M. CHEVREUL.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2447, 17 March 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

M. CHEVREUL.

[FROM TIIK SEW YOJtlv WOULD.] Thk other (lay, with a friend, I visited M. Chcvreul, tho centenarian savant, Oil 31st August will bo celebrated his 101 st birthday, »nd I think the venerable man is a little disappointed that this celebration will have inoro the character of a family reunion than that of a public demonstration. " Were you in Paris last August ? " said he. " Did you kuow of the banquet? Gen. Pitto, who 3at at my right, is dead, and I tho centenarian still alive. After the banquet, there were processions and wonderful illuminations. In tho Hue Chcvreul (for a street in the Faubourg Saint Antoine has my name), the houses j were brilliantly lighted, and a deputation from this houso presented me an address. Tho Opera gave a special representation in my honour, tho Agricultural Society and Academy of Sciences gave 1110 medals, but now they are afraid of fatiguing- mo." " What is tho secret of longevity, M. Chcvreul ? " " There is no secret. Have you asked why so many die of disease, so few of old age? There can be 110 rule of life. What is Rood for ono may not bo good for another. Wc must study what is beat for us individually. For example, my parents lived to be more than ninety years old, | and they drank wine'. From my childhood wino has been disagreeable to 1110. Like Luoko and Newton, I have never cared for any beverage except water, and yet lam President of tho Wine Socioty of Anjou." Have you noror tried beer ?'' "Onco; I mot with an accident and my friends advised mo to put a few drops of beor in each glass of water. One week after my beer bottle was three-quarters full and naturally tho beer was thrown away. M. Grevy invited mo to the Elysee Palace, and I said to tho President : Would you like to know why I am so well preserved ? Because I never drank a drop of wine. M. Grevy, who is only 77 years old, replied: 'You warn me rather late, my good friend, for I can never learn to be a cold water drinker.' " " Brandy and liquors arc also banished from your table ?" "I confess I liko the odour, but I always satisfy myself by pouring a few drops in tho palm of my left hand, then rubbing my hands together and inhaling tho fragrance. That is all. As for tobacco, I cannot endure it. My boy, a grand gareon of 73 years, is an inveterate smoker, but ho is very considerate of my feelings, and I never know when 110 smokes." " Havo you any rule as to diet ? " " Yes. At 7 o'clock in the morning I take two oggs and some cold meat; at 7 o'clock in tho evening my dinner consists of tapioca, a mutton chop, cheese, fruit and three glasses of water. Fishing is ray passion, but I have never eaten a morsel of fish, becauso the odour is so repulsive to me. Sir Humphrey Davy and I had sympathy on ono .subject only, fishing. When wo were introduced I tried every scientific topic for conversation, and not an answer did I rcccive, except ' yes ' or ' 110' until I mentioned fish. Then he thawed, and we remained firm friends until his death in 1820." "Do you remember anything wonderful that happened eighty or ninety yo.irs age ? : ' " Napoleon is y-jur hero, I know. He is the hero of all Americans. I saw Napoleon when ho returned from Elba. Then I was a member of the National Guard of Tuilcries. Some ono called out suddenly, ' There is tho Emporor !' I was so astonished that I let my gun fall; but there, indeed, was tho Emperor coming to take possession of his old home." " Can you remember anything of '03 ?" When I was seren years old I saw the gnillotiup. They wore beheading a young girl, and as I tried to avoid the awful sight a man seized me by the collar, and pushing me towards tho fearful instrument, said : "You must become accustomed to tho odmir of blood." " Have you over written anything concerning those troublous times?" " I possoss documents to be published after my death —documents that will throw new light on those dark days." "I see a photograph of Pasteur mi your table. Do you believe in his discovery ?" " Pasteur ! He is tho greatest genius of tho age. What would they have thought of mo at the School of Sciences had I inoculated with one disease in order to cure another ? J admire Pasteur, becausc he has reversed tho order of things ; he starts with tho unknown, and thus arrives at the known, while others proceed vice versa ?" " I began as a chemical student in tho Museum of Natural History in 1810, and now I ain dean of this museum. My discoveries relate mostly to colours : my classification of shades enables workmen at the Gobelias to manufacture their mantlepiecos. Tho boautiful china decorations are due to me. Soap and glycerine are much improved since I studied their composition. Had it not been for my invention, your salons would still bo lighted by tallow dips, and not by wax candles. Natural industry owes thousands of discoveries to my brain, but I have never taken out a patent on any of my inventions, so that fortunes have come to others rather than me." " You are, then, a true philosopher?" "I am not a pessimist, thank God. Some say : 1 I do not understand such a thing, consequently such a thiug oan't exist.' As if tho unknown of ono day were not often known of auother. To those who, because ' they understand not deny, I answer can you comprehend space, limited or unlimited ?' Nor I cannot either. Well, if I denied tho existence of space because I cannot understand it, what would you think of my conclusion ? Has science told you its secret! Science spoa phenomena ; mind sees causes. Do you believe that the human race is the only ono capable of attaining perfection, tho only one that has consciousness of its existenco and the distinction between right and wrong ? Will you ever prove to mo that I descended from a monkey ? I the son of aa 1 oraug-outang ! Never !" , Human life usually is so full of bitterness, sorrows and ilesillusioiis that its prolongation is not be desired. M. Chevreul, however, is worthy of admiration and generous envy, for in him wo recognised advanced age but a century of labour, study, devotion to science and elevation of tho human mind. To reach his age it is necessary to cultivate the moral and intellectual facilities, for the health of tho human raco depends upon purity of tho brain and heart as well as upon that of a physical nature. Baroness Altiiea Salvador.