Ihavereceived，inall，twolessonsofascientificcharacterinthecourseofmylife:oneinanatomyandoneinchemistry。IowethefirsttothelearnednaturalistMoquin—Tandon，who，onourreturnfromabotanizingexpeditiontoMonteRenoso，inCorsica，showedmethestructureofaSnailinaplatefilledwithwater。
Itwasshortandfruitful。Fromthatmoment，Iwasinitiated。
Henceforth，Iwastowieldthescalpelanddecentlytoexploreananimal’sinteriorwithoutanyotherguidancefromamaster。Thesecondlesson，thatofchemistry，waslessfortunate。Iwilltellyouwhathappened。
Inmynormalschool，thescientificteachingwasonanexceedinglymodestscale，consistingmainlyofarithmeticandoddsandendsofgeometry。Physicswashardlytouched。Weweretaughtalittlemeteorology，inasummaryfashion:awordortwoaboutaredmoon，awhitefrost，dew，snowandwind;and，withthissmatteringofrusticphysics，wewereconsideredtoknowenoughofthesubjecttodiscusstheweatherwiththefarmerandtheplowman。
Ofnaturalhistory，absolutelynothing。Noonethoughtoftellingusanythingaboutflowersandtrees，whichgivesuchzesttoone’saimlessrambles，noraboutinsects，withtheircurioushabits，noraboutstones，soinstructivewiththeirfossilrecords。Thatentrancingglancethroughthewindowsoftheworldwasrefusedus。
Grammarwasallowedtostranglelife。
Chemistrywasnevermentionedeither:thatgoeswithoutsaying。I
knewtheword，however。Mycasualreading，onlyhalf—understoodforwantofpracticaldemonstration，hadtaughtmethatchemistryisconcernedwiththeshuffleofmatter，unitingorseparatingthevariouselements。ButwhatastrangeideaIformedofthisbranchofstudy！Tomeitsmackedofsorcery，ofalchemyanditssearchforthephilosopher’sstone。Tomymind，everychemist，whenatwork，shouldhavehadamagicwandinhishandandthewizard’spointed，starstuddedcaponhishead。
Animportantpersonagewhosometimesvisitedtheschool，inhiscapacityasanhonorarylecturer，wasnotthemantoridmeofthosefoolishnotions。Hetaughtphysicsandchemistryatthegrammarschool。Twiceaweek，fromeighttonineo’clockintheevening，heheldafreepublicclassinanenormousbuildingadjacenttoourschoolhouse。ThiswastheformerChurchofSaint—
Martial，whichhastodaybecomeaProtestantmeetinghouse。
Itwasawizard’scavecertainly，justasIhadpicturedit。Atthetopofthesteeple，arustyweathercockcreakedmournfully;inthedusk，greatBatsflewallaroundtheedificeordiveddownthethroatsofthegargoyles;atnight，Owlshooteduponthecopingsoftheleads。Itwasinside，undertheimmensitiesofthevault，thatmychemistusedtoperform。Whatinfernalmixturesdidhecompound？ShouldIeverknow？
Itisthedayforhisvisit。Hecomestoseeuswithnopointedcap:inordinarygarb，infact，withnothingveryqueerabouthim。
Heburstsintoourschoolroomlikeahurricane。Hisredfaceishalf—buriedintheenormousstiffcollarthatdigsintohisears。
Afewwispsofredhairadornhistemples;thetopofhisheadshineslikeanoldivoryball。Inadictatorialvoiceandwithwoodengestures，hequestionstwoorthreeoftheboys;afteramoment’sbullying，heturnsonhisheelandgoesoffinawhirlwindashecame。No，thisisnottheman，acapitalfellowatheart，toinspiremewithapleasantideaofthethingswhichheteaches。
Twowindowsofhislaboratorylookoutuponthegardenoftheschool。Onecanjustleanonthem;andIoftencomeandpeepin，tryingtomakeout，inmypoorbrain，whatchemistrycanreallybe。
