CHRISTIAN FRIEDRICH SCHONBEIN. PART I. LIFE AND CHARACTER
I t is a noble ambition t o endeavor t o fill the short span of our liver with deeds of lasting value. To a truly noble nature, there is no thought less endurable, yea, more repulsive, than t o vanish utterly from the scene of life leaving no trace of useful accomplishment, to depart from this world without having contributed t o the capital of the higher assets af humanity, t o he physically alive and mentally dead. and to be forgotten by his contemporaries as soon as his eyes are closed.
Thus Schonbein summed up the creed by which he ordered his life. A simple, naive man; a refreshingly candid character; a plain product of the common people, yet not afraid to associate with the great of his world; deeply religious yet not bigoted; a lover of nature and truth, an enemy of sham and show; a pioneer and yet a conservative; a keen, flexible intelligence exhibiting almost stupid stubbornness at times; a lover of peace, yet gladly bearing arms for a cause he deemed righteous; a model son, husband, and father; a keen-sighted investigator, yet almost blind in business affairs; he was all these things and more. "Unconventional, of unspoiled, original freshness," was Ostwald's characterization of this unusual personality whom Farber has aptly called the "Scheele" of the 19th century. Christian Friedrich Schonbein was born October 18, 1790, at Metzingen, Swabia. Although his father was a dyer by trade, we cannot ascribe the boy's chemical talents to inheritance, for the father was so lacking in initiative that he lost his business and entered the postal service. The school facilities of the small town were limited and the questions of the active-minded boy soon led the teacher to advise Christian's father to provide better instruction for him. However, the finances of the family of eight children would not permit a lengthy period of schooling for the first born, and after being confirmed a t Easter, 1813, Christian was apprenticed in a chemical and pharmaceutical factory a t Boblingen, several hours' journey from his home. He suffered terribly from homesickness and his first manuscript was a poem in which he poured out his longing for his loved ones and the familiar landscape. This love for the land of his birth never left him, for many years later (1865) he wrote, I n spite of long absence from my home country, there still remains in me a considerable portion of Swabian, which feels the need of wasionally breathing native air, of eating sauer kraut, blood sausage, and dumplings, and of drinking Neckar wine; certainly no one can blame me for this.
The factory operations involved the preparation of a wide variety of chemical products and the establishment also included a teaching labo-
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ratory in which the apprentices were given instruction in chemistry and physics. Besides acquiring a knowledge of theoretical and applied chemistry, Schonbein studied Latin, French, English, philosophy, and mathematics, and so well did he utilize the opportunities both in and outside the factory walls, that in 1820 he voluntarily asked Kielmeyer, professor of chemistry a t Tubingen, t o examine him. This examination, the only one to which he was ever subjected, was passed with great credit, and Schijnbein felt competent to undertake a position offered by J. G. Dingler of Augsburg. The latter, a chemical manufacturer, was just starting his Polytechnisches Journal and evidently expected the new assistant to aid him in this venture, for he demanded "a chemist fitted for scientific rather than for the ordinary daily chemical affairs; he should be somewhat more than barely acquainted with chemistry in order that he can take charge of the analytical work. Furthermore, he should have a knowledge of languages, and a t least be able to translate from the French." The salary offered was 200-300 florins per year ( I florin = 40C) plus board and lodging. The working hours were from 6 A.M. t o 7 P.M. but Schonhein devoted the time from 4 t o (iin the morning and from 7 t o 10 in the evening to his private studies, paying particular attention t o Berzelius' text which had just appeared in German translation. He also made good use of his employer's exceptionally large library of periodicals, and spent some time on languages and philosophy. A resolve to abandon practical chemistry in favor of a scientific career gradually developed, and in August, 1820, he gladly accepted a position in a chemical factory near Erlangen, with the hope that proximity to a university might enable him t o become acquainted with the faculty either through mutual acquaintances or by direct solicitation. I t is quite characteristic that he did not hesitate to write t o Prof. Schelling, the most famous philosopher in Germany: It is obvious that your philosophy, to me synonymous with a study of truth and so distinguished by originality, must be of intense interest to me and consequently I have the greatest desire to become acquainted with it. The most direct way would be to attend your lectures, but my present condition makes this impossible, so I know of no other way than to respectfully request that you impart your philosophy to me in the manner least laborious to you.
The appeal was granted; Schelling and his young admirer had long conversations and the intimate friendship that developed lasted t o Schelling's death in 1854. Schonbein's employer, J . N. Adam, was so impressed with the young man's earnestness, that he not only released him from his contract, but made him private tutor to his children, so that Schonbein had not only time but funds t o enter the university in May, 1821. Chemistry was taught by Kastner whose limitations were so soon discovered by
Liebig. The latter was a t Erlangen during Schonbein's stay, but the two had little or nothing to do with each other, and only after many years, when they both had made names in the scientific world, did they become intimate friends. After one semester, Schonbein migrated to Tiibingen, but found the offerings in natural science and philosophy extremely meager. His diary reveals that he took an active part in student life and his outstanding ability to make friends soon made the "noble Swabian" a prominent figure in the academic community. February, 1823, found him again enrolled a t Erlangen as philosopha? et rerum physicarum studiosus. Much of his attention was devoted to philosophical, educational, and psychological problems, for the resolve to devote himself to teaching had become definite. Friedrich Froebel, who later became famous because of his kindergarten movement, had started an educational community at Keilhau, Thuringia. Much of the class work was done in the woods and fields, for both teachers and pupils studied nature a t first hand. Utmost simplicity in food, lodging, and clothing was a basic concept of the cult, the poverty of all members of the enterprise was accepted as a virtue, and monetary considerations were disregarded whenever possible. In the fall of 1823, Schonbein came into this curious environment as teacher of chemistry, physics, and mineralogy and for a time fitted in well. He wrote to his father in March, 1824, I cot~ldnot wish for a better place than my present position. Teaching has now become a necessity to me. Your first inquiry will doubtless be about my salary, hut on this point I can give you no information, for conditions here are such that this topic has not been discussed as yet. You know well that money is not the first of my desires, and so you will not be surprised to learn that I have not uttered a word on this subject to the director. In due season, I shall let you know what is necessary.
Translations from the French and English for scientific journals brought him some income. However, his fundamental common sense and ambition, to say nothing of breakfasts of hard pears, black bread, and water, soon overcame his original enthusiasm for Froebel and his school and although such an experience was perhaps necessary for him to get his feet on the ground, he was glad in January, 1826, to take a position in a boys' school a t Epsom, England, where he taught mathematics and natural philosophy. He was very happy in his English environment and gave entire satisfaction, for he obtained leave to spend some time in London in order to attend courses of lectures on various scientific subjects. Among others he heard Faraday, with whom he did not become acquainted until much later. In recalling this first contact, Schonbein wrote to Faraday:
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. .being then rather a shy and bashful young man, I did not venture to enter into conversation with you in spite of my inclination to do so, and though I had, after the lecture was over, afavorable opportunity to speak to you.
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Faraday wrote to him, "You cannot think how much each letter of yours tantalizes me, for they all make me wish I had known you sooner." After a short return to Epsom he went to Paris. In a letter to his father he wrote: My stay here is partly to master the French language, hut especially to visit the scientific institutes which are the hest in the world and therefore essential to my purpose. I hope to find some tutoring toensure my living.
The lectures of Gay-Lussac, Thenard, Ampere, Dumas, the libraries, the museums gave him the greatest pleasure and instruction, but yet he hated
SCII~~NBEIN'S LABOXATORY A N D LBCTTIKE I
