Wilhelmina says, [Mémoires,
.] her Brother was “slow” in learning :
we may presume, she means idle, volatile, not always
prompt in fixing his attention to what did not interest
him. Moreover, he was often weakly in health,
as she herself adds; so that exertion was not recommendable
for him. Herr von Loen (a witty Prussian Official,
and famed man-of-letters once, though forgotten now)
testifies expressly that the Boy was of bright parts,
and that he made rapid progress. “The Crown-Prince
manifests in this tender age [his seventh year] an
uncommon capacity; nay we may say, something quite
extraordinary (etwas ganz Ausserordentliches).
He is a most alert and vivacious Prince; he has fine
and sprightly manners; and shows a certain kindly sociality,
and so affectionate a disposition that all things
may be hoped of him. The French Lady who [under
Roucoulles] has had charge of his learning hitherto,
cannot speak of him without enthusiasm. ’C’est
un esprit ange’lique (a little angel),’
she is wont to say. He takes up, and learns,
whatever is put before him, with the greatest facility.”
[Van Loen, Kleine Schriften, i (as cited
in Rodenbeck, No. i.]
For the rest, that Friedrich Wilhelm’s
intentions and Rhadamanthine regulations, in regard
to him, were fulfilled in every point, we will by
no means affirm. Rules of such exceeding preciseness,
if grounded here and there only on the SIC-VOLO, how
could they be always kept, except on the surface and
to the eye merely? The good Duhan, diligent to
open his pupil’s mind, and give Nature fair-play,
had practically found it inexpedient to tie him too
rigorously to the arbitrary formal departments where
no natural curiosity, but only order from without,
urges the ingenious pupil. What maximum strictness
in school-drill there can have been, we may infer
from one thing, were there no other : the ingenious
Pupil’s mode of SPELLING. Fritz learned
to write a fine, free-flowing, rapid and legible business-hand;
“Arithmetic” too, “Geography,”
and many other Useful Knowledges that had some geniality
of character, or attractiveness in practice, were
among his acquisitions; much, very much he learned
in the course of his life; but to SPELL, much more
to punctuate, and subdue the higher mysteries of Grammar
to himself, was always an unachievable perfection.
He did improve somewhat in after life; but here is
the length to which he had carried that necessary
art in the course of nine years’ exertion, under
Duhan and the subsidiary preceptors; it is in the
following words and alphabetic letters that he gratefully
bids Duhan farewell,-who surely cannot
have been a very strict drill-sergeant in the arbitrary
branches of schooling!
“Mon cher Duhan Je Vous
promais (PROMETS) que quand j’aurez
(J’AURAI) mon propre argent en
main, je Vous donnerez (DONNERAI)
enuelement (ANNUELLEMENT) 2400 écu (ECUS)
par an, et je vous aimerais (AIMERAI)
toujour encor (TOUJORS ENCORE) un peu
plus q’asteure (Qu’à CETTE
HEURE) s’il me l’est (M’EST)
posible (POSSIBLE).”
“MY DEAR DUHAN,-I
promise to you, that when I shall have my money in
my own hands, I will give you annually 2400 crowns
[say 350 pounds] EVERY YEAR; and that I will love
you always even a little more than at present, if
that be possible.
“FRIDERIC P.R. [Prince-Royal].”
“POTSDAM, lé 20 de juin, 1727.”
[Preuss, .]
The Document has otherwise its beauty;
but such is the spelling of it. In fact his Grammar,
as he would himself now and then regretfully discern,
in riper years, with some transient attempt or resolution
to remedy or help it, seems to have come mainly by
nature; so likewise his “STYLUS” both
in French and German,-a very fair style, too, in the former dialect :-but as to his
spelling, let him try as he liked, he never came within
sight of perfection.
The things ordered with such rigorous
minuteness, if but arbitrary things, were apt to be
neglected; the things forbidden, especially in the
like case, were apt to become doubly tempting.
