Father Johann Rudolf Meyer, Citizen of Aarau: A Memorial

When head, heart, and hand work in harmony, he always considered that to be the best music.

In his fourteenth year, he came to the Vaud a French-speaking region of Switzerland through an exchange, as was customary, to learn the French language. He stayed in Lausanne for a year, perfected himself in arithmetic and calligraphy, and there, too—just as in his native school—gained the exceptional love of his teachers through good conduct, easy grasp, and persistent zeal. Upon returning from there, he applied himself to drawing with such diligence that it seemed nature had called him to be a painter. A test piece of his progress at that time is still preserved. It is a so-called Quodlibet a musical or artistic potpourri or medley, executed with iron and extremely clean diligence, and for his character, it is particularly remarkable due to the artfully copied text of his favorite song contained within it. This song is by Gellert and is titled: The Philanthropist. The brother of his benefactress, who possessed some skill in drawing and flat-painting, helped the art-minded boy as best he could. He had already