Pioneer press. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1882-19??, 1913-11-08

covcrcr OF New World-Eoo!,s Arouse
intcreot Among Famous Mention
Sake OF Science He Endured Many
Miserics-Wi.I Have a Monument
PariS.-Jean Henri Fabrc has been
called the Homer Of the insect world.
For fifty years he has studied Insects
and their ways more closely and con-
tinuously perhaps than any other man.
Add to this the fact that he Is i poet
us we'll rs man Of science. shat he
writes with peculiar charm, and il will
be understood why his books about in
ScctS have aroused the enthusiasm OF
such men as Maurice Maeteriincli and
Frederic Mistral.
They refer to him rs the diacoverer
OF new world re has been com
pared to La Fontaine. whose fables
give evidence Of his love for beasts.
Their writings show the same fresh
ness. simplicity and charm. Darwin
was struck by the patience and inge-
nuity exhibited by Nj. Fabrc III pene-
trating the secrets OF insects, and il
the Origin Of Species" he refers to
him us an inimituble observer
An English translation OF NJ Fabrc's
book The Life Of j Spider has lately
been published. He was born in the
south of France, was the son Of poor
parents. and lis whole life has been
one Of uninterrupted labor
AS Il lad he taught himself to read at
night by the light Of a blazing pine
knot. In school he paid his tuition
fees by serving rs a choir boy. He
won q scholarship at the normal school
at Avignon and became teacher.
finally rising to- the grade Of professor.
1t was while he was attached to the
lycee at Avignon that he came across
the chronological works OF Leon Du-
four. and thereafter the course of his
life was changed. He saw how in
complete was the state OF the science
Of entomology. and what he saw
opened to him magnificent field Of
study. Thereafter as soon as he was
able he gave up teaching. devoted him
self to the study Of insects and en-
durcd many miSerics for the sake of
science.
lie went to live in cottage with
rose tinted walls and green blinds at
the little village Of Serignan. on the
road from Orange to Ealreas. For
years tho neighboring peasants knew
little Of him. Then one day they
learned that Il :-rcut scholar was dwell
ing among them. and now lie is the
glory of the village.
lie has used incredible patience ana
ingenuity. guided by sympathy. in
studying insects. Observation ara
study In the laboratory did not tell
lin what he wanted to know 1t was
necessary 70" him 10 watch the free
insects In their natural environment
What he saw lie described syElDa-
thetically. HoaticnIly. vividly. His
writings interest the general reader as
much as the entomolocist He de-
scrib0d with equal care the industry
OF the bee and the wickedness Of the
7rcTtng mnntls. that fierce insect
which dcyour; its wives and charms
it's victims with what the entomolo-
&tats call It's spectral pose.
Mactcrllnck wrote of him: Gle do
voted to the task Of surprising their
little secrets. which are the counter.
part of the greatest mysteries. fifty
years of an existence solitary, mis-
understood; poor often approaching
want. but illl1mlncd each day BY the
Joy which IS brought by Il truth. which
IS the human Joy above all others. Lit
tie truths. you will say, those which
are offered to us By the ways Of n
spider or cricket. There are no
little truths. There exists but one, Of
which the mirror to our uncertain ewes
seems broken. but each fraglnent Of 1t,
whether 1t reflects the evolution Of n
star or the flight of q bee. contains
the supreme law"
NJ. Fabre IS now ninety. IIonors
nave come to him. His fame is wide
spread. He is no longer able to Dur.
sue his Studies lie sits day after day
smoking his pipe in the dining room
OF his cottage.
not long ago Frederic Mistral. the
famous octogenarian poet Of Provence.
made an appeal in his behalf on the
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