New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-04-30
/ NEH GERMAN NOVEL.
A NEW GERMAN NOVEL.


SPIELHAGEN's WHAT THE SWALLOW SANG SOME
CONCEPTIONS OF THE IDEA OF LOVE.
tFRou THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUSE.l
BERLIN, April 4-Ihe appearance of new
novel from the pen of the authOrOf ProbiemaiSche Va
t,iren is always literary event in Germany Though
not novelist OF the first order or even the equal OF
some of his German rivals he commended himself TO his
countrymen at an early date by certain quiet hunor
considerable acquaintance with human nature. and
above all by a large share of the peculiarly German sym
pathy with domestic life In his later works there 49,
however less humOr. and more speculation, often OF
morbid tendency. Was die Sctrai6e Sang shows
very clearly the growing sObriety Of the authors
style. and the tendency 10 rather melancholy
moralzing; but the title gives clue TO
the character Of the tale. The swallows appear
but twice. and then but for a moment. A young
man. the hero, returning TO his village home, walks
musingly through the streets. The village streets
were vacant and the swallows had free course Hher
and thither winged they their swift flight now scoopng
downward 10 the EARTH now rising upward IN graceful
curves, In zgzag chrpng and thrilling, their unweaued
wings never idle. GOtthold stopped, raised the hat
which he had Just before drawn low down over his
forehead and in deep reflection watched the little birds
which in childhood he had so dearly loved what the
swallow sang murmured he, Yes Yes now is the old
village once more familiar Hlther ana
thither few the swallows, here thick the ground.
there in high circles over wagon which Just turn
ing from a lane into the door OF barn. How 90 the
lines said GOtthOld:
'''Als ich Abschied nahm, ais ich Abschied nahm,
Warren Kisten unt Kaesten schwer;
Ais len wleder KAN, ais zen Wleder Kah
War allies leer.''
GOtthold Weber returned 20 the little village Of DOan.
his native place. after long absence HIS father had
been the village pastor and he himself mad studied
divinity with the exDectation of succeeding 20 tie
spiritual duties and material emoluments of ms worthy
sire but the caprice Of village belle changed tie
whole course of his life. GOtthOld ardenty loved the
pretty Cecilia WenhOf. He poor, and the maiden
was proud and the consequence was that rich and
dashng rival, Karl BrandOw carried on the prize
Gotthod father soon died. and Gotthod, giving up the
claim to the Dastorate retired TO Italy where he studied
Manning became famous artist received rich legacy
from an uncle who opporunely died and aser 20 years
absence returned 20 the Of his early life The
story begins with his visit the graves of his father
and mother ohold returns rich. while his successful
rival has, in the mean time, squandered MS
fortune and is become poor Carl Brandow
is fond Of horse-rac:nc, gambling and drinking; MS III
sncts are all brutal ald low; he loves horses better
than his WIFE, and, by his cruelty, kills two or three
children GOttAold finds this state Of things at the
BraDdow mansion hen be returns and begins at once
10 devise the means of Overthrowng BrandoW' ana
snatcbing from his lOathsome embraces the much
abused wife. He also proposes TO receive the much
abused wife into his manlier arms. Being gentle
III "A
awkward manner obeys throughout the impulse OF
a rem rous heart and a phlOsophic theory.
The author means represent Gotthold as fautess
man and in order TO find for his conduct he Is
obliged 70 make him philosopher What was his phil
osOphy II Is revealed in a conversation between
Gotthold and Herr WOllnow, gentleman who was one
Of Gotthold's youthful friends. who married one OF
Cecilias mates. and who is Jew with somewhat prac'
teal view of life Herr wolnow's theory Of marriage
Is that il is merely a social institution in which love
ought 20 play no part. The best pledge OF the perna
nence of the marriage relation between man ana "e Is
children, not affection. GOtthOd goes to the other
extreme With him love is all, aud marriage only an
outward symbol convenient means OF realizing love-
WolDow would abolish love in order 10 abolish one OF
the fruitful causes OF marital mhdey GOtthoid would
tighten the bonds OF marriage order 20 give love freer
NAV Here is the issue and Spelhagen tries in the
novel 10 vindcate Gotthods theory. His book is an
ATTEMPT 70 reestabsh just the social theories car
RED out by Mrs Laura d. Fair and the late Henry VIII
of England.
one day when Gottbold was walking in the woods
alone rejecting his mission, BRANDON suddenly ap
pears and invites him to visit his house Brandow TOO
has deep game 70 play. He has heard that GOtthold
has returned rich and be basey lays plan for usinG
his wfes contempt for himself and her revived love FOL
her former admirer means OF extOrting money ou
OF GOtthold. The plan works Gotthoid accompanies
Rrandow home and on that very evening" In his hosts
]
and makes a declaration OF love. This occurs seyera
times until all being ripe Brandow forces his wife at The
point of the bayonet TO speak, to demand money OF
Gottbod She carries out the painful task sne Visit
the unsuspecring lover; and instead OF accepting III
offer N Nv from the presence OF the brute, her husband
she begs him with tears IN her eyes 70 give the bu
2sO thaers 10 save him from ruin ana her from dis
grace The noble man agrees. The money brought on
dark evening; and full of gratitude Brandon offers Il
SEND Gotthod home In his conveyance by his mos
trusy coachman and privately nsructs the coachmai
TO drive him off a certain precpice by the roadside
the appointed place the cOachman suddenly leaps r0u
the seat. and backs the of the precipce Int
wretch then chambers down himself IN order 10 hpls
his victims. ana TO steal bag OF money carried by Gott
holds companion, a tax-gatherer Gotthod has now
lodged half way down. and the driver misses MN
bat be finds the collector, and taking him for dead
makes of with the money. Gouhold helpsthe collector
to shelter and after few days illness RECEIVERS, and
company with Walllow and Others takes measures 10
bringing the villains 70 justice This ends the first par
o. the story.
With occasional reverses the plans Of Gottholi an
his friends worked up 20 satisfactory end The
come into possession OF letter connecting BrandO'
with the crime by the prec!pice and GOtthod charge
him with 10 70 his face. The hero has other Interview
with Cecilia ana presses his suit but the faithful WI
refuses 70 leave her husband. she points TO her chC
and declines. The author evidently wishes 20 thro
dscredit on Wonow's theory by painting as an errc
the determination Of Cecilia 70 cling 70 her husband 70
| her chid's sake. Meantime BrandoW sinks deePC
and deeper into dissipation ana hruta
It's. He CANDLES Teckiestly, Is c0yerc