New-York tribune., 1879-11-12
A GERMAN POETS FRAYK TALK.
FREDERIC voN BoDENsrfDr TrrLING THE STORY
oP MS LIFE AND WORKS

FEFDaRIC VON BODENsrtDr TTfLING THE STORY
oP MS LIFE AND WORKS
Frederic Won Bodenstcdt. the German poet, re-
ceiyed cordial welcome at Steinway Hall last
evening. The stage was ornamented with hot
house plants and bouquets and back Of the reading z
desk a large f,rs shield bearing the words.
Welcome Mira Shaify." At o'clock httlo gem
tleman in black. with bald head, CTisly mustache
and pointed beard, wearing spectaclcs which did
not wholly conceal the kindly. half-humorous cx-
preston Of a pair of large gray eyes. came for
ward alone This the poet best known
to all German speaking peoples by the Oriental nom
de plume of Mira Shaffy, under which his identity
was for a long time concealed. Nobody introduced
him. but the audience familiar with his portraits.
which appear in almost every volume of German
DicLtckrdns and DichterIdHhe, broke into applause
at his appearance His lecture a sort of subjec-
tive study of the development of his poetic faculty
nterwoven with sketch of his early life in
Hanover his travels in Russia, his resi-
dence in Asia Minor. and his subsequent
literary career IN Europe. From the point of view
OF English or American criticism. this frank talk
about himself would be called egotstical, but the
Germans are fond of turning themselves inside out
for others observation or their own and hud moth
ing Objectionable IN the operation. The poet, 10
seems borrowed his name of Mira Shaifv from the
Perslans, who gave him lessons IN Oriental tongues
while he lived III 1iflis. Ii was not. however
published his Lieder des Mira Shafy."
Every at all familiar with German literature has
enjoyed their quaint Oriental flavor, their delicate
satire and sparkling wit. and their genuine poetic
feeling. IL is interesting to know that in their COM
position the poet cOnscientlOusly labOTcd to make
them true representatives OF Oriental Thought and
imagery.
Herr Won Bodenstedt's delivery is mufled and in
distinct, and he has "A way of dropping ms voice at
the end of hi. sentences which Is peculiarly uniOr-
tunate since III most German sentences the closing
portion gives meaning to the whole. He reads rs
nc talking to audience of n score OF
students in "A lutte university lectuTe-rOOm. Much
that lac said could not he clearly Understood in the
middle of the ball. When, however. hc reclted the
poems with which the lecture was enllyened, his
manner changed. his voice was high and clear and
he seemed To be able tO recall something Of the III
sDiratiOn under which they were written. The au-
dence was delighted with the poetry, but httle
bored with some Of the prose- At $3.50 o'clock
the lecturer retired from the stage carrying
off an immense laurel wreath bound with
the German cOlors. Herr Ludwig Dingel-
day performed the Schubert List Wan
derer" fantasia. Then at nearly 10 o'clock
the lecturer reappeared and began the reading OF
plav, the scene of which is lad In Greece in the
time of Alexander. This lasted until almost IL
o'clock, aud really n second entertainment,
with no Immediate relation TO the lecture, anu
might more appropriately have been given on an
other evening. When Herr Won BOdenstedt becomes
better acquainted with American audiences he Will
find that they never OYcTtaX a lecturer ana 90 uOi
like 10 be Overtaxed themselves
Herr Won BOdenstcdt Is rendered q reception by
the Goethe Club at Chickering Hall this oNeniug.
An address will be delivered by the Icv. Robert
Colyer, on the subject, AN episode in the life OF
Fairfax the translator Ot IassO. This Is about the
first appearance OF the noted Chicago divine before
n miscellaneous New-York audience since he was
settled over New-York congregation.