HERMANN VON HELMHOLTZ 



talents, and as to his dignified presence in mature years. 

 It is possible that something of his calm, reserved, self- 

 possessed manner may have come through the maternal 

 line from the old Quaker statesman who made his mark 

 on the new world. There is no trace of any hereditary 

 aptitude for mathematics, and it must be said that the 

 atmosphere of his father's home was not favourable 

 to the development of any latent faculties in that 

 direction. 



The little we know of his early life was revealed 

 by Helmholtz himself in a speech delivered in 1891, 

 in reply to the toast of his health at a banquet given 

 in honour of his seventieth birthday. For the first 

 seven years of his life he was a weakly boy, confined 

 for long periods to his room, and frequently to his bed ; 

 but he was fond of such amusements as were possible, 

 and he showed great activity of mind. His parents 

 gave him much of their time and attention. Picture 

 books amused him, and at an early age he read widely. 

 A collection of wooden blocks he specially mentioned 

 as a favourite plaything, and while he wiled away the 

 time with these blocks, he formed from them some 

 geometric conceptions that were the first indications 

 of mathematical genius. 



By-and-by he was able to go to school, where he 

 passed through the usual routine of a good general 

 education. No doubt his father's influence encour- 

 aged him to the study of languages, of literature, and 

 of philosophy. The quality of his mind, however, did 

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