His studies so far have been weighted toward the history of Greek literature (of course, including critical and exegetical treatment of the authors), with special emphasis, it seems to me, on the history of Greek philosophy. But I have not the least doubt that, if confronted by a practical demand, with his great gifts he will work in other fields with the best of success. He will simply be able to do anything he wants to do. Walter Kaufmann described the unusual situation as follows. "But Nietzsche had not yet fulfilled his residence requirement and hence had no doctorate. So Ritschl expected the case to be hopeless, 'although in the present instance,' he wrote, 'I should stake my whole philological and academic reputation that the matter would work out happily.' It is hardly surprising that Basel decided to ignore the 'formal insufficiency.' Ritschl was delighted: 'In Germany, that sort of thing happens absolutely never.'." Nietzsche was beginning to lose interest in philology at the time, due to his intense interests in science, Wagner's music, and Schopenhauer's philosophy. Kaufmann continued: "His call to the university of Basel came as a surprise to Nietzsche, who had not yet received his doctorate though he had published some fruits of his research in a scholarly journal. He had actually considered giving up philology for science when, on Ritschl's recommendation, he was appointed a professor of classical philology at Basel, and Leipzig hurriedly conferred the doctorate without examination." Nietzsche's consuming interest in philosophy, however, soon overcame his work in philology. His first published book, The Birth of Tragedy, effectively ended his career as professor. "Ritschl dismissed the book as geistreich Schweinerei, 'brilliant bull.' " Enrollment in Nietzsche's classes briefly suffered in the wake of the book's poor reception by Classics professionals generally. He retired due to migraines and other physical disabilities at the age of thirty-five. Ritschl's prophecy had been the direct opposite of the course of events. Other works An interesting and discriminating estimate of Ritschl's work is that by Lucian Müller (Berlin, 1877). Carl Schurz, Reminiscences (3 vols.), New York: McClure Publ. Co., 1907. In Vol. One, Chap. 5, pp. 126–7, Schurz recalls a meeting, in the wake and the midst of the events of 1848, of university students at the University of Bonn where Ritschl was the chair. Schurz gave an impromptu speech which was well received, and after the adjournment Ritschl