8.3 Character
161
Fig. 8.5 Part of ‘de Harmonie’, the Groningen concert hall, seen from the east (the Oude
Kijk in ’t Jatstraat). The building complex stretches out beyond the right edge of the
photograph and towards the back, where the actual concert auditorium was located.
University Museum Groningen
a fire in 1941 the building was renovated around 1990; it now houses the
Groningen University Faculties of Law and Arts.
One beauty remained hidden to him, however, that was poetry. Not that he
pitifully looked down upon it, as so many intellectuals do, but he lacked the
sensitivity for it. Judge for yourself on the basis of the one poem he wrote,
bestowed by him to the world. It was the poem he wrote when initiated in the
Utrecht student society upon entering university. Now it has to be admitted that
this period really is not the right time for high-level poetic expression, but his
poem was undoubtedly the most un-poetical among those of his fellow students
that went through initiation 1 :
‘The initiation poem is obligatory
for students to be initiated, I observe.
So it seems to be the wisest for me
To accept this custom without reserve.’
1 Het groenversch is een eerstvereischte/ voor groenen, zo merk ik/ Het is dus zeker wel het wijst/ dat ik
mij naar die gewoonte schik.
161
Fig. 8.5 Part of ‘de Harmonie’, the Groningen concert hall, seen from the east (the Oude
Kijk in ’t Jatstraat). The building complex stretches out beyond the right edge of the
photograph and towards the back, where the actual concert auditorium was located.
University Museum Groningen
a fire in 1941 the building was renovated around 1990; it now houses the
Groningen University Faculties of Law and Arts.
One beauty remained hidden to him, however, that was poetry. Not that he
pitifully looked down upon it, as so many intellectuals do, but he lacked the
sensitivity for it. Judge for yourself on the basis of the one poem he wrote,
bestowed by him to the world. It was the poem he wrote when initiated in the
Utrecht student society upon entering university. Now it has to be admitted that
this period really is not the right time for high-level poetic expression, but his
poem was undoubtedly the most un-poetical among those of his fellow students
that went through initiation 1 :
‘The initiation poem is obligatory
for students to be initiated, I observe.
So it seems to be the wisest for me
To accept this custom without reserve.’
1 Het groenversch is een eerstvereischte/ voor groenen, zo merk ik/ Het is dus zeker wel het wijst/ dat ik
mij naar die gewoonte schik.