New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-11-21
Foreign Correspondence OF The Tribune.
SIanees at AloNrrn errmann.
NE MODERN LITE.
BY = YOUNG AngRicAN.

<h1ilpuSu -Itdb anu 6tdik4A= II4c+-ta &tS Sf.4f
taking place in the world, i: still strikes as sin
gular to reflect how completely altered are the
condition and destiny Of Northern aud Southern
Europe from what they were eighteen centuries
ago. Nor, the lands Of taste and genius and re-
Enement--the mothers Of the world civilization
the glorious conederacy Of Greece. and Rome that
bound The world at her feet are fallen, degraded
degenerate and enslaved; while what was then =
wilderness fbarbarians-ofmen who despised and
rejected the civilization of the South-has scared
to Il climax OF refinement and intellectual great
ness which the former never attained. How would
the shades Of Homer and Vigil rise from the Past in
offended majesty to know that the rugged Brit
annie Isle or the vast Teutonc forest had Graded
a Shakespeare, Schiller Ind Milton who had
sung the mysteries OF nature and OF the mighty hu
man heart, in strains as lasting as their gwfn
The German language sprung from the old Al
rnau, and perhaps descended lneally from one
oil the builders OF Babel was, Ike the people
who speak it, very slow IN emerging from It's bar
barrie state and becoming refined and cultivated
IL was the work OF centuries 10 polish and purity
that ore taken from the rough mine Ill FURNISHED and
condensed the utmost II cleaned, diamondlEe on
the forehead OF Poetry. It's original element was too
different from the classic and finished tongues OF Tie
ancients 70 mix with them and improve On their per
ected beauty il struggled up alone and untiring, until
at length Ike the pyramids the old Egyptians LETT the
world as monuments their greatness il stands amid
the literature the earth solid and grand and
be shaken down--a pyramid OF glorious thought
Until the last century, Germany was without litera
ture Except the lays OF the WtHResWgerS or trouoa
dours OF the Middle Ages and the hymns OF Luther u
rich Hutton and OF the other retormers little
had been produced, worthy OF any fame hlopstock
seems 10 have been Of the first who stepped out
from the ,hrong writer OF high genius, and devoted
himself seriously and solely the service Of the Ger
Hcnproved very greatly character OF the
national poetry and his songs aud odes have proved
fruitful sources OF inspiration 10 many an after bard
He is regarded by the Germans in much the saue vene
ration that we hold Milton but his Messies though a
work OF great genius IN the genuine incomprehensb!e
style, bear comparison TO the Paradise Lost
lie WAS followed By number OF authors VINO began
to give the German literature substance and name
Burger polished and beautiful steel mirror Scume
rougher but full of mind and heart and number OF
others began develop the treasures o! thought and
expression hid in their countrys tongue and show bow
high stand capable OF taking in the literature OF
the world Then the rich mine which had lain Tor centuries
UNDECIDED, except By few wanderers, VINO picked up
bits of ore from the surface suddenly disclosed and
seized upon by troop OF impatient and hvaricious spr
its and made yield It's priceless treasures. The SPLEEN
dor with which this constellation OF genus rose above
the worlds horizon is unprecedented in the annals OF
literature What age was that for Germany, when
time, and nearly al one court iourished Schiller
and Goethe Herder, Richter and Wc!and, Lessinc and
Ticck aud Schlege Great spirits generally Vist
country singly and at long intervals but here was
whole whom Fate had thrown together. working
blaze of genius startling as it was unexpected II
will be a long long time before there returns such
lus,rc to the coming years" The German has
taken its stand beside the English literature, and above
that OF all other nations
II would be long task and irrelevant 10 the present
subject enter into description OF the literature OF
this period Who is there that has not some knowledge
oil ito whom the names and works OF schiller and
Goethe and Jean Paul not familiar Since these have
all passed away and the finishing touch has been given
the polish aud refinement OF the German tongue the
pltt ptt Inc
has lost much OF that earnest intense and mystical ccl
inc which breahes through the works OF the older
thors and is become lighter yecr and less original
The vanished giants nave given place 10 Wh0le most,
not OF pigmes but OF merely common sized men, some
of whom sometimes only make themselves appear the
smaller by attempting to wear the NANTES which the
others have left behind them. The literature seems
be subsidnc back again not into state OF rude
and unpublished strength il at first but rather into
refined medocrity few gifted ones who rose as the
mighty band declining seem 10 nc tue connecting
links between the two some OF these still living,
and sh III mention them hereafter more particularly.
