18
2 Boarding School and University
Fig. 2.3 Christophorus Henricus Didericus Buys Ballot and Cornelis Hubertus Carolus
Grinwis. University Museum Utrecht, with permission
ematics: On the theory of vibrating plates and its connection with experiments;
that of the older brother concerned a purely mathematical subject: On the calculus with symbols and their application to the integration of differential equations.
Nicolas Pieter received the judicium (qualification) magna cum laude, Willem
cum laude. The three brothers, who partly studied simultaneously in Utrecht
(Jacobus started his studies there in 1868), seem to have had little contact
with each other, much in the tradition of family life at the boarding school
in Barneveld. This despite the fact that the brothers Willem and Jacobus also
lived at the same address in Utrecht at the Predikherenkerkhof [10].
Kapteyn’s studies went well, although Henriette Hertzsprung–Kapteyn in
her biography [1] tells us that at first he did not work too hard and surrendered
to student life. Unlike his brother Willem, Jacobus became a member of the
Utrecht student fraternity. An important friendship he made there was with
Henry William Andrée Wiltens 5 (1851–1917). It was in this friendship that
Kapteyn experienced real affection and warmth for the first time in his life,
and that always stayed with him. Kapteyn’s first exam did not go smoothly.
He was asked about a subject of which he knew little. Such an exam, probably
the ‘kandidaats’ exam or something similar (so now the bachelor degree), was
public and everyone, including father Kapteyn, was very worried about the
outcome. Jacobus, however, suggested to the professor that it would be better
for them to talk about something else, since he did know nothing about this
5 Andrée was part of the surname. Kapteyn referred to him as Willy Wiltens.
2 Boarding School and University
Fig. 2.3 Christophorus Henricus Didericus Buys Ballot and Cornelis Hubertus Carolus
Grinwis. University Museum Utrecht, with permission
ematics: On the theory of vibrating plates and its connection with experiments;
that of the older brother concerned a purely mathematical subject: On the calculus with symbols and their application to the integration of differential equations.
Nicolas Pieter received the judicium (qualification) magna cum laude, Willem
cum laude. The three brothers, who partly studied simultaneously in Utrecht
(Jacobus started his studies there in 1868), seem to have had little contact
with each other, much in the tradition of family life at the boarding school
in Barneveld. This despite the fact that the brothers Willem and Jacobus also
lived at the same address in Utrecht at the Predikherenkerkhof [10].
Kapteyn’s studies went well, although Henriette Hertzsprung–Kapteyn in
her biography [1] tells us that at first he did not work too hard and surrendered
to student life. Unlike his brother Willem, Jacobus became a member of the
Utrecht student fraternity. An important friendship he made there was with
Henry William Andrée Wiltens 5 (1851–1917). It was in this friendship that
Kapteyn experienced real affection and warmth for the first time in his life,
and that always stayed with him. Kapteyn’s first exam did not go smoothly.
He was asked about a subject of which he knew little. Such an exam, probably
the ‘kandidaats’ exam or something similar (so now the bachelor degree), was
public and everyone, including father Kapteyn, was very worried about the
outcome. Jacobus, however, suggested to the professor that it would be better
for them to talk about something else, since he did know nothing about this
5 Andrée was part of the surname. Kapteyn referred to him as Willy Wiltens.