Dust and Ashes or Demolished

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1899. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... Gustave's broken cough and his blowing at the embers in the tea-kitchen. Twilight set in, and the shadows on the walls and the floor of the study grew darker and darker. The narrow halo surrounding the student's cooking apparatus rose and fell, until at length the kettle began to sing, and proceeded to seeth and snort. Gustave lighted a candle. "There, drink a cup of tea while I go out to give a lesson. Wait for me here, or throw yourself on the bed and take a nap, if you grow tired. Giving lessons you will learn soon enough,--when your money gives out, if not earlier. It is a tedious matter, but there is no alternative. A student's life has many drawbacks,---yet why speak of them! Our sphere is entirely different from the remainder of the world. We are not loved by the general public; nobody thinks of extending invitations to our circles;--we are at war with society and even with one another, hard enough in many ways! If you happen to fall sick, no one will reach out his hand to help you, unless some friend and comrade knows how you are situated. Well, most of our surroundings are displeased with our habit of naming everything by its proper name;--they oppose us, because we refuse to wear masks before the world." "Your views are rather pessimistic," ventured Schwarz. "Pessimistic or otherwise," interrupted Gustave bitterly, "you will find out for yourself. I merely promise you will not sleep on roses. Youth has her rights, her privileges. When you attempt urging them, they laugh at you; they speak of you as a person who has no right of fostering ideas; they call your thoughts fantastical. Yet, let them call them whatever they please,--when the heart burns and aches,--ah, you will feel it soon enough! Take a cup of tea and rest yourself. In one hour I'll join yo...