New-York tribune., 1879-03-07
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
LIFE AND TIMES OF STEIN by J. n. sEEIEY. NJ A.
vols svo PIP. $40. 56S. Roberts Brothers

LIFE ATI N6Is sTo pp, ble, 56S Roberts Brothers.
The life of the great Prussian Minister OF
stae Is made the occasion in these volumes ior
of profound dsquistons on the poitic history OF uer
many during regb OF Napoleon IL ls the putpoNe
of the author TO treat OF mOmenous period IN German
politics rather than to describe at length the details Vi
personal biography. His work, accordingly, has com
parayey slender claims to popular interest which,
opens a fertile OF instruction TO the studous
staesman The life OF STEIN extending over perou U
seventy-four years O757-ls3l, apart from DIS career
in the politics OF Prussia presents few features '''
command public interest private sympathy ln Eng
land he IL known chiefly If not altogether by the supr
fetal sketches of Alison which Mr. seeey cnrlouaV
enough shows founded on single authorl'y WIN"
has since been proved TO be worthless literary IoIHo'S
In this country is known scarcely even py name an"
s rarey referred to- except by special students OF
modern European history. Stein was porn states
man. OutOt the sphere OF politics. which are away
.pbemeraJ in their memories, though momcntous III
their results he scarcely be said To nave had s'""
ing in the world OF intellect and Thought lie was 10
scholar no proficient in philosophy or science WIN ho
taste for elegant literature, no love Of studou' re-
,earch or the attainment Of universal TRUTH HIS tne
fe in what ia called the age Of Goethe and Schiller the
age of Germany In which intellectual cultivation was
pursued with passionate enthusiasm unknown III any
other country OF the modern world. sun he never
BETRAYED spark OF interest IN Goethe ana Scher' o
in Kant md Hegc The great philosophical movement
of MS day produced no other effect on him thau 10
awaken the fear lest should he extended t. practical
politics and exert influence in the management u
affairs The literary movement be regarded Win su
preme indifference. Poetry was To him ONLY more hn
pressve kind OF rhetoric. Even while student AT 'e
upvervty his object not literature. but pohtleai
science He made exception in favor OF history ano
ne was not 80 exclusively practical hat he coud ho'
take an In ancient as well as modern history
But u the researches OF such men as "oll anu
Nlebnlr or the attempts of Herder and the Romantic
School 10 penetrate into the spirit OF remote
ages that engaged his attention His disposition
was ANYTHING but pe,uative, aud he studied history
as practical politician consulting the records OF tue
past as q great Blue Book OF precedenis to guide MN
through the labyrinth OF Prussian staesmanship Inc
personal character Of Stem presented by professor
Seeley was free from and repusiyc faults, but
had few features call forth interest or ahecuoh
He was so preoccupied with politics 10 have ltue
time for religion In the whole mass OF his letters
there ia scarcely which tells what no tbought on
the subject. IIo CONFIDENTIAL least OF all on
religious points Not that he avoided questions OF the
kind, but he considered them except 10 thflr
political aspects lie neglects their purely religion
character as the author suggests, not from want of
interest sceptoisu, but rather from unuoA'o
or delcacy He believer IN the cardinal truths OF
religion. 70 him death always the entrance TO bet
Ter state Of existence This serene babual belief gave
its tone his character. 1t exempted MIN from the
worst features human suffering lie never knew the
feeling of despair When felt the approach OF old
age he writes to friend he feels tired of life but
longs to reunited the loved ones WHO have laid
down their burden before hm. lie did not resemble
Goethe and Wilhelm Humboldt who believed with
him in future life. but whom faith had little
connection with Christianity, Goethe himself eI'
presses II, uuclrstian, sull less antchrstian,
but christian" stcIn the contrary, belonged ~
heart the Christian and Germanic world. He dis
likes the rational tendencies Of German theology,
but accepts all that il humane IN the earlier teachings
OF Liberalism, though he never shows any sympathy
with Votairc ana Rousseau, nor is ever for moment
betrayed into approval of the principles Of the French
Revolution. The execution OF tins work, while singu-
Iary destitute of popular literary attractions Is monu-
ment Of patient Labor conscientious preparation, and
thorough prrormauce In ali the records of literature,
there scarcely production which shows such resodte
fidelity on the part of the author affords hte de-
light 20 the reader