62 LIFE AND EXPERIENCES CHAP. 



or end of August, in the years from 1857 to 

 1862, when Bunsen and I, accompanied sometimes 

 by Kirchhoff and sometimes by Hauser, the well- 

 known historian, or by both of these intimate friends, 

 made excursions into the Bavarian Highlands, the 

 Tyrol, and Switzerland. I have often regretted 

 that I never made notes of the incidents which 

 occurred on these excursions, and of the humour and 

 wit of my companions, especially of Hauser, which 

 was a never failing source of amusement. 



The years I spent at Heidelberg were among the 

 pleasantest as well as the most fruitful of my life. 

 Although I worked hard at my science and permitted 

 no social engagements to interfere with the prosecution 

 of my investigations, I fully appreciated the proverb 

 that " all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy," 

 and took care to enjoy my leisure hours in a variety of 

 ways. I did not, however, join any of the " Studenten 

 Corps," as I thought it poor fun to stand up to have 

 one's face slashed at by a German friend or to try to 

 do the same to him. Nor was I an adept in filling my 

 skin with gallons of " small beer," and therefore did 

 not frequent the "Commers," though I thoroughly 

 enjoyed the " Frtihschoppen " after a hard morning's 

 work, and sometimes with a few choice spirits of 

 a chemical nature went so far as to drink a 

 ' "Salamander" to the progress of our researches. 



Of exercise, beyond the " Fecht-Boden " of the 

 Hirsch Gasse, the Heidelberg student was altogether 

 innocent. He might walk though he generally pre- 

 ferred to drive in a droschke to some neighbouring 

 " Bierlokal " where he imbibed his favourite beverage, 

 and "renomaged" over his pluck when he last went 

 " los " that is, at his last duel. " Gestern," says one, 

 " habe ich sechs nadeln bekommen." " Ja," replies 



