Shadow of great britain

"This is impossible!"

As soon as Dosler finished speaking, Bismarck directly rejected the university sexton's views.

"As far as I know, Mr. Schleiden did not go out much during the month he entered Göttingen except for classes. Even if he is a liberal, he has no chance to contact any Italians. After all, Italy in Göttingen Everyone is holed up in the Town Hall Hotel..."

As soon as Bismarck said this, he immediately felt a chill in his back. When he turned his eyes, he realized that Arthur was staring at him intently.

Your Excellency the Superintendent didn't say anything, he just took out the note pad from his pocket and pulled a piece of paper and gently tore it.

When Bismarck saw this, the clever President of the Student Union was so shocked that he stepped on the brakes and quickly suppressed his words: "What I said is well-founded, because Mr. Schleiden's roommate is mine." A good friend, the two of them stayed together almost every day, and he also told me Mr. Schleiden’s information.”

"Good friends?" Arthur took the topic smoothly: "Your friends in the Pomeranian Saber Club?"

"No, he doesn't like fencing." Bismarck reminded: "Sir, have you forgotten? You have also met him, my American friend, Mr. John Motley. I came with him just now, Do you want to ask him personally?"

Verger Dosler was impatient with Bismarck's procrastination in doing things. He took out the booklet that recorded the information of all the students in the school directly from the document bag and began to look at it: "John Motley , a second-year student in the School of Philosophy, a really good American student.”

Arthur nodded and said to Bismarck: "Go and call him."

Bismarck got the order and hurried out to call his friends. Arthur turned his head and asked Dosner: "Does Mr. Motley from the United States have a bad record?"

Dosler shook his head slightly: "No, like most American students, he is a good student. He loves learning, and all the professors speak highly of him. The only time he went to court on campus was not with The identity of the defendant was to appear as a witness against a few bastards who cut off the tails of stray dogs.”

"Cut off the tail of a stray dog?" Even though Arthur already knew how ridiculous the students in Göttingen were, it was still beyond his expectation that they could do such a thing: "Why are they doing this when they have nothing to do?"

Dosner shook his head and sighed: "If I could understand their thinking, then there would be no need to reorganize and register the 'glorious deeds' they had done every six months. However, I guess they do. Mostly to go against the regulations promulgated by the Academic Committee. It is known that mad dogs always like to put their tails between their legs in hot weather. If they lose their tails, people will not be able to distinguish between normal dogs and mad dogs. For the safety of citizens and students, the academic committee stipulates that dogs' tails cannot be cut off, otherwise they will have to pay a fine of three thalers. But those bastards obviously think that three thalers can be exchanged for an opportunity to become famous in the school. It’s so affordable.”

Arthur scratched his head in amazement: "It seems that I have found the biggest reason for the students to hold a liberal rally. The reputation of cutting off a dog's tail can make them scramble for the first place, let alone the title of freedom fighter. But there is no way. It is the nature of young people to be sensational, especially when they are insignificant, or in other words, have nothing to do, and college campuses provide them with such a place to do nothing.”

Dosner was stunned for a moment when he heard this, then nodded with deep understanding and said, "What you said hit the nail on the head. Those students who really study hard, such as Mr. Motley, never get involved in these things, because He doesn’t have that much time to do nothing.”

"Mr. Superintendent, Mr. Verger."

As soon as Dosner finished speaking, Motley, led by Bismarck, came to the two men and took off his hat and saluted: "I heard Otto say, you two have something to do with me?"

"Don't be nervous, it's nothing serious, just an ordinary chat. If you don't mind, please find a place to sit down first."

Arthur knew better than anyone whether Schleiden was involved in the student riots and the Italian Revolution. After all, there were a thousand people in Göttingen, and the one who was most deeply involved in these things was the Superintendent himself.

However, in order to dispel Dosna's doubts, Arthur still asked a few symbolic questions: "I have always been curious, as an American, why did you choose to come to Germany instead of going to school in the United States? "

When Motley heard Arthur ask about this, he smiled and replied: "Well... Well, it's certainly good to go to school in the United States, but although I love my hometown, I still have to admit that even the best in the United States Schools, such as the old Harvard University or the up-and-coming University of Virginia, cannot compare with European universities in terms of academic resources. And if you go back to your country to find a job, diplomas from European universities are always more recognized than diplomas from American schools. When recruiting professors, the University of Virginia even directly states that applicants with European academic backgrounds are given priority. Because of this, if you have the opportunity, you will naturally come to Europe to study at a university.”

Motley's frank attitude made the conversation a lot easier. I don't know if Bismarck warned him in advance, or if he saw that something was wrong with the atmosphere at the scene. In short, this smart American guy couldn't beat around the bush. He said nothing, giving Dosner no chance to doubt him.

"I see." Arthur didn't want to dig a hole for the students, so he took the topic as far away as possible: "However, if you are coming to study in Europe, wouldn't it be better to go to the UK? There are no barriers to communication, and there is no need to learn another language. . I know that Oxford and Cambridge do not accept international students, but the University of Glasgow and the University of Edinburgh should not restrict nationality?”

