LIFE OF ELIE METCHNIKOFF 91 



practical experience, in wMcli young people were 

 lacking, as also in practical preparation. He never 

 prevented me from making myseK acquainted with 

 the social movement, but submitted it to close analysis 

 and criticism ; it is owing to this very efficacious 

 method that I did not become one of the niunerous 

 political victims of that time. 



Elie took a lively and warm interest in everything 

 which concerned me. Not having had time to pass 

 my final examinations from the Lycee before my mar- 

 riage, I was now obliged to go up before a special 

 board for the whole curriculum. He helped me to 

 prepare this, even the catechism, with the utmost 

 keenness and gaiety, enlivening the driest subjects 

 by means of interesting and instructive reading. I 

 was glad ^o continue my biological studies under his 

 direction after I had passed my examinations. Not 

 only did he give a general interest, a leading thread, 

 to every particular subject, but he also knew how to 

 develop independent work. For instance, he made 

 me compare representative examples of divers groups 

 by practical study in order to let me deduce for 

 myself their characteristics and their generic con- 

 nections. 



And it was not my education only which interested 

 him ; he associated me with every detail of his life 

 and initiated me into his thoughts and his work ; 

 we read together a great deal, he had an excellent 

 delivery and liked reading aloud. 



He thoroughly enjoyed giving me pleasure ; we 

 often went to concerts and theatres, and beautiful 

 music or dramatic scenes moved him even to tears. 

 Musical themes haimted him, and he would whistle 

 them softly to himself even at his work. Without 



