tion, because
we have received an inheritance from the Past, from Persians, Jews,
Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans, and we transmit it. The Turks and
Chinese, who are not able to do this, stand by themselves and so
decline. It is not pride which causes us Germans to consider ourselves
in the front rank of civilization, for there is no nation that takes up
more fully into itself, and carries on farther, the work of humanity
than the German, or, we will say, the Germanic, for your father-land is
also included."

"Bravo! bravo!" cried Clodwig, as they all rose. Clodwig went to
Sonnenkamp and said,--

"Never was a recommendation better justified than mine of the Captain
to you; and you are in the right, Herr Sonnenkamp. I have learned
something,--'Help yourself' _is_ a grand new principle: it is not a
moral principle, but a preceptive formula. See how our friend teaches
your son pre-eminently to help himself: this is the new Socratic
method."

Eric and Roland had become now the central objects of the company; and
the Prince, coming up to Eric and shaking hands with him, said,--

"You are really a teacher!"

A messenger came from the ladies to say that they would repair to the
saloon, and the gentlemen went there in cheerful mood. The jovial
Austrian officer, who had elevated to the nobility the daughter of a
merchant in the neighboring commercial city, sang some comic songs;
Pranken was prevailed upon to exhibit some sleight-of-hand tricks which
he had learned from a juggler, and he did it in capital style; and
finally, the musician played some tunes upon Clodwig's old violin.

Sonnenkamp embraced the favorable opportunity of speaking to Clodwig,
as they were sitting together in a retired nook of the large saloon; he
began with speaking of the interest which Roland was so fortunate as to
excite in Clodwig, and he very readily acknowledged how great his
interest was. Sonnenkamp felt his way along very cautiously, and there
was an affecting, paternal tone in the manner in which he said that he
had nothing more to desire in life for himself, and that his only wish
was to have Roland established securely in an honorable position.
Clodwig said he had no doubt that he had gained, and would continue to
gain still further, by intercourse with Eric and by his instruction, a
knowledge of life, and an introduction into it which would make him
strong in himself, and insure at some time admittance into the society
of the nobility.