Motley said slyly when he heard this: "Of course, Glasgow, Edinburgh and the University of London are all first-class universities. Before the signing of the Treaty of Ghent in 1815, the UK was indeed the first choice for many American students. However, For some well-known reasons, starting in the 1820s, studying in the United Kingdom began to become more and more disgraceful in the United States. In addition, the United Kingdom began to restrict the number of American students, so things became more and more The more regretful it is.

As for why I can’t go to the UK, why not go to France instead of studying in Germany? I guess this may have something to do with the book "Deutschland" published by Mrs. Starr. Although that book was in French, an English translation was published in New York the next year. This book is very popular in the United States, and many people have learned about German customs, religious philosophy, art education and other aspects from that book.

Most of our seniors in the Göttingen Alumni Association in Boston chose to study in Göttingen due to the influence of Mrs. Starr. As for the new generation of students like us, they were influenced by Mr. Kusen's "Report on Public Education in Germany, especially Prussia". This book was published in 1832. Before I read this book, I once wanted to study in France. But after I read this book, I felt that I needed to come to Germany and give it a try. "

Speaking of which, Motley did not forget to praise the student services provided by Göttingen: "In fact, the first day I arrived here I knew that I was not in the wrong place. According to government regulations, whether it is the entire city or Gottingen, The University of Tingen has made various adjustments to meet the needs of international students. As soon as we arrived in Göttingen, Mr. Dossner immediately understood my situation and needs, and there was a clear process for confirming my needs from the local citizens. Accommodation has been arranged, professors will help me choose the right teachers, and school staff will ensure that my other living needs are met. Therefore, after arriving in Göttingen for a day or two, I no longer feel unfamiliar here.”

When Bismarck heard Motley's words, he just stood behind Arthur and curled his lips at his old friend.

Because he remembered that Motley didn't say that in private. Student service at the University of Göttingen is, at best, meticulous. To put it bluntly, it is actually a mother-in-law and the procedures are cumbersome.

If the University of Göttingen wanted to eliminate the liberal movement, it would be quite simple. As long as the academic committee issues a notice requiring students to apply six months in advance for each demonstration or riot march.

Because according to Göttingen's work efficiency, the six-month process usually takes several years to complete, and by that time, the students will have already graduated and gone to work.

However, although both would complain about the school's low administrative efficiency, Motley's attitude towards learning was obviously much more serious than that of German students like Bismarck.

Motley's daily routine was very regular. Except for the occasional get-together with Bismarck, his schedule basically did not change much.

I get up on time at 5 o'clock every day, and then sit down to study Latin. I study until 7:30 three days a week and until 8:30 three days a week.

At 8 o'clock on Monday, Tuesday and Friday, I went to Professor William Green's German class without hesitation. Although Bismarck once encouraged Motley to skip classes, he never agreed.

In Motley's words, he did not skip classes because Professor Green was one of the few professors that he admired. His profound knowledge greatly impressed Motley. Green not only knew the history of literature well, but was also familiar with ancient times. With almost all the allusions and folklore behind modern works, Motley felt better in his class than in a restaurant drinking.

At 9 o'clock, Motley will go to Professor Aiken's theology class and listen to him talk about the first three chapters of the Gospel. Although Motley did not agree with his views on the origin and formation of the Gospels, and was not satisfied with his reasoning, the course still attracted Motley more than fencing with Bismarck.

After the morning class, he walked 15 minutes home for dinner. After resting until 1:30 in the afternoon, Mottley began to read Professor Blumenbach's lecture notes again. At 3 o'clock, he and his roommate Schleiden went to take his history of natural philosophy.

Although everyone is hesitant to let Professor Blumenbach, who is over eighty years old, go on the operating table, this old professor with more than 50 years of teaching experience is still a trustworthy first-class teaching expert in Göttingen. His teaching style is humorous and humorous. , and he is very emotional, so few students will skip his classes.

At 5 p.m., it was Motley’s free time. Depending on the invitation that day, he might go to a pub for a drink, or he might visit two professors, Schulze and Dyson, who teach Greek.

Motley was different from Bismarck, the most problematic student. Even if he was not the most popular student among professors, at least he was occasionally invited by professors to visit their homes and consult with them.

His roommate Schleiden was also a good student of the same type. Blumenbach, who was undergoing surgery in the operating room, once invited these two students to his home to tutor biology knowledge for free along with other proud disciples.

Although this kind of interdisciplinary tutoring sounds ridiculous, it is actually a common phenomenon in Göttingen and even the entire German university circle. As a result, many students studied theology and philosophy when they entered school, but because they became interested in other subjects during the course, they finally graduated with degrees in other subjects such as medicine and mathematics.

For example, in order to study the feet of women in Göttingen, Heine, a doctor of philosophy, paid to take an elective course in medical school and crammed in anatomy knowledge in the library for several months.

