270 GREAT MEN OF SCIENCE 



of by the spiritualists, who were particularly active in his 

 day.i 



His kindness and friendliness did not fail him even when 

 these good qualities resulted in his being pushed into the 

 background; accordingly no sign of offence on his part over 

 the behaviour of the Paris Congress on units, not even any 

 remark of his on the subject, has been reported. ^ Weber 

 always took a great interest in the fate of the German nation 

 and all events connected with it; thus the foundation of the 

 united Empire in 1870 was hailed by him with great joy. He 

 was small of stature, and did not look very robust; but he was 

 an energetic and tireless walker up to his old age. He always 

 remained in close contact with his brothers; he was never 

 married; a niece kept house for him. He died at the age of 

 eighty-six.^ 



1 Weber was not alone by any means in this respect; a whole circle of 

 older professors, whose eyes and ears were not adequate to cope with 

 conjuring tricks, and whose knowledge of human nature was equally 

 defective, were also made victims. In England also, generally speak- 

 ing, the same thing happened, as is shown by the example of Crookes; 

 Faraday however repeatedly declined the invitations of the table-turning 

 spirits in the most decided manner, when they were issued to him. It is 

 to-day much easier, after so many exposures and confessions, to judge 

 this misuse of science than it was at the time. [The English reader may 

 be referred to Podmore's The Newer Spiritualism, London, 1910; but 

 of course the literature of this subject, in all shades from extreme faith 

 to extreme doubt, is endless.] 



2 On account of Weber's ripe age at the time, the want of recognition 

 shown was easier to bear, since it could no longer act injuriously upon his 

 facilities for work. 



3 The reader is referred to a sketch of his life by his nephew Heinrich 

 Weber (Stuttgart, 1892); whom I also have to thank for valuable informa- 

 tion by letter. 



