A story of Pasteur's Faith,
More than a century ago, a proud university student boarded a train in France and sat next to an older man who seemed to be a peasant of comfortable means. The brash student noticed that the older gentleman was slipping beads through his fingers. He was praying the Rosary.
"I am surprised," said the young fellow, "that in this day and age there is someone who is still so benighted and superstitious. Our professors at the university do not believe in such things," and he proceeded to "enlighten" his elderly fellow-passenger.
The old man expressed surprise and amazement.
"Yes," continued the young man, "today enlightened people don't believe in such nonsense."
"You don't say!" replied the old man.
"Yes, sir, and if you wish, I can send you some illuminating books."
The man fumbled in the inside pocket of his coat and pulled out his business card. On reading the card, the student lowered his head in shame and was speechless. The card read: "Louis Pasteur, Director of the Institute of Scientific Research, Paris."
The deluded student had encountered his country's leading chemist and bacteriologist, and a scientist of worldwide renown.
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