It is not uncommon for people to turn from literature to literature, and there are also many people who turn from literature to literature.

A typical figure in this regard is Gauss. Although Gauss did not change his major, according to him, his interest in literature was far greater than his interest in mathematics. One of the regrets in this life is that he did not pursue a doctorate in classical literature. .

The borrowing records of the Göttingen University Library also confirm Gauss's statement. As the world's top library with a collection of nearly 300,000 books, Gauss rarely borrowed books on natural philosophy from here. The most he borrowed was actually It’s a novel, a play, and a collection of poems.

If arranged according to the borrowing list, it is easy to see Gauss's literary taste. This is a reader who prefers classical romanticism. He is loyal to Shakespeare, Goethe and Voltaire, but this does not mean that Gauss has a disdain for contemporary writers. What a bias, because after the Göttingen University Library purchased the works of "The British" at the beginning of this month, Gauss was also the first reader to go to the library early to borrow these British fashion novels.

The librarian Brothers Green said that Gauss liked to read Walter Scott's historical novels, so he had always been interested in Mr. Elder Carter, the 'new Walter Scott' in London. This time, Goss was quite unceremonious and included two of Carter's novels, "St. George's Flag Rises" and "Robin Hood". He also picked up "The Count of Monte Cristo" and "Hastings" by the way. set".

Arthur used Schleiden to report on the itinerary of the past few days and chatted about these interesting things on campus that he accidentally discovered. The atmosphere at the scene quickly became more harmonious.

Dosner's various insinuations failed to get the suspicious information he wanted from Motley, so he could only shake his head helplessly, stood up and said to Arthur: "Sir, about the doubts about Schleiden. , Schaefer and I will find out as soon as possible. There is still a lot of work to do, and I won’t stay here for long.”

"Then I'll leave it to you and Mr. Schaefer."

"The duty lies."

Dosner stood up and left the hospital. Motley saw him walking away, and then he winked at Arthur and said, "Sir, do you know that the brave citizen who saved Mr. Schleiden was Italian?"

"Italian?" Arthur asked calmly: "How do you know?"

"Of course it's because I know a little Italian." Motley smiled and patted the shoulder of Bismarck beside him: "The biggest thing Otto and I have in common is that we both know multiple languages. I know French, English, German, Latin, Greek and Italian, but Otto was a little better than me and he also spoke some Russian and Polish.”

As soon as Arthur heard Polish, he immediately seemed to be reminded of something. He teased Bismarck: "You actually understand Polish. It seems that instead of being a judge, you can actually elect a member of parliament."

Bismarck, who did not understand the process of teaching Polish in London, only thought that Arthur was complimenting him. The young man puffed up his chest proudly and said: "Thank you for your appreciation. Apart from the art of fencing, this is the first time that I feel that we two actually have the same views."

But in a flash, Bismarck coughed proudly and asked Arthur for credit: "I didn't tell anyone else at all that the brave citizen who solved Mr. Schleiden was an Italian."

"Well done."

Arthur saw through Bismarck's little thinking at a glance. This was not only asking for credit, but also concealed a hint of threat of "I've got another handle." Although Bismarck said softly, as long as he was a person, he could see it. This kid has been holding back a feeling in his heart. As soon as he gets the school recommendation letter, this self-proclaimed most loyal and reliable student in Göttingen will immediately betray him.

Arthur had never dealt with education, but he knew how to deal with similar police informants.

Of course, dealing with students cannot be as straightforward as police work, so in this regard, he needs to use some more flexible methods.

"Otto, I heard that you are very interested in electromagnetism recently? And you signed up for Mr. Ohm's course?"

When Bismarck heard this, he kept muttering and cursing in his heart. Because Arthur asked him to take the electromagnetic elective course, not what he chose himself.

But since Arthur had to choose him voluntarily, for the sake of the recommendation letter, he could only agree verbally: "Yes, I am indeed very interested in natural philosophy, especially electromagnetism. A trendy new subject, who doesn’t love these trendy concepts?”

Seeing how duplicitous this boy was, Arthur seemed to hear the sound of a big fish taking the bait. He smiled and patted Bismarck on the shoulder: "Very good. I am very pleased that you are so motivated and eager to learn. Come to my house tonight." Come, No. 76 Weinde Street, I have a good French cook at home, I will treat you to an authentic French meal first, and then I will give you a good lesson. "

When Bismarck heard this, the smile immediately froze on his face. He had already smelled something was wrong: "Make up a lesson? You mean electromagnetism?"

"Electromagnetism is of course an indispensable part. Although I am a professor of electromagnetism, what I am good at is not just electromagnetism."

Arthur smiled and blinked: "Just like Professor Gauss, he is a professor of mathematics, but he is also specialized in astronomy and physics. As for me, compared to electromagnetism, what I am better at is policing... …Oh, no, in the management of the Gestapo.”