New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-12-26

l..
| Ann Amalia II SAKE. Wcimar. Friedrich Won sieln
| and Others. Translated from she German by ALFRED
| :. GIBBS. with an Introductory note ny tLAELNCE
! Cook PIP. 90 Ncw-York Dodd Mead Co.
The translator and editor of these letters, Pha-
| delphia physician of fine literary taste and at
tractive social qualities died before his book found
publisher He was fortunate IN enjoying the
close friendship of Mr. Clarence Cook, who acts as
his literary executor and introduces the work ana
| the author TO the public IN n graceful ana sym
pathetic PREDATORY note to the reader Inc letters
| we're gathered from variety OF German Sources
| and have never before appeared in Englsh. lhey
afford interesting glimpses of the thought and
character of one of the most cheerful and attractive
figures in the literary life of the last century.
| Catharpe Elizabeth Goethe was an admirable exam
pie of the best type of the cultivated German woman
of her time. She full of enthusiasm Tor Ireta-
| ture art. and especially for the drama, without
being the least bit of blue-stocking sne had
warm heart OVERLOOKING with love for her children
and grandchildren, and with an affection for her
friends which separation never cooled; ana sho was
at tbc same time an xceilent housewife and had
sbrewd practical views of the business ana duties
Of life. Mr.. Cook calls her "a Homeric woman a
mate for Andromache and Penelope" and coming
nearer home TO Shake pelre's world, he places hef
in nemorvs gallery side by side with VOlumnia.
In German literature Frau Won Goethe IL uniYer-
sally known as Frau Rath, the title of councillors
wife. which rendered IN literal English would be
Mrs Councillor. The tito Of Rath attaches 10
variety OF municipal aud governmental Offices III
Germany. and Mrs.. Councillors are rs plenty as
blackb,rries but Frau Rath Goethe IS the FRAU
Rath par excellence in the heart Of every Guilt
waited German. Her household name, bestowed
by her friends, and adopted by her, was Frau Aja'
Ii came from legend of Ala, ssterof Charemagne'
who entertained unawares her own sons disguised as
as. N4A d. r.
went into the cellar to bring the best wine for them
The habit Of Frau Goethe Of drawing herself the
choicest wine contained in her cellar and serving 1t
TO her eucss with ncrown hands recalled the legend
and gained for her the name she bore IN The circle OF
friends and relatives who wont TO gather IN the
spacious broad frout.d house. where the poet was
born. which may still be seen i'll the HirschgraDsn,
III Frankfort
few selections from tho letters in DR.. Gibbs's
book viii best show their quality. The following
was written by Fran Goethe TO Lavater shortly
after the death of her only daughter Cornelia, and
well exhibits the serious tender aud religious side
Of her character:
FRAU RATH TO LAvATFR.
FRANKFoRT, the 23I June, 1777.
" He gyeth power 10 the FAINT ana 70 tlch 'AI
have no might he mcrcascth strength" Ills word
shall surely stand. New, living, present witnesses
are we. who know thar our CoIneIa' our only
j.
ureVnectedly: the flash and the stroke were one
@ dear Llvaterl The pool mother had much much
TO bear My husband had been nj the whole winter
the careless shutting OF door wonid starIle MN
and To INN had to be the messenger of the death
of his daughter. whom he loved above everything:
Ms neart was as If crushed; but the thought snail
there be evil IN a city, and the Lord hath not done
II p sustained me, SO that did not sink under lay
grief. Without Il belief as firm as rock IN God
the God who numbers the hairs of the head, with
out whom no sparrow fails; who neither slumDcrs
nor sleeps who is never gone on Journey VINO
knows the thought of my heart before II Is formed,
VINO hears me without my having need to cut my
self with knives and lauccs TIL the blood CUISINES
out VINO. III one word Is love-Wlthout belief ID
HIM It would be impossible TO bear any such thlng
Truly man feels his own weak nature. Paul says
No cnast enug tor the present seemeh to be Joyous;
but 1t is one thing to feel, another TO be discon-
tented with Gods leading, and to put ones self IN
fine place OF those VINO have no hope. But we who
Lunu Launul 1Ln 1.-Two Is IInmnrlaLItX. and