THE ALUMNI JOURNAL 83 



advances of his profession and took an active part in every de- 

 velopment of his calling. He did this to such an extent that in 

 the minds of nearly all of us he does not live as an old man of 

 88 years, but rather as a vigorous man who works with us. who 

 has been doing' this for halt a century, and has kept pace in the 

 foremost ranks of his fellow workers. 



Let me. in a few words, tell the history of his life. Gustav 

 Ludwig Ramsperger was born on the 13th of December. 1824. as 

 the son of a public school teacher in Harrenburg, Wurtenberg. 

 He received his first instruction in the high school of 1*1 m. and 

 entered at the age of 14 years, the pharmacy of his uncle Berg in 

 Winnenden. as apprentice. In those days the position of ap- 

 prentice in a German Apotheke meant more than we can under- 

 stand in this country. It was really a practical continuation of the 

 schooling. The proprietor took an interest in his apprentices and 

 trave them re«ular svstematic instruction. Thev had to perform 

 every part of the work of a pharmacy in a systematic way, never 

 being allowed to pass on to a new work until the previous one 

 had been thoroughly mastered. The apprentices far from receiv- 

 ing a salary, paid for this instruction, and the time of apprentice- 

 ship varied from two to four years in different parts of Germany. 

 At the end of his apprenticeship, Ramsperger passed his examina- 

 tion as assistant and spent a number of years in other parts of 

 of French to such an extent that even in his old age he was 

 perfectly conversant with that language. In 1849 he went to the 

 Germanv and also in Switzerland, where he pursued his studies 

 University of Tubingen to finish his studies and to prepare himself 

 for the final examinations (Staatsexamen), which he passed 

 successfully in the year 1850. His favorite study was botany, and 

 he had a wonderful memory for the names of plants, and could 

 name their German, French, English, Latin and pharmaceutical 

 names with equal ease. This memory did not leave him. even in 

 bis advanced age. 



After passing his final examination Ramsperger left Germany in 

 1850 and emigrated to America, hoping to find a greater field for 

 his enterprise and ability. Before leaving, however, he married 

 .Miss Leonore YYiedersheim. the daughter of a pastor, so that his 

 journey to America was really his wedding trip. There never was 

 a better mated couple and those who have met Mr. and Mrs. 

 Ramsperger will remember the sweetness and gentleness which 

 characterizes them both, until about ten years ago death separated 



them. 



( To be continued ) 



