The New York herald., 1875-08-29

festival in commemoratIon OF the birth Of him whose
name the club displays upon its banner
The Goethe Club was organized two years ago to-
night with the intent encourage and disseminate
an interest in German literature and art not only
among Germans Of culture, who, amid the ambitions OF
HE and daily pursuits OF business still lind time for the
rich harvest Of healthy thought and action freely
scattered through the lore Of their fatherand but also
20 create and foster equal interest and love for Ger
many's brilliant and unique literature among Ameri-
cans DR. Ruppaner In conclusion said:- TO Goethe
then, the poet philosopher, the scientific investigator
be this evening dedicated Ladies and gentlemen |
nave now the honor 70 introduce 20 you Mr. William
Cullen Bryant the Nestor of American poets.
MR. BRYANrs ADDRESS
We, whom this occasion has brought together,
are assembled Tor purpose which, IN order
10 us perfect fuhlment, looks to future years and
TO generations yet unborn. It fate,
my friends, TO pass away like shadows The light
here the lrmest health will give way; che strongest
muscles will become pOwerless and be resolved into
dust The mind recoils from the idea Of extin-
guished consciousness and In It's impatience at The
universal tendency to decay and dissolution calls the
arts to perPetuate the outward semblance
beloved for their talents their virtues and their
influence on society. Al our bidding the sculptor
comes and copies In lasting marble or imperishabe
bronze the faces and forms OF those whose death has
saddened the nations This is of the modes in
which the human species manifests its longing
mOrtaty its strong desire TO escape from the fate
which 10 sure to oyertake the bodily frame We obey
this instinct to-day in erecting statue to John Wo.f-
gang Goethe.
1t said by his biographers that in his youth Goethe
planned migration 70 America His Imagination WAS
he loved in the sylvan sohtudes and 1owery natural
meadows Of our Continent He had become enamoured
OF young woman named Lilly, thought to trans
plant this blossom of his native country the virgin
soil Of America bloom under brighter skies. That
purpose shortlived But now after the lapse of a
hundred years since il formed make it, in part
at least, reality. We welcome the great German poet
TO Western Hemisphere, the spacious and beau
fu pleasure ground which of its chief ornaments
and invite him to grace IL with his majestic
while the world shall stand
Other statues Of those whose lives iustrious
and whose memory Is cherished will be set upn the
same grounds. That Of our counryman author of the
impassoned lyric of 'Marco BozZaris,n is
only waiting TO be in bronze in order to join the
band already there but late, very late may the time
arrive when the American poet whose tribute to
the memory OF Goethe forms part Of the entertain
ments OF the evening, and whose translation
of Faust" has made that poem familiar
volume in our libraries, shall be added, after
DEATH to the number of those whose statues
shall grace that beautiful pleasure ground AS
the hrong Of those who resort thither shall pass the
scuptured forms Of famous personages, may the hope
to copy their example in the good which they have
done and TO avoid the errors into which they have
fallen II any such recorded against them, rise in
their hearts to make them better and women for
their visit to the spot made sacred by images OF the
chosen ones who Tired and passed away before US.
At the conclusion of Mr. Bryant's address which
enthusiastically received, Mr. Bayard Taylor read
original poem, and after the musical part Of the pro-
gramme had been carried out the festivities wound up
with banquet at the Brunswick House.