按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ourselves with God； share in His creation； and embellish and adorn the
earth and fill it with wonders。 （16/4。）
Forward then！ always erect； even amid the tombs； to forget our griefs。
Fabre finds no better consolation to offer his brother； who has lost almost
in succession his wife and his eldest daughter：
〃Do not take it ill if I have not condoled with you on the subject of your
recent losses。 Tried so often by the bitterness of domestic grief； I know
too well the inanity of such consolations to offer the like to my friends。
Time alone does a little cicatrize such wounds； and； let us add； work。 Let
us keep on our feet and at work as long as we are able。 I know no better
tonic。〃 （16/5。）
And this exhortation to work； which recurs so often in the first letters of
his youth； was to be the last word of the last volume which so splendidly
terminates the incomparable series of his 〃Souvenirs〃： 〃Laboremus。〃
。。。
Age has killed neither his courage nor his energies； and he continues to
work with the same zeal at nearly ninety years of age； and with as much
eagerness as though he were destined to live for ever。
Although his physical forces are failing him； although his limbs falter；
his brain remains intact； and is giving us its last fruit in his studies on
the Cabbage caterpillar and the Glow…worm； which mark a sudden
rejuvenescence of thought on his part； and the commencement of a new cycle
of studies； which promise to be of the greatest originality。
To him the animal world has always been full of dizzy surprises； and the
insects led him 〃into a new and barely suspected region； which is ALMOST
ABSURD。〃 （16/6。）
The glow…worms； motionless on their twigs of thyme； light their lamps of an
evening； in the cool of the beautiful summer nights。 What do these fires
signify？ How explain the mystery of this phosphorescence？ Why this slow
combustion； 〃this species of respiration； more active than in the ordinary
state〃？ and what is the oxidizable substance 〃which gives this white and
gentle luminosity〃？ Is it a flame of love like that which lights the Agaric
of the olive…tree 〃to celebrate its nuptials and the emission of its
spores〃？ But what reason can the larva have for illuminating itself？ Why is
the egg； already enclosed in the secrecy of the ovaries； already luminous？
〃The soft light of the Agaric has confounded our ideas of optics； it does
not refract； it does not form an image when passed through a lens； it does
not affect ordinary photographic plates。〃 （16/7。）
But here are other miracles：
〃Another fungus； the Clathrix； with no trace of phosphorescence； affects
photographic plates almost as quickly as would a ray of sunlight。 The
Clathrix tenebrosa does what the Agaricus olearius has no power to do。〃
（16/8。）
And if the beacon of the Glow…worm recalls the light of the Agaric； the
Clathrix reminds us of another insect； the Greater Peacock moth。
In the obscurity of a dark chamber this splendid moth emits phantasmal
radiations； perhaps intermittent and reserved for the season of nuptials；
signals invisible to us； and perceptible only to those children of the
night； who may have found this means to communicate one with another； to
call one another in the darkness； and to speak with one another。 （16/9。）
Such are the interesting subjects which only yesterday were occupying this
great worker； the occult properties； the radiant energies of organic
matter； of phosphorescence； of light； the living symbols of the great
universal Eros。
But embarrassment long ago succeeded the ephemeral prosperity which marked
the first years of his installation at Sérignan； and that period of plenty
was followed by a period of difficulty； almost of indigence。 His class…
books； which had succeeded marvellously； and from which the royalties had
quickly attained to nearly 640 pounds sterling； which was the average
figure for nearly ten years； were then no longer in vogue。 Already the
times had changed。 France was in the crisis of the anti…clerical fever。
Fabre made frequent allusions in his books of a spiritual nature； and many
primary inspectors could not forgive what they regarded as a blemish。
We must also mention the keen competition caused by the appearance of
similar books； usually counterfeit； and the more harmful for that； and as
their adoption depended entirely on the caprice of commissions or the
choice of interested persons； those of Fabre were gradually ceasing to
sell。
It was from 1894 especially that their popularity declined so rapidly：
〃Despite all my efforts here I am more anxious than ever about the future；〃
he wrote to his publisher on the 27th of January； 1899； 〃two more of my
books are about to disappear； a prelude to total shipwreck。。。I begin to
despair。〃 （16/10。）
He was not the man to have saved much money； numerous charges were always
imposing themselves on him； and his first wife； careless of expenditure；
had been somewhat extravagant。
While his position as teacher deteriorated his 〃Souvenirs〃 brought him
little more than a nominal profit； for to most people he was still
completely unknown among the potentates who monopolize the attention of the
crowd。
〃Work such as a Réaumur might be proud of will leave me a beggar； that goes
without saying； but at least I shall have left my grain of sand。 I would
long ago have given up in despair； had I not； to give me courage； the
continual research after truth in the little world whose historian I have
become。 I am hoarding ideas； and I make shift to live as I can。〃 （16/11。）
Yet his reputation had long ago crossed the frontiers of his country。 He
had been a corresponding member of the Institute of France since 1887； and
a Petit d'Ormoy prizeman。 （16/12。） He was a member of the most celebrated
foreign academies； and the entomological societies of the chief capitals of
Europe； but his fame had not passed the walls of these academies and the
narrow boundaries of the little world of professional biologists and
philosophers。
Even in these circles； where he was almost exclusively read and
appreciated； he was little known； and although he was much admired；
although he was readily given credit for his admirable talent and
exceptional knowledge； his readers were far from realizing the real powers
of this world of life which he has called into being。 His books are of
those whose fertilizing virtues remain long hidden； to shine only at a
distance； when much frothy writing； that has made a sudden noise in its
time； has fallen into oblivion。
Every two or three years； after much fond polishing； he would open the door
to yet another volume which was ready to go forth； adding astonishing
chapters of the history of insects； wonderful fragments of animal
psychology； but always obtaining only the same circumscribed success； that
is； exciting no public curiosity； and remaining unperceived in the midst of
general indifference。