rofessor Hamblin Has Fallen

aron Von Lodge was the head of a small country known as Lilliland near Switzerland. The time was the early 1900s.

The Baron credits much of the success of Lilliland to the wise advice of Professor Hamblin. Lady Angela of Alpine Castle, the Baron’s fiancée, feels the same way about the Professor.

While the Professor lived atop a mountain in Lilliland, he is always available when asked by the Baron for his help in some problem regarding the management of the affairs of Lilliland.

Professor Hamblin was hired away from a leading British university by the Baron’s father many years ago. The Professor acted as private tutor to the Baron and Lady Angela as they were growing up and once the Baron became the head of Lilliland he was asked to stay as the Baron’s chief advisor.

The Professor accepted the appointment to the Baron providing he could stay in a chateau high atop the mountain. He would be less than an hour away from Lilliland Castle if the Baron called him for a consultation. The Professor felt that the pure, fresh air on the mountaintop promoted clear thinking. The Baron felt the Professor did not want to be in the way if he lived in Lilliland Castle. The Baron kept a suite of rooms in the castle exclusively for the Professor.

One time when the Professor was summoned to the castle on urgent business the Professor failed to show up. A second call was made but the Professor did not reply. Finally, after a third attempt, the Baron sent two members of the castle staff to see why the Professor had not acknowledged his request to come to the castle.

The staff members climbed up to the chateau and did not find anyone around. They were later informed that some of the chateau staff had some days off. The Professor was eventually located; he had fallen down some steps and was unconscious. When the Baron found out he immediately sent his physician to help the Professor.

The physician reported to the Baron that the Professor had been having some dizzy spells lately, and that caused the fall down the chateau steps. The Baron and Lady Angela immediately went to the Professor’s chateau to offer more aid. Rest and a cut back in the Professor’s schedule was suggested by the physician.

The Baron asked the Professor to please move into the suite at the castle but the Professor declined.

Finally, the Baron requested that he be allowed to install handrails on all the steps in the chateau. He would also schedule more meetings to be held at the chateau.

The Baron said to Lady Angela that it seemed when people got older, they became very set in their ways. Perhaps the Professor might change his mind later and move into Lilliland Castle.