LINN.'EAN MEMORIAL ADDRESS 255 



young Linna^His being illuminated, the doctor quietly made his 

 way to the door, opened it and went in. The young man was 

 found alone, at his study table, which was covered with open 

 books. A step nearer the table disclosed the interesting and 

 not readily accountable fact that all were books of botany, and 

 out of Stobivus's own library that was always kept securely 

 locked. To the question how he obtained those books from the 

 locked library Linnaeus answered in brief, and very frankly, 

 that the other student had desired of him a course of instruction 

 in ph3'sics ; that he had begun the course, and was continuing 

 it, upon the stipulated condition that he, who had free access 

 to the library, should nightly bring him books of botany, which 

 he himself would study late at night, so that they might be re- 

 turned to the library shelves in the early morning before the 

 household should be astir. Dr. Stobasus, suppressing the plea- 

 sure and approbation that were mingled with his amazement, 

 said: " Go to bed, and hereafter sleep while other people are 

 asleep." The next morning he sent for Linngeus to come to 

 his study ; asked him to rehearse again the story of how he 

 obtained those books ; then gave him a duplicate key to the 

 library, together with permission to use it as freely as if it were 

 his own. Moreover, as he had hitherto nothing but his lodging 

 with Stobfeus, he was now invited to take his meals at his table ; 

 was often sent to visit patients, and in every way treated with 

 affectionate regard. 



When nearing the end of his year at Lund, Linnasus fell 

 dangerously ill. At the beginning of a slow convalescence they 

 sent him to the parental home, the parsonage at Stenbrohult. 

 Here his admiring first patron. Dr. Rothman of Wexio, visited 

 him. He was now ambitious that his former pupil, instead of 

 returning to Lund, should enter the great university at Upsala, 

 where men of renown occupied professional chairs, Roberg in 

 medicine, and Rudbeck the younger in botany. The parents, 

 in view of the quite marvellous successes of their boy during 

 the two years that they had left him without financial aid, seem 

 to have relented, and partly forgiven his having disappointed 

 their wishes as to a vocation ; and he was given some money 

 with which to procure conveyance to Upsala and make the be- 



