Франкенштейн

           Butastheensuingweekcommenced,IthoughtoftheinformationwhichM.Krempehadgivenmeconcerningthelectures.AndalthoughIcouldnotconsenttogoandhearthatlittleconceitedfellowdeliversentencesoutofapulpit,IrecollectedwhathehadsaidofM.Waldman,whomIhadneverseen,ashehadhithertobeenoutoftown.

           Partlyfromcuriosityandpartlyfromidleness,Iwentintothelecturingroom,whichM.Waldmanenteredshortlyafter.Thisprofessorwasveryunlikehiscolleague.Heappearedaboutfiftyyearsofage,butwithanaspectexpressiveofthegreatestbenevolence;afewgreyhairscoveredhistemples,butthoseatthebackofhisheadwerenearlyblack.HispersonwasshortbutremarkablyerectandhisvoicethesweetestIhadeverheard.Hebeganhislecturebyarecapitulationofthehistoryofchemistryandthevariousimprovementsmadebydifferentmenoflearning,pronouncingwithfervourthenamesofthemostdistinguisheddiscoverers.Hethentookacursoryviewofthepresentstateofthescienceandexplainedmanyofitselementaryterms.Afterhavingmadeafewpreparatoryexperiments,heconcludedwithapanegyricuponmodernchemistry,thetermsofwhichIshallneverforget:"Theancientteachersofthisscience,"saidhe,"promisedimpossibilitiesandperformednothing.Themodernmasterspromiseverylittle;theyknowthatmetalscannotbetransmutedandthattheelixiroflifeisachimerabutthesephilosophers,whosehandsseemonlymadetodabbleindirt,andtheireyestoporeoverthemicroscopeorcrucible,haveindeedperformedmiracles.Theypenetrateintotherecessesofnatureandshowhowsheworksinherhiding-places.Theyascendintotheheavens;theyhavediscoveredhowthebloodcirculates,andthenatureoftheairwebreathe.Theyhaveacquirednewandalmostunlimitedpowers;theycancommandthethundersofheaven,mimictheearthquake,andevenmocktheinvisibleworldwithitsownshadows."