Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume VIII.djvu/135

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GOTTINGEN GOTTSCHALL 127 GOTTINGEN, a city of Prussia, in the prov- ince and 57 m. S. by E. of the city of Han- over; pop. in 1871, 15,841. It is the seat of a university (Georgia Augusta), which was founded in 1734 by King George II. of England and elector of Hanover, and inaugurated Sept. 17, 1737. Through the eminence of several of its professors, among whom were Gesner, Heyne, Michaelis, and the two Eichhorns, it became toward the end of the century the most famous university in Europe. Its for- tunes were not materially changed until the foundation of the university of Berlin (1810), which proved a formidable rival. The stu- dents, however, still numbered 3,000 in 1825, but the political disturbances of 1831 caused a great diminution in the attendance, which in 1834 was reduced to about 900. Yet the uni- versity could still boast of a brilliant array of names on its staff, among whom were Blumen- bach, Ewald, Mitscherlich, Muller, Gervinus, Heeren, and the brothers Grimm. The new university building was inaugurated on the day of its 100th anniversary in 1837, but before the end of the year the government expelled seven of the ablest professors, who had pro- tested against the abrogation of the Hanoverian constitution by King Ernest. Two of the ex- pelled professors, Ewald and Weber, resumed their functions in 1848, but Gottingen has never recovered from the shock which it had re- ceived, although it numbered in 1873 101 pro- fessors and 925 students. The university library comprises 360,000 volumes and 5,000 manu- scripts ; it surpasses almost all other German libraries in its copious collections of modern works, and is one of the best arranged libraries in Europe. The academy of sciences comprises sections for mathematics, natural sciences, and history. The Gelehrte Anzeigen, the oldest learned periodical in Germany, is published under its auspices. The museum of natural history contains a collection bequeathed to it by Blumenbach, including human skulls of na- tives of all quarters of the globe, a large col- lection of coins, and some few works of art. Connected with the university are seminaries for theology, philology, mathematics, and nat- ural sciences; hospitals, cliniques, and an an- atomical theatre; a botanical and economical garden, a school for veterinary surgeons, a chemical laboratory, a fine physiological in- stitution, an observatory, and an agricultural school. Prominent among the other educa- tional establishments is the industrial school of Wagemann. There are five Lutheran churches, including the university church, a Reformed and a Roman Catholic church, and a syna- gogue. The charitable institutions are numer- ous. The manufactures consist of cloth, wool- len stuff, surgical instruments, soap, leather, turnery, gold and silver wares, &c. GOTTLAND, or Gothland, an island in the Bal- tic, belonging to Sweden, between lat. 56 55' and 57 57' N. ; length about 80 m., greatest breadth 33 m. ; area, about 1,200 sq. m. ; pop. 369 VOL. viii. 9 in 1873, 54,239. The island is generally level, and but here and there slightly hilly. The climate is temperate, the mulberry and grape ripening in the open air. The people are chiefly employed in rearing cattle and fishing off the coast. The island possesses several good har- bors. The chief towns are Wisby and Slite, the latter protected by forts. A submarine telegraph connects the island with the main- land of Sweden. GOTTSCHALK, Louis Moreau, an American pianist and composer, born in New Orleans, May 8, 1829, died in Rio de Janeiro, Dec. 18, 1869. His father was an Englishman of Ger- man-Jewish descent, and his mother was of French extraction. Louis was their eldest child, and gave evidences of a remarkable musical organization at three years of age. At six he took lessons on the piano and violin, and at twelve was sent to Paris, receiving there in- struction from Halle and Camille Stamaty on the piano and from Maleden in harmony. He also formed the friendship of Hector Berlioz, from whom he received valuable advice. His first appearance as a pianist was on the conti- nent, and it was not until Feb. 11, 1853, that he was heard in the United States, in concerts in New York and elsewhere. The class of mu- sic that he played and his skill made for him at once a widely extended reputation, and during his whole career he commanded the admiration of large and enthusiastic audiences. Although a composer, his published works exceeding 50 in number, he was preeminently a pianist. His compositions grew out of his love for the in- strument, and were almost all written with a view to its capabilities. He seemed to have no grasp of musical effects except such as were producible upon the piano. The pieces on which his reputation principally rests were illustrative of tropical life, such as Le bananier, La savane, Ricordati, La marche de nuit, ma charmante, Le mancenillier, Reponds moi, Ojos criollos, and many Cuban dances. His arrange- ments of the compositions of others are few in number and of no special merit ; nor had he any exceptional skill as an interpreter of the works of other composers. He constantly played his own compositions, and with a sensuous charm that no other pianist could approach. His touch was one of extreme delicacy as well as force, and there were no difficulties of the in- strument that he had not mastered. The piano sang under his hand with wonderful expression. He died suddenly while at the height of his reputation. GOTTSHALL, Rudolph, a German poet and dramatist, born in Breslau, Sept. 30, 1823. He studied law at Konigsberg, where he published anonymously in 1842-' 3 Lieder der Gegenwart and Censurfluchtlinge. He was afterward ex- pelled from the university of Breslau on ac- count of a political demonstration made in his favor. After some time he was allowed to re- sume his studies in that city, but could not obtain a license as a professor, though he re-