do not mean to say that among the host OF modern
authors there are none who worthy OF standing IN
the NahHla with the heroes OF song on the contrary
there are many whose fame Will not be evRnescent but
these rather exceptions to the general rule. The
force of circumstances private public, has perhaps
more do than inboru talent with raising any one
above his fellow and long there is so little pc
litical union and much political knavcry IN Germany
will always rise up 10 demand II better state
OF things. This IS very s.lkngy the case al present
Nearly all the Young authors talent either ban
ishrd the country only suffered 10 write with Huz
c over their mouths The censorship OF the press
CALLING TO enthusiastic ardent writer tends rather 10
increase than diminish this feeling. he author itW
publish if he chooses, either secretly or with presses
out the reach OF the ban and ii keeps alive con-
slant blaze OF cnmity between HIM anG his rulers In
fact the prohibition of book only makes II sell the
iastcr-in Freili.raths volume OF political pc
ctry published in the Autumn OF s4i had very great
sale although forbidden 70 DC sold rs soon as an
order could be got from Berlin. knowing that TINS
would come great numbers OF volumes were inIncdI'
aicy bought up and the remainder disposed OF secretly
But this is wandering from the subject.
said that the modern authors generally deprived the
language OF that dreamy mystical hue which IS so great
charm in the old writers They either pursue the
vivid amusing French style with lis passionaeness rs
well as trIling, endeavor 10 write il some peculiar
way of their own Many writers OF romAnces take Coop
or or Scott for their models 1t follows, therefore, that
Though the language is made more brilliant and flexible
there is no addition either to its strength or purity
might remark that similar change has a;teTly marked
in some degree the English literature But there Is one
part OF the German poetry which VIII remain the same
because its character Is t~inoorn Win the language II
sclt.-thA is its songs and ballads These beautiful!
droppincs from the nations heart Will always retain
their and charm for they come from the heart
they depend not on the whs authors orihe perverted
taste OF critics Tor their existence. And the songs OF
Germany are OF very peculs. and striking character
they surpSs those OF every other nation IEey are as
warm and simple the Scotch or Irish, but III difeF
en-, STYLE and have besides touch OF superstition ana
romance They contain the mos! delicate and subtle
shades of thought and eXpresson--s single word--a
senience-is repeie with beautiful! meaning and Is
many OF these depend ON the pecuiariues OF Inc ian
cusgc they uu,ransiateab!e
Hundreds OF these simple ehusors sre treasured Up
in the hearts OF the peope-sung 5y high ana !o"-Ac
never forgotten There very few authors who DO
no, possess the faculty OF writing in this style and many
have their most enduring tame by some simple os
lads thrown OF III momen, OF pure naturS! feeling -
Ii Haut had written any thing but his two eXqu
site songs" MorgcRroG' and sch ca us sRS;ra Ma
erqachi he would be known ana sung long AS Ger
man ,hroats can raise sound Nicholas Becker, VINO
composed the song commencing
They shal! uo,-Shal not hsve il
The free. the German Rhine
time when the whole country wsS W III arms 10
stay the surpstions OF the French and which sung
with burst OF enthusiasm from the Danube 10 the Bal
nc hiss Only secured his immortality by that 5u;
pension and sun6ry golden sobiets and oacr princey
gifts The modern poets, amid their ste1lG;son have
no, forgotten this simple style but swc!ed the number
OF popular songs with some very beautiful esusioas-
Gelbe young poet Is quite celebrated Tor his ballads
for music both pathetic and Willy
Its we'll krown and astonishing iset that as lnsny
books are printed every year in Gerinsy alone a. IN al
Ihi. nnt reading