whatrousesmyenthusiasmistheprocessthatsetsthetruthbeforeus。Westartfromabrilliantlylightedspotandgraduallygetdeeperanddeeperinthedarkness，which，initsturn，becomesself—illuminatedbykindlingnewlightsforahigherascent。Thisprogressivemarchoftheknowntowardtheunknown，thisconscientiouslanternlightingwhatfollowsbytheraysofwhatcomesbefore:thatwasmyrealbusiness。
　　Geometrywastoteachmethelogicalprogressionofthought;itwastotellmehowthedifficultiesarebrokenupintosectionswhich，elucidatedconsecutively，togetherformalevercapableofmovingtheblockthatresistsanydirectefforts;lastly，itshowedmehoworderisengendered，order，thebaseofclarity。Ifithaseverfallentomylottowriteapageortwowhichthereaderhasrunoverwithoutexcessivefatigue，Ioweit，ingreatpart，togeometry，thatwonderfulteacheroftheartofdirectingone’sthought。True，itdoesnotbestowimagination，adelicateflowerblossomingnoneknowshowandunabletothriveoneverysoil;butitarrangeswhatisconfused，thinsoutthedense，calmsthetumultuous，filtersthemuddyandgiveslucidity，asuperiorproducttoallthetropesofrhetoric。
　　Yes，asatoilerwiththepen，Iowemuchtoit。Whereforemythoughtsreadilyturnbacktothosebrighthoursofmynovitiate，when，retiringtoacornerofthegardeninrecreationtime，withabitofpaperonmykneesandastumpofpencilinmyfingers，I
　　usedtopracticededucingthisorthatpropertycorrectlyfromanassemblageofstraightlines。Theothersamusedthemselvesallaroundme;Ifoundmydelightinthefrustumofapyramid。PerhapsIshouldhavedonebettertostrengthenthemusclesofmythighsbyjumpingandleaping，toincreasethesupplenessofmyloinswithgymnasticcontortions。Ihaveknownsomecontortionistswhohaveprosperedbeyondthethinker。
　　Seemethenenteringthelistsasaninstructorofyouth，fairlywellacquaintedwiththeelementsofgeometry。Incaseofneed，I
　　couldhandlethelandsurveyor’sstakeandchain。Theremyviewsended。Tocubethetrunkofatree，togaugeacask，tomeasurethedistanceofaninaccessiblepointappearedtomethehighestpitchtowhichgeometricalknowledgecouldhopetosoar。Werethereloftierflights？Ididnotevensuspectit，whenanunexpectedglimpseshowedmethepunydimensionsofthelittlecornerwhichIhadclearedinthemeasurelessdomain。
　　Atthattime，thecollegeinwhich，twoyearsbefore，Ihadmademyfirstappearanceasateacher，hadjusthalvedthesizeofitsclassesandlargelyincreaseditsstaff。Thenewcomersalllivedinthebuilding，likemyself，andwehadourmealsincommonattheprincipal’stable。Weformedahivewhere，inourleisuretime，someofus，inourrespectivecells，workedupthehoneyofalgebraandgeometry，historyandphysics，GreekandLatinmostofall，sometimeswithaviewtotheclassabove，sometimesandoftenerwithaviewtoacquiringadegree。Theuniversitytitleslackedvariety。Allmycolleagueswerebachelorsofletters，butnothingmore。Theymust，ifpossible，armthemselvesalittlebettertomaketheirwayintheworld。Weallworkedhardandsteadily。I
　　wastheyoungestoftheindustriouscommunityandnolesseagerthantheresttoincreasemymodestequipment。
　　Visitsbetweenthedifferentroomswerefrequent。Wewouldcometoconsultoneanotheraboutadifficulty，orsimplytopassthetimeofday。Ihadasaneighbor，inthenextcelltomine，aretiredquartermasterwho，wearyofbarracklife，hadtakenrefugeineducation。Wheninchargeofthebooksofhiscompanyhehadbecomemoreorlessfamiliarwithfigures;anditbecamehisambitiontotakeamathematicaldegree。Hiscerebrumappearstohavehardenedwhilehewaswithhisregiment。Accordingtomydearcolleagues，thoseamiableretailersofthemisfortunesofothers，hehadalreadytwicebeenplucked。Stubbornly，hereturnedtohisbooksandexercises，refusingtobedauntedbytworeverses。
