The Irish standard., 1906-12-01
His Life Refutation of the Claim That a
Scientist Cannot Believe the
Catholic Doctrine.
The Greatest Scientist Of the Century, Whose
Skill Saved Hundreds, Was a
Devout Catholic.

university, and then went to teach In
Dijon, Strasberg and Lille. In 1857 he
began serioils research work, and ere
he had become initiated, had won the
attention ofehe great French chemist
Dumas. There is something almost
pathetic in tile relation between Dumas
the instructor and Pasteur the student
The great chemist recognized in his
young pupil a wonder; to him was the
glory of France given, but daily he
perceived in what manner the young
man was stepping far ahead Of him.
The Academy Of Sciences has CEN
sured Pasteur for dabbling in sciences;
for that self-tutored body endiked by
a. delusion Of their own greatness
could not see beyond where greatness
lies and saw in the youthful genius
only another of the classical freaks
who had already brought Sorbonne and
Dijon into question. But the young
saaass-sswas ~, QbstIHats-rather. he was
confident. His gsniux and ability. end
ed where it began--in himself. He
needed nos soutside help: Dumas, his
teacher, could see nothing but glory
ahead for him, and he alone was SYM
pathetic and encouraging, and to his
efforts Pasteur wesa,any. ,eonveni-
ences which he otherwise would have
struggled on without. ....
Life can only proceed from life,"
said the young Pasteur, and the world
of science took UP his cry. Liebig, the
great German chemist, had buried, 1t
was thought, once and for all that doc
trine. The young Frenchman who got
his confidence from God, and believed
in himself because he believed SO thor
oughly in the Mother of Christ that he
never engaged in a work without in
voking her intercession for its sue
cessful issue.-this young man was in
vincible. The great: orthodox school
OF scientists looked upon him with
scorn. Who dared to combat the great
Liebig, must be damned scientifically.
But they reckoned without wisdom;
they had never before encountered q
man just like Pasteur, they knew
nothing as to his possibilities. It was
easier to denounce as. madness his
philosophy of life, than to sit down
and study out carefully his logical the
cries. Besides, they didn't like his
dependence" they called 1t, upon the
Virgin. for aid. They had never seen
just that before; Daniel o'connell
praying on the veranda of the English
parliament building that he might
complete a rosary before be began his
great debates was the nearest thing to
it. But O'Connell was a. statesman
and something more than superficial
brilliancy was needed in g. life prob
lem.
Then came the working Of the par
able; and the dogs Of unbelievers were
forced to recognize the deliverer. Fo,
fifteen years a plague called. pebrine
had ravaged the silk worms of France
and threatened to ruin, the silk in
dustry Dumas has investigated the
disease. but could do nothing. In 1855
he turned the task over to his pupil
In him he had already discerned great
ness; nothing was impossible, he
thought. The young Pasteur shirked
II have never. even seen a silk worm
he complained. Dumas was inststent
What of that? The plague threatens
France; you are Frenchman. have
failed; but you are younger. You mus,
stop It's progress" He did. People
laughed at him at first when he said.
The disease is caused by a parasite:
we must get rid Of tht worms which
have parasites" Ultimately he con.
vinced the silk 'growets of his nlan
and they adopted it VI th effective re-.
suits.
His capital disco was the inoc,I
las'on virus-no covery.- either
l