50 THROUGH THE FIELDS WITH LINNAEUS 



and lively young Swede, whose charm lay in being so 

 companionable, were La Serre; Obriet, draughtsman and 

 fellow-traveller of Tournefort; the widow of Vaillant, 

 whose memory held the deepest interest for Linnasus ; 

 and Mdlle. Basseport, botanic paintress in the royal 

 garden. These ladies added a grace to the charm of the 

 learned society. The men worked and felt like brothers, 

 or at least with a perfect feeling of mental relationship 

 and esprit de corps. Though they might not all agree 

 with Linnagus, they felt nature with him, and found him 

 a sympathetic companion in the sweet byways of life 

 the recreative work. Politeness always adds a charm 

 to intercourse, and when accompanied with grace and 

 beaming smile from young or elegant women it is en- 

 chanting. On June 14 Linnaeus requested Du Fay, at 

 that time chairman of the Academy of Sciences, to 

 obtain permission for him to attend the lectures. This 

 gave an opportunity for a high compliment, which the 

 lively Frenchman was swift to take advantage of. Lin- 

 naaus received permission to attend one of the sittings 

 as a visitor ; he was desired to wait a little while in the 

 anteroom, and it was at length announced that the 

 Academy had elected him as a corresponding member. 

 This was exquisitely timed. That captivating French 

 politeness, how it gilds life ! It is indeed a decoration 

 to him that gives and him that takes. What a pity 

 that for a while there came a change in that polished 

 country so that it could be said, and not altogether 

 untruly, ' As soon as the sword ceased to be worn in 