Unfortunately，theroomintowhichmyeyespenetrateisnotthesanctuarybutamereouthousewherethelearnedimplementsandcrockeryarewashed。Leadenpipeswithtapsrundownthewalls;
woodenvatsoccupythecorners。Sometimes，thosevatsbubble，heatedbyasprayofsteam。Areddishpowder，whichlookslikebrickdust，isboilinginthem。Ilearnthatthesimmeringstuffisadyer’sroot，knownasmadder，whichwillbeconvertedintoapurerandmoreconcentratedproduct。Thisisthemaster’spetstudy。
WhatIsawfromthetwowindowswasnotenoughforme。Iwantedtoseefarther，intotheveryclassroom。Mywishwassatisfied。Itwastheendofthescholasticyear。Astageaheadintheregularwork，Ihadjustobtainedmycertificate。Iwasfree。Afewweeksremainbeforetheholidays。ShallIgoandspendthemoutofdoors，inallthegaietyofmyeighteensummers？No，Iwillspendthemattheschoolwhich，fortwoyearspast，hasprovidedmewithanuntroubledroofandmydailycrust。Iwillwaituntilapostisfoundforme。Employmywillingserviceasyouthinkfit，dowithmewhatyouwill:aslongasIcanstudy，Iamindifferenttotherest。
Theprincipaloftheschool，thesoulofkindness，hasgraspedmypassionforknowledge。Heencouragesmeinmydetermination;heproposestomakemerenewmyacquaintancewithHoraceandVirgil，solongsinceforgotten。HeknowsLatin，hedoes;hewillrekindlethedeadsparkbymakingmetranslateafewpassages。Hedoesmore:helendsmeanImitationwithparalleltextsinLatinandGreek。Withthefirsttext，whichIamalmostabletoread，IwillpuzzleoutthesecondandthusincreasethesmallvocabularywhichIacquiredinthedayswhenIwastranslatingAesop’sFables。Itwillbeallthebetterformyfuturestudies。Whatluck！Boardandlodging，ancientpoetry，theclassicallanguages，allthegoodthingsatonce！
Ididbetterstill。Oursciencemaster——thereal，notthehonoraryone——whocametwiceaweektodiscourseoftheruleofthreeandthepropertiesofthetriangle，hadthebrilliantideaoflettinguscelebratetheendoftheschoolyearwithafeastoflearning。
Hepromisedtoshowusoxygen。Asacolleagueofthechemistinthegrammarschool，heobtainedleavetotakeustothefamouslaboratoryandtheretohandletheobjectofhislessonunderourveryeyes。Oxygen，yes，oxygen，theall—consuminggas;thatwaswhatweweretoseeonthemorrow。Icouldnotsleepallnightforthinkingofit。
Thursdayafternooncameatlast。Assoonasthechemistrylessonisover，weweretogoforawalktoLesAngles，theprettyvillageoveryonder，perchedonasteeprock。WewerethereforeinourSundaybest，ourout—of—doorsclothes:blackfrockcoatsandtallhats。Thewholeschoolwasthere，somethirtyofus，inthechargeofanusher，whoknewaslittleaswedidofthethingswhichwewereabouttosee。Wecrossedthethresholdofthelaboratory，notwithoutexcitement。IenteredagreatnavewithaGothicroof，anold，barechurchthroughwhichone’svoiceechoed，intowhichthelightpenetrateddiscreetlythroughstainedglasswindowssetinribsandrosettesofstone。Atthebackwerehugeraisedbenches，withroomforanaudienceofmanyhundreds;attheotherend，wherethechoironcewas，stoodanenormouschimneymantel;inthemiddlewasalarge，massivetable，corrodedbythechemicals。Atoneendofthistablewasatarredtub，linedinsidewithleadandfilledwithwater。This，Iatoncelearned，wasthepneumatictrough，thevesselinwhichthegaseswerecollected。
