CHAPTER VI 



THE ACADEMIC TEACHER 



At the beginning of his career BEIJERINCK had to face several 

 difficulties, including the envy of several of his colleagues that a 

 newly-appointed professor should have a new laboratory, while they 

 themselves had to work in old and cramped surroundings. The 

 manner in which he had been appointed had also caused great an- 

 noyance. His lack of pliability was, besides, the cause of some friction 

 with the Director of the Polytechnical School. In the years w r hen the 

 elevation of this School to a "Technische Hoogeschool" was being 

 prepared, the Director said: "One thing must remain, and that is the 

 Directorship of the school". BEIJERINCK answered: "Sir, if anything 

 has to disappear, it is the Directorship!" Afterwards BEIJERINCK said 

 to one of his friends about this: The others were too cowardly to 

 give me any support". He was also greatly annoyed that money was 

 given for teaching purposes but never for scientific work ; from this he 

 drew the rather startling conclusion that the Minister of Home Affairs 

 disliked him. 



In April 1897 the house in the Nieuwe Laan was finished and BEIJ- 

 ERINCK with his sister moved from the Leeuwenhoeksingel to his new 

 home adjoining the laboratory. Here the elder sister soon joined 

 them. From this time on the trio remained united till death separated 

 them. 



On September 28th BEIJERINCK opened the laboratory by giving 

 an address entitled "Het bacteriologisch laboratorium der Polytech- 

 nische School" '). The ceremony was attended by the authorities and 

 several of BEIJERINCK'S colleagues. 



The inauguration of his academic career led soon afterwards to an 

 event which rather characteristically typifies BEIJERINCK'S mental 

 state. On the first of October in that year the undergraduates sere- 

 naded him, as they always did with newly-nominated professors. A 

 number of professors of the Polytechnical School with their wives were 

 present at his house; among them being his friends, Professors ARON- 



STEIN, HOOGEWERFF, KREUNEN and PEKELHARING. Owing to the 



nervousness which usually overcame BEIJERINCK as soon as he had to 

 act outside the scientific field, he made a speech to the undergraduates 

 which in curtness and harshness could hardly be equalled. His au- 



!) "The Bacteriological Laboratory of the Polytechnical School". Cf. Verzamelde 

 Geschriften 3, p. 233. 



