New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-04-16

The great French naturalist. Henri
Fsbre--Cnce called the Homer OF the
Insects" by Victor Hugo-reached his
eighty-seveRth birthday recently. and
the occasion was celebrated by the visit
of some OF the most distinguished men
OF France to the little Provencsl VII
lage in which he has always lived. Fabre
detests publicity, and is so much a re-
cluse that when he has had to go TO a
neighbOring hamlet he has made d long
detour 20 avoid the main street OF his
own village. ITO the society Of men,,
says a correspondent Of the London
Globe che has preferred that Of in
sects and animals. and while others
have thought it necessary 10 torture and
immediate their subjects he has made
them his friends Instead Of impaling
the fragile and beautiful creatures Of
the air and sticking them on card
board. he has studied them with kind
~ eye; and his proudest boast is THAT
while others dissect their victims he
keeps Thorn alive; while others work i'm
q laboratory Of torture he scrutinizes
the life and habits OF the animal world
without destroying them
Fabre was the son Of an artisan and
was practically self-tausht-even Greek.
Latin and algebra he learned by himself
and he became in time a professor at
Avignon and eminent as a chemist
When the Minister Of Public Instruction,
NJ. Victor Duruy. visited Avignon he
sought out the retiring young man in
his laboratory and paid him unexpected
honore. Six months after this visit
Fabre received an official letter inviting
him to Paris:
But he diI not move. Why should ne
waste his time? Then there came another
letter from the minister: II you are not
here IN forty eight hours. III have you ar
rested by my gendarmes." Twenty four
hours after Fabre was in the bureau Of NJ
Duruy Read that" he said, handing him
looked, and read his nomination to the dis
tinctlon OF the Legion of Honor. Speech
his thanks. Come here" said the minis
ter, so that may give you the accOlade
viii be your sponsor. know YOU" And
pinnins the Ribbon on his breast, he kissed
him warmly on each cheek. Hold on so
he said, that's not all. The journey which
obliged you 20 take must not be al YOUR
expense. Take this handing him 100. ''and
II there is more than sufficient, apply IL 70
your laboratory. Take u. or Ill be very
an n And And tS-morrow intend to present
slightest attempt at rebellion. AMI | will
call in my gendarmes."
Is II any wonder that a man who proved
40 refractory 20 the honors he merited so
we'll should have remained unknown To the
great mass of his compatriOts?
a sale Of some uncommonly valuable
MSS. is announced in London. These in
ciude the original treaty signed in Octo-
~. h.
and Henri Deux. by the terms OF which
the ten-months-old Mary Queen Of Scots
was betrOthed TO the son of the French
King. and the letter which sNTar,.
twenty-seven years later. wrote from
her English prison to her brother-ln-
law. Charles IN. begging for his inter
cesslon with Elizabeth Another item IS
the order signed by Elizabeth for the
payment Of ''the blood money" zoo 10
slr John Popham. the crown officer who
conducted Mary's trial at Fotheringav.
A Enthusiastically complimentary let
ter In Elizabeth's graceful chirosrapbv
IL addressed To the Due de Montpensier.
My Cousin Hearing the happy news Of
your arrival In Flanders 2 cannot restrair
NY pen from declaring "a YOU the l0y and
w t'iNtt t4Nt itotli ~. uIttlu.-
you IN the first rank as the most fsifbfri
friend and most assured Prince thar I bay. /
ever known. having experience through
."us actions, or the result OF your promises
Aud } am sure that being born In So hon
ouIhhle station as one knows YOU To be
J ehail not adorn your renOwn mora than
ny showing myself constant with regard -
hlIn "ho respects You "a much. And fnr
ny own part, Tor having the honour OF bav-
ing khoWu you So we'll Ia my realm
promise YOU tIat YOU may regard me a.
one or Your nearest relations who will
tnlnk herself happy when. such an boIr
snail come 10 me an which can do you the