　　Itwasnotthathewasalluredbythebeautiesofmathematics，farfromit;butthesteptowhichheaspiredfavoredhisplans。Hehopedtohavehisownboardersanddispensebutterandvegetablestolucrativepurpose。Theloverofstudyforitsownsakeandthepersistenttrapperhuntingadiplomaashewouldsomethingtoputinhismouthwerenotmadetounderstandortoseemuchofeachother。Chance，however，broughtustogether。
　　Ihadoftensurprisedourfriendsittingintheevening，bythelightofacandle，withhiselbowsonthetableandhisheadbetweenhishands，meditatingatgreatlengthinfrontofabigexercisebookcrammedwithcabalisticsigns。Fromtimetotime，whenanideacametohim，hewouldtakehispenandhastilyputdownalineofwritingwhereinletters，largeandsmall，weregroupedwithoutanygrammaticalsense。Thelettersxandyoftenrecurred，intermingledwithfigures。Everyrowendedwiththesignofequalityandanought。Nextcamemorereflection，withclosedeyes，andafreshrowoflettersarrangedinadifferentorderandlikewisefollowedbyanought。Pageafterpagewasfilledinthisqueerfashion，eachlinewindingupwith0。
　　’Whatareyoudoingwithallthoserowsoffiguresamountingtozero？’Iaskedhimoneday。
　　Themathematiciangavemealeerylook，pickedupinbarracks。A
　　sarcasticdroopinthecornerofhiseyeshowedhowhepitiedmyignorance。Mycolleagueofthemanynoughtsdidnot，however，takeanunfairadvantageofhissuperiority。Hetoldmethathewasworkingatanalyticalgeometry。
　　Thephrasehadastrangeeffectuponme。Iruminatedsilentlytothispurpose:therewasahighergeometry，whichyoulearntmoreparticularlywithcombinationsoflettersinwhichxandyplayedaprominentpart。Whenmynext—doorneighborreflectedsolong，clutchinghisforeheadbetweenhishands，hewastryingtodiscoverthehiddenmeaningofhisownhieroglyphics;hesawtheghostlytranslationofhissumsdancinginspace。Whatdidheperceive？
　　Howwouldthealphabeticalsigns，arrangedfirstinoneandtheninanothermanner，giveanimageoftheactualthings，animagevisibletotheeyesofthemindalone？Itbeatme。
　　’Ishallhavetolearnanalyticalgeometrysomeday，’Isaid。
　　’Willyouhelpme？’
　　’I’mquitewilling，’hereplied，withasmileinwhichIreadhislackofconfidenceinmydetermination。
　　Nomatter;westruckabargainthatsameevening。Wewouldtogetherbreakupthestubbleofalgebraandanalyticalgeometry，thefoundationofthemathematicaldegree;wewouldmakecommonstock:hewouldbringlonghoursofcalculation，Imyyouthfulardor。WewouldbeginassoonasIhadfinishedwithmyartsdegree，whichwasmymainpreoccupationforthemoment。
　　Inthosefaroffdaysitwastheruletomakealittleseriousliterarystudytakeprecedenceofscience。Youwereexpectedtobefamiliarwiththegreatmindsofantiquity，toconversewithHoraceandVirgil，TheocritusandPlato，beforetouchingthepoisonsofchemistryortheleversofmechanics。Thenicetiesofthoughtcouldonlybethegainersbythesepreparations。Life’sexigencies，everharsherasprogressafflictsuswithitsincreasingneeds，havechangedallthat。Afigforcorrectlanguage！Businessbeforeall！
　　Thismodernhurrywouldhavesuitedmyimpatience。IconfessthatIfumedagainsttheregulationwhichforcedLatinandGreekuponmebeforeallowingmetoopenuprelationswiththesineandcosine。
