New-York tribune., 1874-09-18
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
prcorJr rCTTONs OF STEPHENS.


The title of this work is somewhat misleading, as 1t
relates less to the university life Of Germany than 10
pome incidents in the career of one OF her diStl-
gushed professors Steffens however, never occupied
fhe highest rank among the learned men OF HIS
adopted country. He was an original, rather toan
sound thinker, addicted to bold, and apparently
fanciful speculations, with deep vein Oh
mysticism pervading his nature, pnt man
of great activity of mind. OF an intense
thirst for knowledge, and of certain naive
simphcity aud sturdy rectitude OF character.
During his protracted life he was led into intimate
contact with many of the most celebrated repre-
seutatiyes of German literature and philosophy, OF
whom his "reminiscences form the most attractive
portions of the present volume.
Steffens was native of Norway, in which country
he was born May 2. 1773. His parents removed to
Copenhagen while he was vet child, and on grow
ing mp be became member of the Universities OF
Copenhagen and of Kiel and was licensed lecturer
in the latter before he had completed his twenty
ffth year. He carly evinced passion for the phi
losophy of religion, being at first mainly under the
influence of SDinoza. but afterward disciple sue
eessvely of Kant, jacob, and Schelng, adhering IN
the end TO the system of the latter. AT the same
time he cherished deep interest in many branches
of natural science aud together with Ritter was In
strumental in giving the first consistent form and
development to the principles of physical geography
At the age of thirty, OF soon after. Stet1ens
took mp his temporary abode at jena, IN order 10
crafty the eager desire which he had long felt OF
meeting the professors of that famous University ."
their own ground A. w. Schiegel and Schelhng
were at that time the principal objects of his curl
oslty. and his first impressions of the latter re-
nowned German are thus described:
A W schlegel had now come to Jena with his highly
gfied wife, aud also Schellng. who was to deliver
Just from Depsc, and was recovering rom severe
illness. Professors and students were mingled t9getea %
in his auditory. Schelfng assembled to ms chair lie
had youthful oountenanee he was two years youhgea
than and now the nrst OF the men 2, ad an s cf De
esOn, might say, hafdehant lo0k broad shoulueIs,
the temples wide apart the brow high the eounenance
expressiye of energy, the nose little inclined up
ward. and in his large, clear eyes lay mlGhty
power. When he began to speak he seemed con
strained only few moments. The subject of his
lecture was one which then absorbed ms wn3e
OF nature the need Of embracing nature in her unity
Of the light which would be thrown upon All subjects
when philosophers should begin their speculatons at
the standpoint Of the unity Of nature: He carried me
completely away, and the following day FASTENED 10
OF all Daturalsts the great mystery which unltes elee
troity with 1t under the law OF higher unity was tnen
in it, schelinG received me not merely In friendly
ssaras who eas TO his views without hating and
without reservation. Among men OF my walk ne had
found Ouly antagonists, and sueh, TOO, as were reaIy
His conversational manner charming. I was IA
miller with his writings oOincided almost entirely
with his views aud anticipated from him and his ef
forts great changes IN all natural science could not
lectures But the few moments which spent with him
into hours Through my entire harmony OF views win
him gained certain kind OF confidence, which might
l. but he was sustained by a powerful nature was
trained among the favorable circumstances, had
naughty adversary over against whole powerless
horde whose leaders, tmld and erouching shrank back
In fear.
After his personal interview with Schelling Stof-
fens lost no time in hearing lecture of Fchte, who
was then at the hight of his celebrity an inno-
vator on received opinions in religion and phloso-
ply. He was just commencing his course on the
constitution of man. Here is the picture of the
great ldealist by his susceptible admirer:
His short thick figure, with its sharp, authoritative
eyes suok % me WIN an 81 b eng aH wnen cuttn m %
knife his sentences fell like the stroke from razor.
nnns he sought i'm every way to make himself ntelng
Sie to them He all possible pains TO substantate
,sTVe air as if he Woad remove every doubt by
mand 10 which unhesltatlng obedience SHOULD oe PAID
enter into your own mind; we are now not dealing with
ANYTHING Outward-purely with ourselves ~ ,,,,u
into their own minds. Some changed their position and
5er yes u m waited With great
ness to see what would come next. "Gentiemen, con.
see that ihe hearers set their minds most ntently
upon the WALL and everything seemed favorable thus
.Now then gentlemen, let your thought be that that
thought the WALL" 1t was curious to see what CON
fusion and perpexity seemed 10 arise Many OF the
hearers seemed ways able TO discover dt that had
thought the wall, and now understood bow II might
well happen that young men who stumbled over the
first approaches TO speculative philosophy in so clumsy
way might later efforts, fall into errors which should
be grave not to say dangerous Fichtes lecture was
exceedingly distinct and clear was whoily absorbed
in his subject, aud had 70 confess that had never
listened 70 such a speaker before.
Upon his first attempt to make the aequsDt-
ance of Goethe, the self-love of Stefiens
received q severe shock. He had been in-
yited by a certain family to meet Goethe
Mt their house, but the great poet, IT seems, for
some reason or other took notice of the young
enthusiast. The thought of the interview formed
an "epoch In his hfep As he was walking TO the
house il seemed as if some great catastrophe at
hand.
Goethe appeared. 1t is known to every one who has
seen him, his noble figure, his admirable carrfao
his speaung eye the majesty Of ms whole appearance
and the composure with which he does everytADg were
overwhelmingly imposing on all VINO met HIM for the
expressed In the man himself When fist saw him
come. II seemed as if were looking upoa Exsont,
Orange. ana Tasss IN hun. In the company a Mr.
stackelberg OF Leland ne was lHI oaHSSd {" Oosss ut
The halucination tSt G0etfhs mast have had a
pcion of what lac had been 10 was natural bat he
entertained himself the whole evening with Mr. st&oke
berg. 1t gooa fortune TO draw hi. attention
for a single moment Goethe then III his bes dsvs
The cOmpOsure which characterized his whole ussad
began 10 displeaso me- yes, even ~ oGfbiees ms was
bered stories Of his haughtineSe and GOODNESS scd went
TO my rooms in mood slHo~ nnenomsote, tne AHth-
European Is hy nrtnie easily woaudsd IN th.s way,
and have had 10 Struggle ali my ME vita u sensitive
ness which often made me voty uhhappy. However
4 got along rs we'll could aud poso+stod Phiieu0s
words as Wsikyd S lync, n 49,. -, .,,,o.-,
but yet Il would ike dark shadow across my pett
His pride was 50 deaAy offended THAI fu some
time ne resisted all overturos toward second moot
ing But his scrupdes were at length overcome. and