More and more had by degrees entered the lists,
and I, who centred my greatest intellectual interest in the battle, took
part in it with a dual front, against the orthodox theologians, and more
especially against R. Nielsen, the assailant of the theologians, whom I
regarded as no less theologically inclined than his opponents.
I thereby myself became the object of a series of violent attacks from
various quarters. These did not have any appreciable effect on my
spirits, but they forced me for years into a somewhat irritating
attitude of self-defence. Still I was now arrived at that period of my
youth when philosophy and art were unable to keep temperament in check.
II.
This manifested itself first in a fresh need for physical exercise.
During the first two years after the decision of 1864, while things were
leading up to war between Prussia and Austria, and while the young blood
of Denmark imagined that their country would be drawn into this war, I
had taken part, as a member of the Academic Shooting Society, in drill
and shooting practice. After the battle of Koeniggratz these occupations
lost much of their attraction.
I was now going in for an exercise that was new to me and which I had
long wished to become proficient in. This was riding.
Up to that time I had never been able to afford to ride.
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