Macmillan

viii
INTRODUCTION
in politics also developedin him; and the war between
Prussia and Austria fanned his youthfulardor to an almost
extravagantdegree.Twice he offered his services to the
military, both times was rejectedon account of his
shortsightedness. In the autumn of 1867,however,a new
army regulation resulted in his beingcalled to the colors,
and he joinedthe artillery at Naumburg. But he was thrown
from his horse in trainingand received a severe injuryto
his chest, which necessitatedhis permanent withdrawal from
service.
In October,1868,Nietzsche returned to his work at Leipzig,
and shortlyafter,althoughbut twenty-four, he was
offered the post of Classical Philologyat Bale. Two years
later came the Franco-Prussian War, and he secured service
as an ambulance attendant in the HospitalCorps. But his
health was poor, and the work provedtoo much for him. He
contracted diphtheria and severe dysentery, and it was necessary
for him to discontinue his duties entirelyḤis sister
tellsus that this illnessgreatlyundermined his health,and
was the first cause of his subsequentcondition. He did not
wait until he was well before resuminghis duties at the
University; and this new strain imposed on his already
depletedcondition had much to do witiibringingon his final
breakdown.
In 1872, Nietzsche's first importantwork "
appeared
^'The Birth of Tragedy from the Spiritof Music"; and in
1873 he begana seriesof famous pamphletswhich laterwere
put into book form under the title of "ThoughtsOut of
Season." His health was steadilydeclining, and duringthe
holidayshe alternated between Switzerland and Italy in an
endeavor to recuperate. In the former place he was with
Wagner,but in 1876 his friendship for the composer began
to cool. He had gone to Bayreuth,and there,after hearing
"Der Ring des Nibelungen,"
at what he believed to be Wagner'scompromisewith Christianity.
But so strong was his affection for Wagner the
he became bitter and disgusted
man, that it was not untilten years had passedthat he could
bringhimself to write the now famous attack which he had
longhad in mind.
The year after the appearance of "Human Ail-Too-
I