　　Today，wiser，ripenedbyageandexperience，Iamofadifferentopinion。Iverymuchregretthatmymodestliterarystudieswerenotmorecarefullyconductedandfurtherprolonged。Tofillupthisenormousblankalittle，Irespectfullyreturned，somewhatlateinlife，tothosegoodoldbookswhichareusuallysoldsecond—handwiththeirleaveshardlycut。Venerablepages，annotatedinpencilduringthelongeveningsofmyyouth，Ihavefoundyouagainandyouaremorethanevermyfriends。Youhavetaughtmethatanobligationrestsuponwhoeverwieldsthepen:hemusthavesomethingtosaythatiscapableofinterestingus。Whenthesubjectcomeswithinthescopeofnaturalscience，theinterestisnearlyalwaysassured;thedifficulty，thegreatdifficulty，istopruneitofitsthornsandtopresentitunderaprepossessingaspect。Truth，theysay，risesnakedfromawell。Agreed;butadmitthatsheisallthebetterforbeingdecentlyclothed。Shecraves，ifnotthegaudyfurbelowsborrowedfromrhetoric’swardrobe，atleastavineleaf。Thegeometersalonehavetherighttorefuseherthatmodestgarment;intheorems，plainnesssuffices。
　　Theothers，especiallythenaturalist，areindutyboundtodrapeagauzetunicmoreorlesselegantlyaroundherwaist。
　　SupposeIsay:’Baptiste，givememyslippers。’
　　Iamexpressingmyselfinplainlanguage，alittlepoorinvariants。IknowexactlywhatIamsayingandmyspeechisunderstood。
　　Others——andtheyarenumerous——contendthatthisrudimentarymethodisthebestinallthings。TheytalksciencetotheirreadersastheymighttalkslipperstoBaptiste。Kaffirsyntaxdoesnotshockthem。Donotspeaktothemofthevalueofawellselectedterm，setdowninitsrightplace，stilllessofaliltingconstruction，soundingratherwell。Childishnonsensetheycallallthat;thefiddlingofashortsightedmind！
　　Perhapstheyareright:theBaptisteidiomisagreateconomizeroftimeandtrouble。Thisadvantagedoesnottemptme;itseemstomethatanideastandsoutbetterifexpressedinlucidlanguage，withsoberimagery。Asuitablephrase，placedinitscorrectpositionandsayingwithoutfussthethingswewanttosay，necessitatesachoice，anoftenlaboriouschoice。Therearedrabwords，thecommonplacesofcolloquialspeech;andthereare，sotospeak，coloredwords，whichmaybecomparedwiththebrushstrokesstrewingpatchesoflightoverthegraybackgroundofapainting。Howarewetofindthosepicturesquewords，thosestrikingfeatureswhicharresttheattention？Howarewetogroupthemintoalanguageheedfulofsyntaxandnotdispleasingtotheear？
　　Iwastaughtnothingofthisart。Forthatmatter，isitevertaughtintheschools？Igreatlydoubtit。Ifthefirethatrunsthroughourveins，ifinspirationdonotcometoouraid，weshallflutterthepagesofthethesaurusinvain:thewordforwhichweseekwillrefusetocome。Thentowhatmastersshallwehaverecoursetoquickenanddevelopthehumblegermthatislatentwithinus？Tobooks。
　　Asaboy，Iwasalwaysanardentreader;butthenicetiesofawell—balancedstylehardlyinterestedme:Ididnotunderstandthem。Agooddeallater，whencloseuponfifteen，Ibeganvaguelytoseethatwordshaveaphysiognomyoftheirown。Somepleasedmebetterthanothersbythedistinctnessoftheirmeaningandtheresonanceoftheirrhythm;theyproducedaclearerimageinmymind;aftertheirfashion，theygavemeapictureoftheobjectdescribed。Coloredbyitsadjectiveandvivifiedbyitsverb，thenamebecamealivingreality:whatitsaidIsaw。Andthus，gradually，wasthemagicofwordsrevealedtome，whenthechancesof，myundirectedreadingplacedafeweasystandardpagesinmyway。
　　CHAPTERXIIIMATHEMATICALMEMORIES:MYLITTLETABLE
　　Itistimetostartouranalyticalgeometry。Hecancomenow，mypartner，themathematician:IthinkIshallunderstandwhathesays。Ihavealreadyrunthroughmybookandnoticedthatoursubject，whosebeautifulprecisionmakesworkarecreation，bristleswithnoveryseriousdifficulties。
