The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-09-12
The Friendship of Brothers and Sisters
BY REV. W. r. ALGRR.

The Friendship of Brothers and Sisters.
BY REV. W. R. ALGRR.
Two of the most distinguished in the long
roll OF eminent astronomers are brother and
sister-Sir William and Caroline Herschel
The story of their united labors-how, for
thousands of nights, side by side they sat.
and watched, and calculated, and wrote-one
sweeping the telescope heavens, the other
assisting and netting down the results-how
with one spirit and one interest they grew old
together, and illustrious together-ther seve-
raj achievements both at home and in observa-
tories on strange shores to which they voy-
aged, always assocated-with what affectionate
care she trained the favorite nephew who was
to burnish into still more effulgent brightness
the star-linked name of Herschel-the story of
all this is full OF attractveness, and forms one
OF the warm and poetic episodes in the high
old annals of science.
The union of John Aiken and his sister
Latitia, afterwards Mrs. Barbauld, in life
tastes, labors, was uncommonly close and
complete. The narrative of it, so warm, sub
stantial, and healthy was it, leaves a pleasing
and invigorating influence on the sym pathies
of those who read it. While Mrs. Barbau Id
was tarrying at Geneva her brother addressed
letter in verse to her.
Yet one dear wish still struggles in my breast
And paints one darling object unpossessed.
How many years have wbrled their rapid course
m on We sole sSTeapIes from 0ne honored source,
Have wandered devious from each others side.
Allowed to catch alone some transient view,
Olhen. while yet some rest of life remains
While sweet swS Seeps ae UeaoG
Ahan Ano fancy % SIN t retains mss some genial heat,
once let us meet again TO part no more"
The evening came. In the village of Stowe.
Newington, they spent the last twenty years
of their lives in that close neighborhood which
admitted of the daily, almost hourly, inter
changes of hand and heart.
There was a friendship of great strength
between Goethe and his sister Cornelia. She
was only year younger than her brother his
companion in plays, lessons, and trials, bound
to him by the closest ties and innumerable
associations. While she was yet in the cradle
he prepared dolls and amusements for her,
and was very jealous of all who came between
them. They grew up in such union that, as
he afterwards said, they might have been
taken for twins. The sternness of their father
drove them into the more confding sympathy.
When be became young man, and was ac-
customed to make frequent excursions, he
says:-"I was again drawn towards home.
and that by magnet which attracted me
strongly at all times it was my sister," Cor
nelia had superior endowments of mind, great
force and truth of character, but she keenly
felt her want of beauty, ga want richly COM
love borne to her by all her female friends.''
And yet, Goethe says, "When my connection
with Gretchen was torn asunder, my sister
eonsOled me the more warmly because she
felt the secret satisfaction of having got rid of
rival; and /, too, could not but feel great
pleasure when she did me the justice to assure
me that was the only one who truly loved,
understood, and esteemed her."
AT twenty Cornelia was married to one of
Goethe's intimate friends, Schlosser and in
four years she died. In one of her brothers.
frequent illusions to her, this striking trait is
recorded:-"Her eyes were not the finest I
have ever seen, but the deepest, behind which
you expected the most meaning; and when
tney expressed any affection, any love, their
glance was without its equal" In his auto
biography, written long after her death. he
says:-"As lost this beloved, incomprehen-
sible beng but too early, felt inducement
enough to picture her excellence to myself,
and 80 there arose within me the concention
OF poetic whole, in which it might have been
possible TO exhibit her individuality; no other
iorm could be thought of for it than that of
Lne hlcharasonlan romance. But the tumult
OF the world called me away from this baanti1
full and piOus design, as it has from So man,
others, and nothing now remains for me hnt
to call up for moment that blessed snirit 90
if by the aid Of magic mirror" 10
relation OF more absorbing eharactar
than the foregoing existed between jacob and
his sister Lena 'For long series of wears -
Steffens writes, "she lived one life with her
brother, even ennobling and exalting him by
her presence. She took part in all his studies.
all his controversies, and changed the still
self-communiOn of the lonely man into a long
conversation" There are many accounts Of
her minute carefulness for him and un-
wearied devotion to him, given by contempo-
raries. Some make the picture little comic
from excess of ooddling, but all agree as to the
unfailing and affectionate sincerity of their at
tachment.
There was an uncommon friendship between
Chateaubriand and his younger sister Lucille,
a girl of extreme beauty, genius, spirituality,
and melancholy. He says OF those years:-"I
grew up with my sister Lucillej our friendship