Theprofessorbeginstheexperiment。Hetakesasortoflarge，longglassbulb，bentabruptlyintheregionoftheneck。This，heinformsus，isaretort。Hepoursintoit，fromascrewofpaper，someblackstuffthatlookslikepowderedcharcoal。Thisismanganesedioxide，themastertellsus。Itcontainsinabundance，inacondensedstateandretainedbycombinationwiththemetal，thegaswhichweproposetoobtain。Anoilylookingliquid，sulfuricacid，anexcessivelypowerfulagent，willsetitatliberty。Thusfilled，theretortisplacedonalightedstove。A
glasstubebringsitintocommunicationwithabelljarfullofwaterontheshelfofthepneumatictrough。Thoseareallthepreparations。Whatwillbetheresult？Wemustwaitfortheactionofheat。
Myfellowpupilsgathereagerlyroundtheapparatus，cannotcomecloseenoughtoit。Someofthemplaythepartoftheflyonthewheelandgloryincontributingtothesuccessoftheexperiment。
Theystraightentheretort，whichisleaningtooneside;theyblowwiththeirmouthsonthecoalsinthestove。Idonotcareforthesefamiliaritieswiththeunknown。Thegoodnaturedmasterraisesnoobjection;butIhaveneverbeenabletoendurethethrongingofacrowdofgapers，whoareverybusywiththeirelbowsandforcetheirwaytothefrontrowtoseewhateverishappening，eventhoughitbemerelyacoupleofmongrelsfighting。Letuswithdrawandleavetheseofficiousonestothemselves。Thereissomuchtoseehere，whiletheoxygenisbeingprepared。Letusmakethemostoftheoccasionandtakealookroundthechemist’sarsenal。
Underthespaciouschimneymantelisacollectionofqueerstoves，boundroundwithbandsofsheetiron。Therearelongandshortones，highandlowones，allpiercedwithlittlewindowsthatareclosedwithaterracottashutter。Thisone，asortoflittletower，isformedofseveralpartsplacedoneabovetheotherandeachsuppliedwithbigroundhandlestoholdthembywhenyoutakethemonumenttopieces。Adome，withanironchimney，topsthewholeedifice，whichmustbecapableofproducingaveryhellfiretoroastastoneofnosignificance。Another，asquatone，stretchesoutlikeacurvedspine。Ithasaroundholeateitherend;andathickporcelaintubesticksoutfromeach。Itisimpossibletoconceivethepurposewhichsuchinstrumentsasthesecanserve。Theseekersofthephilosopher’sstonemusthavehadmanylikethem。Theyaretorturers’engines，tearingthemetals’
secretsfromthem。
Theglassthingsarearrangedonshelves。Iseeretortsofdifferentsizes，allwithnecksbentatasuddenangle。Inadditiontotheirlongbeak，someofthemhaveanarrowlittletubecomingoutoftheirbulb。Look，youngster，anddonottrytoguesstheobjectofthesecuriousvessels。Iseeglasseswithfeettothem，funnel—shapedanddeep;Istandamazedatstrangelookingbottleswithtwoorthreemouthstoeach，atphialsswellingintoaballoonwithalong，narrowtube。Whatanoddarrayofimplements！
Andhereareglasscupboardswithahostofbottlesandjars，filledwithallmannerofchemicals。Thelabelsapprisemeoftheircontents:molybdeniteofammonia，chlorideofantimony，permanganateofpotashandeversomanyotherstrangeterms。
Never，inallmyreading，haveImetwithsuchrepellentlanguage。
