Famous professors lived in Bonn

If Bonn showed little appreciation for Prussian rigidity and economy, it was grateful for the founding of the Friedrich-Wilhelm University. Famous professors taught here, including Ardnt, Dahlmann, Niebuhr, Argelander and Schlegel. 
 
A short anecdote has been passed down about the latter. August Wilhelm von Schlegel was in the habit of starting his lectures with a certain amount of ceremony. His servant would first appear, place candles and, next to them, a glass of sugar water on his desk and then disappear, only to return with the scholar’s briefcase and light the candles. After an impressive pause, the lecture would then begin. One day, Schlegel found that the lecture theatre was still empty after this ritual. Then he watched with astonishment as porters came in and, one by one, ceremoniously lit a candle and set out the files at each student’s place. The last porter deferentially held open the door whilst the students trooped in. There was an icy silence. Schlegel’s eyebrows shot up as far as his wig and he began to present his lecture in a harsh staccato. The main authority behind this tale is Heinrich Heine, then a student at Bonn University.