, 1874-08-02

| Not long since, Julius Roderch Benedix died
in Germany, leaving work which WAS published
after his death, and entitled Shokspearomonie.
| Denedx had been connected with the theatrical
art and the drama for more than thirty years.
He Was writer Of dramas himself; and there
is scarcely theatre in Germany, large or small,
Of great pzetensiouB or OF the most humble,
in which his PLAYS have not been performed.
He WAS not drst-class dramatist. Among
the dramatic writer's Of this generation,
however, whether In Germany or England,
he ia entitled to very respectable
position. He Was not only q writer. no was
himself an actor and In his youth won 1aurels
in many parts OF Germany in that capacity. 1t
thus happens that be has been, and is cousid-
ered, in Germany something Of an authority on
the drama This will account for the import
ance attached to his S7aakspearondnie by Ger
man reviewers. It is not 60 much the strength
Of his arguments as that Denedix wrote the
book which has given it its Importance. The
title Of Benedix's book is sufficient evidence OF
the spirit in which he approaches his subject.
Shakspearos merits he discusses, or rather he
manages to have them discussed, by three inter-
locutors, Oswald, Heiauth, and Reinhold'
Oswald is an enthusiastic admirer Of Shak-
spoare, Hellmuth an enthusiastic opponent,
neinhold q mediator between the two.
In the course OF the dialogue, how
ever, Reinhold forgets his character, al
lies himself with Hel1muth against Os-
wald, and joins in tho attack on Shakespeare.
From the title, Shal:spearomanie one would
think that Benedix censured only the extrava-
CANT e1altation of Shakespeare. The reader,
however, cannot fail to observe that the great
poet comes in personally for bis share of abuse.
Oswald, Shakspeare's admirer and defender, has
comparatively little to tay. If Bonedi1 knew
no moro in favor of Avon's bard than he puts
into the mouth of the bard's enthusiastio ad-
mirer, wo need not bo surprised at the conclu-
sion he reaches, viz: that the present estima-
ton in which Shakespeare stands III the eyes Of
tho world is due to q universal Illusion. or MANIA
It is to the credit OF German critics that they
have pointed out that the mania, OF illusion, is
altogether on the other side, and that Bonedlx by
bis very career, was incnpacitated to pronounce
u correct judgment on Shakespeare or his genius.
Our author has looked at Shakespeare through
the medium of his own limited experience IS an
actor and writer Of plays. Taking his own style
and his own principles ss criterion, it was i'm
possible he should reach any other result.
Il it not little remarkable that, simultane-
ously with Benedi1's book against Shakespeare,
appeared tho second edition Of another work,
with precisely the same drift, by The celebrated
theoretician Rumelin. Germany rebels every
little while against the dramatic supremacy Of
Shakespeare. She would like to make her own
Goethe or Schiller, or both, the .tacile princeps
Of d1amatists. Indeed, Benediz's Shakespeare
mamie WAS dictated in great measure by a
desire to yindicnte for his favor1te Bchil-
Ter place which does not belong to him.
Such works as Runelin's aud Denedix's are an
exception in German Shakspearean literature.
Our great poet is al much admired and appre- |
ciated there as in England or America Ger |
many has Shakespeare Society, and publishes q |
Shakespeare Annual. Herder remarked once |
that to Shakespeare there WAS no en-, and 30. |
indeed, 1t would seem to be. There is no end |
to him even in Germany. New and improved
editions OF old works On his genins are contin-
ua:ly ap114ring. The second edition Of Kreys-
sig's L@c:*5,>es and Bodens:edt's translation OF
tue sonneis have recently been published The
Sonnets have, Of late Year,, become exceedingly !
popular in Germany. In England, At the begin
n.ng OF this century, 1t was said that not eve1
An act Of Parliament could provide readers