The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1870-06-03
THE GERMAN DICKENS.
Auerbach Interviewed at Home.

Edward King, in tho Boston Journ-
! al, thus gossips about the most popu-
lar OF German authors:
One of my pleasantest visits in
i Berlin was with Bcrthold Auerbach,
the distinguished author of "On tho
Heights" and those beautiful life pic
lures, set in local frames brought from
tho Black Forest or from mountain
| top, which havo had such excellent
success in America. Aucrbach is tho
German Dickens, that is, no man else
III German land occupies place so
near and dear to tho popular heart.
| For many years his name has been as
n household word, and his Volks Kal-
cndcr and contributions to popular
publications havo always been recciv-
cd with enthusiasm. l. was until tho
advent of Con the Heights that he
assumed the great prominence he has
at present in the German literary
world. IIoro was q man with all the
possibilities of q Richter, with q su-
pcrb diction, matchless talent for gen.
ro painting in words, and spirituality
absolutely now to the age. Thcre
was something new and inspiring in
the history of Irma, lIanscc, ct al, in
"On tho Heights" which has hereto
fore been lacking in European or rath-
er Continental literature. It was
Schiilcr's cold and pure spirit trans
fused with the warmth and grace of
genuine humanity. It had just phi
losophy enough in it to satisfy the
German skeptical turn of mind, but
once ina while it broke tho bands of
doubt and fluttercd up to heaven. AS
IN artistic humane study of passion
and repentance, "On tho Heights"
has no superior in German fiction.
Auerbach left Dresden some threo
years ago and came to Berlin to live.
The city where ho had nestled 80
long among friends like that good
one Prof. jules Hubncr, and others
quite as noted, became gradually too
small for him, and he was forced in
the Prussian capital. But he flies to
the hills in summer. lie livos in tho
konigen Auquata Strassc, one of the
finest avenues in Berlin, and his home
is checry, simple, and always crowd
cd with friends. ue lives up three
flights, in elegant, quiet rooms, whcro
his wife lady of rare accomplish
mcnts, makes every visitor ut case by
the charms OF her conversation. Tho
rooms are filled with mementoes of
the authors literary triumphs. Chief
among them is beautiful bouquet of
the little Edelweiss flower, on which
name Auerbach had builded such q
beautiful romance. This. bouquet
came from the Princess Hohenzollern,
who had them gathered at groat OK
pense. The flower grows on the high
est tops of tho Tyrol, and sometimes
tho adventurous hunter, who goes
after it, is found dead at tho foot of
tho cliffs, having venturod too for. I.
had my trophy to bring too, and sin
gularly enough it was an "Edclweiss."
Three years ago, whilo voyaging on
Lake Como, German lady gave me
little musty white flower, which
came, she said from the highest top
in Germany. I carried it over the
sea, and had brought it back again.
before I discovered that it was an
|. ."Edelwciss." : told the good author
the story, and he said that he had
received over two hundred different
Edelweiss bouquets since the little TO-
nance was written.
Aucrbacls, or DR.. Auerbach, as he
is called for the Germans call thus all
who have obtained the degr, of doc
tor in philosophy, is short man,
with round, jovial, kindly face, and
no eccentricitics either Of manner or
speech He is perfectly unconstrain-
ed in his manners, and we talked in
his study for long time. Ho is en-
gagged on what his friends consider a
very remarkable novel, which will, in
course Of time be announced, and
will probably create as great sensa-
ton as did the story of Irma's life
and death. Auerbach is much known
and respected in Berlin, and contem-
plates at some future time visit to
the "great country"