　　Webegininmyroom，infrontofablackboard。Afterafewevenings，prolongedintothepeacefulwatchesofthenight，I
　　becomeaware，tomygreatsurprise，thatmyteacher，thepastmasterinthosehieroglyphics，isreally，moreoftenthannot，mypupil。Hedoesnotseethecombinationsoftheabscissasandordinatesveryclearly。Imakeboldtotakethechalkinhandmyself，toseizetherudderofouralgebraicalboat。Icommentonthebook，interpretitinmyownfashion，expoundthetext，soundthereefsuntildaylightcomesandleadsustothehavenofthesolution。Besides，thelogicissoirresistible，itisallsucheasygoingandsolucidthatoftenoneseemstoberememberingratherthanlearning。
　　Andsoweproceed，withourpositionsreversed。Idigintothehardrock，crumbleit，loosenituntilImakeroomforthoughttopenetrate。Mycomrade——Icannowallowmyselftospeakofhimonequalterms——mycomradelistens，suggestsobjections，raisesdifficultieswhichwetrytosolveinunison。Thetwocombinedlevers，insertedinthefissure，endbyshakingandoverturningtherockymass。
　　Inolongerseeinthecornerofthequartermaster’seyetheleerydroopthatgreetedmeatthestart。Cordialfranknessnowreigns，theinfectioushighspiritsimpartedbysuccess。Littlebylittle，dawnbreaks，verymistyasyet，butladenwithpromises。Wearebothgreatlyamazed;andmyshareinthesatisfactionisadoubleone，forheseestwiceoverwhomakesotherssee。Thusdowepasshalfthenight，indelightfulhours。Weceasewhensleepbeginstoweightooheavilyonoureyelids。
　　Whenmycomradereturnstohisroom，doeshesleep，carelessforthemomentoftheshiftingscenewhichwehaveconjuredup？Heconfessestomethathesleepssoundly。ThisadvantageIdonotpossess。ItisnotinmypowertopassthespongeovermypoorbrainevenasIpassitovertheblackboard。Thenetworkofideasremainsandformsasitwereamovingcobwebinwhichreposewrigglesandtosses，incapableoffindingastableequilibrium。
　　Whensleepdoescomeatlast，itisoftenbutastateofsomnolencewhich，farfromsuspendingtheactivityofthemind，actuallymaintainsandquickensitmorethanwakingwould。Duringthistorpor，inwhichnighthasnotyetcloseduponthebrain，I
　　sometimessolvemathematicaldifficultieswithwhichIstruggledunsuccessfullythedaybefore。Abrilliantbeacon，ofwhichIamhardlyconscious，flaresinmybrain。ThenIjumpoutofbed，lightmylampagainandhastentojotdownmysolutions，therecollectionofwhichIshouldhavelostonawakening。Likelightningflashes，thosegleamsvanishassuddenlyastheyappear。
　　Whencedotheycome？ProbablyfromahabitwhichIacquiredveryearlyinlife:tohavefoodalwaysthereformymind，topourtheneverfailingoilconstantlyintothelampofthought。Wouldyousucceedinthethingsofthemind？Theinfalliblemethodistobealwaysthinkingofthem。ThismethodIpracticedmoresedulouslythanmycomrade;andhence，nodoubt，arosetheinterchangeofpositions，thediscipleturnedintothemaster。Itwasnot，however，anoverwhelminginfatuation，apainfulobsession;itwasratherarecreation，almostapoeticfeast。Asourgreatlyricwriterputitintheprefacetohisvolume，LesRayonsetlesombres:’Mathematicsplaytheirpartinartaswellasinscience。
　　Thereisalgebrainastronomy:astronomyisakintopoetry;thereisalgebrainmusic:musicisakintopoetry。’
　　Isthispoeticexaggeration？Surelynot:VictorHugospoketruly。
　　Algebra，thepoemoforder，hasmagnificentflights。Ilookuponitsformulae，itsstrophesassuperb，withoutfeelingatallastonishedwhenothersdonotagree。Mycolleague’ssatiricallookcamebackwhenIwasimprudentenoughtoconfidemyextrageometricalrapturestohisears:’Nonsense，’saidhe，’purestuffandnonsense！Let’sgetonwithourtangents。’
