The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1889-04-20
MICHEL EUGENE CHEyREuL.
Death OF the Distinguished French
't Chemist ut lO2 Years of Age.


The death of Mr.. Chevreufs 70.year.
old son so short time before that oi
bis l02-yesr-old parent, says the New
York Times, recalls the tale of the
Yorkshire cctogeuarian who was found
crying bitterly because his father had
chastised him for playing trick upon
his grandfather. II Is certainly hard
to realize that the man who has just
passed away was born before the out
break of the French revolution, studied
at Angers with the young Wellington
aud Napoleon, came up to Paris to
push his fortunes q year before the lat.
| ter became Emperor, studied quietly In
the laboratory Of the famous Vanquelin
(whom he afterward succeedetD while
the thrones of Europe were falling like
card houses, and lived to see France
twice an empire, twice u monarchy
and thrice q republic.
Such longevity fs indeed not unpar-
alleled, Tor in the country of the Don
Cossacks, in 1869, there was an old
! soldier who remam bered Catherine III
coronation in 1868. But it is not every
day that ore sees n centenarian capa-
BILE Of pursuing scientific studies up to
the very day of his death, and answer
ing lady's compliments by saying {:
"Ah, Madame, am growing old wha,
would not give to feel once more the
elasticity of S0!" Aud our astunish-
ment arises still higher when we look
upon the herculean labors which this
one man accomplished. Born at Angers
In l7SG. he had become teacher Of
chemistry at the Paris Museum in his
twenty-tourth year, and three years
later he was already a distinguished
Professor OF science at the "Lycee
Charlemagne." Through the successive
grades OF chemical director oi the Co
bsltns carpet factory (lS2i) and men,
he rose to be The successor OF his old
master, Vanquelin, in the Museum Of
Natural History in 1880.
q Nor was his literary activity during
this period less amazing than his en-
ergy In scientific research. Among a
list Of published works which would of
themselves make an ample catalogue,
1t Is necessary only to mention his pro.
found and comprehensive work on
"Animal Oils" which did 80 much for
various branches OF French industry
that the Societe d Encouragement pour
'Industrie Nationale subsequently,
awarded him prizs of II, ,000i., ($2i00. }
In 1864 he was made director of the
museum, u post which he held for ten
years, resigning 1t ut last for reasons as
honorable to his character as the un-
| questioned ability which he had shown
in discharging its duties.
During the siege of Paris in 1901
tue brave old scientist was In the thick
OF the peril aud nobly sustained in war
the reputation that he had won in peace.
The French painters who are so fond of
depicting tho theatrical feats Of the
first Napoleon might find II far better
study in the figure Of this white haired
Old hero Of 81, who, while tho walls of
the museum were crashing around him
beneath the strokes Of the German
bonn bshCli, aud men who might have
beon his grandsons were flying wildly
to any shelter which they could fnd, :,
stood calmly at his post aud tciled un>
aided, with trembling hands but with
a heart firm as a rCck, to save his cher.
ished specimens from destruction.
| 1t is pleasant to think that the gallant
Old man survived these stormy days 10
live through many happy years Of quiet
usefulness and successful study, cheered
by the society OF coneenial friends, aud
loaded with all the honors that public
gratitude and private enthusiasm could
bestow. To the very last the overflow
ing vitality which was his most strik-
ing characteristic made itself wonder.
fully manifeat. "It seems," remarked
one of his most intimate friends en-
phatically, "as If he could never die"
Not only did his memory and brain
power remain unimpaired almost 10
the very end, but his interest in passing
events aud public questions was as keen
as ever. He followed closely all the
topics OF the day, and discussed them
with all the fire aud energy Of young
man Of 81. This was doubtless owing
in no small degree toa habitual tenn
peTaucc, almost unique in man OF his
gas,ronomic race. lie was neither {
drinker or smoker, and even in eating
he scrupulousiy avoided the excesse
Of the epicures among whom he lived
saying jokingiy that "a chemist know
too much about food to cat very freel,
of it," Ia fact, his bodily and mGnta
condition was such that when he com
pleted his lO0ih year his friends nigh
well have echoed the words ui al
American doctor to an Old lady VIII
recovered from a dangerous Illness a
90: "Ah, madam, l guess you've vii
fully thrown away the last chance {
dying that Providence will ever vnuch
SAFE you in this world"
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