On September the 17th the ceremony took place. A few
persons had been invited, amongst whom, of course, was the
Burgermeister. Goethe, more suo, dreaded the agitation and remained
at home, but sent his son to represent him as chief librarian. A
cantata having been sung, Ernst von Schiller, in a short speech,
thanked all persons present, but especially the Burgermeister, for
the love they had shown to the memory of his father. He then
formally delivered his father's head into the hands of the younger
Goethe, who, reverently receiving it, thanked his friend in Goethe's
name, and having dwelt on the affection that had subsisted between
their fathers vowed that the precious relic should thenceforward be
guarded with anxious care. Up to this moment the skull had been
wrapped in a cloth and sealed: the younger Goethe now made it over
to the librarian, Professor Riemer, to be unpacked and placed in its
receptacle. All present subscribed their names, the pedestal was
locked, and the key carried home to Goethe.
"None doubted that Schiller's head was now at rest for many years.
But it had already occurred to Goethe, who had more osteological
knowledge than the excellent Burgermeister, that, the skull being in
their possession, it would be possible to find the skeleton. A very
few days after the ceremony in the library, he sent to Jena, begging
the Professor of Anatomy, Dr.
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