The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-10-10
How IA Philosopher lived.
THE PRIVATE L1PE OF KANT.


In q recent number Of the CornhR Efagasiue
We find this account ofthe private life Of Kant -
"Kaut lived in modest and retired house, in
quiet street behind the old palace. Every
morniug,winter aud summer, the Old soldier who
was his servant came into his bedroom at five
minutes 10 five, aud said, 1t s time The
philosopher rose instantly, dressed with wonder
ful Taudty, and by hve was seated at his break
fast table, where he drank one or two cups of
tCa-nOthiDg morc-smOked pipe, and collected
hi ideas for the work OF the day. At seven he
went out for his lectures and ON returning
set TO work till quarter 10 one. Precisely at
the quarter he dressed Tor dinner, took a
glass Of wine TO incitc his appetite, and
was ready for the guests whom he had invited.
He never dined alone, and always break
tasted alone. DiHncr was the time when he
liked 10 receive his friends. At his breakfast he
was so much aCCus Omed 10 solitude that when
once a friend dropped I'm ~ that hour and asked
TO share his meal, Kant was embarrassed, and
ended by asking bis friend TO sit where he could
nor see him, ing that for more than half CEN
Jury he had never seen a soul near him while he
drank his ten in the morning But at dinner he
'Could not bear TO he left to himself. He always
took care TO invite some of his friends before
hard, and one day when none of them could
G, me, ne sent his servant into the street TO
pick up the first passer-by and bring him in
TO dinner. lie could not bear to he kept wait
ing. For this reason he detested ceremony at
table, and his most agreeable guest was the
one who took q dish without offering 10 to others,
so that the turn OF the host came the more
quickly. IL must be remembe bered that X mt had
eaten nothing all the morning, aud had been
working steadily. Dinner lasted two hours or
more, and was very pleasant meal, the great
mclaphysicinn talking in a simple aud popular
Style ON all suhjuc's of the day, especially on
politics, OF which lie wGs a diligent reader His
passion for them was such that he sometimes flung
himself eagerly on the newspapers in the morn.
ing, which one would have thought q prOtana-
ton. Fr hl5 btuuy was u sanctuary, cred to
intellectual lahOrs, and nothing mundane was
tytr /, ard IN IL. Not till the guests had qui ted
tleslud, and entered the dining room did mt
relax his philosOybiC CAVITY. Aiter dinner he
took his regular walk up aHd down n small alley
His walk was always SOLITARY, except on rainy
and threatening days when his servant
followed him with an umbrella, under
look, an exact image Of Providence Ka1t
haO two reasons tor walking alone he wanted
10 think, ana he did not want 90 open his mouth.
He thought that by breathing through his nose
the air would be admitted gradually 10 his lungs,
ana that he had less risk Of taking cold. On
coming home he read the papers. In the evening
be mace nO'es Tor lectures the next day, or for
his writings, read and medltated on what he read,
writing down any ideas that struck him. AT ten
be went 10 bed; quarter of an hour before
TelirlDg he suspended all occupations, and cleared
his mind Of all thoughts that might prevent him
from sleeping His bedroom wa, never heated,
its windows were always kept shut, summer and
WINTER, and the light was as carefully excluded
as the air"