Student turns his back upon professor, and walks away with the air of
one going to prepare for a vendetta.
I have told you before that the first, second, and third year classes
are mixed together. But that makes no matter. The matter is that the
students can change the subjects of their studies when they please, and
do so occasionally by way of showing their disapproval of the professor.
"You must not teach that subject: I wish you to teach us about Greek
mythology instead" is a specimen observation.
I cannot write to you about such delightful friends as the one described
in your last letter, for the simple reason that I haven't any. (You know
that it is very difficult for me to find sympathizers in such a frogpond
as the foreign community of an open port.) The Russian professor of
philosophy, although boasting a Heidelberg degree, acknowledges to me
that he believes heretics ought to be burnt alive ("for the saving of
their souls"), and that he hopes to see the whole world under Catholic
domination. I fancy he dreams of the Russian conquest to come; and the
Panslavic dream is not impossible! He is a queer man,--about fifty at
least,--a bachelor. Soft and cold--snowy in fact. The Jesuit improves on
acquaintance--gentle, courteous, half-sympathetic, but always on guard,
like a man afraid of being struck by some human affection. The American
lawyer, hard and grim, has a rough plain goodness about him--providing
that he be put to no trouble.... And the German, Dr. R----, of whom I
spoke rather unsympathetically before, seems to me now the finest man of
the lot. There can be no question of his learning, and his dogmatism;
but he gives me the solid feeling of a man honest like a great rock of
black basalt--huge, hard, direct--one of those rare German types with
eyes and hair blacker than a coal. His hand is broad, hard, warm always,
and has something electrical in its grasp. I think I shall get fond of
him, if he doesn't talk Virchow to me. (For Virchow is my _bête noir_!
I hate his name with unspeakable hatred.) At all events, to my great
surprise, I find this grim dark German takes absolute pleasure in doing
a kindness, and in speaking well of others. Wherefore I feel that I am
unreasonable and wrong to feel repelled by his liking for Virchow.
Of course, we must all go some day, if the university doesn't go first.
But as all have big salaries, all prepare for the rainy day. I shall not
complain if allowed to finish my three years--though I should prefer
six. But you can imagine how unstable everything looks--with changes in
the ministry of education about every twelve months,--and the political
influences behind the students. I am reposing upon the safety-valves of
a steam-boiler,--much cracked, with many of the rivets loose,--and the
engineers studying how to be out of the way when the great whang-bang
comes around.
And when it does come, may it blow me, for a moment at least, in the
immediate vicinity of Ellwood Hendrick.
Ever affectionately,
LAFCADIO HEARN.