New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-04-13
GOETHE AS A MAN.

HIS ASSIDUOUs SEIF.CULTURE, AND HIS GREAT IN
FLUENcE UPON HIS AGE AND NATION.
At the regular monthly reunion OF the Goethe
Club Wednesday evening at The Fifth Avenue Hotel the
Rev DIR Frederick IT, Hedge professor at Harvard College
delivered lecture before large audience OF members
of the club and invited guests upon "Goethe as MAN
The lecturer began with remarks on the claims OF
Goethe as poet saying that be not only the great
eat poet his nation but ranked among the great
est Of all time One test of the value and Importance OF
q writer was found In the number OF works
written about him. The Goethe literature. so
called although less than half century had
elapsed since his DEATH amounted to several hundred
volumes. TIE lecturer continued somewEos as IoowS'
Two things especially distinguish Goethe from other
great pos Is and writer's First bis ennence IN several
distinct departments of literary labor He was great In
almost every species Of poetry great as prose WRITER
and great a scientific man. Second, the combination
of extraordinary genius with extraordinary fortune lie
had a handsome person, wealth. high social posllloh'
official dignity and length of days. Goethe is not pop
lar; writer of supreme worth Is Even Shakespeare
is not popular in the and degree in which many
inferior writers public favorites.
The lecturer spoke OF the influence which acted on the
childhood of the poet and helped TO form his character
His father, mother. and grandfather were breny ae-
scribed From the first he inherited his love oil order
from the second his Joyous spirit and narrative taeht
from the last touch OF superstition. Prof Hedge coui
moi agree with Mr. Iewes IN regarding Gocthcs autoD-
orraphy ms wholly Trust worthy guide 10 our knowledge
OF me man The poets estimate OF himself MS lnHc az
reflected in his own consciousness, is very important
aid estimate OF Lis character Inc lecturer S'h
Two PRINCIPLES spcuOus IN tiOetDcS me; On nv
one hand desire perfect his own beng 10 make nc
most Of himself and on ihe 0'her I6CrThy
o ieci, The former was tle lnOuNc power vi
his activity, the latter determined It's results FROM
ncnt among his moral traits were Fellc0ntIoI, ool
bity fear ana command over Others WIN Teieehue
10 Gopthcs invitation 10 WciDar, IL might seem oCTe
l2ti0n of lis propcr calling TO engage Ia cf service anu
the little Duchy might be thought an Inadequate Sphcic
OF action FOR such mind, bat there Were many coup
satpg adyauta gcs in such position an III tiG Hicn"-
shin and patronage Of the Grand Duke ara Dl' ness
hch might have been wanting III the great caliaS OF
ternany intiurnce and activity "cre Denehcthly
which rendered Go 'ernment ohicia! 70 tit! anu
sufficient, mad Ec done nutllng cisc 10
make his memory precious IN tie annals OF "'i'r Us
that OF Il useful and b3l!chcent me- .,,.,.
Piof. Hedge then spoke OF The charm OF 'ortit
euce The fascination wAch he cXtrcsel over n! VIII
whom he came in contact, OF whatever rank or age Inc
last tonic tGc lecture was TCYi3" u Tue Guar SIS
gr1ilsi the moral character Of Goethe, csp'l lhO5e
oi cgotlsyn lack OF patriotism, scldsHncss, and SUD
sorylc,y natural affection TO art rae Icctule Vp
messed ne reason NJ Of those who would Lis cliiClS
tne great poet and adduccd IN support 81 h& own
whom ne ctiItd iit 'tH' anu
mast cDuuctpni witnesses IF GOetEC's 1cGullnl2Ict.
company, HIDING many OF tie pAclldI Representa-
literature and SChOiiAllp OF me Vl 'ASs' il u
at Deln0ncOs lat evening, the occesip- pci- . ul
TO Iiedg.. TAe dinner was teAdcftd b5 'iIc rUOuy
Cub Among thOs, present were u a lullaA' lISf
dent Of the Club who presided William CGiith BryAhl,
Bayard Taylor, the Rev. Drs. Bellows ahc OrSoo' w
" H. Stugr Prot. GiGuhcshlcc, John Il. bputoh, JoIl
Eldrrkiu. Coroner Elngcr, FlcdcT.' kuhne, OS'iT
Yrri Prof Failnan, John -. Sargent +. W ,hIlS''i D.
Postmaster james, j. n. nay ward, H. ~ Ban hai ana
MI BRYANT Bayard Tay IDr Mr. AlScr Ffor biab il'hcV
and others. The occasion was peasant one 20 all