The other half of the
income was at Schrotter's disposal, who put it, of course, to the
same use. In his capacity as member of the deputation for the poor,
and also as parish doctor, he came in contact with much poverty and
misery, and was able to direct Wilhelm's charity into the right
channels. It became Wilhelm's regular afternoon employment to visit
the homes of those mentioned to him as in need of relief, that he
might the better judge for himself of the true state of the case,
make personal inquiries about the people, and step in where help was
necessary and deserved.
Only now did he learn what life really was, and what he saw neither
increased his pleasure in being alive nor made him proud to be a man
among men. Needless to say, it was not long before the news reached
the circles of the professional beggars that there was a gentleman
in the Dorotheenstrasse who had a considerable yearly sum of money
to give away. The result was that his modest apartment was so
besieged by petitioners that his old landlady, Frau Muller, the
widow of a post-office official, with whom he had boarded and lodged
for seven years, was goaded to desperation, and declared that if the
disgraceful rabble was encouraged she would be obliged to part from
Wilhelm, though it would be her death, she being so fond of him and
so used to his ways.
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