CAROLUS LINNAEUS 165 



were experimenting with materials they did not fully 

 understand, but they were none the less prophets 

 of the dawn. History has much to say about all 

 these movements, but takes little note of the corre- 

 sponding unrest in purely intellectual fields, where 

 changes no less significant for the future were taking 

 place. 



2. Carolus Linnaeus, also known as Carl von Linne, Boyhood of 

 was born at Stenbrohult, in Sweden, on May 23, 1707. 

 His father was a country pastor, who had an orchard 

 and a garden. Carl grew up in the midst of flowers, 

 and early developed that love of nature, of the beauty 

 and variety of the out-of-doors, which was the motive 

 power of his life's activities. His father naturally 

 wished him to become a pastor, and sent him to a school 

 at Wexio, where he studied Latin and Hebrew under 

 Lutheran auspices. Here he appeared to make little 

 progress, and the school authorities were disposed to 

 advise his withdrawal. They did not believe it was in 

 him to make a competent clergyman; he had better 

 occupy himself with some trade or handicraft. Pastor 

 Linnaeus accordingly went to Wexio to remove his boy, 

 full of sorrow for the failure. Here he had occasion to 

 consult a physician, Dr. Rothmann, who was also a 

 lecturer in the school. The doctor had taken note of 

 Carl and was by no means of the opinion that he was 

 a dullard. True, he would scarcely make a pastor; 

 but he had scientific instincts, so why not a physician ? 

 So confident was Dr. Rothmann of Carl's abilities, 

 that he proposed to take him into his own house for a 

 year, and instructed him free of charge. The good 

 doctor, acting out of the kindness of his heart and his 

 zeal for the promotion of science, had no idea of the 

 tremendous importance of his act. 



