National Republican., 1879-12-23
oUR COMMERCE AND LITER1TURE
1BROAD.
Food for the Teutonic Mind and stomach
Great Popularity of Bret Harte's Books in
Gernauy-rhirteen Transiations Already

tefmAuN-Ehifteen IrinsiatOnN AfehuN
Made.
From Our Occasional Correspondent.
GERMANY Dec. 6, 1879,
It Is great satisfaction for an American
travelling ON the continent to see the CONNER.
ciaI avenues literally decked with general
assortment of American products, from in
genius mouse-traps to practical moving ma
chimes, and from small cans Of conserved fruit
TO great casks of petroleum. Everywhere in
the mart, centres of cities aud along the quiet
trade ways of sleepy villages he seen in.
dubitable signs Of our prosperous foreign com
merce, and 1t Is q fact often practically
demonstrated, that an American residing in
the Empire Of Germany temporarily can to-day
furnish his table entirely with the wares aud
provisions of his native land, from hue salt to
delicious Columbia-river salmon.
But as an American, am proud to say that
we do not cater alone for the stomach of the
genial and hearty Teuton but that we are at
present furnishing him with mental pabulum
to a degree little dreamed Of at home
Not many days before the body of the i'm
mortal author of "Pickwick" was laid away
in the silent confines of the grave, Charles
Dickens, in conversation with friend re.
marked that far across the waste of waters,
and further still beyond, among the wild
gorges of the Rocky Mountains, young giant
had suddenly appeared in the arena of litera-
n mastery hand as TO become wonderful reali-
ties, and whose future must leave an indelible
impress upon American literature, and add u
new charm to the reading world.
Scarcely nine years have gone since this
prophecy was made, and yet the words of
Dickens are fulfilled.
France has through excellent translation,
learned 10 love and delights to honor Bret
Harte and England has taken the author and
his works to her hosptable hresides with an
affectionate heartiness such as she has not
bestowed on any other writer since the pamy
days of the two pre-eminent Samuels, Tit
marsh and Weller. But the homes Of the
Anglo-Saxon and the Gaul are not alone the
places where his works are warm Y welcomed
Go where one may throughout the confines oi
the German Empire and tho name of Bret
Harte will be heard as q household word
While the magic mirth of Boz" was kindling
but moderate enthusiasm in the breasts ol
Englshmen, the irresistible Sam Weller was
shaking their cousins across the water with
inextinguishabe laughter Aud so to-day
while Gabriel COnroy" is receiving but ordi
nary attention on the banks ofthe picturesque
Hudson and along the borders of the great
Western river, he is finding an enthusiastic
welcome by thousands and tens ofthonsands oi
fresdes along the vine-clad shores of the his
torc Mosel and the Rhine.
Thirteen different transations of Mr.. Hartel
works, some good aud some bad, have beer
made into German, and the name of no au
thor, either living or dead, is on the lips o
the reading public SO often as is the name O
the creator of F." All Sln,' the Heather Chinee
In the public libraries and in the privat
houses his prose aud poetry eau be found un
der all sorts of covers, from plain paper one
TO handsome morocco-bound Christmas vol
umes In the show-windows of bookstores tn
passer-by can see Thankful Blossom " ar
rayed in German text and bright colors lyin
iu close proximity to The two men of Sand
Bar" and The Outcasts of Poker Flat,
while in the next window " The Man fror
Solano" and " My Friend. the Tramp" ma
be supporting the Idyls of the Foot ills,
with the Luck OF the Roaring Camp.
The trades people, taking advantage {
the popularity of these aud other of Harte'
books, are beginning to recommend thei
wares by using the names of his favOrt
characters, and one can now smoke Thank
ful Blossom" done up in u neat Havann
wrapper with Holland filling, and wear
Gabriel Conroy" collar for the meagre sun
of sixpence. So great is this popularity tina
well-known periodical, having asked il
readers what books they would prefer to tax
with them on yacht cruise, published in th
next number the announcement that over one
half of the answers proved Bret Harte. A
classes seem to like his fictons. The prime
and the plebeian, the professor and the studen
the Judge on the bench and the boy IN tn
academy, the women of fashion, and wome
who daily illustrate the sorrowful Song {
the Shirt" all are charmed alike by thei
gayety and good humor, their keeness of OF
servation and wonderful freshness, their un
tagging animal spirits, and above and beyon
all by the fascinating pathos which is 50 highl
characteristic of the genius of the Rockies.
! venture to predict that should Bret Hart
visit Germany few years hence he will n
eeive a reception second only to the on
America extended TO Boz" and realizing tn
fact none who love America and hope for u
greatness of American literature can but fe
thrill OF National pride.
THE AMERICAN TRAVELLER.