　　Thequartermasterwasright:thestrictseverityofourapproachingexaminationallowedofnosuchdreamer’soutbursts。WasI，onmyside，verywrong？Towarmchillcalculationbythefireoftheideal，toliftone’sthoughtabovemereformulae，tobrightenthecavernsoftheabstractwithasparkoflife:wasthisnottoeasetheeffortofpenetratingtheunknown？Wheremycomradeploddedon，scorningmyviaticum，Iperformedajourneyofpleasure。IfI
　　hadtoleanontherudestaffofalgebra，Ihadformyguidethatvoicewithinme，urgingmetoloftyflights。Studybecameajoy。
　　Itbecamestillmoreinterestingwhen，aftertheangularitiesofacombinationofstraightlines，Ilearnttoportraythegracesofacurve。Howmanypropertieswerethereofwhichthecompassknewnothing，howmanycunninglawslaycontainedinembryowithinanequation，themysteriousnutwhichmustbeartisticallycrackedtoextracttherichkernel，thetheorem！Takethisorthatterm，placethesignbeforeitandforthwithyouhavetheellipse，thetrajectoryoftheplanets，withitstwofriendlyfoci，transmittingpairsofvectorswhosesumisconstant;substitutethe——signandyouhavethehyperbolawiththeantagonisticfoci，thedesperatecurvethatdivesintospacewithinfinitetentacles，approachingnearerandnearertostraightlines，theasymptotes，butneversucceedinginmeetingthem。Suppressthattermandyouhavetheparabola，whichvainlyseeksininfinityitslostsecondfocus;youhavethetrajectoryofthebombshell;youhavethepathofcertaincometswhichcomeonedaytovisitoursunandthenfleetodepthswhencetheyneverreturn。Isitnotwonderfulthustoformulatetheorbitoftheworlds？IthoughtsothenandIthinksostill。
　　Afterfifteenmonthsofthisexercise，wewentuptogetherforourexaminationatMontpellier;andbothofusreceivedourdegreesasbachelorsofmathematicalscience。Mycompanionwasawreck:I，ontheotherhand，hadrefreshedmyselfwithanalyticalgeometry。
　　Utterlywornoutbyhiscourseofconicsections，mychumdeclaresthathehashadenough。InvainIholdouttheglitteringprospectofanewdegree，thatoflicentiateofmathematicalscience，whichwouldleadustothesplendorsofthehighermathematicsandinitiateusintothemechanicsoftheheavens:Icannotprevailuponhim，cannotmakehimsharemyaudacity。Hecallsitamadscheme，whichwillexhaustusandcometonothing。Withouttheadviceofanexperiencedpilot，withnoothercompassthanabook，whichisnotalwaysveryclear，becauseofitslaconicadherencetosetterms，ourpoorbarkisboundtobewreckedonthefirstreef。
　　Onemightaswellputouttoseainanutshellanddefythebillowsofthevastydeep。Hedoesnotusetheseactualwords，buthisgloomyestimateoftheextremedifficultiestobeencounteredisenoughtoexplainhisrefusal。Iamquitefreetogoandbreakmyneckinfarcountries;heismoreprudentandwillnotfollowme。
　　Isuspectanotherreason，whichthedeserterdoesnotconfess。Hehasobtainedthetitleneededforhisplans。Whatdoeshecarefortherest？Isitworthwhiletosituplateatnightandwearone’sselfoutintoilforthemerepleasureoflearning？Hemustbeamadmanwho，withoutthelureofprofit，lendsaneartotheblandishmentsofknowledge。Letusretreatintoourshell，closeourlidtotheimportunitiesofthelightandleadthelifeofamussel。Thereliesthesecretofhappiness。
　　Thisphilosophyisnotmine。Mycuriosityseesinastageaccomplishednomorethanthepreparationforanewstagetowardstheretreatingunknown。Mypartner，therefore。leavesme。