Suddenly，bang！Andthereisrunningandstampingandshoutingandcriesofpain！Whathashappened？Irushupfromthebackoftheroom。Theretorthasburst，squirtingitsboilingvitriolineverydirection。Thewalloppositeisallstainedwithit。Mostofmyfellowpupilshavebeenmoreorlessstruck。Onepooryouthhashadthesplashesfullinhisface，rightintohiseyes。Heisyellinglikeamadman。Withthehelpofafriendwhohascomeoffbetterthantheothers，Idraghimoutsidebymainforce，takehimtothesink，whichfortunatelyiscloseathand，andholdhisfaceunderthetap。Thisswiftablutionservesitspurpose。Thehorriblepainbeginstobeallayed，somuchsothatthesuffererrecovershissensesandisabletocontinuethewashingprocessforhimself。
Mypromptaidcertainlysavedhissight。Aweeklater，withthehelpofthedoctor’slotions，alldangerwasover。HowluckyitwasthatItookitintomyheadtokeepsomewayoff！Myisolation，asIstoodlookingintotheglasscaseofchemicals，leftmeallmypresenceofmind，allmyreadinessofresource。Whataretheothersdoing，thosewhogotsplashedthroughstandingtoonearthechemicalbomb？Ireturntothelecturehall。Itisnotacheerfulspectacle。Themasterhascomeoffbadly:hisshirtfront，waistcoatandtrousersarecoveredwithsmears，whichareallsmolderingandburningintoholes。Hehurriedlydivestshimselfofaportionofhisdangerousraiment。Thoseofuswhopossessthesmartestclotheslendhimsomethingtoputonsothathecangohomedecently。
Oneofthetall，funnel—shapedglasseswhichIwasadmiringjustnowisstanding，fullofammonia，onthetable。All，coughingandsniveling，diptheirhandkerchiefsintoitandrubthemoistragovertheirhatsandcoats。Inthisway，theredstainsleftbythehorriblecompoundaremadetodisappear。Adropofinkwillpresentlyrestorethecolorcompletely。
Andtheoxygen？Therewasnomorequestion，Ineedhardlysay，ofthat。Thefeastoflearningwasover。Nevermind:thedisastrouslessonwasamightyeventforme。Ihadbeeninsidethechemist’slaboratory;Ihadhadaglimpseofthosewonderfuljarsandtubes。
Inteaching，whatmattersmostisnotthethingtaught，whetherwellorbadlygrasped:itisthestimulusgiventothepupil’slatentaptitudes;itisthefulminateawakeningtheslumberingexplosives。Oneday，Ishallobtainonmyownaccountthatoxygenwhichillluckhasdeniedme;oneday，withoutamaster，Ishallyetlearnchemistry。
Yes，Ishalllearnthischemistry，whichstartedsodisastrously。
Andhow？Byteachingit。Idonotrecommendthatmethodtoanybody。Happythemanwhoisguidedbyamaster’swordandexample！Hehasasmoothandeasyroadbeforehim，lyingstraightahead。Theotherfollowsaruggedpath，inwhichhisfeetoftenstumble;hegoesgropingintotheunknownandloseshisway。Torecovertherightroad，ifwantofsuccesshavenotdiscouragedhim，hecanrelyonlyonperseverance，thesolecompassofthepoor。Suchwasmyfate。Itaughtmyselfbyteachingothers，bypassingontothemthemodicumofseedthathadripenedonthebarrenmoorcleared，fromdaytoday，bymypatientplowshare。
Afewmonthsaftertheincidentofthevitriolbomb，IwassenttoCarpentrastotakechargeofjuniorclassesatthecollegethere。
Thefirstyearwasadifficultone，swampedasIwasbytheexcessivenumberofpupils，asetofdufferskeptoutofthemoreadvancedclassesandallatdifferentstagesinspellingandgrammar。Nextyear，myschoolisdividedintotwo;Ihaveanassistant。Aweeding—outtakesplaceinmycrowdofscatterbrains。
Ikeeptheolder，themoreintelligentones;theothersaretohaveaterminthepreparatorydivision。Fromthatdayforward，thingsaredifferent。Curriculumthereisnone。Inthosehappytimes，themaster’spersonalitycountedforsomething;therewasnosuchthingasthescholasticpistonworkingwiththeregularityofamachine。ItwasleftformetoactasIthoughtfit。Well，whatshouldIdotomaketheschoolearnitstitleof’upperprimary’？
