Sartor Resartus | Page 8

gradual decay, and for the present reflect light and
resist pressure; that is, are visible and tangible objects in this phantasm
world, where so much other mystery is.
It was to be remarked that though, by title and diploma, _Professor der
Allerley-Wissenschaft_, or as we should say in English, "Professor of
Things in General," he had never delivered any Course; perhaps never
been incited thereto by any public furtherance or requisition. To all
appearance, the enlightened Government of Weissnichtwo, in founding
their New University, imagined they had done enough, if "in times like
ours," as the half-official Program expressed it, "when all things are,
rapidly or slowly, resolving themselves into Chaos, a Professorship of
this kind had been established; whereby, as occasion called, the task of
bodying somewhat forth again from such Chaos might be, even slightly,
facilitated." That actual Lectures should be held, and Public Classes for
the "Science of Things in General," they doubtless considered
premature; on which ground too they had only established the
Professorship, nowise endowed it; so that Teufelsdrockh,
"recommended by the highest Names," had been promoted thereby to a
Name merely.
Great, among the more enlightened classes, was the admiration of this

new Professorship: how an enlightened Government had seen into the
Want of the Age (_Zeitbedurfniss_); how at length, instead of Denial
and Destruction, we were to have a science of Affirmation and
Reconstruction; and Germany and Weissnichtwo were where they
should be, in the vanguard of the world. Considerable also was the
wonder at the new Professor, dropt opportunely enough into the
nascent University; so able to lecture, should occasion call; so ready to
hold his peace for indefinite periods, should an enlightened
Government consider that occasion did not call. But such admiration
and such wonder, being followed by no act to keep them living, could
last only nine days; and, long before our visit to that scene, had quite
died away. The more cunning heads thought it was all an expiring
clutch at popularity, on the part of a Minister, whom domestic
embarrassments, court intrigues, old age, and dropsy soon afterwards
finally drove from the helm.
As for Teufelsdrockh, except by his nightly appearances at the Grune
Gans, Weissnichtwo saw little of him, felt little of him. Here, over his
tumbler of Gukguk, he sat reading Journals; sometimes
contemplatively looking into the clouds of his tobacco-pipe, without
other visible employment: always, from his mild ways, an agreeable
phenomenon there; more especially when he opened his lips for speech;
on which occasions the whole Coffee-house would hush itself into
silence, as if sure to hear something noteworthy. Nay, perhaps to hear a
whole series and river of the most memorable utterances; such as, when
once thawed, he would for hours indulge in, with fit audience: and the
more memorable, as issuing from a head apparently not more interested
in them, not more conscious of them, than is the sculptured stone head
of some public fountain, which through its brass mouth-tube emits
water to the worthy and the unworthy; careless whether it be for
cooking victuals or quenching conflagrations; indeed, maintains the
same earnest assiduous look, whether any water be flowing or not.
To the Editor of these sheets, as to a young enthusiastic Englishman,
however unworthy, Teufelsdrockh opened himself perhaps more than
to the most. Pity only that we could not then half guess his importance,
and scrutinize him with due power of vision! We enjoyed, what not
three men Weissnichtwo could boast of, a certain degree of access to
the Professor's private domicile. It was the attic floor of the highest

house in the Wahngasse; and might truly be called the pinnacle of
Weissnichtwo, for it rose sheer up above the contiguous roofs,
themselves rising from elevated ground. Moreover, with its windows it
looked towards all the four Orte or as the Scotch say, and we ought to
say, _Airts_: the sitting room itself commanded three; another came to
view in the Schlafgemach (bedroom) at the opposite end; to say nothing
of the kitchen, which offered two, as it were, duplicates, showing
nothing new. So that it was in fact the speculum or watch-tower of
Teufelsdrockh; wherefrom, sitting at ease he might see the whole
life-circulation of that considerable City; the streets and lanes of which,
with all their doing and driving (_Thun und Treiben_), were for the
most part visible there.
"I look down into all that wasp-nest or bee-hive," we have heard him
say, "and witness their wax-laying and honey-making, and
poison-brewing, and choking by sulphur. From the Palace esplanade,
where music plays while Serene Highness is pleased to eat his victuals,
down to the low lane, where in her door-sill the aged widow, knitting
for a thin livelihood sits to feel the afternoon sun, I see it all; for, except