elastic in the sides. He was a man with whom one did not easily become
acquainted, having very decided opinions on most subjects. He
possessed exquisite taste, a passionate love of music, flowers and all
things beautiful; rather visionary, poetical and a dreamer; he was not
practical, like his wife; warm-hearted, impulsive, energetic Frau
Schmidt, who was noted for her executive abilities. I can imagine the
old Professor saying as Mohammed has been quoted as saying, "Had I two
loaves, I would sell one and buy hyacinths to feed my soul."
Impulsive, generous to a fault, quick to take offense, withal
warm-hearted, kind and loyal to his friends, he was beloved by the
students, who declared that "Old Snitzy" always played fair when he
was obliged to reprimand them for their numerous pranks, which ended
sometimes, I am obliged to confess, with disastrous results. The
dignified old Professor would have raised his mild, blue, spectacled
eyes in astonishment had he been so unfortunate as to have overheard
the boys, to whom he was greatly attached, call their dignified
preceptor by such a nickname.

The Professor's little black-eyed German wife, many years younger than
her husband, had been, before her marriage, teacher of domestic
science in a female college in a large city. "She was a most excellent
housekeeper," to quote the Professor, and "a good wife and mother."

The family consisted of "Fritz," a boy of sixteen, with big, innocent,
baby-blue eyes like his father, who idolized his only son, who was
alike a joy and a torment. Fritz attended the university in a near-by
town, and was usually head of the football team. He was always at the
front in any mischief whatever, was noted for getting into scrapes
innumerable through his love of fun, yet he possessed such a
good-natured, unselfish, happy-go-lucky disposition that one always