Silent Years 213Baczko said he would have followed Kant's advice if the University of
Königsberg had allowed him to become a Magister. Alas, as a Catholic, he
was not allowed to do so.^91 Another reason why Baczko came closer to Kant
than most students was his friendship with Kraus:
There were then also living a number of students at Ranter's house. One of them was
... professor Kraus. I soon felt a heartfelt attachment for him, and we were insepa¬
rable friends throughout our academic years. Our first meeting was, however, somewhat
peculiar. I found myself in a position of pressing need, so that I could not heat my room.
For this reason I took off my boots as soon as I came home, put on an old overcoat, and
went to bed. When I wanted to write, I put a board, which I kept for just that purpose,
on the blanket. Now, since Kant always had his lecture room heated very well, and since
I was taking a recitation from him from 8:00 to 9:00, and another recitation by Jester from
10:00 to 11 :oo, I often remained in Kant's lecture room from 9:00 to 10:00. He did not
lecture during that period, and I remained unnoticed by anyone. To pass the time I
always brought some book. Kraus, who exhibited a quite remarkable impulsiveness,
saw a book at my desk even before Kant had started his lecture. He took it right away
into his hand, and since he ... probably viewed me as an unimportant and ignorant
person, he was surprised to see that I had brought Segner's Cursus mathematici. So he
asked me in his special tone: "My dear soul, what are you doing with this book?" The
question annoyed me, and I answered in almost the same tone: I sing from it when I do
business (commercire). He looked at me and laughed; I laughed with him.^92
Kraus had a great deal of influence on Baczko's philosophical outlook.
Indeed, the philosophical books he appreciated were just the ones that
Kraus also would have appreciated. Through Kraus, Baczko came to know
Hamann better as well, and thus was introduced to the literary world of
Königsberg.
As a result of the pox, Baczko lost his sight in one eye at the age of twenty
in 1776. In 1780, his other eye had to be operated on to remove a cyst. The
operation was not successful. As a result, he also lost his sight in that eye
and became completely blind.^93 Yet this did not prevent him from becom¬
ing a successful historian. He first employed a boy to read to him several
hours a day, and then hired a student to do so. Others in Königsberg ad¬
mired Baczko for his skill and persistence. Baczko explains that even
Kant, who -1 do not know for what reason - had an aversion to blind people, was so
good to visit me. He confessed this aversion to me, adding that I was not blind because
I possessed sufficient concepts from intuition and instruments, which overcame the
lack of sight.^94
Whatever the cause of Kant's aversion, he visited his former student, ful¬
filling what he must have seen as his duty. Baczko appreciated this. Not
everyone today would appreciate Kant's behavior or feelings.