The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-18

Dresses without Much Regard for
Appearances But Has n Magnificent
Fur Cont--Lives in a Fiat and IL
Adored by Madame Mctchnikoff,
ana Revercd by the Stan of the
Pnstcur Institute.
Copyright, 1900 by Stephen MacKenna.)
Paris, Feb Cdr. Eli Metchnikoff. ac-
counts of whose experiments a the Pas
teur Institute have been cabled to the
world, giving hope to thousands that hui
man life might be indefinitely prolonged,
is a little man. perhaps not more than
feet inches in hight. He walks with
slight stoop, which throws forward his
heavy, shaggy head and his broad Shout
ders in such way as almost to give the
appearance of deformity.
His big head, which seemsNexpressly fit
ted to butt against obstacles, and his stur-
dy shoulders built to carry heavy burdens,
are the most noteworthy points about his
appearance. His eyes are of the Inildest,
meekest palest blue. One would say they
We're quite expressionless, If 1t were not
for the peaceful good nature that shines
through his steel-rimmed spectacles. His
face is plain, almost to the point of ugli-
ness; the complexion is of a yellowish
gray, and the checks are furrowed deeply;
in curious contrast with the forehead,
which is absolutely unwrinkled.
The great scientist does not pay much
attention to his dress. He wears a shah
by suit of thin gray cloth, with huge
pockets generally bulgng with newspa-
pers, reviews, books and letters. His
turn-down collar, his loose, flowing black
tie, his general air of negligence and abb
straction 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, IL
should be added that he possesses a mag
uificent fur coat which he will tell you,
half alphabetically, his wife forces him
to wear upon the street.
Mime. Metchnikoff," he explains. Gin
sisted that l was habitually of too dis
reputable 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 IL
is the women who rule this world That
is a discovery which / made long ago"
A simple Abiding Place.
The simplicity of DR.. Metchnikoff's
| temperament is reflected in all the sur
|
! tirely devoted to science and to the Pas
teur Institute, that he has fixed his abode
| in the same street as that establishment,
! only minutes walk from its labora tories.
At No. IS Rue Dutot, he and Nine.
Metchnikon 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
| taurant, where, at noon, the laborers at
| work on the new building, which the Bar
| ouess IIirsoh is presenting to the insti-
tute, swallow their stew and wine and gos-
| sip while they smoke their cigarettes.
| III is very evident that the MetchnikoffS
| are not rich. Their fiat has only four lii
tie rooms, such as might be inhabited by
| the family of q fairly paid skilled work.
man in any big American city In New
York one would pay about SIS month for
such accommodations in an equally re-
| mote and questionable neghborhood. A
| small hall nearly filled by huge fern and
4 a hat rack leads into the reception room,
| in which four people would be comfort
| able enough but In which six would jos
tie one another If they moved their chairs.
The furniture Is solid, comfortable, ugly.
| II is a Burgeois interior, utterly and help
| lessly common place. A large portrait
Of Pasteur, bearing his autograph, few
ordinary engravings, a couple of framed
| diplomas bedecked with huge seals in red
| and green wax-these are the only decora-
| tons on the walls.
neat little maid of all work ushers
The visitor into the reception room. Yes,
M. lie Docteur is at home, but he is at
table. Still he will probably accord a
few minutes" And he does. He is ami
ability itself.
Says He Is n "victim."
"Some personal details? Well, there is
very little to say. l am not at all an
interesting parsonage. Just a simple sci
enlist, who has been the victim of the
hasty journalists. 1 work and hope, but
I promise nothing. regret very much
please say that 1 regret very much-all
the talk that has arisen about my re-
searches.
you see am an old man now. Oh,
yes, an old man. Fiftyfour and a half
years old" lie looks, by the way, good
ten years older) And | assure you
haven't the faintest hope of being able
10 prolong my own life by a single day.
For you, you are younger monsiuer-you
permit the observation?--and / will not
say that the institute may not be able to
do something for you by the time you
have reached my age. But want you,
beg you TO write that nothing definite
has yet been discovered in the direction
OF prolong ing human life.
Yet / am already receiving letters from
elderly people, asking whether I can help
them not to die, and II they may come
10 me for treatment. IL Is a crime to
nourish such false hopes as you Journal
ists-excuse me, monsiuer--have begun to
inspire. Yes, IL is really very wrong"
The doctor muses. a moment with sad
eyes. Then he resumes, smihngly:
"As for my personality, | am Rus
sian, as my name shows, and 1 was born
near Odessa. ! made my first serious
studies In Germany at Bonn. When I
had taken my DOCTORS degree in science
returned 10 odessa and was appointed 10
the chair Of zoology at the Odessa Uni
versity. 1t was then that / began to
study the new science OF bacteriology. AS
result of my researches l published
some treatlses on the nature ana treat
ment of various maladies of sheep and
oxen and horses.
Was Close 90 Pasteur.
IT had founded a meteorological labora-
tory at the university and had made
known to a very large class OF students
the new methods and lines OF research.
IN. Pasteur followed my work from the