8 THE UNIVERSE. 



diflfusion of life throughout space, than the prodigious 

 number of organisms which we meet everywhere and in 

 all bodies. The demonstration of this fact is one of the 

 most recent and magnificent conquests achieved by science. 



We owe it to the microscope, discovered about a cen- 

 tury and a half ago. This instrument at once displayed 

 to men objects so new, striking, and unexpected, that it 

 was everywhere admitted to have opened up a new world, 

 by conferring, as it were, upon us an additional sense 

 wherewith to investigate the invisible. 



When we read the works of naturalists, and see them 

 jDenetrating so deeply into the most hidden secrets of the 

 anatomy and manners of beings, the mere existence of 

 which the eye could not lead us to suspect, we are apt to 

 ask if the pride of genius has not usurped the place due 

 to the simple realities of nature; and hence, for a long 

 time, the statements of microscopists were, by some ob- 

 structive minds, rated as fables. But Avhen we see their 

 instruments, constructed with such great precision, we at 

 once conclude that, however marvellous their investigations 

 appear, still they did not deceive themselves. 



The microscope was discovered in Holland about the 

 same time by two men of science, Leuwenhoeck and Hart- 

 zoeker, who keenly disputed about the priority of in- 

 vention. The former was, hoAvever, really the father of 

 microscopy ; the latter was essentially a natural lihilosopher. 

 The discussions between them were often bitter and un- 

 seemly. Leuwenhoeck lived isolated and solitary; he did 

 not want any person to penetrate into his secrets; his wife 

 and daughter were alone initiated into them, and his door 

 remained hermetically closed ag-ainst his young and tur- 

 bulent rival. 



Stung by this affront, the latter revenged himself to the 



