ong the
bacteriologists of our day, as well as a first place among the
philanthropists of the century. Only Robert Koch, of Germany, is to be
classed in the same list with him.

KOCH'S BATTLE WITH THE INVISIBLE ENEMY.

There was a great _negative_ reason for the success of the World's
Columbian Exposition. The cholera did NOT come! It is quite
true that there is no _if_ in history; but IF the cholera had
come, IF the plague had broken out in our imperial Chicago,
what would have become of the Columbian Exposition? Certainly the Man
of Genoa would have had to seek elsewhere for a great international
gathering in his honor.

The cholera did not arrive, although it was expected. The antecedent
conditions of its coming were all present; but it came not. The
American millions discerned that the dreaded plague was at bay; a
feeling of security and confidence prevailed; the summer of 1893 went
by, and not a single case of Asiatic cholera appeared west of the
Alleghenies. We are not sure that a single case appeared on the
mainland of North America. And why not?

It was because the increasing knowledge of mankind, reinforced with
philanthropy and courage, had drawn a line north and south across
Western Europe, and had said, _Thus far and no farther_. Indeed, there
were several lines drawn. The movement of cholera westward from the
Orient began to be obstructed even before it reached Germany. It was
obstructed in Italy. It was obstructed seriously on the meridian of
the Rhine. It was obstructed almost finally at the meridian of London.
It was completely and gloriously obstructed at the harbor of New York.

Civilization has never appeared to a better advantage than in the
building of her defences against the westward invasion of cholera.
There have been times within two decades of the present when in the
countries east of the Red Sea 3000 people have died daily of the
Asiatic plague. Egypt has been ravaged. The ports of the Mediterranean
have been successfully invaded. Commerce, reckless of everything
except her own interests, has taken the infection on shipboard, and
sailed with it to foreign lands, as though it were a precious cargo!
Importers, anxious for merchandise, have stood ready to receive the
plague, and plant it without regard to consequences. But in the midst
of all this, a new power has arisen in the world, and standing with
face to the east, has drawn a sword, before the circle of which even
the spectral sha