Why，ofcourse！Amongotherthings，Ishalldosomechemistry！Myreadinghastaughtmethatitdoesnoharmtoknowalittlechemistry，ifyouwouldmakeyourfurrowsyieldagoodreturn。
Manyofmypupilscomefromthecountry;theywillgobacktoittoimprovetheirland。Letusshowthemwhatthesoilismadeofandwhattheplantfeedson。Otherswillfollowindustrialcareers;
theywillbecometanners，metalfounders，distillers;theywillsellcakesofsoapandkegsofanchovies。Letusshowthempickling，soapmaking，stills，tanninandmetals。Ofcourse，I
knownothingaboutthesethings，butIshalllearn，allthemoresoasIshallhavetoteachthemtotheboys;andyourschoolboyisalittledemonforjeeringatthemaster’shesitation。
Asithappens，thecollegeboastsasmalllaboratory，containingjustwhatisstrictlyindispensable:areceiver，adozenglassballoons，afewtubesandaniggardlyassortmentofchemicals。
Thatwilldo，ifIcanhavetherunofit。Butthelaboratoryisasanctumreservedfortheuseofthesixthform。Noonesetsfootinitexcepttheprofessorandhispupilspreparingfortheirdegree。Forme，theoutsider，toenterthattabernaclewithmybandofyoungimpswouldbemostunseemly;therightfuloccupantwouldneverthinkofallowingit。Ifeelitmyself:elementaryteachingdarenotaspiretosuchfamiliaritywiththehigherculture。Verywell，wewillnotgothere，solongastheywilllendmethethings。
Iconfidemyplantotheprincipal，thesupremedispenserofthoseriches。Heisaclassicsman，knowshardlyanythingofscience，atthattimeheldinnogreatesteem，andhedoesnotquiteunderstandtheobjectofmyrequest。Ihumblyinsistandexertmypowersofpersuasion。Idiscreetlyemphasizetherealpointofthematter。
Mygroupofpupilsisanumerousone。Ittakesmoremealsattheschoolhouse——therealconcernofaprincipal——thananyothersectionofthecollege。Thisgroupmustbeencouraged，luredon，increasedifpossible。Theprospectofdisposingofafewmoreplatefulsofsoupwinsthebattleforme;myrequestisgranted。
Poorscience！Allthatdiplomacytogainyourentranceamongthedespisedones，whohavenotbeennourishedonCiceroandDemosthenes！
Iamauthorizedtomove，onceaweek，thematerialrequiredformyambitiousplans。Fromthefirstfloor，thesacreddwellingofthescientificthings，IshalltakethemdowntoasortofcellarwhereIgivemylessons。Thetroublesomepartisthepneumatictrough。
Ithastobeemptiedbeforeitiscarrieddownstairsandtobefilledagainafterwards。Adayscholar，azealousacolyte，hurriesoverhisdinnerandcomestolendmeahandanhourortwobeforetheclassbegins。Weeffectthemovebetweenus。
WhatIamafterisoxygen，thegaswhichIoncesawfailsolamentably。Ithoughtitalloutatmyleisure，withthehelpofabook。Iwilldothis，Iwilldothat，Iwillgotoworkinthisortheotherfashion。Aboveall，wewillrunnorisks，perhapsofblindingourselves;foritisoncemoreaquestionofheatingmanganesedioxidewithsulfuricacid。Iamfilledwithmisgivingsattherecollectionofmyoldschoolfellowyellinglikemad。Whocares？Letustryforallthat:fortunefavorsthebrave！Besides，wewillmakeoneprudentcondition，fromwhichIshallneverdepart:noonebutmyselfshallcomenearthetable。Ifanaccidenthappen，Ishallbetheonlyonetosuffer;and，inmyopinion，itisworthaburnortwotomakeacquaintancewithoxygen。
