrases penetrated to the very heart, and, 

 while even the remotest hearers followed him 

 with close attention, tears of emotion filled the 

 eyes of all. Occasions such as that were rare. 



