Guyot on Carl Bitter. 37 



of his suggestive instructions, and the conviction that a new 

 and better era had begun for the science of the Globe. Thus 

 was prepared that renovation of Geography in the University 

 and in the school which was demanded by the progress of the 

 natural and historical sciences, but which awaited the genius of 

 Hitter to assume its shape, and his guidance and spirit to 

 produce its full effect, as it now has throughout Germany. 



As one who had the privilege of listening, during a period 

 of five years (from 1830 to 1835), to nearly all his courses of 

 lectures, I may be allowed to add my humble testimony to 

 that of so many of his hearers who remember his teachings 

 with delight. Bitter, indeed, as an academic teacher, during 

 his long University career of thirty-seven years, achieved a suc- 

 cess rarely equalled. Few can boast of a more constant pop- 

 ularity. He came to Berlin almost unknown to the students, 

 as was indeed the science itself that he was called upon to 

 expound. A few sessions sufficed to increase the number of 

 his hearers so as to fill the largest halls in the University. Not 

 by any effort of striking eloquence of words or manner, did he 

 secure a willing ear from his pupils, but by offering to their eyes 

 a thorough, substantial, and yet pleasant picture of the vivid 

 images and ideas which filled his own mind. His eloquence was 

 not an impetuous mountain-torrent, with its brilliant cascades, 

 its misty clouds, and tinted rainbows ; it was a majestic stream 

 gently rolling its mighty but peaceful waters, now amidst the 

 green forest yet untouched by the hand of man, now among 

 the rich fields, the flowery lawns, and populous cities born on 

 its banks ; never destroying, ever fertilizing all that it touches. 

 Thus was Eitter's manner dignified, but always unassuming, 

 simple, and natural, The tone of his full and harmonious 

 voice breathed with kindness, and exerted, (I maybe permittted 

 to give at least my personal impression), a peculiar attraction. 

 His words were always instructive and suggestive. The 

 hearer could not help being impressed with the fulness and 

 thoroughness of knowledge, the perfect mastery and love of his 

 subject evinced by the lecturer, while at the same time he 

 was charmed by the happy selection of the facts presented, 

 which left before his mind, in clear outlines, the most essential 

 traits of the subject. The drawings that he traced on the 

 blackboard with the graceful ease of a skilful and practised 

 hand, rendered his descriptions still more effective. 



Another cause of his success is to be sought in the noble 

 impulses of his moral nature. Eitter loved and pursued the 

 truth for itself, but he loved man too. He was unwilling to 



