The young Herr Alfred Ladidel knew how to take life lightly from childhood. It had been his wish to devote himself to higher studies, but when, with some delay, he had only poorly passed the examination leading to the upper grammar school classes, he made the decision not too difficult to follow the advice of his teachers and parents and to pursue this career dispense. And no sooner had this happened and he was placed as an apprentice in a notary's office than he learned how much studentism and science are usually overestimated and how little the true worth of a man depends on passed exams and academic semesters.