The sun., 1914-09-27
TIE WAR or THE UNIVERSITY
PROFESSORS.
MIR. Stetson Recalls the Pastcur- -Bonn
Incident or 1871.

''"Nht W.
To fHE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: Your
| interesting editorial article of this morn
/ Ing as to the exchange OF epithets be-
tween the learned professors OF the sew
/ eral warning nations recalls the similar
! eNchango In 1871 between the great Pas
/ teur and the University of bonn. whose
doctorate he then returned The story IS
told at length by Vallny-Radot U.ife Of
Pastcur, PIP. 1SS-19S).
Chevreul had read TO the Academy Of
! Science n declaration concerning the Gar
den OF Medicinal Plants founded In Paris
/ ny Louis XIII. In 1926 and converted into
a museum OF natural history by the con-
/ Vention In 1898 "Bombarded under the
reign OF William l.. King OF Prussia,
! count Won Bismarck. Chancellor. by the
| frussinn army during the night of Jan
uary SO. 1871. II had until then been
respected by all parties and all Powers.
nation1l or foreign"
Pasteur regrctting that he had not
been present 20 sign the protest, be-
thought himself OF another method Of
expressing his Indignation. He held the
diploma of the University Of Bonn. con-
terred In 1858. making him its Doctor Df
Medicine. This diploma, highly re-
ghrded by him, now became odious to
MN. ma he wrote to tho head Of the
Bonn Faculty OF Medicine:
feel offended at seeing my name with
the qualification or Virum Clarissirlum
that you have given II placed under a name
which is henceforth an object Of execration
10 my country, that Of Rex Gul'elruus
I am called upon by my conscience
10 ask you to enace my name from the
archives Of your faculty. 10 take back that
diploma a. sign Of the Indignation in
spired In French scientist nv the harbar-
ity and hypocrisy NJ him who IN order 20
satisfy his criminal pride persists In the
massacre Of two great nations written At
Arhois Genal on January iS fS5i. after
roadlng the mark Of infamy inscribed on
the FOREHEAD of your King nv tho I'usttlous
director nf tho Museum Of Natural History
NJ Che,rcui.
The answer Of the Bonn faculty was
long delayed. but when received was not
or a nature TO turn away wrath:
SIN: The undersigned now Principal ~
tho Faculty ~ Medicine Of Bonn IL 70.
puested 10 answer the insult which vou
have dared to offer to the German nation
In the sacred person Of It's august Emperor.
KING Wilhelm of Prussia. BY sending you
the expression Of entire contempt.-Dr.
MAURlcE MArN.NN. T. = Desiring 20 keep
its papers free from talnt the Faculty here
with returns your screed.
rasteur's reply contained the following:
I have the honor Of informing YOU. Mr.
expression of contempt In a Prussian mouth
is equivalent FOR true French hmau to that
~ Nirum Clarisslmum which YOU once pub
licly conferred upon me.
But he could not but feel the misery OF
the controversy and he added postscript:
And now. Mr Principal after reading over
both your letter and mine, sorrow In nv
heart to think that men who like yourself
and myself have sren' lifetime IN the
pursuit OF truth aud progress should ad-
dress each other In such fashion founded
ON my part iu such actions.
OH. the pity OF II all now, even more
than then The most splendid nations
that the world has ever seen. the most
wonderful achievements Of civilization,
drowning in seas of blood shed as rclent-
lesslv AMI as hrutally as in the marches
OF Tamcrlane and Genghls Khan. And
why" Because Of the fear that unless
they destroy each other now they will he
destroyed by each other in "A few years
hence II needs bc that destruction come.
but woe 20 him 10y whom 1t cometh. These
warriors on all sides are showing great
virtues as well as some vices. but their
business is detostahlc and awful
FRNSCis LYNpE STETsoS.
STERLISGToN, September 25.