It appears, the prohibition of Latin gave rise to
various attempts, on the part of Friedrich, to attain
that desirable Language. Secret lessons, not from
Duhan, but no doubt with Duhan’s connivance,
were from time to time undertaken with this view :
once, it is recorded, the vigilant Friedrich Wilhelm,
going his rounds, came upon Fritz and one of his Preceptors
(not Duhan but a subaltern) actually engaged in this
illicit employment. Friedrich himself was wont
to relate this anecdote in after life. [Busching,
Beitrage zu der Lebensgeschichte denkwurdiger Personen,
. Preuss, .] They had Latin books, dictionaries, grammars on the
table, all the contraband apparatus; busy with it there, like a pair of coiners
taken in the fact. Among other Books was a copy of the Golden Bull of
Kaiser Karl IV.,-Aurea
Bulla, from the little golden BULLETS or pellets
hung to it,-by which sublime Document, as
perhaps we hinted long ago, certain so-called Fundamental
Constitutions, or at least formalities and solemn
practices, method of election, rule of precedence,
and the like, of the Holy Roman Empire, had at last
been settled on a sure footing, by that busy little
Kaiser, some three hundred and fifty years before;
a Document venerable almost next to the Bible in Friedrich
Wilhelm’s loyal eyes, “What is this; what
are you venturing upon here?” exclaims Paternal
Vigilance, in an astonished dangerous tone. "Ihro
Majestat, ich explicire dem Prinzen Auream Bullam,"
exclaimed the trembling pedagogue : “Your
Majesty, I am explaining AUREA BULLA [Golden Bull]
to the Prince!”-“Dog, I will
Golden-Bull you!” said his Majesty, flourishing
his rattan, "Ich will dich, Schurke, be-auream-bullam!"
which sent the terrified wretch off at the top of
his speed, and ended the Latin for that time. [Forster,
.]
Friedrich’s Latin could never
come to much, under these impediments. But he
retained some smatterings of it in mature life; and
was rather fond of producing his classical scraps,-often
in an altogether mouldy, and indeed hitherto inexplicable
condition. "De gustibus non est disputandus,”
“Beati possEdentes,” “CompIlle intrare,”
“BeatUS pauperes spiritus;" the meaning
of these can be guessed : but "Tot verbas tot
spondera," for example,-what can any
commentator make of that? "Festina lente,”
“Dominus vobiscum,” “Flectamus genua,”
“Quod bene notandum;" these phrases too,
and some three or four others of the like, have been
riddled from his Writings by diligent men : [Preuss
furnishes the whole stock of them.] "O
témpora, O mores! You see, I don’t forget
my Latin,” writes he once.
The worst fruit of these contraband
operations was, that they involved the Boy in clandestine
practices, secret disobediences, apt to be found out
from time to time, and tended to alienate his Father
from him. Of which sad mutual humor we already
find traces in that early Wusterhausen Document :
“Not to be so dirty,” says the reproving
Father. And the Boy does not take to hunting
at all, likes verses, story-books, flute-playing better;
seems to be of effeminate tendencies, an EFFEMINIRTER
KERL; affects French modes, combs out his hair like
a cockatoo, the foolish French fop, instead of conforming
to the Army-regulation, which prescribes close-cropping
and a club!
This latter grievance Friedrich Wilhelm
decided, at last, to abate, and have done with; this,
for one. It is an authentic fact, though not
dated,-dating perhaps from about Fritz’s
fifteenth year. “Fritz is a QUERPFEIFER
UND POET,” not a Soldier! would his
indignant Father growl; looking at those foreign effeminate
ways of his. QUERPFEIFE, that is simply “German-flute,”
“CROSS-PIPE” (or FIFE of any kind, for
we English have thriftily made two useful words out
of the Deutsch root); “Cross-pipe,” being
held across the mouth horizontally. Worthless
employment, if you are not born to be of the regimental
band! thinks Friedrich Wilhelm. Fritz is celebrated,
too, for his fine foot; a dapper little fellow, altogether
pretty in the eyes of simple female courtiers, with
his blond locks combed out at the temples, with his
bright eyes, sharp wit, and sparkling capricious ways.
