An Elegant Solution(72)
“And what did Jacob have to do with you getting either?”
“Leave it covered. Bury it deeper. Let the whole Rhine flow over it.” He was not to be brought back to the subject. “And when the Rhine does, I’ll tell you the rate and the force and the pressure of it. Mathematics is nothing, Leonhard. It’s Physics that has greatness in it, that has fame to be grasped. Hydraulics, and optics, and your sound waves. There’s a world to it.”
“It is Mathematics.”
“Mathematics is only a tool.”
“But that’s the miracle, Daniel! Why does Mathematics tell how a river runs or light bends? Does a stream study its equations so it knows how to flow?” I was too overcome by it all.
“Be at peace, Leonhard,” he said, very amused. “Think on your mysteries and miracles, and not on Jacob. Let the river flow. I’ll take the Physics Chair. That’s the one for me.”
“Then it’s a pity that your father will steal the Election from you.” I said it as a joke but Daniel heard it as a warning.
“He’ll try to, I said. He’ll try. I didn’t say he will, only that he’ll try.”
“Then you’ll have the same chance as the other candidates. That is, if you’re one of them yourself.”
“I will be. And there’ll be no chance to it.”
“Oh,” I said. “So you mean to steal it yourself.”
“No, I’ll have Brutus steal it for me.”
“Daniel! But you said—”
“What I want from you, Leonhard, is to keep an eye on him. Let’s be sure he doesn’t outwit us. That’s all.”
“That’s all. Only to be sure that Master Johann doesn’t outwit you and me. That’s all.”
“That’s all!” Daniel laughed.
“I’ve no wit to be outwitted.”
“Ha! Keep your eyes on him and tell me what you see. I’ll find you when I need you.”
With which he left. He’d be pure frustration if he wasn’t a mix of that and absurdity. I could only laugh. Gottlieb, Johann, and Daniel: Each was a seven-leaved branch of the same family.
A century after the Plague, the Pope of the time, Martin, called a Council in Basel to consider some matters current and important at the time. This was of course before the Reformation, and Basel was a significant Catholic city. While they were in Basel, one pledge the Council received from Rome was the promise of a University for the city.
Wars with the Turks intervened; Constantinople fell and the Byzantine Empire ended; the French recaptured Bordeaux and closed their Hundred Years war with the English; the first Bible was printed by Master Gutenberg. But finally, twenty years after the promise was made, it was kept, and a deed of foundation was issued by Pope Pius. The opening ceremony was held on a spring day in April, and the University of Basel commenced.
Even now, most German universities will have no main building. The lectures were given in the Professors’ houses, and many lectures in Basel would be delivered this way.
But the Guildmaster of Basel of that time, named Siebold, had married the Mayor’s daughter and built an impressive home overlooking the Rhine, beside the bridge. Yet he and his son both died, leaving his widow alone in the largest residence of the city. So she sold her great white house to the new University
This University Building had been completely renovated, at that time, and times since. It had foyers and an office for the Bursar and the Registrar, and a salon for the Provost. It had several small lecture rooms, used by lower lecturers who had no room or house of their own large enough to give their lectures. But primarily, the building housed the University Lecture Hall, in which hundreds could gather on benches to listen to Chairs.
So, on that Wednesday afternoon I attended to the University in that Grand Lecture Hall. Master Johann was giving a public lecture.
Every Chair must give lectures to the public. It was as traditional as black robes and wigs, and anyone might attend, except women of course. These public lectures were given through the year, with every Chair speaking at least twice between September and May. This was in fact the main use of the Lecture Hall, although even some of the public lectures were given in the homes of the lecturers.
Master Johann, though, was unique that he only lectured in the Lecture Hall, even for his normal classes. No student ever was allowed into his house for mere teaching; no student but me. Besides that it was beneath his dignity to have his home used for public events such as lectures, even when they were only his paying students, it would also be impractical for the size of his audience, as every student attempted to attend his class.