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England； he was for the time being a member of the House of Commons； and he
used to vary his life at Avignon by a few weeks' sojourn in London。 His
reply； however； was not long in coming： almost immediately he sent help； a
sum of some 120 pounds sterling； which fell like manna into the hands of
Fabre； and he did not； in exchange； demand the slightest security for this
advance。
Then； filled with disgust； the 〃irregular person〃 shook off the yoke and
retired to Orange。 At first he took shelter where he could； anxious only to
avoid as far as possible any contact with his fellow…men； then； having
finally discovered a dwelling altogether in conformity with his tastes； he
moved to the outskirts of the city； and settled at the edge of the fields；
in the middle of a great meadow； in an isolated house； pleasant and
commodious； connected with the road to Camaret by a superb avenue of tall
and handsome plane…trees。 This hermitage in some respects recalled that of
Mill in the outskirts of Avignon； and thence his eyes； embracing a vast
horizon； from the pediment of the ancient theatre to the hills of Sérignan；
could already distinguish the promised land。
CHAPTER 5。 A GREAT TEACHER。
It was in 1871。 Fabre had lived twenty years at Avignon。 This date
constitutes an important landmark in his career； since it marks the precise
moment of his final rupture with the University。
At this time the preoccupations of material life were more pressing than
ever； and it was then that he devoted himself entirely and with
perseverance to the writing of those admirable works of introduction and
initiation； in which he applied himself to rendering science accessible to
the youngest minds； and employed all his profound knowledge to the thorough
teaching of its elements and its eternal laws。
To this ungrateful taskungrateful； but in reality pleasurable； so
strongly had he the vocation； the feeling； and the genius of the teacher
Fabre applied himself thenceforth with all his heart； and for nine years
never lifted his hand。
How insipid； how forbidding were the usual classbooks； the second…rate
natural histories above all； stuffed with dry statements； with raw
knowledge； which brought nothing but the memory into play！ How many
youthful faces had grown pale above them！
What a contrast and a deliverance in these little books of Fabre's； so
clear； so luminous； so simple； which for the first time spoke to the heart
and the understanding； for 〃work which one does not understand disgusts
one。〃 （5/1。）
To initiate others into science or art； it is not enough to have understood
them oneself； it is not enough even that one should be an artist or a
scientist。 Scientists of the highest flight are sometimes very unskilful
teachers； and very indifferent hands at explaining the alphabet。 It is not
given to the first comer to educate the young； to understand how to
identify his understanding with theirs； to measure their powers。 It is a
matter of instinct and good sense rather than of memory or erudition； and
Fabre； who had never in his life been the pupil of any one； could better
than any remember the phases through which his mind had passed； could
recollect by what detours of the mind； by what secret labours of thought；
by what intuitive methods he had succeeded in conquering； one by one； all
the difficulties in his path； and in gradually attaining to knowledge。
It is wonderful to watch the mastery with which he conducts his
demonstrations； the simplest as well as the most involved； singling out the
essential； little by little evoking the sense of things； ingeniously
seeking familiar examples； finding comparisons； and employing picturesque
and striking images； which throw a dazzling light upon the obscurest
question or the most difficult problem。 How in such matters can one
dispense with figurative speech； when one is reduced； as a rule； to an
inability to show the things themselves； but only their images and their
symbols？
Follow him； for example； in the 〃The Sky〃 （5/2。）； which seems to thrill
with the ardent and comprehensive genius of a Humboldt； and admire the ease
with which he surmounts all the difficulties and smooths the way for the
vast voyage on which he conducts you； past the infinity of the suns and the
stars in their millions； scintillating in the cold air of night； to descend
once more to our humble 〃Earth〃 （5/3。）； first an ocean of fire； rolling its
heavy waves of molten porphyry and granite； then 〃slowly hardening into
strange floes and bergs； hotter than the red iron in the fire of the
forge；〃 rounding its back； all covered with gaping pustules； eruptive
mountains and craters； and the first folds of its calcined crust； until the
day when the vast mist of densest vapours； heaped up on every hand and of
immeasurable depth； begins gradually to show rifts； giving rise at last to
an infinite storm； a stupendous deluge； and forming the strange universal
sea； 〃a mineral sludge； veiled by a chaos of smoke；〃 whence at length the
primitive soil emerges； 〃and at last the green grass。〃
And although 〃a little animal proteid； capable of pleasure and pain；
surpasses in interest the whole immense creation of dead matter；〃 he does
not forget to show us the spectacle of life flowing through matter itself；
and he animates even the simple elementary bodies； celebrating the
marvellous activities of the air； the violence of Chlorine； the
metamorphoses of Carbon； the miraculous bridals of Phosphorus； and 〃the
splendours which accompany the birth of a drop of water。〃 （5/4。）
A man must indeed love knowledge deeply before he can make others love it；
or render it easy and attractive； revealing only the smiling highways； and
Fabre； above all things the impassioned professor； was the very man to lead
his disciples 〃between the hedges of hawthorn and sloe；〃 whether to show
them the sap； 〃that fruitful current； that flowing flesh； that vegetable
blood；〃 or how the plant； by a mysterious transubstantiation； makes its
wood； 〃and the delicate bundle of swaddling…bands of its buds；〃 or how
〃from a putrid ordure it extracts the flavour and the fragrance of its
fruits〃； or whether he seeks to evoke the murderous plants that live as
parasites at the cost of others； the white Clandestinus； 〃which strangles
the roots of the alders beside the rivers；〃 the Cuscuta； 〃which knows
nothing of labour；〃 the wicked Orobanche； plump； powerful and brazen； the
skin covered with ugly scales； 〃with sombre flowers that wear the livery of
death； which leaps at the throat of the clover； stifling it； devouring it；
sucking its blood。〃 （5/5。）
Botany； by this genial treatment； becomes a most interesting study； and I
know of no more captivating reading than 〃The Plant〃 and 〃The Story of the
Log；〃 the jewels of this incomparable series。
Employ Fabre's method if you wish to learn by yourself； or to evoke in your
children a love of science； and； according to the phrase