The cockatoo locks, these at least we will abate!
decides the Paternal mind.
And so, unexpectedly, Friedrich Wilhelm
has commanded these bright locks, as contrary to military
fashion, of which Fritz has now unworthily the honor
of being a specimen, to be ruthlessly shorn away.
Inexorable : the HOF-CHIRURGUS (Court-Surgeon,
of the nature of Barber-Surgeon), with scissors and
comb, is here; ruthless Father standing by. Crop
him, my jolly Barber; close down to the accurate standard;
soaped club, instead of flowing locks; we suffer no
exceptions in this military department : I stand
here till it is done. Poor Fritz, they say, had
tears in his eyes; but what help in tears? The
judicious Chirurgus, however, proved merciful.
The judicious Chirurgus struck in as if nothing
loath, snack, snack; and made a great show of clipping.
Friedrich Wilhelm took a newspaper till the job were
done; the judicious Barber, still making a great show
of work, combed back rather than cut off these Apollo
locks; did Fritz accurately into soaped club, to the
cursory eye; but left him capable of shaking out his
chevelure again on occasion,-to the
lasting gratitude of Fritz. [Preuss, .]
THE NOLTENIUS-AND-PANZENDORF DRILL-EXERCISE.
On the whole, as we said, a youth
needs good assimilating power, if he is to grow in
this world! Noltenius aud Panzendorf, for instance,
they were busy “teaching Friedrich religion.”
Rather a strange operation this too, if we were to
look into it. We will not look too closely.
Another pair of excellent most solemn drill-sergeants,
in clerical black serge; they also are busy instilling
dark doctrines into the bright young Boy, so far as
possible; but do not seem at any time to have made
too deep an impression on him. May we not say
that, in matter of religion too, Friedrich was but
ill-bested? Enlightened Edict-of-Nantes Protestantism,
a cross between Bayle and Calvin : that was but
indifferent babe’s milk to the little creature.
Nor could Noltenius’s Catechism, and ponderous
drill-exercise in orthodox theology, much inspire a
clear soul with pieties, and tendencies to soar Heavenward.
Alas, it is a dreary litter indeed,
mere wagon-load on wagon-load of shot-rubbish, that
is heaped round this new human plant, by Noltenius
and Company, among others. A wonder only that
they did not extinguish all Sense of the Highest in
the poor young soul, and leave only a Sense of the
Dreariest and Stupidest. But a healthy human soul
can stand a great deal. The healthy soul shakes
off, in an unexpectedly victorious manner, immense
masses of dry rubbish that have been shot upon it by
its assiduous pedagogues and professors. What
would become of any of us otherwise! Duhan, opening
the young soul, by such modest gift as Duhan had,
to recognize black from white a little, in this embroiled
high Universe, is probably an exception in some small
measure. But, Duhan excepted, it may be said
to have been in spite of most of his teachers, and
their diligent endeavors, that Friedrich did acquire
some human piety; kept the sense of truth alive in
his mind; knew, in whatever words he phrased it, the
divine eternal nature of Duty; and managed, in the
muddiest element and most eclipsed Age ever known,
to steer by the heavenly loadstars and (so we must
candidly term it) to FOLLOW God’s Law; in some
measure, with or without Noltenius for company.
Noltenius’s CATECHISM, or ghostly Drill-manual
for Fritz, at least the Catechism he had plied Wilhelmina
with, which no doubt was the same, is still extant.
[Preuss, ;-specimens of it in Rodenbeck.]
A very abstruse Piece; orthodox Lutheran-Calvinist,
all proved from Scripture; giving what account it
can of this unfathomable Universe, to the young mind.