Twoo’clockstrikes;andmypupilsentertheclassroom。I
purposelyexaggeratethelikelihoodofdanger。Theyarealltostayontheirbenchesandnotstir。Thisisagreed。Ihaveplentyofelbowroom。Thereisnoonebyme，exceptmyacolyte，standingbymyside，readytohelpmewhenthetimecomes。Theotherslookoninprofoundsilence，reverenttowardstheunknown。
Soonthegaseousbubblescome\"gloo—glooing\"throughthewaterinthebelljar。Canitbemygas？Myheartbeatswithexcitement。
CanIhavesucceededwithoutanytroubleatthefirstattempt？Wewillsee。Acandleblownoutthatmomentandstillretainingaredtiptoitswickisloweredbyawireintoasmalltestjarfilledwithmyproduct。Capital！Thecandlelightswithalittleexplosionandburnswithextraordinarybrilliancy。Itisoxygenrightenough。
Themomentisasolemnone。MyaudienceisastoundedandsoamI，butmoreatmyownsuccessthanattherelightedcandle。Apuffofvaingloryrisestomybrow;Ifeelthefireofenthusiasmrunthroughmyveins。ButIsaynothingoftheseinnersensations。
Beforetheboys’eyes，themastermustappearanoldhandatthethingsheteaches。WhatwouldtheyoungrascalsthinkofmeifI
allowedthemtosuspectmysurprise，iftheyknewthatImyselfambeholdingthemarveloussubjectofmydemonstrationforthefirsttimeinmylife？Ishouldlosetheirconfidence，Ishouldsinktothelevelofamerepupil。
Sursumcorda！Letusgoonasifchemistrywereafamiliarthingtome。Itistheturnofthesteelribbon，anoldwatchspringrolledcorkscrewfashionandfurnishedwithabitoftinder。Withthissimplelightedbait，thesteelshouldtakefireinajarfilledwithmygas。Anditdoesburn;itbecomesasplendidfirework，withcracklingsandablazeofsparksandacloudofrustthattarnishesthejar。Fromtheendofthefierycoilareddropbreaksoffatintervals，shootsquiveringthroughthelayerofwaterleftatthebottomofthevesselandembedsitselfintheglasswhichhassuddenlygrownsoft。Thismetallictear，withitsindomitableheat，makeseveryoneofusshudder。Allstampandcheerandapplaud。Thetimidonesplacetheirhandsbeforetheirfacesanddarenotlookexceptthroughtheirfingers。Myaudienceexults;andImyselftriumph。Ha，myfriends，isn’titgrand，thischemistry！
Allofushaveredletterdaysinourlives。Some，thepracticalmen，havebeensuccessfulinbusiness;theyhavemademoneyandholdtheirheadshighinconsequence。Others，thethinkers，havegainedideas;theyhaveopenedanewaccountintheledgerofnatureandtheysilentlytastethehallowedjoysoftruth。Oneofmygreatdayswasthatofmyfirstacquaintancewithoxygen。Onthatday，whenmyclasswasoverandallthematerialsputbackintheirplace，Ifeltmyselfgrowseveralinchestaller。Anuntrainedworkman，Ihadshown，withcompletesuccess，thatwhichwasunknowntomeacoupleofhoursbefore。Noaccidentwhatever，noteventheleaststainofacid。
Itis，therefore，notsodifficultnorsodangerousasthepitifulfinishoftheSaintMartiallessonmighthaveledmetobelieve。
Withavigilanteyeandalittleprudence，Ishallbeabletocontinue。Theprospectisenchanting。
Andso，indueseason，comeshydrogen，carefullycontemplatedinmyreading，seenandreseenwiththeeyeofthemindbeforebeingseenwiththeeyesofthebody。Idelightmylittlerascalsbymakingthehydrogenflamesinginaglasstube，whichtrickleswiththedropsofwaterresultingfromthecombustion;Imakethemjumpwiththeexplosionsofthethunderousmixture。Later，Ishowthem，withthesameinvariablesuccess，thesplendorsofphosphorus，theviolentpowersofchlorine，theloathsomesmellsofsulfur，themetamorphosesofcarbonandsoon。Inshort，inaseriesoflessons，theprincipalnonmetallicelementsandtheircompoundsarepassedinreviewduringthecourseoftheyear。
