15. To Rudolf Ronsperger

My dear friend!

Now the matter is settled. I sent the letter yesterday with the accompanying words. I have several reasons for doing so: 1. You would have hesitated for a long time before finally coming forward. 2. The letter to me is written in such a way that it is worthy of being shown to your father. Such words are absolutely necessary in this matter, and I do not believe that you would speak to your relatives in the same way that you write to me. My accompanying words are: Dear Sir! It was in the winter of this year that I became acquainted with your dear son, who has since become infinitely dear to me. Given the nature of my education,

education, I could not fail to notice his profound disposition and promising talent. The noble aspirations that lie within him and the nature of his feelings are qualities that are hard to find today. He never really agreed with my ideas, and we had many arguments; but it is through argument that a higher harmony develops, and he became a dear friend to me. I was happy when he was happy and therefore wished him happiness with all my heart when he wrote to me that his application for admission to the university had been favorably decided. He then wrote me the enclosed letter in reply, which speaks in more detail of what he had only once mentioned to me in passing in conversation. The content of the letter would be too much of a burden for me if I thought that his father knew nothing about it. This is the reason why I am sending you this letter, dear sir. Please accept this as an apology for a complete stranger writing to you. I am only doing what your son would have done long ago if he had been able to bring himself to do so. He knows nothing of my actions, but I am convinced that he will not take it amiss, but will, should he learn of it, be in complete agreement. The matter begins where I have made the sign #. With renewed apologies, I remain in deepest respect, etc.—

May this matter cause you no more inconvenience than it was hastily carried out by me. Please write to me as soon as possible to let me know what impression the matter has made on you and whether you are satisfied with it.

I will write and send the continuation of the enclosed letter without delay. It will answer the questions you asked and also contain something about M'® Milton, which I have already read.

In the meantime, I remain
Your ever faithful Rudolf Steiner

Tradition: Original (3 pp., 1 double sheet), RSA; gift from Christoph Koller, Bern (2010), from the estate of Rudolf Koller, Zurich; print: GA 38 (1985), p. 33f.; reply to letter dated: before Aug. 17, 1881 (not available); replied on: before Aug. 19, 1881 Persons: Felix Ronsperger; [Thomas Babington Macaulay] Literature: Thomas Babington Macaulay: “On John Milton,” in: The Edinburgh Review, August 1825