To modern Prussians it by no means shines as the indubitablest
Theory of the Universe. Indignant modern Prussians
produce excerpts from it, of an abstruse nature; and
endeavor to deduce therefrom some of Friedrich’s
aberrations in matters of religion, which became notorious
enough by and by. Alas, I fear, it would not
have been easy, even for the modern Prussian, to produce
a perfect Catechism for the use of Friedrich; this
Universe still continues a little abstruse!
And there is another deeper thing
to be remarked : the notion of “teaching”
religion, in the way of drill-exercise; which is a
very strange notion, though a common one, and not
peculiar to Noltenius and Friedrich Wilhelm.
Piety to God, the nobleness that inspires a human
soul to struggle Heavenward, cannot be “taught”
by the most exquisite catechisms, or the most industrious
preachings and drillings. No; alas, no.
Only by far other methods,-chiefly by silent
continual Example, silently waiting for the favorable
mood and moment, and aided then by a kind of miracle,
well enough named “the grace of God,”-can
that sacred contagion pass from soul into soul.
How much beyond whole Libraries of orthodox Theology
is, sometimes, the mute action, the unconscious look
of a father, of a mother, who HAD in them “Devoutness,
pious Nobleness”! In whom the young soul,
not unobservant, though not consciously observing,
came at length to recognize it; to read it, in this
irrefragable manner : a seed planted thenceforth
in the centre of his holiest affections forevermore!
Noltenius wore black serge; kept the
corners of his mouth well down; and had written a
Catechism of repute; but I know not that Noltenius
carried much seed of living piety about with him;
much affection from, or for, young Fritz he could
not well carry. On the whole, it is a bad outlook
on the religious side; and except in Apprenticeship
to the rugged and as yet repulsive Honesties of Friedrich
Wilhelm, I see no good element in it. Bayle-Calvin,
with Noltenius and Catechisms of repute : there
is no “religion” to be had for a little
Fritz out of all that. Endless Doubt will be
provided for him out of all that, probably disbelief
of all that;-and, on the whole, if any
form at all, a very scraggy form of moral existence;
from which the Highest shall be hopelessly absent;
and in which anything High, anything not Low and Lying,
will have double merit.
It is indeed amazing what quantities
and kinds of extinct ideas apply for belief, sometimes
in a menacing manner, to the poor mind of man, and
poor mind of child, in these days. They come bullying
in upon him, in masses, as if they were quite living
ideas; ideas of a dreadfully indispensable nature,
the evident counterpart, and salutary interpretation,
of Facts round him, which, it is promised the poor
young creature, he SHALL recognize to correspond with
them, one day. At which “correspondence,”
when the Facts are once well recognized, he has at
last to ask himself with amazement, “Did I ever
recognize it, then?” Whereby come results incalculable;
not good results any of them;-some of them
unspeakably bad! The ease of Crown-Prince Friedrich
in Berlin is not singular; all cities and places can
still show the like. And when it will end, is
not yet clear. But that it ever should have begun,
will one day be the astonishment. As if the divinest
function of a human being were not even that of believing;
of discriminating, with his God-given intellect, what
is from what is not; and as if the point were, to render
that either an impossible function, or else what we
must sorrowfully call a revolutionary, rebellious
and mutinous one. O Noltenius, O Panzendorf,
do for pity’s sake take away your Catechetical
ware; and say either nothing to the poor young Boy,
or some small thing he will find to be BEYOND doubt
when he can judge of it! Fever, pestilence, are
bad for the body; but Doubt, impious mutiny, doubly
impious hypocrisy, are these nothing for the mind?
Who would go about inculcating Doubt, unless he were
far astray indeed, and much at a loss for employment!
But the sorest fact in Friedrich’s
schooling, the forest, for the present, though it
ultimately proved perhaps the most beneficent one,
being well dealt with by the young soul, and nobly
subdued to his higher uses, remains still to be set
forth. Which will be a long business, first and
last!