Soul of the Age Read Online Free PDF

you’d be interested in hearing about the kind of people I spend my time with.
    Well, first my neighbor Hartmann. 1 He’s a hardworking youth; he likes things to be neat and tidy, and hasn’t lost the indolent dignity of the inhabitant of the capital. He has a very elegant, graceful way of pocketing his pince-nez, and occasionally ventures a witticism. But he can’t be made to change his mind, once he has made it up.
    Then there’s my other neighbor, Hinderer, 2 a tiny man with the tiny eyes of a mouse. He’s light as a butterfly, laughs often but thinks little, also good-natured, musical. He recently ran a few little rubber bands across a small board, and then tuned them; he can play folk tunes, harmonies, and even dance music on it. He’s old Holzbog’s pet; he’s notatus in the class book. He goes out walking a lot, is moderate by nature, and has been reading E. Tegnér’s Fritjof Saga for quite some time.
    Of course, I spend most of my time with my friend Wilhelm Lang. 3 He’s a hard worker, his desk is inscribed with the motto “Ora et labora!” He is extraordinarily practical, can make all sorts of things out of a little piece of wood, some twine, paper, etc. He sketches very nicely, especially ornaments, reads Schiller a lot, is a model schoolboy. He’s a little smaller than I am, dresses like me, has a nice, cheerful face, and wears chokers. He’s always well supplied with apples and butter, which are consumed with considerable help from me. He has a beautiful handwriting, acts as treasurer of the senior class, and on Saturday leaves half his bratwurst uneaten. He’s a bit reserved, loves peace and quiet, rarely gets into fights.
    Then there is Franz Schall. 4 He’s about my height, a serious and industrious fellow. Some call him a philistine, but he’s thoughtful, has a finely developed sense of justice. To him duty is all. He’s fond of aesthetic things, Schiller’s prose, etc.
    I should also mention Zeller. 5 He’s big, broad, frightfully strong. He’s an enthusiast, likes philosophy, is crazy about Herder. He knows Christ as “the friend” rather than the Son of God, and is skeptical about the existence of the devil and evil forces of that nature. Moreover, he’s talented, has a good prose style, writes occasional poetry infrequently, and has a very good feeling for music. He evidently feels superior on account of his penchant for philosophy, etc. When asked to prove his ideas, he says with a mixture of condescension and annoyance, “That’s still quite over your head!” He’s clever, not at all sly. He’s not interested in intrigue, and is rather intense, has a strange, comical sort of dignity, founded a “literary association,” which has lots of external paraphernalia, statutes, etc. Zeller is a good judge of people, especially men; he despises childishness in any form, and perhaps all that is childlike as well, and that’s no good.
    Häcker, 6 a sharp-witted preacher’s son, is talented, funny, likes nibbling, grimaces a lot, and tells lots of very witty jokes in a most solemn and stoical manner. He often regales us with funny historical scenes, and can transform Homer into a street minstrel. He is kind-hearted, not particularly industrious, dignified, given to pathos. He can declaim philosophical essays on omelettes or herring salad; he never reads the classics.
    I’m not close to Robert Gabriel 7 and mention him only because he has such talent for drawing. He can sketch landscapes, buildings, and many biblical scenes, also expressive portraits of Christ’s face, etc.
    Rümelin 8 may be the most talented of all: a cheerful day scholar, mathematician, musician, quite practical, too.
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    Saturday, March 12, 1892
    It’s nearly five o’clock. I’m sitting out my sentence, 9 on bread and water; the detention began at half past twelve and will continue