200 PASTEUR 



The French delegations were called forward 

 in their turn, and those from Dole and Arbois 

 attracted special attention because, in the midst 

 of this glorious ceremony, they called to mind 

 the humble origin of Pasteur; the mayor of 

 Dole offered him in the name of its citizens an 

 album containing reproductions of his birth 

 certificate and of the little house in which he 

 was born. This was an intimate note, tender 

 and touching. 



Pasteur's reply to these discourses celebrat- 

 ing his glory had to be read by his son ; it is a 

 page of grave eloquence, and forms as it were 

 his moral and scientific testament. Here is the 

 complete text, which deserves to be preserved 

 as one of the most beautiful monuments of 

 French thought. 



"MONSIEUR THE PRESIDENT OP THE REPUBLIC: 

 Your presence transforms everything; an intimate 

 festival becomes a great festival, and the simple an- 

 niversary of the birth of a scientist will remain, 

 thanks to you, a date in the history of French sci- 

 ence. 



