328 Biographical Notice 



Slavonic population. It is recorded of his father that he took 

 special interest in fruit-culture, initiating his son at an 

 early age into the methods of grafting. Mendel's maternal 

 uncle, Anton Schwirtlich, was evidently a man of intellectual 

 tastes, which is shown by the fact that he started private 

 classes for the children of Heinzendorf who could not walk 

 so far as the neighbouring village, for in Heinzendorf itself 

 there was at that time no regular school. Mendel was thus 

 able to say with some pride that he came from an educa- 

 tional family. 



On the death of Schwirtlich a government-school was 

 established which Mendel attended as a young boy. His 

 talent was noticed and encouraged by the master. At this 

 time also two older boys who had gone away to the school 

 at Leipnik fell in with Mendel during their holidays, and 

 excited his ambition, with the result that he asked his 

 parents to let him study, and eventually he too was sent to 

 Leipnik at 1 1 years old, though this involved considerable 

 sacrifice on the part of the family. Here he distinguished 

 himself so much that it was decided to continue his educa- 

 tion at the gymnasium at Troppau, a course which finished 

 with a year at Olmiitz. The parental resources were 

 severely taxed by such expenses, and Mendel was only 

 enabled to complete his course through the generosity of a 

 younger sister, who voluntarily contributed a part of her 

 dowry for this purpose. In after years he repaid her 

 advance many times over, himself providing the education 

 of her three sons, his nephews. 



At Troppau one of the teachers was an Augustinian, 

 and it is surmised that perhaps his description of the scho- 

 larly tranquillity of the cloister may have turned Mendel's 

 thoughts towards a monastic life. However that may have 

 been, when his time at the gymnasium was ended he 

 became a candidate for admission to the Augustinian house 

 of St Thomas in Briinn, an institution generally spoken 

 of as the Konigskloster. His application was successful, 

 and he was elected with a view to his taking part in the 

 educational work which then devolved on the institution. 

 On admission he took the name of Gregor " in religion,' 7 

 Johann being his baptismal name. In 1-847 ne was ordained 

 a priest. 



