New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1845-03-14

G0FTHF from 1894 10 1905. translated by GeoTse
II. Calvert. Vol. l. New-York and L'ndoh' whey
z =. ana Putnam, 1919.
This is translation of one OF the most valuable
records in the history OF literature The cores
pondence between Goethe and Schiller IS OF rare
value. Two men met, if not of perfectly congenlal
natures and equal powers, yet so far balanced that
each could appreciate the others great gifts and
helo TO unfold them. and these two men were oil
that condensed power, that essence OF the faculties
of millions that made them representatives of what
is most important in human nature; kings and
lords over their own age and that which is TO follow.
In such correspondence, slight remarksare keys
which open long suits of the chambers of history,
and transient collisions of character arc laden
with the electricity of thousand hearts.
The profound esteem and afectlonate reverence
evidenced by Schiller to his friend are the best re-
ply TO the weak attempts continually made, cspe-
claIy in tins country TO exalt Schiller at the expense
of Goethe; Goethe, on the other hand, shows the
warmest. but. at the same time, the most discrimi
mating appreciation of Schiller. Friendly, as the
oak grows up beside the pine, they addressed their
heads to the same heavens, and gladdened by their
beauty the same field of earth Nor could any fowl
Of The air who ever really found home in the
branches Of the one, be so superficial as to croak
disparagement of the other. They were men who
practsed and taught other modes of criticism than
by invdlous comparisons.
AS precise and profound picture Of anoble rela-
ton, this correspondence is OF the highest value,
apart from all other sources OF interest. There Is
nothing finer extant, unless it be in the correspon-
deuce of the same Goethe with his friend Zeltcr.
This is to ourselves, still more Interesting, and we
are very familiar with the contents of those SIX
thick German volumes. They may never find a
translator; the task being one Of such labor, and
Zelers part so full of local and personal particulars
which have now los, their interest, except as pic
lures OF the time and place. But,iwere they known,
they would pnt an end at once to the absurd sup
position that man Of genius can TAIL to have
heart The mass of men are ever ready TO inter
that those most richly endowed with intellect cam
not, also, have heart. They little know what u
fire takes to raise all that fuel in pure flame 10
upper air
The connection between Goethe and Schiller
was that of co-workers their intercourse related
to literary production. and gives us more the her
oelyphics which symbolic an inner life, than that
inner Gfeitself. But Zelter and Goethe met more
s;mnlv. man TO man, soul to soul Zeer, the mas
Ter mason. and the musc-master, was by his occu-
pations brought nearer common existence than
Goethe the Poet, Goethe the Minister, at the same
time they kept his mind alive though more uncon-
sciousy than consciously to the IDEAL meaning OIL
daily realities He had the same horizon as the
great thinker, though he rather enjoyed than specu-
lated upon what lay within lis range HIS liberal
nature offered no obstruction the great Intellect
his genial spirits envencd, his human trust glad
dened it. Goethe enjoyed, both IN the Duke OF
Weimar and in Zelter friends who priced hun, not
for his genius only but for his entire sell, who I'M
ders,ood who sympathaed with Nature as she
worked in him. How rare this happiness 10 the
common man; how much more so the man oil &C.
mus! Goethe priced it at lis due rate. Zeter he
never forgot, he delighted in all that related TO
Zellcr. Zelter ever fresh and young the great
burly man, with healthy common nature, the
exquisite affections, and the quick thoughts that
never stopped to bake and brew but sparkled out IN
song or in fun Zelter who ardently loved, but
never wearied, never intruded on him. Might &C.
MUS always have such green sunny held OF earth
10 bask in F; i, would not cry out so much Tor some
"pece of heaven falleu upon the earth"
Mr. Calvert, the translator of these volumes,
was, in early youth, received with marked distinc-
could less than any temporal prince afford to give
moment TO any but the worthies) and by him in
roduced TO a familiar intercourse at the court of
Weinay Seeing with his own unpreludiced eyes
the modern Jupiter, with mind capable of appre-
ciatng his greatness, he feels natural and Just con-
tempt for the assumption of ordinary minds that they
can take the altitude of such an object. and class
away, once for all, by their small registers, lis
claims 10 consideration. Such an attempt was
made in the Phi Beta Grafton of Mr. Putnam,
werk where well-in,entioncd mcdiocrity met with
vast annlause from those on the same level. Yet,
+ while thev were cappins their hands. the sun
ceased not TO shine, nor the grass TO grow. neither
the genius Of Byron, Burns and Goethe to continue
its irresistible work, quite independent OF Inc
loosely arranged arguments OF the orator Such
hearsay opinions, such want OF the carefully al
justed scales necessary even IN such criticism, 1t
was sad to see in writer who said SO much abou,
Truth He talked of Truth while decking his pages
with the mes, unfounded assertions, and betraylng
want OF any real acquaintance with the authors OF
whom he spoke The influence of such produc-
ton is very transtory, but it may have survived
long enough 10 need Mr. Cavert's reproof. We
close with that part Of his preface which contains
have no, examined the translation, but the we'll
known atta;nmeuts of Mr., c. vouch for its excel
lence. The volume is handsomely printed, and
DESPITE all Phi Beta ora,ions will not fail TO prove
ITSELF one that "no gentleman's library can be
without" *
The translator cannot withhold few words on
the passage relating to Goethe IN the PHI, Beta Nap
pa Grafton delivered at Cambridge in lsii. From
its elevated birth place that passage has flown over
the whole land On formal public occasion
bind and most rude assault has been MADE on one
Of the mishties, of The dead, whose soul lives on
the earth, and viii fer ages live in the eXaliauon
CT the Hottest minds. Out of stale German gossip
out OF shall low wsitugs opyosaic critics, shaiiewer
eiamors OF pseudo-eatriots, uncharitabe nagni-
cation of common tailings, IN discourse especial
iy desigaed 10 enforce the virtue of truth, wele
compounded those pages reeking with calumny
against one of the foremost men OF the world, and
he most honored man OF a people rich In virtue
anJ -, Goethe is'ca1Ied e.lEsL