The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-02-17
NEW YORK HERA MONDAY FEBRUARY ~ ls7sTRLPLE SHEET


clearly in own minds as when we are able to i'm
part with clearness to the minds of other persons.
In this TRANSMISSION of ideas lucid order is lnds-
pensable. and it is in the necessity imposed upon
him teacher that Professor Boyesen has found
useful corrective for the capricious habits into
which writer may easily fall when he seeks only to
please himself to show his erudition by being
wise above what is written
The salient in the lives both of Goethe and of
Schiller here cited in chronological order with
brief and opposite application of their literary
careers designed to reveal the specific lapors and
the distinctive genius of the two foremost writer's in
German literature. The individuality Of each is
carefully preserved. while constant crosslights
drawn from the history of the times in which they
lived. in order to illustrate the and the mo-
tives of their literary inspiration. We have been
specially pleased with the variety which pervades the
major part of Professor Boyesen's criticisms
variety less visible when lie is called to deal with
the products of the "many sided Goethe than when
he underta portray the popular genius Of
Schiller 1t is quite true that not always able
TO follow him in the commentary on the second part
Of Faust but it is not because of any obscurity in
the Professors statement of his IDEAS The obscurity
resides fancy. in the text itself, and if it is
only through q smoked glass that the best of
hooves also to remember that the smoked glass is
mostly used when the is eclipsed. Professor
Boyesen copfesses that the latter part of Goehe's
symbolic drama is "a bewildering of Mosques
and Of obscure allegores" He aims only to indicate
in general and comprehensive outlines the drift and
organic conference OF the formative ideas which
"throb and glow" beneath its surface. If he
times considers too curiously and the shadow
of his own fancies in the fancies of the mystical
\
lantern here only at the BEST to make the
darkness sometimes little visible to the eye of
ordinary mortals. In saying intend no rehec-
ton on the perspcacity of Professor Boyesen. and
indulge in idle mock at what the satirist calls
''the coney catching art'' Of the commentator. We
do but point anew moral which Goethe, while liv-
ing careful to point for the benefit Of the critics
WHO in the "Eaust" than he saw himself. His
letters to Schiller and his 'Table Talk" abound with
illustrations of his covert scorn for the critics Who
undertake to interpret the entire esprit law Of
great literary artist. Sometimes he fairly 'ets the
cat out OF the bag and gives intimation that
i'll some Of his writings he simply amused himself
with playing practical joke on the professors Of
omniscience who set for themselves the task of find
ing definite meaning in every part of great
writer's creative activity For example, the German
commentators have greatly puzzled their pates to
plain what the broomsticks the Blocksburg las
found in the "Faust) can possibly mean. rather
what they meant to mean, others have vexed
themselves to discover the hidden wisdom concealed
in the apes dialogue of the Witches Kitchen"
inapparent ignorance of the fact that Goethe has
told us, in letter to his friend Falk, that all his
nonsense verse was written purpose to mystify
fools!
There certain 'perversity" in the fancy of
Goethe and the critics must needs make his account
wit fact he is RI hiv,ea from,
sefdelusions. When Schiller once called the atten-
ton Of Goethe to the loose and grotesque action Of
''Wilhelm Meister," the business of the criticism
frankly admitted. II seem to myself said
Goethe in reply to his friend, like who,
after he has placed many and heavy hg-
ures together at last wantonly makes mistakes
in their addition in order, God knows out Of what
caprice to diminish their sum total I am greatly
obliged to you that in the nick Of time you have
plainly spoken to me of this perverse fancy" 1t
may seem strange to the common reader that such
perversy should exist in master mind like that of
Goethe. but in fact there is nothing phenomenal in
it, The writings Of Shakespeare everywhere exhibit
the traces Of the riotous fancy. and Coeridge
us not to look about for hidden meaning in
all that Rabelas has written, since ii is habit of
his. after any particularly deep thrust. 'to write
chapter two of pure buffoonery. as if to break
the blow aud to appear unconscious Of what he had
done.''
There is the less for overlooking this fact
in the Interpretation of the Faust" because Goethe
himself has put us on our guard against setting a
critical deadfall in which to entrap ourselves. We
think that Professor Boyesen sometimes springs the
upon himself; but that In the main he is
sober minded commentator we are frank to admit.
and accordingly.wo cheerfully commend his EXPOSE
tons to the careful attention Of the literary student.