The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-11-07

"A correspondent of the New York Tribune
writing from London, tells us OF a German view
of Ralph Waldo Emerson. He says:-
Herman Grimms 'Neue Essays uber Kunst
una Literature, are beginning to attract some
attention from scholars, although nobody has
offered TO translate them for the British public.
The most entertaining articles are those on
Emerson, Humboldt, and Goethe in Italy. That
on Emerson is hrst in quality, as IL Is in its
position in the volume, and Is attracting con-
siderable attention IN Germany-on which ac-
count, as well as because the many among your
readers who are also likely to be readers OF
Emerson, will be glad to know how the Sage
marches on in the old World, l send you few
original translations from il. 1t opens thus;-
"'A few years ago, at friends house, found on
the TAB O volume by Emerson. looked into II,
read page, and was surprised at not having under.
stood o word II, though was tolerably confident
of my English. asked about the autnor; was told
that he the first author of America and great
thinker; but often somewhat wlld, and tnat some
times lie d not even explain his own sentences;
but that no other was so regarded, whether az
character or prose writer. TnIs judgment sounded
80 strangely that i looked into the book again
Some sentences darted 40 brilliantly into my soul
that felt an impIlse 70 put the Dook into my POCKET
| and look into It more closely at home. / always
think very much OF itself when book at this day
attracts that decide without 70 OOk
into itat this day, when, from sort instinct OF
self preservation, one has to stand the extreme
| defensive against men and books, If o-e will be
master OF his time, mood, and thoughts. took
Nv ebster's Dict mary" and began read. TDe
| strUcu0n seemed TO me quite extraordinary soon
OIecOVeIed tile mystery: nsre were real
| zeal speech real man that had before me, not a
-; L need not carry the antthesis further.
bought the book. Since then have not ceased TO
| read these books, and every time seems the first
time
THE writer then goes into q long metaphysi-
| cal, artistic, and exceedingly rine analysis OF
| what the Joy that one nnds in contact with a
| great think er really is. His vie may be summed
| up thus:-Every man Is born 10 the heritage of
| the past; he is at the end OF a long train of
associations, ideas, customs, which ne did not
| make, but which press upon MIN on every side
| and fetter him; who 80 liberates the man from
| the walls and bars which the past has slowly
prepared tor each spirit though it be but liberia
| tion Tor moment, gives him for that time a
| divine Joy. This liberation some md IN gazing
on works of art, others in listening 10 music,
but it is most OF all felt by those who can with
| q great thinker ascend TO the vault OF pure
reason when the wing OF thought IS free"
-'The Prose Works" OF the distinguished
American poet, John G. Whittier, have been
| issued in two duodecimo volumes by Tcknor q
| Fields. They comprise his famous antiq quarian
| invention, Margaret Smiths Journal a collec
| lion OF ''Old Portraits and Modern Sketches,
and Literary RecreatiOns and Miscellanles,'
| taken from the contributions 70 various periOdi
I Gals with which the author has been connected
TIE contents OF these volumes are stamped with
| many Of the traits which have won for tn,
poetry OF Mr.. Whittier such wide and well
| founded admiration.