The New York herald., 1874-11-07
0kstein on How Germany Treats
Her Writers.
voGELwEIDE'S BIRTHPLACE.
A Specimen Number of the Deutschs
Rundschau."
BRITISH CELEBRATES
Anecdotes on Kings and Queens Of
England.

FRANKFORT, Oct. q, 1874
IL s rarely that we md q German writer speak
ing openly about the low state OF literary appre-
ciation In Germany. well known feuiletonist
ana poet, Ernst Eckstein. :wno spent many years
away from his tatherand, in Italy, 10 Spain and in
other Southern lands, returned home not long
ago to ind all rne grant ideas he had OF German
literary appreciation, which had grown in his sell.
exile, to be terrible illusions. He returned home
with the idea that all German authors became
quickly ricn; that the demand i0r new publications
was so great tnat the puolic hal fairly to night
about the BOOKSELLERS for the possession or
new favoute. Where he got these fancies from
| cannot say; probably from the same sources
where most OF US gather our first ideas about Ger
man lie, and virtue, and honesty Says Eek
stein :-'I began my literary career abroad.
Whenever l saw the name Gustave Freytag 1
Imagined TIE celebrated author as the possessor
oi wonderful palace, in the lobbies OF which 200
German pu fishers trod on each others heels, In
their desire TO get the right to publish
the authors last romance. l had
an especially brilliant idea about the
German middle classes. l iancied that the
German merchant, after spending about eight
hours a day in his business, was accustomed. on
reaching home to read all the newest publications.
and that his library was to him even a greater
And so forth.
THE LAND OF INTELLECTUAL CULTURE.
Poor Eckstein He found himself terribly mis-
taken. He visited Lepsic and made the acquant-
ance OF a dashing, rich gentleman who plays
great role IN Lelpsic society. Said gentleman
spends no end OF money In horses and In ssport,r
but when he wished, few days ago, to purchase
volume OF the ILLUSTRATED Gazetteer did not
blush to take dirty secondhand copy at antigua
rian prices. EcKstein likewise made the acquaint-
ance OF q very intellectual Baroness p, VINO in
vited him 10 dinner. In the course OF the conver-
sation the Baroness expressed unlimited admira-
tion OF the authors works. and at the same time
her deep regret tnat she had not been able to
obtain his latest work. Notwithstanding that
she mad sent her servant to nearly all
the circulating libraries in the city, put had been
unable to procure it. Laughingy the author asked
her why she had not sent to the next bookstore
and purchased it outright over the face OF the
baroness sped glow OF surprise. "1hat Ia true
what pity It is did not think OF that before. 1
should have saved myself much trouble and an
noyance." SO it IS. In Germany publisher
thinks he Is doing well II he can dispose OF
AN EDITION IN THREE YEARS.
Ernst Eckstein proposes some new methods Of
making the newest productions IN the realm or
literature known to German ladies' He wishes,
ironically OF course, to transform the literary in
terests into a toilet question; then the German
author, he thinks will grow rich, like
other people. Leaving ridicule, however,
NJ. Eckstein Is serious about the mat
ter. 1.-The most disgusting about the
whole thing ISL he says "that the German
still consideres himself TO be rhe privileged guar
dian OF the heavenly fire. With an untrozenness
which is nafue to be called brutal he continues
to proclaim aloud Germany Is the only true
tpfa1 tfa RI rnvd
disdain upon the beerless and sauerkrautless bar
barisns. literary interest existed at the COM
mencement OF the present century. but since then
II has rapidly declined. Though the French may
be in a condition OF political dissolution we Ger
mans have no cause to show any aristocraric SYM
pathy Tor them. The process OF Swallowing is go
ing uninter uptedly on in our social circles. In
certain classes, indeed, 1t IS considered old FASH
ioned to SPEAK OF literary matters at allthe thea
tire alone excItes interest. The circle of those ap-
precIative OF literature Is very email; the members
are in the minority. ana minorities do not con-
tribute much to the characterization OF a nationn
CHARACTER OF GERMAN PUBLICATIONS.
Eckstein tells great truth in the above words
Germany is by no means the land OF literature as
1t Is generally praised and thought to be by per-
sons who have never lived here. lew scholars
professors and such Ike are, 1t is true, very pro-
ductIve authors, and these have secured Ger
manys literary anne; but few OF them can boast
Of having had great pecuniary successes with their
works over 1000 new books in all departments
are published annually in Germany. The num-
ber exceeds the publications both OF England
and OF America. But vast number of
these are mere pamphlets; and am inclined
TO the view that II the number OF printed
pages were counted and comparison made with
England and America the German production
would De seen first in It's proper dimensions. AS
for comparison OF sales this Is OF the question.
German book buyers few and far between.
One reason Is spoken Of by EcksteIn; another Is
the dearness OF German books, result OF small
sales; another the slip-shod condition In winch
they are issued, IN undress paper covers, the
sheets loosely stitched, the leaves uncut. After
purchasing your book you must have it bound
before you can use 1t with any degree OF comfort.
frequent: but In the matter or book publishing
Germany still lags half century behind England
wALrHER Won DER voeELwErpE.
A very interesting ceremony took place In the
Tyrol on the Sd INST. Some German savans have
at last found out the birthplace OF walther Won
der yogeIweide (born 1le5-l17o. one OF the
mobiles OF the German MIDnesingers, and the day
above mentioned was appointed to place on the
verv house OF his birth marble tablet commem-
orative OF that event. Il seven cities OF antiquity
contested lor the honor OF producing Homer, no
less than nine lands or districts claimed at one
%e s gsen eua to
Land, the Rnineand, Bavaria, Melssen, Bo-
hemia, Austria, FraDconia and Tyro: AS
late as year ago PROFESSOR LeXer,
In . lecture delivered at Wurzburg, SAID
that the place OF Walther's birth was still un-
known, although Piei1er. who had first or all con-
sdered Wnrzourg to be the birth as well as the
burial place or the singer, pointed out ten years
sgo .nat he lelt sure that the blrtnpiace must 70
sought lor In the Tyrol. He claimed TyrOl not
rom any documentary evidence, but rom the Inn
presslons produced upon him by Walt1er's own
songs and, taxing into consideration the high
Rosltion winch Tyrol occupied 900 years ago In
herman culture ana history, PeifYer said, "Wa al
tner must nave spent his childhood IN some forest
Dontude interrupted only by the song OF bros,
hnd tnere IN intercourse with the leathered crea-
ZION, whether In the parental house or In the
rounding WOODS, the love OF song may have frst
been awakened IN his childish hearth
THE BIRTHPLACE FOUND.
The Tyro oil to-day Is not the TyroI OF COO Years
ago. In the Midcle Ages Tyrol was In q remark.
hDy favorable situation; IT was directly on the
from Germany to ItalI and q lirns fha