y emphasize the real point of the matter. My group of pupils
is a numerous one. It takes more meals at the schoolhouse--the real
concern of a principal--than any other section of the college. This
group must be encouraged, lured on, increased if possible. The prospect
of disposing of a few more platefuls of soup wins the battle for me;
my request is granted. Poor science! All that diplomacy to gain your
entrance among the despised ones, who have not been nourished on Cicero
and Demosthenes!

I am authorized to move, once a week, the material required for my
ambitious plans. From the first floor, the sacred dwelling of the
scientific things, I shall take them down to a sort of cellar where I
give my lessons. The troublesome part is the pneumatic trough. It has
to be emptied before it is carried downstairs and to be filled again
afterwards. A day scholar, a zealous acolyte, hurries over his dinner
and comes to lend me a hand an hour or two before the class begins. We
effect the move between us.

What I am after is oxygen, the gas which I once saw fail so lamentably.
I thought it all out at my leisure, with the help of a book. I will do
this, I will do that, I will go to work in this or the other fashion.
Above all, we will run no risks, perhaps of blinding ourselves; for it
is once more a question of heating manganese dioxide with sulfuric acid.
I am filled with misgivings at the recollection of my old school fellow
yelling like mad. Who cares? Let us try for all that: fortune favors the
brave! Besides, we will make one prudent condition, from which I
shall never depart: no one but myself shall come near the table. If an
accident happen, I shall be the only one to suffer; and, in my opinion,
it is worth a burn or two to make acquaintance with oxygen.

Two o'clock strikes; and my pupils enter the classroom. I purposely
exaggerate the likelihood of danger. They are all to stay on their
benches and not stir. This is agreed. I have plenty of elbow room. There
is no one by me, except my acolyte, standing by my side, ready to help
me when the time comes. The others look on in profound silence, reverent
towards the unknown.

Soon the gaseous bubbles come "gloo-glooing" through the water in the
bell jar. Can it be my gas? My heart beats with excitement. Can I have
succeeded without any trouble at the first attempt? We will see. A
candle blown out that moment and still retaining a red tip to its wick
is lowered by a wire into