The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-04-11
THE LECTURE SEASON.

CORONER ELLINGER's ESSAY ON THE FAUST
Coroner Mori,z Elllngcr road carefully prepared
essay the "Faust Legends before tho Goethe
Club, At their monthly meeting, In tho Filth Avenue
Hotel last evening Faust saii Mr. EDger. was
probably n simple charlatan, Of some accomplish
moDts, who travelled considerably and was adept
In the art OF making people talk OF him. 1t 10 estab
lisncd beyond doubt that he Is not mythical por-
sonage, but real person, who lived during the Hrst
halt OF the sixteenth century and le OF him
IN various parts Of Germany. He born probably
about $780, In 1905, the time find tho rst
OF him in literature, hs was at least twonty years
old, and his death DO set down between 1885 and
$780, The rst mention OF Faust made by John OF Trt-
ienncm tho learned able. who. ike all scholars
In tho oden time, himself suspected OF practising
tho black ara. In letter dated August 20 1907. nd.
dressed TO John wirdung tho mathematician OF Haas
furt. ne speaks Of Faust ~ vagabond. babber and
fraud lie rs also mentioned oy Conradus Autianus
Bcssrdus and John Cast. tho latter devotpg several
pages 10 an account Of the adventures OF Faust.
He speaks OF his compact with Tho devil, who
panied nm sometimes In the guisc OF dog and some
times in that Of a servant. Mention Is also made Of
sho legend thar when Fnusts body was found face
turned TO tho ground, and all Efforts 10 lay tho
body on .s back on me bier proved unavailing the
Soipss however, Would have boon u.s. soon s1 for.
gosssn n tnc ssoriss cusrvus ~ sno pec-
ples mouths had not found genius vio
iesonds WIN the people had woven around the nio
oil advcuturcr. collected tho tales and pu vlishcd
them book form, Frank tort Main, In I5S:
This was followed, IN 1855, by a history oil Faust
written Tho honor OF the oldest dram tic
treatment OF tho Faust legend belongs to an English
author, Christopher Marlowe. Tho drama FIRST
publishcd 1904 Marowe's end was not unlike that
of Faust 10 IT'S tragic character and his reputation
an inndcl and scoifor Of religion was also keeping
With u
Goethe 10 his treatment Of the Faust legend, kept
closer TO the original Faust Buch than any me
other VERSIONS Tho great poet bsheld IN Faust a
mirror OF hts own Sou. the finite seeking tho Binite
hrs giant intellect s'rcschins Into regions whore -.
tainty. To comprehend the universe, It's why and
wherefore, has boon tho Object oil all tho master
minds the Plstos. Tho ArisIoleA, tho Spinozas. tho
Spcncers, tho wso Of all ages aud chimes, as
long tho human intcicct shall DO capable exor-
mys,ery; hut, slssi IL viii always remain an attempt
ana nothing moro me intellect can aevcr solve tho
problem.
REV. nAPHARL LEVIN on MEHDELssoHN, THE
PHILOSOPHER.
About hundred people occupied seats last even
ing In tho handsome club room OF Standard HAL,
corner Of Forsy-scoond street and Broad
way. DR.. LEVIN, the speaker Of the even
ing, began BY saying that to give proper
emphasis TO tho lifo and character Of Moses Men,
dessohn II would BIO necessary TO consider the
bic condition Of the Jews In Central Europe prior TO
tho tllno IN which Mcndcissobn livod. Tho lecture
briefly reviewed some OF tho outrsgos prscussd oo
the members Of shs race, ana nt frequent intervals
during his hour tho lecturer devoted more
attention 10 tne Christian religion than
he dld 10 the deceased philosopher Ia
iac,. the discourse WINS criiiquo on
Prosestausism, with occasional reference to tho
subject Announccd. After briefly relating tho we'll
known historical Iacts- siyer in the various bogrs-
pines OF the philosopher Dr. LEVIN made
vi the Jews OF that psriod The gifted
Losing ardent friend of Mcndelssohn
when Leasing died AcndcAsohn spent his dccIin-
ipg days dstsYding his memory sgsinst sne charge
Mcndossohn married AZ the OF thrty tbroc, aud his
family wns numerous and highly esteemed Inc
great Musical composer was grandson Of
Ihs Philosophical Tho lecturer was very sarcas-
treatment OF tho Jews and hts indifference tn tho
trcsttncnS OF MendsissonG. Carlyle also received
touch Of tho speakers satire Tor deity ing The great
Prassian. The lesson Of mcndclssohn's lite may be
obscurny and ignoolc ortiz, this man. deiormcd
Ia stature AMI OF ouicast race. rose 10 q
supreme moral and intellectual height. He mastered
literature. philosophy, mathematics aud The Ian
Dookkeepcr, cashier and partner In great mercantile
house while no studicd phi iosophy. rhsn tho gifted
men OF Germany anu ot Europe became his friends
and companions Through his efforts the Jews
cncncs Addison asked hts son TO bo
brought 70 hts bedside. that no might scr
hos Christian could dic. Monioissohn, said tho
speaker, showed the world how Jew could live. 10
vas known M the modcra Plato. lie was called tho
Jewish Socrates, and yet the disciples Of Luther
trica to convert MIN. Ibis Lord saving" joctri inc
oil Christianity has causcd endless butchery cru.
city throughout tbs word Tor 800 years.