New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-06-15
CORNELL UNIVERSITY.


GERMAN LANGUAGE INFERIOR TO NO MODERN
TONGUE.
lrRox SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRibuSEl
ITHACA. N. Y, June lathe entrance ex-
animation admission to Cornell University began 70
day. Forty five candidates, among whom were severM
ladies' passed successfully Probably about 20 Will DO
examined tomorrow This indicates class OF 200 next
wear since about thrcc times as many candidates pre-
sent themselves at the Fall examination az during
Commencement week. H. W. Sage has given $4,000 Tor
the purchase of organ for the Sage Chapel Inc au
dress which to have been delivered before the Col
legc of Agriculture tomorrow evening has been post
poned This evening Prof. H. H. Boyesen delivered the
first OF the Commencement week lectures In Library
Hall on German Literature as o University Study"
The substance OF his address Is given below:
PROF. BOYEsEN's ADDRESS.
have too long been content to sneer at the Germans
devotion to theory and abstract thought calling II un-
practical. dreamy, and visionary The time has now
como 10 test his achievements by actual knowledge, Dy
careful study and investigation, and this can only he acr
compshed by an intimate acquaintance with the Ger
man language and with the nobIest productions OF b
literature We have already paid dearly enough for our
too exclusive regard for fact and our socaed pracca
Statesmen must have learned by this time that the law
which merely for the actual case In hand needless
Of the vital principles which lie behind It, will ere long
survive Its usefulness, what Is the same become posi-
lively harmful, the accidental juxtaposon OF
facts is changed II the Germans TO the opposite
reme filling they do their Paralncnts with scholars,
professors, and men who here by their very poslti0
seem excluded from political life, we need at all
events have fear that this tendency will become over
prevalent with during the century which just dawn
| ing upon
The late war between Germany and France, regarded
markable enough; but II VIC penetrate beneath the
surface and the long evolution OF causes which LED
hut inevitably TO this climax, the struggle assumes
far greater significance, and far grander dmen-
sons Upon those baeeds Metz eta and s
rrecOncabe civilizations The one has had its time and
must secu the other e IN the IN t.
that hencefOrh II Is destined to be in the ascend
confident fearessness For more than three centuries
has France sat supreme upon the throne Of nations ri-
the wple civilized world Tho period OF her bloom and
unns akable signs Of decay are everywhere apparent
TIE GERMAN LANGUAGE INFERIOR TO NO LIVING
TONGUE.
II late historical events have really proved that the
French civilization Is Overripe, and ordngly on tho
verge Of decline, it inevitably follows that the French
language and literature will not hold the place Of
undsputcd prominence in tho future. which they have
held In the past. 1t Is my conviction that
the nearest future belongs to Germany Therefore re
justly valued in the future than they have been
Knows It's wide range o. expression its pSysyaDio mag
nncencc its Gothic strength and fcrv0r VIII dispute te
assertion that il is intellectual exercise rs means
OF culture, Inferior living tongue; and, indeed.
among dead languages only second to the ANCIENT Greek
uSs n S To e frsns IN mc rhythm and nody
il does not equal Italian and the English with its
and the extreme SOUTH perhaps still wider area
of expression But as the voice OF strong deep ana
ul-fowng emotion; "a an embodiment OF highs0aring,
speculative thought the German comes III iOrcnost anu
alone. -,
Some one has indicated the characteristics OF Euro
pean in TIE following not very accurate man
ner s would peas 10 9 y GSg and Spanish TO-
my King II this large repertoire OF languages were
ness think should arrange the order somewhat differ
entity should by all means speak German 70 my ne
ment would appeal to her most irrcsistibly IN that
tongue; If should ever wish to demoilsh literary
do il in French were to express a, an author or
statesman my best aud manifest thoughts the full ra
choose do 1t in English and. being good republican,
acknowledging KING above Inc, should not attempt
10 speak Spanish ut all
THE GERMAN LANGUAGE PHILoLOGICAILY CON-
sIDERED.
Phl0logicay considered. the German language must
to OF Saxon speecheven apart from the fact OF
twinship-bo cminently worthy OF study. The Gothic
translation OF the Bible by the Bishop Ulhas dates back
to about the year $780, and thus brings within the line
Of vision Is centuries OF Germanic speech It Is
grave, stern, and dignicd language peculiarly fitted to
give utteTanc9 to the simple large nodded preceps Of
monosylabes. but possesses. on the contrary coor-
ceptibe element OF melody. To the English scholar,
who would understand his own Language thoroughly,
the AngIosaxon marks Every verb noun and de-
occasional termination points to tho Gothc aud TO the
troduce Gothic into university as undergraduate
study out OF the question In this University
turn to pursue postgraduate Is steadily nccas
ing In postgraduate course the study OF Gothic will
in due time establish closer communion between En-
glish and German Dhiloogsts
From the preserved to liz OF the second AHhOrh
deutsch, old High German period we derive most
vivid picture OF tne RUDE n e n OF our
style than and their virtues az well as their Vices
inherent in this grandeur OF design have naturally i'm
| cd literature,
linguistic period. embracing the twelfth. the thirteenth
prodctions both in prose and verse; that a brief
mention of all would occupy more time than is here
The NeJeingen is the national epic Of Germany the
Had is OF Greece. whole literature has within the
sasacos scholars tax their endeavors to account for the
origin and development of the Nieoeiungen Lied 1t Ia
not my purpose here to discuss the much vexed question
whether the Nieteun1e, Is the work OF one man or of
more but shall only state as general observation
structon as that Of the wiebelangen sanza with middle
rhymes in addition to the terminal ones, does seem to
bear the face OF the signs OF some individual crea-
tive and adjusting hand
THE HERO OF THE NrEBELUNGEN LIED.
II we know the ideal OF an age we have an unerrng
cew to unlock the whole character Of that age The
ideal traits which the Germanc race have venerated
through all the shifting times have been personied and
gathered into type In the mighty Sared the hero Of
the Niebelungen Lied. In tho character Of Sigrieds
Wife K we hav Sa Tyre OF GeG
elevation, makes even figures like the Antgonc
or the Electra Of SOphOcles, not to speak Of the
women Of Homer, appear pale and bkoOdless In the
scenic grouping the anonymo poet has shown c0sm-
skill thus really producing scenes which, In their
simple challenge comparison with the
greatest works Of all ages The form, have said Is
not always In the same degree satisfactory. To give
some idea structural dimensions Of this coIos
sal poem It is worthy Of mention that Il consists Of 240
our-lned stanzas, or In all about 10000 lines
The second rank among the medieval German epics Ia
universally accorded to " The Gudrln," simple and
rather tale OF the fahulness and suengs OF
betrohed young maiden, who forcbly carried away
from her home by the Norman Prince Hartrunt. VOL
t.hanl aaf nnf