Thethingwasbruitedabroad。Freshpupilscametome，attractedbythemarvelsoftheschool。Additionalplaceswerelaidinthedininghall;andtheprincipal，whowasmoreinterestedintheprofitsonhisbeansandbaconthaninchemistry，congratulatedmeonthisaccessionofboarders。Iwasfairlystarted。Timeandanindomitablewillwoulddotherest。
CHAPTERXXINDUSTRIALCHEMISTRY
Everythinghappenssoonerorlater。When，throughthelowwindowsoverlookingthegardenoftheschool，myeyeglancedatthelaboratory，wherethemaddervatsweresteaming;when，inthesanctuaryitself，Iwaspresent，bywayofafirstandlastchemistrylesson，attheexplosionoftheretortofsulfuricacidthatnearlydisfiguredeveryoneofus，IwasfarindeedfromsuspectingthepartwhichIwasdestinedtoplayunderthatsamevaultedroof。HadaprophetforetoldthatIshouldonedaysucceedthemaster，neverwouldIhavebelievedhim。Timeworksthesesurprisesforus。
Stoneswouldhavetheirstoo，ifanythingwereabletoastonishthem。TheSaintMartialbuildingwasoriginallyachurch;itisaprotestantplaceofworshipnow。MenusedtopraythereinLatin;
todaytheyprayinFrench。Intheinterveningperiod，itwasforsomeyearsintheserviceofscience，thenobleorisonthatdispelsthedarkness。Whathasthefutureinstoreforit？Likemanyanotherintheringingcity，touseRabelais’epithet，willitbecomeahomeforthefuller’steasels，awarehouseforscrapiron，acarrier’sstable？Whoknows？Stoneshavetheirdestiniesnolessunexpectedthanours。
WhenItookpossessionofitasalaboratoryforthemunicipalcourseoflectures，thenaveremainedasitwasatthetimeofmyformershortanddisastrousvisit。Totheright，onthewall，anumberofblackstainsstrucktheeye。Itwasasthoughamadman’shand，armedwiththeinkpot，hadsmasheditsfragileprojectileatthatspot。Irecognizedthestainsatonce。Theywerethemarksofthecorrosivewhichtheretorthadsplashedatourheads。Sincethosedaysoflongago，noonehadthoughtfittohidethemunderacoatofwhitewash。Somuchthebetter:theywillservemeasexcellentcounselors。Alwaysbeforemyeyes，ateverylesson，theywillspeaktomeincessantlyofprudence。
Forallitsattractions，however，chemistrydidnotmakemeforgetalongcherishedplanwellsuitedtomytastes，thatofteachingnaturalhistoryatauniversity。Now，oneday，atthegrammarschool，Ihadavisitfromachiefinspectorwhichwasnotofanencouragingnature。MycolleaguesusedtocallhimtheCrocodile。
Perhapshehadgiventhemaroughtimeinthecourseofhisinspections。Forallhisboorishways，hewasanexcellentmanatheart。Iowehimforapieceofadvicewhichgreatlyinfluencedmyfuturestudies。
Thatday，hesuddenlyappeared，alone，intheschoolroom，whereI
wastakingaclassingeometricaldrawing。Imustexplainthat，atthistime，toekeoutmyridiculoussalaryand，atallcosts，toprovidealivingformyselfandmylargefamily，Iwasamightypluralist，bothinsidethecollegeandout。Atthecollegeinparticular，aftertwohoursofphysics，chemistryornaturalhistory，came，withoutrespite，anothertwohours’lesson，inwhichItaughttheboyshowtomakeaprojectionindescriptivegeometry，howtodrawageodeticplane，acurveofanykindwhoselawofgenerationisknowntous。Thiswascalledgraphics。
