GOETHE AND THE CHEMISTS 337 



secure an increase in salary and better equipment for his faithful 

 friend and helper. It was due to Goethe's influence that Dobereiner 

 was nearly or quite the first chemistry professor in Germany who was 

 able to give practical as well as theoretical class instruction in his 

 subject. 



Dobereiner made mistakes which are traceable to Goethe's influence. 

 The two were certain, for example, that electricity is the source of life, 

 and this belief led to some strange and quaint theories which smack a 

 little of the old days of alchemy. Both were inclined to undervalue 

 equipment, and to look upon the fields and the hills as an adequate 

 laboratory. But on the whole, Goethe gave as much and as usefully 

 as he took. Alexander von Humboldt had said that the immortal poet- 

 philosopher's views of natural phenomena had " elevated him, equipped 

 him as it were with new organs." And Dobereiner showed his grati- 

 tude not only in words, but in every tangible way that came within his 

 reach. He was always ready to give time and thought to assisting his 

 master wherever his talents made him useful, from the preparation of 

 a tooth powder to the deciphering of a Latin epigram of the old poet 

 Antonius dealing with a poison and an antidote — an epigram which 

 was absolutely dark to the scholars, but became light as day with the 

 help of the chemist. 



Dobereiner was the youngest of the famous Weimar group, and 

 many years after the death of the great chief and center of that group, 

 the old Jena scientist found his greatest pleasure in telling the younger 

 generation of the golden age of German intellectual activity. 



