New-York tribune., 1921-11-27

Ava ASSCHtAHSHe against the
World War This conditions
which 1t created, we are told, compelled
the translator of this work somewhat
to abridge the authors text, which fills
two volumes" Doubtless Mr. Mall
performed tho ungrateful task Of
abridgment with discretion. commen-
suratc with the felicity with which he
made the translation. Yet we cannot
avoid rcpining at the loss Of even
single paragraph or sentence of the
original work,
For Jean Henri Fabre was one of
those rare and exquisite geniuses who
convincingly demonstrate the identity
OF humanity with diviaity and concern
ing whom 1t is impossible for us to be
too we'll informed. His scholarship was
| colossal, acquired not through academic
poring but through direct contact with
nature, marked with a patience, keen
ness OF perception and sanity of
Judgment never surpassed in the an
nails of research. We may compare
him with Gray and with Audubon with
justice to both him and them. Yet in
one important respect his achievements
were more admirable than theirs.
They had in their labors the incite-
ment and the allurement of the beauty
and grace of at least the major pro-
portion of the flowers and birds which
they respectively studied, while his
studies were given to insects, the great
majority of which were unattractive if
not actually repulsve.
Let us be thankful, however. for as
much of the original two volumes as is
contained in this one; especially thank
ful that the author-a remote kinsman
of his illustrious subject-has let Jean
Henri Fabre tells much of his life story
in quotations from his own eloquent
writings, and has written the remainder
in most sympathetic and harmonious
vein. A single example of the interest
OF the work-one of be-is
found In the story of Pasteur's visit to
Fabre, told in the latter's own words.
Pasteur had just completed those ex-
periments, magnificent in their ripor-
Gus simplicity" by means of which he
had "exploded forever the insanity
which professed to see life arising
from a chemical conflict in mass of
putresence." Dumas had directed hin,
to 60 to the Midi and study the silk
worm disease, which was ravaging anl
running whole provinces of France. But
he knew nothing about silkworms. NJ
matter; go! But he WAS not even 6
Psychologist. No matter; go, So he
went down to Avignon and called or
Fabre. II want to see some cocoons.'
he said; 81 have never seen any;
know them only by name Could 70,
get me ome?" They were brought
He took one, examined it curiously. a:
one would singular object from tn,
other side of the world. He shook i
against his ear.
"It rattles!" he said. surprised
"There is something inside!"
"Why, yesl"
"But what?"
"The chrysalis."
"What's thatw
"The sort of mummy into which tn
caterpillar turns before it becomes
moth"
"And in every cocoon there is one O
those things?"
"Of course; it's to protect the chrys
alis that the caterpillar spins"
"Ahl"
knowing nothing Of caterpillar
cocoon, chrysalis or metamorphosis,
continues Fabre, "Pasteur had come t,
regenerate the silkworm. The ancien
gymnasts presented themselves naket
for the contest This ingenious thinker
who was to fight the plague of th'
silkworm nurseries, had also hastenct
to battle wholly naked; that is, devoit
of the simplest notions of the insec
he was to save from danger. l wa'
astounded; more, was filed will
wonder"
Fabre and Pasteur were kindre'
spirits; possessing the genius whic'
is an infinite capacity for taking pains
oil WHICH liSFSI Wcdllcu,
devotion approximating self-immola
tion, and withal Christian faith II
the spiritual and the divine, which wa
only quickened and confirmed by thei
furthest and most masterful scientif
discoveries. They had, also, the SAM
power Of lucid, eloquent and convinc
ing expression and exposition. Blu
Fabre was gifted with the far create
physical strength and endurance, AM
thus was able to do far more writin,
than his illustrious compatriot. Tha
he was able to write so much is caus
for everlasting gratitude, for his book
are as exquisite from the literar.
point of view as his entomologica
researches were valuable from th
point of view of science. Well ii,
Charles Darwin, many years ago, de
scribe him as a "savant who think
like philosopher and writes like
poet"