The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-03-05

Especial Correspond
Paris, Feb. 6.-Dr. Eli Metchnikoff,
accounts of whose experiments at
the Pasteur Institute have been
, cabled to the world, giving hope
. 10 thousands that human life
might be indefinitely prolonged,
10 little man, perhaps not more than
i've feet six in height. He walks with a
, slight stoop. which throws forward his
! heavy, shaggy head and his broad
shoulders in such a way as almost TO
! give the appearance of defOrmity.
I His big head. which seems expressly
: fitted to butt against obstacles, and his
! sturdy shoulders built to carry heavy
burdens are the most noteworthy
points about his appearance. His eyes
, are of the mildest, meekest, palest blue
One would say they were quite express
, sOnleGS. if it were not for the peace
! full good nature that shines through
: his steel-rImmed spectacles. His face
is pain, almost to the point of ugli-
ness, the complexion is of a yellOwish
gray, and the cheeks are furrowed
deeply, in curious contrast with the
forehead which is absolutely unwrink-
led.
The great scientist does not pay
much attention 10 his dress. He wears
a shabby suit of thin gray cloth. with
newspapers, reviews, books and letters.
His rundown collar, his loose, flowing
black tie, his general air Of negli-
gence and abstraction make him look
much like one of those Bohemian book
hunters or print collectors who haunt
the quays of the Seine To be fair
to him. however. It should be added
that he possesses magnlhcent 1ur
coat. which he will tell you, half apol-
/ ogatica1Iv his wife forces him wear
upon the street.
Madame Metchnikoff." he explains.
insisted that l was habitually of
too dlsreputuable appearance to
be allowed to show myself in public,
and so she bought ME this
magnificent affair to cover up
, my sartorial deficiencies. And you
know it is the women who rule this
! world. That is a discovery which 1
{ made long ago"
A Simple Abiding Place.
The simplicity Of Dr. Metchnikoffs
r temperament is reflected in all the sur
: roundings of his home life. He is so
> entirely devoted to science and to the
, Pasteur Institute that he has fixed
his abode in the same street as that
establishment. only a minutes wGll-
from its laboratories. At No. is Rue
DutOt. he and Madame MetchnikOff live
in a tiny seCOnd-stOry apartment
which is approached through a typical
Partisan court. from which leads a
narrow, winding staircase, covered with
cheap mating. The lower part Of the
house is occupied by an uninviting res
; tauTant, where at noon. the labOrers at
work on the new building. which the
Baroness Hinsch is presenting to the
, institute swallow their stew and wine,
and gossip while they smoke their
cigarettes.
1t is very evident that The Metchni-
koffs are not rich. Their fat has only
four Little rooms. such as might be in
habited by the family of fairly paid
skilled workman in any big American
city II New York one would pay
about SIS a month for such accommo-
dations in an equally remote and un-
fashionable neigbbOThOOd. A small hall
nearly filled by a huge fern and a hat
rack leads into the reception room, in
? which four people would be comfort
able enough. but in which six would
+. jostle one another. if they moved their
chairs.
The furniture is solid. comfortable
ugly. Ii ia a burgeOis interior. ut
terly and helplessly commonplace. a
large portrait of Pasteur. bearing his
autograph. a few ordinary engrayings,
Il couple Of framed diplomas bedecked
with huge seals in red and green wax
these are the only decorations on the
walls.
\ neat little maid Of all work uShers
the visitor into the reception room
Yes. n. e Docteur It's at home, but
he is at table. StiIl he viii probably
accord a few minutes And he does
He is amiability itself.
Says He is a Victim"
Some personal details Well there
is very little to say. l am not at all
an interesting parsonage. Just a sim
ple scientist. who has been the victim
of the hasty journalists; 1 work and
hope. but ! promise nothing. L regret
VERY much-please say that 1 regret
very muCh-alI the talk that has arisen
a cut my researches.
You see l am an old man now. Oh,
YES. an old man. F'ifty-fOuT and a half
years old. he looks. by the way. a
good ten years older) And 1 assure
YOU I haven't the faintest hope of be
ing able TO prOlonG my own life by a
single day. For you. you are younger.
mouSieur-you permit the observation
and l will not say that the institute
may not be able TO do something for
you by the time you have reached my
age. But l want you, l beg you, to
write that nothing definite has yet
been discovered in the direction of pro-
longing human life
Yes. I am already receiving letters
from elderly people. asking whether l
can help them not . die. and if they
may come to me for treatment. 1t is
a crime to noUrish sue false hopes as
you jOurnalists-eXcuse me, monsieur
have begun 10 inspire. Yes, il is really
very wrong.
The doctor muses. a moment with sad
eyes. Then he resumes, smilingly:
AS for my personality. 1 am a Rus
sian. as my name shows. and 1 was
born near Odessa I made my first
serious studies in Germany at Bonn.
When 7 had taken my Doctors degree
in science I returned TO Odessa and
was appointed To the chair of zoology
at the Odessa university. It was then
that / began to study the new science
Of bacteriolCgy. As a result Of my re-
searches published some treatises on
the nature and treatment Of various
naladies Of sheep and oxen and horses
Was Close to Pasteur.
L had founded a archaeological lab
| OratOTy ar the university and had made
+ known 10 a very large class of students
the new methods and lines of research
II. Pasteur followed my work from
the time when I first sent him my first
treatise and was kid enough 10 main
( tain constant correspondence with
me, acquainting himself with nv re-
/ suits and communicating his own 10
me. on the foundation OF the Paste7lr
institute. eleven years ago. be invited
me 10 come to Paris and join his stan.
He appointed me chef de service re-
/ spOnsible Immediately under MIN for a.
! large part Of the general direction of
the researches at the institute Chef de
| service l have been ever since. and I
have every expectation of remaining