14 SCIENCE PROGRESS. 



laboratory. In himself, this objective tendency (if I may 

 be permitted the use of a word which, if not correct, seems 

 to express what I mean) might be regarded as almost a 

 defect, for it made him indisposed to appreciate any sort of 

 knowledge which deals with the abstract. He had a 

 disinclination to philosophical speculation which almost 

 amounted to aversion, and, perhaps for a similar reason, 

 avoided the use of mathematical methods even in the 

 discussion of scientific questions which admitted of being 

 treated mathematically — contrasting in this respect with 

 his friend du Bois-Reymond, resembling Brlicke. But 

 as a teacher the quality was of immense use to him. His 

 power of vivid realisation was the substratum of that many- 

 sidedness which made him, irrespectively of his scientific 

 attainments, so attractive a personality. 



I am not sure that it can be generally stated that a keen 

 scientific observer is able to appreciate the artistic aspects 

 of Nature. In Ludwig's case, however, there is reason to 

 think that aesthetic faculty was as developed as the power of 

 scientific insight. He was a skilful draughtsman but not 

 a musician ; both arts were, however, a source of enjoy- 

 ment to him. He was a regular frequenter of the Gewand- 

 kaus concerts, and it was his greatest pleasure to bring to- 

 gether gifted musicians in his house, where he played the 

 part of an intelligent and appreciative listener. Of painting 

 he knew more than of music, and was a connoisseur whose 

 opinion carried weight. It is related that he was so worried 

 by what he considered bad art, that after the redecoration 

 of the Gczvandhaus concert-room, he was for some time 

 deprived of his accustomed pleasure in listening to music. 



Ludwig's social characteristics can only be touched on 

 here in so far as they serve to make intelligible his wonder- 

 ful influence as a teacher. Many of his pupils at Leipzig 

 have referred to the schbne Gemeinsamkeit which char- 

 acterised the life there. The harmonious relation which, 

 as a rule, subsisted between men of different education and 

 different nationalities, could not have been maintained had 

 not Ludwig possessed side by side with that inflexible 

 earnestness which he showed in all matters of work or 



