When Alexander was seventeen and William nine- LITTLE 

 teen, the mother and Knuth decided that the boys JOURNEYS 

 should have the advantages of university life. Ac- 

 cordingly they were duly entered at the University of 

 Frankfort as "special students." Knuth also entered 

 as a student in the class with them. Special students, 

 be it known, are usually those who have failed to pass 

 the required examinations. 



In this instance, William and Alexander were beyond 

 many of their classmates in some things, but in others 

 they were deficient. Especially had their education in 

 the dead languages been "neglected," so it is quite 

 likely they could not have passed the examinations 

 had they attempted it. It should also be explained that 

 special students are not eligible to diplomas or de- 

 grees J> & 



But Campe and Knuth did not believe the nerve-rack- 

 ing plan of examinations wise, any more than it is 

 wisdom to pull up a plant and examine the roots to see 

 how it prospers. Neither did they prize a college de- 

 gree. They knew full well that a college degree is no 

 proof of excellence of character; to them a degree was 

 too cheap a thing to deviate in one's orbit to secure. 

 They were after bigger game. 



At Frankfort, Knuth and his charges lived in the fam- 

 ily of Professor Loffler, " so as to rub off a little knowl- 

 edge from this learned man." They studied history, 

 law, political economy, philosophy and natural history. 

 We would say their method was desultory were it not 

 for the fact that they were always thorough in all that 



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