726 SKETCH OF HEINRICH HERTZ. 



sense of the word we may call liis disciples all those physicists who 

 are at this moment and will be for a long time occupied in exploring 

 the provinces which he was the first to open. In this sense almost 

 one-quarter of all living physicists call themselves Professor Hertz's 

 followers. 



The honors paid at his funeral to the memory of this young and 

 ardent worker were exceptionally great. He was buried in his native 

 city. Hamburg, where the most widespread sympathy for his family and 

 the deepest regret over his loss were shown. From Bonn, Karlsruhe, 

 and Berlin came friends, colleagues, and students, some of them officially 

 representing their colleges. Universities and prominent men from all 

 parts of our globe have sent messages of esteem and sympathy to the 

 wife, the parents, and the University of Bonn. It may be questioned 

 whether such utterances of sympathy and respect, much as they tend 

 to make mankind feel itself as one, can offer consolation to those whose 

 bereavement is greater than words are able to convey. However, what 

 Mr. Lowell said in one of his simple and admirable memorial addresses 

 is certainly true : 



"It may seem paradox, but the only alleviation of such grief is a 

 sense of the greatness and costliness of the sacrifice that gave birth to 

 it, and this sense is brought home to us by the measure in which others 

 appreciate our loss." 



Prof. Hubert Ludwig, of Bonn, uttered the last farewell at the grave 

 of his friend and colleague. He expressed the sentiment of those 

 grieving at his bier in these final words: 



''This loss is so great that we are tempted to recall the old saying of 

 the envy of the gods. But in this solemn hour let us resolutely banish 

 such temptation, and instead of rebelling against destiny, let us at the 

 open grave of this God-inspired investigator bow low onr heads and 

 hearts before the inscrutable." 



