New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-08-28
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
oorrur AND STUART MILL.

and the British philosopher. presenting coutras' vi
two highly endowed natures such as rarely occurs
An actual hfe and aTording suggestive illustration OF
enc va,ietes of buman character. According TO the
xxy,ter Goethe and Mil points Of resemblance
except in the depth and power Of their inteeces au
their freedom from the infevor traits which impair ."o
natures of ordinary The difference IN quahS 20
tween the two minds indeed immense one p'o-
claiming culture as the great end OF me- 'no
preachng the gospel OF utility, when appa'enuy
snrineing from low basis implies an enthusiasm ioi
humanity that is beyond conception OF so
ciety.
The ground Of this difference NAV De traceu ~ par W
rho tnnuenee OF parentage The father Oh uoe'he wa"
stern upright man, or pedantic turn OF minu' WIN
more industry than talent, cherishing passionao WV
NJ art and in easy pecuniary circumstances Ills WI.
had bright, frocsome disposition, with muen na'uI
,hrewdness Genial and healthy-minded, she mao
great dislike of agitation and of everything approach
Jag 10 scene Neither OF the two eyinced the
degree of genius Goethes resemblance 10 MS parents
may be perceived in his fathers formal manners wnch
decidedly grew upon him with increasing years. anu MS
mothers abhorrence Of unnecessary emotions "h"n
appears in his nvarabe refusal to see any dead pody
and in the strong his instincts when had so
much 70 do with the reproach OF heartessRess that sun
clings TO his name.
The elder Mill was gifted both with unusual talents
md rare capacity for taking trouble whcn mas pcen
snpposed by some persons to constitute genius III
resembed the father OF Goethe but was unlike nin 10
almost everything else. The worthy citizen OF FRANK
fort showed no trace of originality OF nina ana Tue
force Of character for which bold and robust Scotch
man was distinguished and which were aiterwaro IT,
produced in the intellectual life of Stuart MILL
The natural capacities of the two men were deVeiopeu
by widely different systems of education Goethe was
never systematically trained to and THINK Logic
and metaphysics made but small part OF his course OF
education Still at twelve years OF age he was as great
prodigy in his line was Stuart Mill at the same
age His acquaintance with Latin and Greek was al
ready considerable. He knew French, Italian, and En-
gsh His interest the French classic drama was so
great that he studied three unes in Cornee and
Racine He had an opinion of his own on the works OF
nrt with which he surrounded. HIS nauVe CITY
with its picturesque medieval buildings and It's ~eath
of historical association made deep impression on tue
growing boy. At home, he breathed an atmosphere
OF rare books, aud copies OF the masterpieces
of Greek and Italian art The mother had
a share in stimulating his powers OF
invention She had remarkable faculty OF story-teh
ing and she often found that he had Thought out TOT
himself some story which she had LETT nan hhsheu
This was Of course quite contrary TO the systematic
teaching Of Stuart MILL aud to this was greatly due the
fragmentary nature of Goethes knowledge OF most OF
the subjects which had less studied IN child
hood years he often blamed this defect IN his
early education. He shows want OF affection IN speak
ing of his father which doubtless caused by Ger
wei as by the cold and harsh manner under which, Ike
the elder MILL he vailed his affection for his son. But
this want of tenderness did prevent young Mill from
being loyalty devoted 10 the father whose great intellect
could not fail to command his reverence.
Goethe went on with OF acknowledgment at
home until the age of sixteen His companions were
brilliant, respectable. He got into some IN
pleasant serapes besides falling in love. He became
the center of circle of admrng comrades who adored
him only for wonderful gifts but for that fasc
nation of manner which left him. and which, with
his kindly nature procured him troops of friends to the
end of his life.
The career Of Mr.. Mill siugulary meager'in ex-
ternal incidents until his twentieth year. Ali aesthetic
ideas absolutely ignored in his surroundings
Almost from his infancy however he drawn to the
study of history and philosophy in their bear
upon politics. The love of natural scenery which In
after life him. found nOurish
ment in his childhood from short country expeditions
with father and still more from tour IN the Tyr
enees at age of fourteen His years stay in France
during which this tour occurred great impulse to
his education. Soon after his England he be-
came an enthusiastic disciple OF Jeremy Bentham He
now put his mind through careful course OF training
and studied metaphysics and logic both in private and
In discussions with cOngenial friends. Like Goethe he
spent much of his time with grown-up men, whose
friendship with his father in itself guarantee of
intellectual excellence.
AT the age of twenty Mr.. Mill the subject of that
painful mental experience when feeling, which he had
long despised. began TO yindicate itself After some
months Of deep detection he discovered that he still
had feelings and ASPIRATIONS and work to remedy
the previous Deficiencies OF which he had now become
thoroughly conscious. He applied himself to the cuti
walton OF the aesthetic well of the intellect,
and became intimate with the English promoters OF the
reaction against the eighteenth century, especially
Maurice Sterling, and Carlyle.
observe the superficial resemblance be-
this crisis and that which Goethe passed through
at about period of his life. The character Of
Stuart Mill during youth and manhood might be de-
scrbed words OF the Church Catechsm as one OF
Temperance, soberness ana Chastity or in those OF
the poet. as OF "pain living and high thinking"
while Goethe could make pretensOn 10 qualities of
that kind. Both Goethe and Mill found recreation In
natural scenery in botany but these simple pleas
ures alone did not suffice for Goethe. Mill had not
the exuberant vitality of Goethe and hence spared
many of the sensual temptations u which the latter too
often yielded
Both by nature aud education Goethe was an artist
In all his instincts and tastes Toe peaceful cOntempa
ton Of beauty his idea OF the highest happiness
The attainment of peiecton in form WAS one OF his
loftiest aspirations He tss naturally led towards
conservatism, which also conceded with his early habits
aud ways of thinking. Hence he had no faith in out
ward reform and progress. He believed that culture
would raise humanity its full powers and that there
was no culture equal 10 that of Art. Everything
bined on the contrary, make Mill radical philOso
pher. He Inherited his fathers finest qualities Of head
without any of his ENJOYABLE qualities Of heart He
trained 20 love and worship truth before ali things.
Hence inevitable position that Of the social aud
political reformer.
The relations OF Goethe with women, which can be
omitted 10 just estimate Of his character, OF the
after be had attained his fun intellectual
stature. during his time of growth He still went
gathering the thousand flowers which richly filled the
valleys" and natural result too often left them be-
hind TO wither No greater contrast to this can be
- Astlft-
loved one only and he cave TO her." His knowledge Of
vonen NAV he said TO have been little inferior TO