The Shadow of Great Britain

Chapter 1185: Chapter 129: Pioneer of the Electrical Age (Part 3)

When Arthur thought about this, he felt that the saying ‘war is the ladder of human progress’ made more and more sense.

Therefore, he believed that similar activities could be organized more in the future, as it serves all humankind, after all, does it matter how it’s served as long as it’s service?

Ohm smiled and looked at Siemens in front of him, then turned his gaze to Arthur: “Sir, is that scholarship you mentioned real? Why haven’t I heard about it in school before?”

Arthur did not shy away from speaking frankly: “Of course you haven’t heard of it, because I just established it today, and it’s entirely funded by my personal sponsorship, so there’s no need to submit it for academic committee approval. However, I must clarify in advance that to receive this money, you must pass an exam. The first term of the scholarship has ten slots, with an amount of fifty thalers per person per year.”

The reason Arthur set the scholarship at 50 thalers was because he had meticulously calculated in advance.

Currently, the tuition fees for various German universities are mainly divided into registration fees, semester fees, and course fees. The registration fee is paid upon entering the freshman year, so it can also be called the admission fee. The semester fee is the ordinary tuition fee, paid by semester.

The registration and semester fees each student needs to pay are fixed, but the course fee expenditure can vary greatly for each student depending on their chosen courses. The course fee is also the only source of income for university lecturers like Ohm, who do not receive state-subsidized salaries.

Regarding registration and semester fees, although the fees at German universities are generally cheaper than those at British universities, leading many British families to send their children to study in Germany. However, even if cheaper, university tuition is not something that most families can casually afford.

Using the semester fee as an example, the semester fee at German universities is generally between 20 and 50 thalers. The Ohm brothers chose to pursue higher education at Erlangen University because Erlangen’s semester fee was cheaper.

Whereas top German universities like Berlin University and the University of Gottingen naturally set their semester fees at the top level of 50 thalers.

And what is the level of 50 thalers approximately?

The annual income of Ohm’s locksmith father was roughly 100 thalers.

If calculated based on Arthur’s old profession, 50 thalers in Gottingen would be enough to buy 5 well-fed meat pigs.

And the price of a pound of bread at the Black Bear Tavern is one-sixth of a thaler.

Therefore, setting the scholarship at 50 thalers is a most appropriate amount, which is certainly not a small sum, even enough to directly cover the semester fee. But on the other hand, 50 thalers are definitely not enough for a student to complete their university education, making them feel worry-free as soon as they receive this money.

To truly rest easy, they must at least earn a performance-based scholarship based on their academic ranking, and perhaps also take up a job or receive some monetary support from their family.

Just as Bismarck said, a German proverb goes, ‘Cheap things are not valuable.’ Without some effort, how can one understand how precious the things they obtain are?

Sir Arthur Hastings’s money didn’t come effortlessly. There’s no such thing as a peaceful life without someone bearing the burden for you, and behind every thaler, there are people who sacrificed for it.

Ohm took out paper and pen, wrote and sketched for a while, and only relaxed when he saw the final result of the equations.

He smiled and hugged Siemens’s shoulder: “Werner, it looks like you will soon become a student at the University of Gottingen. Now you have the semester fee, and the registration fee, although considerable, won’t differ much from what your parents paid for you to attend middle school in Lubeck. As for your daily meals, you can find an apprentice job in the school laboratory, which, though not much, should cover your food and drinks. Regarding accommodation, if you don’t mind, you can temporarily move in with me.”

Unexpectedly, as soon as Ohm finished speaking, he saw Arthur raise his hand in a gesture: “There’s no rush about the registration fee. This can be deferred, as you still need to leave money for course selection. If you can guarantee to receive a scholarship every semester, then by the time you graduate, you should have more than enough to pay the registration fee.”

Ohm heard this and couldn’t help but pause: “Deferred payment? Sir, does the school have such a provision?”

“Not yet, but there soon will be.”

Arthur took a sip of beer: “There are quite a few regulations in the school made in the 18th century. With this Kingdom’s constitutional reforms, I think university education also needs to change. After all, it’s not just the constitution that should embrace fresh winds; the new wave of thought should also reach Gottingen.”

“Sir, you are really…”

Ohm couldn’t help but clench his fist in excitement: “I, I don’t even know how to express my gratitude, but in such a short period of knowing you, I have already recognized the outstanding character you possess. Rest assured, at the electromagnetism conference the school will hold next month, I will do my best, not only for myself but also for the academic reputation of the University of Gottingen and your personal honor!”

Arthur just smiled and shook his head at these words, raising his glass to clink with Ohm: “George, don’t be under too much pressure. Whether or not the academic presentation is successful, it won’t affect my view of you. In the field of natural philosophy, truth will never fade because of the opposition of the ignorant.”

Siemens, choking back tears, looked up and wiped his eyes, wanting to say something. But only at this point did he realize how young Mr. Ohm’s superior appeared, possibly even younger than Siemens’s sister: “Professor Hastings, I…”

Before Siemens could finish speaking, he felt a gentle breeze pass by, with the corner of a passing gentleman’s coat brushing against his hand. Siemens even vaguely heard the gentleman mumbling complaints to himself.

Unfortunately, Siemens couldn’t understand because the gentleman was not speaking German, but English.

“Young man, still too young. That older one doesn’t seem mature either…”

But Siemens not understanding doesn’t mean Arthur doesn’t understand. He slightly furrowed his brow, recognizing something familiar in the hurriedly passing gentleman’s back.

He watched as that person sat down in a corner of the Tavern, wondering if it was just Arthur’s imagination that he found the guy’s back somewhat familiar.

Arthur pondered for a moment, suddenly realizing and clapping his hands, then motioned smilingly to Ohm and Siemens to keep silent.

He stood up quietly and walked gently behind that person.

Just as Arthur’s smile rose, intending to surprise this suspected socially anxious Charles Wheatstone, he suddenly felt something approaching behind him.

A faint perfume scent instantly wafted into his nose, and two fine hands covered in lace-white gloves wrapped around and locked Arthur’s waist, followed by a familiar, somewhat proud, and satisfied voice: “Darling, do you know how much effort I put in to bring this reclusive oddball to Gottingen for you?”