New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-01
VIRCHOW AND HELMHOLTZ.
BOTH OVER TIIREE-SCORE AND TEN-FOL-
LOWED BY THE GOODWILL OF
THE WORLD

Berlin October 20.
The University Of Berlin, glorious az have been
its eighty years of history. has had few prouder
days than those in which Rudolf yirchow and Her.
mann Won Iielmholtz celebrated their attainment
of lfes Biblical limit They are the alma mater
stars. Curtius, Mommsen, Treitschke, Roberts,
, Du Bots Raymond. and a of Others lend her
fame and attract students from the earth's four
corners but Helmholtz and virchow are unique
and without rivals German students of physics
and medicine for many years have considered
their education incomplete without listening at
least one semester TO Papa virchow- and " Papa
Helmholtz" Day after day the auditoriums Of
both men are crowded 10 their extreme limit.
Not only the thousand seats are filled men stand
in the aisles on the platforms in the windows
and Railways leading TO the rooms.
1t in difficult to say which man is the more
popular; both are loved and venerated. Morning
after morning. they enter thes lecture-rooms.
the students receive them with applause and
"rustling of the feet'-the highest mark Of honor,
and try in every way to express the regard in
which they hold them. Modest as the great
professors are they love these ebultons Of regard
on the part Of their hearers, and never cease to
encourage them Neither virchow nor IIelmholtz
is an eloquent or persuasive orator, although both
men are masters Of superb style in writing
They speak slowly and deliberately and with
little fire. Their language is simple and as free
as possible from long and useless phrases. But
their words are well chosen and make the most
difficult and abstruse subjects clear and easy Of
comprehension They fill the students with
thusiasm they teach them how to work; few
idlers listen to them long.
Helmholtz is much the handsomer man Tall,
well-rounded in figure, with face clearly shaven,
save the iron-gray mustache, fine straight nose,
and q pair Of remarkable, penetrating, steel gray
eyes; he can be often walking in the Doro-
theen and Luisenstrasen strassen between his
handsome home and the Institute of Physics over
which he presides. 1t was in that home that he
declined to receive DR.. Schwennger, the physician
Of Bismarck. whom the powerful Chan
cellor made professor despite the
protests of his future colleagues. a
man such you," said the great teacher TO
Schwenniger "shall never see my wife He
is naturally more aristocratic and conservative
than his friend Virchow, and was ennobled by the
old Emperor William in recognition Of his emf
ncnt services. Virchow's liberal course prevented
His Majesty from comforting upon him the same
distinction. He prefers to remain plain :" DR..
Virchow,' as the plate on the door of his house
modestly proclaims.
Virchow's manifold duties take him daily to
various parts of the town and make him a
familiar sight in the streets of the capital In
the Parliament, in the University, In the Board
Of Aldermen, in the various scientific societies. he
Is always the same. In appearance he is shorter
and slighter than Helmhotz; he looks, too older
and more worn. His eyes. gazing through pair
Of gold-rimmed spectasles, are brown; his nose
is Roman his head is still covered with heavy
shock of hair, and his beard is worn full and
long, lie dresses in an old-fashioned way, and
has few qualities Of the lion Of the salon" The
stranger would seldom recognize him q pro-
lessor. He resembles more the German retail
merchants from whom he sprang, and he possesses
indeed many Of their traits and peculisrities.
His powers for work are truly marvellous, and
he has long been known as the busiest man in
Berlin" der Tag wrote Goethe, = list Elm
Gefaess in das vel hineingeht," and Virchow long
ago discovered the truth of the poets words.
" 1t is only for society," he said few days ago,
" that have no time. But why should care for
it? Am / not always in society? When
indeed am / alone?" Well might he ask the
questions