　　Henceforth，Iamalone，aloneandwretched。ThereisnooneleftwithwhomIcansitupandthreshthesubjectoutinexhilaratingdiscussion。Thereisnoonenearmetounderstandme，noonewhocanevenpassivelyopposehisideastomineandtakepartintheconflictwhencethelightwillspring，evenasasparkisbornoftheconcussionoftwoflints。Whenadifficultyarises，steepasacliff，thereisnofriendlyshouldertosupportmeinmyattempttoclimbit。Alone，Ihavetoclingtotheroughnessofthejaggedrock，tofall，often，andpickmyselfup，coveredwithbruises，andrenewtheassault;alone，Imustgivemyshoutoftriumph，withouttheleastechoofencouragement，when，reachingthesummitandbrokenintheeffort，Iamatlastallowedtoseealittlewaybeyond。
　　Mymathematicalcampaignwillcostmemuchstubbornthought:Iamawareofthisafterthefirstfewlinesofmybook。Iamenteringuponthedomainoftheabstract，roughgroundthatcanonlybeclearedbytheinsistentplowofreflection。Theblackboard，excellentforthecurvesofanalyticalgeometrystudiedinmyfriend’scompany，isnowneglected。Iprefertheexercisebook，aquireofpaperboundinacover。Withthisconfidant，whichallowsonetoremainseatedandreststhemusclesofthelegs，Icancommunenightlyundermylampshade，untilalatehour，andkeepgoingtheforgeofthoughtwhereintheintractableproblemissoftenedandhammeredintoshape。
　　Mystudytable，thesizeofapockethandkerchief，occupiedontherightbytheinkstand——apennybottle——andontheleftbytheopenexercisebook，givesmejusttheroomwhichIneedtowieldthepen。Ilovethatlittlepieceoffurniture，oneofthefirstacquisitionsofmyearlymarriedlife。Itiseasilymovedwhereyouwish:infrontofthewindow，whentheskyiscloudy;intothediscreetlightofacorner，whenthesunistroublesome。Inwinter，itallowsyoutocomeclosetothehearth，wherealogisblazing。
　　Poorlittlewalnutboard，Ihavebeenfaithfultoyouforhalfacenturyandmore。Ink—stained，cutandscarredwiththepenknife，youlendyoursupporttodaytomyproseasyouoncedidtomyequations。Thisvariationinemploymentleavesyouindifferent;
　　yourpatientbackextendsthesamewelcometotheformulaeofalgebraandtheformulaofthought。Icannotboastthisplacidity;
　　Ifindthatthechangehasnotincreasedmypeaceofmind;huntingforideastroublesthebrainevenmorethanhuntingfortherootsofanequation。
　　Youwouldneverrecognizeme，littlefriend，ifyoucouldgiveaglanceatmygraymane。Whereisthecheerfulfaceofformerdays，brightwithenthusiasmandhope？Ihaveaged，Ihaveaged。Andyou，whatafallingoff，sinceyoucametomefromthedealer’s，gleamingandpolishedandsmellingsogoodwithyourbeeswax！Likeyourmaster，youhavewrinkles，oftenmywork，Iadmit;forhowmanytimes，inmyimpatience，haveInotdugmypenintoyou，when，afteritsdipinthemuddyinkpot，thenibrefusedtowritedecently！
　　Oneofyourcornersisbrokenoff;theboardsarebeginningtocomeloose。Insideyou，Ihear，fromtimetotime，theplaneofthedeath—watch，whodespoilsoldfurniture。Fromyeartoyear，newgalleriesareexcavated，endangeringyoursolidity。Theoldonesshowontheoutsideintheshapeoftinyroundholes。Astrangerhasseizeduponthelatter，excellentquarters，obtainedwithouttrouble。Iseetheimpudentintruderrunnimblyundermyelbowandpenetrateforthwithintothetunnelabandonedbythedeath—watch。
　　Sheisaftergame，thisslenderhuntress，cladinblack，busycollectingwoodliceforhergrubs。Awholenationisdevouringyou，youoldtable;Iamwritingonaswarmofinsects！Nosupportcouldbemoreappropriatetomyentomologicalnotes。
