New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-02-11

SHORT UI~TOTY or GTEMAE IITERATUEE. ~
janus X nosiEE. l2mo. PIP ool. st Louis g. Jones
The Professor Of English and German Lit
eraturc in Washington University, st. Louis, has here
gwen illustration OF the devotion TO elegant letters ~
well to philosophical speculation, WHICH finds circle
Of enthusiastic representatives among Tie busy popu-
Iatiou of that great commercial cty. Although Nj.
ii has not Armed at presenting comp etc con,cc
report Of the mos,ess Of German literature from
IT. earliest development this time, lie has gwen q
ciuc and animated description Of Its most noteworthy
achievements, with series Of critical remarks on TIE
respective aItAcs, scstye alike Of sounduess OF
d-lncn aud mastery Of expression His plan has been
adopted as Improvement on previous histories ill.,
endcd for popular IN respect the selection Of topics
Ind condensation @? materials. In several of the stand
nd works on the SUBJECT, the effort TO retain mass
f uuimpOrtant details deles The utmost
power Of attention, leaving tho reader in
hopeless confusion with no intelligent general view to
IeIve as guide through the bcWi!dcrng labyrinth In
he present sketch, the author has confined hinsefto
e fed OF bellies ctIes, with no attempt 10 explore the
awful shades Of theology and metaphysics. The spccl
chosen fcv treHtmcn; are limited L. few OF tho
principal authors bUt they show the flavor ana spirit Of
Tie pIoduc ton, well as if the contents Of library
forced upon the patience fthe reader Tho quail
y Of the Wand tested by ssvoIy moIsel 10 less than
4 roasted were presented for exhibition Mr.. Hos
has devoted the largest space TO Luther, Leasing,
bocthc, schiller ana lieIEe, concerning whom bis re-
=,
NqUanueS, In ire expression, which gives them en air
- ndivduasm. II not Of originality. II there IS not
always ANYTHING new 90 DO said point which has
ocan touched on 10y host Of WItcIs what Nh Hosmcr
Hnds TO say Is always marked 10y novelty Of
manner. ana is evidently lis own, by adop-
non. u not creation, with 10 trace Of bind
allegiance 20 previous authority. Though q
rolegc professor he j. utterly free from scholastic
ormay. No Illustration Is too familiar for lbs H.
pose, II it only touches the heart Of the matter. lie
20 hit the nail on the head and cares ttc for me
cIaccfulncss Of the blow. Thus IN speaking Of Hans
sachs, the inspired shoemaker OF Nuremberg, MI Hos
tner remarks: " reminded of what l heard
from farmer Of IT, Connecticut Valley. The laud on
which tobacco does o' he said is no; mat which is
richest lint certain rather poor, sandy sol, which has
htc strength IN itself II has great power, however
o. absorbing fertilizers thrown upon il, which IN turn
pouis, without retention INTO the coaTscr, lea'hcrV
leaves, spreading until they cover the meadow Jle
m.nd Of Hans 81 rs such soil. Receptive 10
wonderful degree from travel aud observation al hone
hc absorbed Ire contemporary world; he gathered
much TOO from the past All this be threw into the m
icpUcd, Noluriu0as VIOiuct which was harvested
no last into the thilt! -four great fo!os. 1t
&, not G1le slightly; not at on adapted
t. The scrPyo end delicate; lat Wilt Of lin now j.
uot uuwhol sorc or without enjoyment IN an atmos
l.hcre charged with moral malaria and we can under
Ltand well that lis dty and place II may have Lad
power TO brace the soul ~ important ways" Mr. Hos
ncr has also given variety 20 his pages hy several
pleasant intcTudes describing ms personal visits TO
places and scenes connected with the OF celc
luaied writer's, showing 40 less talent in drawing
sketches OF travel than he has elsewhere exhibited IN
critical discussion. The reader OF tie VolaiHo well
the author may Justly complain ~ the Topographic d
blcmishes In the "Tabe ~ Contents" only the titles
Df the different topics are given, with DO men.
lion OF the pages which they are 10 be fouud
which makes it valueess for reference by The reader
d Leipsc" IS printed neither IN the German form,
" Leipzig" nor in the English form, "Leipsc," but IN
Tue nongrcl form, Leipzig" which Is neither FISH nor
fesh. Ode Quincey's" name which Is quoted seyeTal
times is not spelled night, and Goethe" is always
given III tho very unusual form lin English let.
ersJ OF "GGthe" Another inadvcrtence, perhaps,
not entirely typographical, though conpe
tent prOOreader would not have suffered it 10
pass may be found D. 25s, where It is said that
Leasing died the 18th Of January 1881 az the age
" fftythree" while p 300 it's stated that he died
the 18TH Of February, 1881 when he was but nifty
two"
THE INTERNATIONAL REVIEW. February.
The contents of this number embrace a !
Tacty attractive topics IN the department OF letters
Ma art, well OF politics. MI Philip HaIDertOn
English Paris Exhibition |