UPSALA 97 



a profession of it, was not a profession at all. He was 

 finding his level among them, the students thought, and 

 Rosen said it. ' Young Linnaeus always had too good an 

 opinion of himself.' One would say, we often do say, 

 that to know the marvels of creation keeps one humble ; 

 yet, somehow, young scientific men are seldom humble, 

 in expression at least, and Linnaeus was no exception. 

 But he did not often get a snubbing, 1 nor were his days 

 sorrowful, though he had not yet set the FyrisS on fire. 

 Now were his joyous friendships, his pleasures of hope. 

 Carl gave little heed to Rosen now : he was absorbed in 

 a deep friendship. Hear the beginning of it in his own 

 words. 



( In the year 1728,' says Linnaeus, ' I came to Upsala. 

 I asked what student was most eminent for his know- 

 ledge in natural history. The name of Artedi was 

 heard everywhere ; he had studied there several years 

 before me. I felt the most ardent desire to see him. 

 On paying him a visit I found him pale, downcast, and 

 weeping because his father had just died. Our con- 

 versation turned on plants, stones, and animals. The 

 novel remarks he made, the knowledge he displayed, 

 struck me with amazement. I solicited his friendship, 

 he wished for mine. How valuable, how happy was 

 our intercourse! With what pleasure did we see it 

 cemented ! If one of us made a new observation he 

 communicated it to the other ; not a day elapsed with- 

 out our receiving reciprocal instruction. Rivalship 

 1 A Swedish word ; snubba, a rebuke. 



VOL. I. H 