　　Whatwillbecomeofyouwhenyourmasterisgone？Willyoubeknockeddownforafranc，whenthefamilycometoapportionmypoorspoils？Willyoubeturnedintoastandforthepitcherbesidethekitchensink？Willyoubetheplankonwhichthecabbagesareshredded？Orwillmychildren，onthecontrary，agreeandsay:
　　’Letuspreservetherelic。Itwaswherehetoiledsohardtoteachhimselfandmakehimselfcapableofteachingothers;itwaswherehesolongconsumedhisstrengthtofindfoodforuswhenwewerelittle。Letuskeepthesacredplank。’
　　Idarenotbelieveinsuchafutureforyou。Youwillpassintostrangehands，Omyoldfriend;youwillbecomeabedsidetable，ladenwithbowlafterbowloflinseedtea，until，decrepit，ricketyandbrokendown，youarechoppeduptofeedtheflamesforabriefmomentunderthesimmeringsaucepan。Youwillvanishinsmoketojoinmylaborsinthatothersmoke，oblivion，theultimaterestingplaceofourvainagitations。
　　Butletusreturn，littletable，toouryoungdays;thoseofyourshiningvarnishandofmyfondillusions。ItisSunday，thedayofrest，thatistosay，ofcontinuouswork，uninterruptedbymydutiesintheschool。IgreatlypreferThursday，whichisnotageneralholidayandmorepropitioustostudiouscalm。Suchasitis，forallitsdistractions，theLord’sdaygivesmeacertainleisure。Letusmakethemostofit。Therearefifty—twoSundaysintheyear，makingatotalthatisalmostequivalenttothelongvacation。
　　ItsohappensthatIhaveagloriousquestiontowrestlewithtoday;thatofKepler’sthreelaws，which，whenexploredbythecalculus，aretoshowmethefundamentalmechanismoftheheavenlybodies。Oneofthemsays:’Theareasweptoutinagiventimebytheradiusvectorofthepathofaplanetisproportionaltothetimetaken。’
　　FromthisIhavetodeducethattheforcewhichconfinestheplanettoitsorbitisdirectedtowardsthesun。Gentlyentreatedbythedifferentialandintegralcalculus，alreadytheformulaisbeginningtovoiceitself。Myconcentrationredoubles，mymindissetuponseizingtheradiantdawnoftruth。
　　Suddenly，inthedistance，br—r—r—rum！Br—r—r—rum！Br—r—r—rum！Thenoisecomesnearer，growslouder。Woeuponme！AndplaguetakethePagoda！
　　Letmeexplain。Iliveinasuburb，atthebeginningofthePernesRoad，farfromthetumultofthetown[ofCarpentraswhereFabrewasamasteratthecollege]。Twentyyardsinfrontofmyhouse，somepleasuregardenshavebeenopened，bearingasignboardinscribed，’ThePagoda。’Here，onSundayafternoons，theladsandlassesfromtheneighboringfarmscometodisportthemselvesincountrydances。Toattractcustomandpushthesaleofrefreshments，theproprietoroftheballendstheSundayhopwithatombola。Twohoursbeforehand，hehastheprizescarriedalongthepublicroads，precededbyfifesanddrums。Fromaberibbonedpole，bornebyastalwartfellowinaredsash，dangleaplatedgoblet，ahandkerchiefofLyonssilk，apairofcandlesticksandsomepacketsofcigars。Whowouldnotenterthepleasuregardens，withsuchabait？
　　’Br—r—r—rum！Br—r—r—rum！Br—r—r—rum！’goestheprocession。
　　Itcomesjustundermywindow，wheelstotherightandmarchesintotheestablishment，ahugewoodenbooth，hungwithevergreens。Andnow，ifyoudislikenoise，flee，fleeasfarasyoucan。Untilnightfall，theophicleideswillbellow，thefifestootleandthecornetsbray。HowwouldyoudeducethestepsofKepler’slawstotheaccompanimentofthatnoisyorchestra！Itisenoughtodriveonemad。Letusbeoffwithallspeed。
　　Amileaway，Iknowaflintywastebelovedofthewheatearandthelocust。Herereignsperfectcalm;moreover，therearesomeclumpsofevergreenoakwhichwilllendmetheirscantyshade。Itakemybook，afewsheetsofpaperandapencilandflytothissolitude。