Thesuddenirruptionofthedreadpersonagecausesmenogreatflurry。Twelveo’clockstrikes，thepupilsgooutandweareleftalone。Iknowhimtobeageometrician。Thetranscendentalcurve，perfectlydrawn，mayworkuponhisgentlermood。Ihappentohaveinmyportfoliotheverythingtopleasehim。Fortuneservesmewellinthisspecialcircumstance。Amongmyboys，thereisonewho，thougharegulardunceateverythingelse，isafirstratehandwiththesquare，thecompassandthedrawingpen:adeft—
fingerednumskull，inshort。
WiththeaidofasystemoftangentsofwhichIfirstshowedhimtheruleandthemethodofconstruction，myartisthasobtainedtheordinarycycloid，followedbytheinteriorandtheexteriorepicycloidand，lastly，thesamecurvesbothlengthenedandshortened。HisdrawingsareadmirableSpider’swebs，encirclingthecunningcurveintheirnet。Thedraftsmanshipissoaccuratethatitiseasytodeducefromitbeautifultheorems，whichwouldbeverylaborioustoworkoutbythecalculus。
Isubmitthegeometricalmasterpiecestomychiefinspector，whoishimselfsaidtobesmittenwithgeometry。Imodestlydescribethemethodofconstruction，Icallhisattentiontothefinedeductionswhichthedrawingenablesonetomake。Itislaborlost:hegivesbutaheedlessglanceatmysheetsandflingseachonthetableasIhandittohim。
’Alas！’saidItomyself。’Thereisastormbrewing;thecycloidwon’tsaveyou;it’syourturnforabitefromtheCrocodile！’
Notabitofit。Beholdthebugbeargrowinggenial。Hesitsdownonabench，withoneleghere，anotherthere，invitesmetotakeaseatbyhissideand，inamoment，wearediscussinggraphics。
Then，bluntly:’Haveyouanymoney？’heasks。
Astoundedatthisstrangequestion，Ianswerwithasmile。
’Don’tbeafraid，’hesays。’Confideinme。I’maskingyouinyourowninterest。Haveyouanycapital？’
’Ihavenoreasontobeashamedofmypoverty，monsieurl’inspecteurgeneral。Ifranklyadmit，Ipossessnothing;mymeansarelimitedtomymodestsalary。’
Afrowngreetsmyanswer;andIhear，spokeninanundertone，asthoughmyconfessorweretalkingtohimself:’That’ssad，that’sreallyverysad。’
Astonishedtofindmypenurytreatedassad，Iaskforanexplanation:Iwasnotaccustomedtothissolicitudeonthepartofmysuperiors。
’Why，yes，it’sagreatpity，’continuesthemanreputedsoterrible。’IhavereadyourarticlesintheAnnalesdessciencesnaturelles。Youhaveanobservantmind，atasteforresearch，alivelystyleandareadypen。Youwouldhavemadeacapitaluniversityprofessor。’
’Butthat’sjustwhatI’maimingat！’
’Giveuptheidea。’
’Haven’tIthenecessaryattainment？’
’Yes，youhave;butyouhavenocapital。’Thegreatobstaclestandsrevealedtome:woetothepoorinpocket！Universityteachingdemandsaprivateincome。Beasordinary，ascommonplaceasyouplease，but，aboveall，possessthecointhatletsyoucutadash。
Thatisthemainthing;therestisasecondarycondition。
Andtheworthymantellsmewhatpovertyinafrockcoatmeans。
ThoughlessofapauperthanI，hehasknownthemortificationofit;hedescribesittome，excitedly，inallitsbitterness。I
listentohimwithanachingheart;Iseetherefugewhichwastosheltermyfuturecrumblingbeforemyeyes:’Youhavedonemeagreatservice，sir，’Ianswered。’Youputanendtomyhesitation。
Forthemoment，Igiveupmyplan。IwillfirstseeifitispossibletoearnthesmallfortunewhichIshallneedifIamtoteachinadecentmanner。’