El árbol de la ciencia de Pío Baroja

Parte Primera Capítulo 1

Andrés Hurtado comienza la carrera

Serían las diez de la mañana de un día de octubre. En el patio de la Escuela de Arquitectura, grupos de estudiantes esperaban a que se abriera la clase.

De la puerta de la calle de los Estudios que daba a este patio, iban entrando muchachos jóvenes que, al encontrarse reunidos, se saludaban, reían y hablaban.

Por una de estas anomalías clásicas de España, aquellos estudiantes que esperaban en el patio de la Escuela de Arquitectura no eran arquitectos del porvenir, sino futuros médicos y farmacéuticos.

La clase de química general del año preparatorio de medicina y farmacia se daba en esta época en una antigua capilla del Instituto de San Isidro convertida en clase, y ésta tenía su entrada por la Escuela de Arquitectura.

La cantidad de estudiantes y la impaciencia que demostraban por entrar en el aula se explicaba fácilmente por ser aquél primer día de curso y del comienzo de la carrera.

Ese paso del bachillerato al estudio de facultad siempre da al estudiante ciertas ilusiones, le hace creerse más hombre, que su vida ha de cambiar.

Andrés Hurtado, algo sorprendido de verse entre tanto compañero, miraba atentamente arrimado a la pared la puerta de un ángulo del patio por donde tenían que pasar.

Los chicos se agrupaban delante de aquella puerta como el público a la entrada de un teatro.

Andrés seguía apoyado en la pared, cuando sintió que le agarraban del brazo y le decían.

¡Hola, chico!

Hurtado se volvió y se encontró con su compañero de Instituto, Julio Aracil.

Habían sido condiscípulos en San Isidro; pero Andrés hacía tiempo que no veía a Julio. Este había estudiado el último año del bachillerato, según dijo, en provincias.

¿Qué, tú también vienes aquí? le preguntó Aracil.

Ya ves.

¿Qué estudias?

Medicina.

¡Hombre! Yo también. Estudiaremos juntos.

Aracil se encontraba en compañía de un muchacho de más edad que él, a juzgar por su aspecto, de barba rubia y ojos claros. Este muchacho y Aracil, los dos correctos, hablaban con desdén de los demás estudiantes, en su mayoría palurdos provincianos que manifestaban la alegría y la sorpresa de verse juntos con gritos y carcajadas.

Part One Chapter 1

Andrés Hurtado begins his career

It was about ten o'clock of an October day. In the court of the School of Architecture groups of students were waiting for the doors of the lecture-room to open.

Youths kept entering from the street which passed along this court and as they met inside greeted one another with talk and laughter.

By one of those anomalies for which Spain is famous those students waiting in the court of the School of Architecture were not budding architects but future doctors and chemists.

The lectures on general chemistry which formed the preliminary course for Medicine and Chemistry were at that time held in the former chapel of San Isidro converted into a class-room, and the entrance to this was through the court of the School of Architecture.

The number of students and their evident impatience to enter the Iecture-room was easily explained by the act that this was the first day of the course and the beginning of their new studies.

The transfer from the baccalaureat to University study always fills the student with illusions, makes him believe he is more grown up, that his life will change. Andrés Hurtado, somewhat surprised at seeing himself among so many companions, and leaning against the wall gazed at the door in the corner of the courtyard through which they had to go.

The boys were gathering in front of the door like the public at the entrance to a theatre.

Andrés stayed leaning against the wall, when he felt someone siezing his arm and saying,

Hey, lad.

Hurtado turned round and found himself face to face with his companion from school, Julio Aracil.

They had been fellow students at San Isidro; but it was some time since Andrés had seen Julio. He had studied his last year of baccalaureat in, as he said, the provinces.

What, are you coming here too?, Aracil asked him.

It looks like it.

What are you studying?

Medicine.

Well I never. I am too. We will study together.

Aracil was accompanied by a boy older than himself, judging from his appearance,, with a blond beard and clear eyes. This boy and Aracil, both very correct, talked disdainfully of the others, who were for the most part clodhopping provincials who showed their delight and surprise at being together by shouting and laughing noisily.

Notes

  • La calle de los Estudios. This street runs by the side of San Isidro church. This area has deep historical associations with the Jesuit order and their role in the development of Spanish education. In the opening chapters, the locations selected by Baroja may well reflect his own upbringing but they also reinforce the theme of education. De la puerta de la calle de los Estudios que daba a este patio, iban entrando muchachos jóvenes que, al encontrarse reunidos, se saludaban, reían y hablaban.
  • Note that the critical view of Spanish education has begun in the detail that medical classes are held in a former chapel.
  • Baroja asumes his reader's acquaintance with his Madrid. If you wish to locate some of the places referred to in the novel, consult Madrid in El arbol de la ciencia from the CONTENTS. The chapel mentioned here as turned into lecture hall is part of the complex of buildings where Calle de Estudios and the Calle de Toledo meet. It could be argued that the precision with which these locations are described imparts immediacy and authenticity to the text, while also allowing the author to evaluate, as here, the circumstances of Andrés' education. The later reference to the Instituto de San Isidro, at which Aracil and Hurtado were both pupils, is to an important secondary school in the same quarter of Madrid, founded in the seventeenth century. These locations are still in evidence today. The name of San Isidro, patron saint of the city, reinforces the authenticity of the capital-city setting..
  • This is a reference to the Colegio de San Isidro, an important secondary school in Baroja's Madrid. It is noticeable how Baroja reinforces the capital city social geography. The school is named after the patron saint of the city. Baroja himself attended this school.
  • La calle de los Estudios. This street runs by the side of San Isidro church. This area has deep historical associations with the Jesuit order and their role in the development of Spanish education. In the opening chapters, the locations selected by Baroja may well reflect his own upbringing but they also reinforce the theme of education. De la puerta de la calle de los Estudios que daba a este patio, iban entrando muchachos jóvenes que, al encontrarse reunidos, se saludaban, reían y hablaban.
  • Note that the critical view of Spanish education has begun in the detail that medical classes are held in a former chapel.
  • Baroja asumes his reader's acquaintance with his Madrid. If you wish to locate some of the places referred to in the novel, consult Madrid in El arbol de la ciencia from the CONTENTS. The chapel mentioned here as turned into lecture hall is part of the complex of buildings where Calle de Estudios and the Calle de Toledo meet. It could be argued that the precision with which these locations are described imparts immediacy and authenticity to the text, while also allowing the author to evaluate, as here, the circumstances of Andrés' education. The later reference to the Instituto de San Isidro, at which Aracil and Hurtado were both pupils, is to an important secondary school in the same quarter of Madrid, founded in the seventeenth century. These locations are still in evidence today. The name of San Isidro, patron saint of the city, reinforces the authenticity of the capital-city setting..
  • This is a reference to the Colegio de San Isidro, an important secondary school in Baroja's Madrid. It is noticeable how Baroja reinforces the capital city social geography. The school is named after the patron saint of the city. Baroja himself attended this school.