　　Whatbeauteoussilence，whatexquisitequiet！Butthesunisoverwhelming，underthemeagercoverofthebushes。Cheerily，mylad！HaveatyourKepler’slawsinthecompanyoftheblue—wingedlocusts。Youwillreturnhomewithyourproblemssolved，butwithablisteredskin。Anoverdoseofsunintheneckshallbetheoutcomeofgraspingthelawoftheareas。Onethingmakesupforanother。
　　Duringtherestoftheweek，IhavemyThursdaysandtheevenings，whichIemployinstudyuntilIdropwithsleep。AlltoldIhavenolackoftime，despitethedrudgeryofmycollegeties。Thegreatthingisnottobediscouragedbytheunavoidabledifficultiesencounteredattheoutset。Ilosemywayeasilyinthatdenseforestovergrownwithcreepersthathavetobecutawaywiththeaxetoobtainaclearing。Afortunateturnortwo;andI
　　oncemoreknowwhereIam。Ilosemywayagain。Thestubbornaxemakesitsopeningwithoutalwayslettinginsufficientlight。
　　Thebookisjustabook，thatistosay，asettext，sayingnotawordmorethanitisobligedto，exceedinglylearned，Iadmit，but，alas，oftenobscure！Theauthor，itseems，wroteitforhimself。
　　Heunderstood;thereforeothersmust。Poorbeginners，lefttoyourselves，youmanageasbestyoucan！Foryou，thereshallbenoretracingofstepsinordertotacklethedifficultyinanotherway;nocircuiteasingthearduousroadandpreparingthepassage;
　　nosupplementaryaperturetoadmitaglimmerofdaylight。
　　Incomparablyinferiortothespokenword，whichbeginsagainwithfreshmethodsofattackandisreadytovarythepathsthatleadtotheopen，thebooksayswhatitsaysandnothingmore。Havingfinisheditsdemonstration，whetheryouunderstandorno，theoracleisinexorablydumb。Yourereadthetextandponderitobstinately;youpassandrepassyourshuttlethroughthewoofoffigures。Uselesseffortsall:thedarknesscontinues。Whatwouldbeneededtosupplytheilluminatingray？Oftenenough，atrifle，amereword;andthatwordthebookwillnotspeak。
　　Happyishewhoisguidedbyamaster’steaching！Hisprogressdoesnotknowthemiseryofthosewearisomebreakdowns。WhatwasItodobeforethedishearteningwallthateverynowandthenroseupandbarredmyroad？Ifollowedd’Alembert’spreceptinhisadvicetoyoungmathematicalstudents:’Havefaithandgoahead，’saidthegreatgeometrician。
　　FaithIhad;andIwentonpluckily。AnditwaswellformethatI
　　did，forIoftenfoundbehindthewalltheenlightenmentwhichI
　　wasseekinginfrontofit。Givingupthebadpatchashopeless，I
　　wouldgoonand，afterIhadleftitbehind，discoverthedynamitecapableofblastingit。’Twasatinygrainatfirst，aninsignificantballrollingandincreasingasitwent。Fromoneslopetotheotherofthetheorems，itgrewtoaheavymass;andthemassbecameamightyprojectilewhich，flungbackwardsandretracingitscourse，splitthedarknessandspreaditintoonevastsheetoflight。
　　D’Alembert’spreceptisgoodandverygood，providedyoudonotabuseit。Toomuchprecipitationinturningovertheintractablepagemightexposeyoutomanyadisappointment。Youmusthavefoughtthedifficultytoothandnailbeforeabandoningit。Thisroughskirmishingleadstointellectualvigor。
　　Twelvemonthsofmeditationinthecompanyofmylittletableatlastwonmemydegreeasalicentiateofmathematicalscience;andIwasnowqualifiedtoperform，halfacenturylater，theeminentlylucrativefunctionsofaninspectorofSpiders’webs！
　　CHAPTERXIVTHEBLUEBOTTLE:THELAYING
　　Topurgetheearthofdeath’simpuritiesandcausedeceasedanimalmattertobeoncemorenumberedamongthetreasuresoflifetherearehostsofsausagequeens，including，inourpartoftheworld，thebluebottle（Calliphoravomitaria，LIN。）andthecheckeredfleshfly（Sarcophagacarnaria，LIN。）。Everyoneknowsthefirst，thebig，dark—blueflywho，aftereffectingherdesignsintheill—