The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-10-15
Death in the Hour of Triumph.

A wealthy gentleman of Berlin had Of
fered number of valuable prizes for the
best essays that should be written on sew
eral subjects of importance to the learned
world, prize of two hundred thalers for
the best metaphysical essay, and an equal
sum each for essays on medieval history,
astronomy, celestial mechanics, sociology,
geology, poetry, and-apparently to show
his world-wideliness-fy hundred thalers
each for the best romantic tale and the
best poem, the prizes to be awarded by a
committee selected from the various uni
versities, and various designated itterdteur
of eminence who were supposed to be, and
as the sequel showed, really were disinter-
ested in the matter, and willing to do only
what justice might require. The essays
and poems were to be of no particular
length, and were to be judged simply by
their real merits, but the authors must all
be German. The wealth and reputation
of the man who offered the prizes were
such sufficient guarantee of certainty of
payment and of consequent reputation, as
to set half, if not all, of the younger men
of Germany at work to achieve the guer-
don of success.
On the 7th of July, at the Gewandt- -Haus
at Leipsie, the prizes were awarded, a
large company of gentlemen and ladies
being present. The ceremonies were be-
gun by most exquisite music by the old
orchestra-among whom were men who
knew and loved Mendelssohn-at the
conclusion of which the venerable DIR.
Schmidt, so long known for his kindliness
and learning at Heidelberg, announced the
names Of those who had been so fortunate
as to carry off the very valuable prizes
offered. The names of the authors
of the various works had been sent
in sealed envelopes, on which were in
scribed the fictitious names signed to their
productions.
The author of the metaphysical essay
had chosen as his theme Kants ".Anti-
nomioR der ReiRen Teraunft" (Antino-
mion of Pure Reason and taken as his
name for the occasion Hans Wildenstein."
After passing eulogium on the essay,
Dr. Schmidt broke the seal and found in
the envelop the name of Max Markham,
who thereupon was called upon the stage
to receive the reward of his work A pale,
poorly clad and most wretehed- looking
young man stepped forward, and was re-
ceived with hearty applause. His hair
was thin and gray, although he was plain
ly yet young, and his whole appearance
was such as to at once awaken the sympa-
thies of the audience. He stepped quietly
aside, and DR.. Schmidt continued his an
nouneements, Markmann sitting near him,
pale aud still, in large armchair.
The astronomical essay was on the
Evolution of Nebule, with particular re-
ference to the large nebulse in Orion,
and here too the successful author was
found to be Max Markmaun. When this
announcement was made, great enthusiasm
was manifested, and after receiving his
prize poor Markham took his seat, ap-
parently more weary and detected than at
first.
The next essay was review of Ranke,
and here too this young man was success
full; and so on through the whole list of
prizes, Max Markmann stepped forward
amid thunders of applause aud received
his award. No one who knows the en-
thusiasm Of the Germans will fail to know
that all the students were ready to carry
the young man OF on their shoulders to
have good KReip.
The poem was an exceedingly fine one,
somewhat in the vein of that exquisite
poet of nature, Otto Roquette, yet breath
ing the air of loftier aud mightier soul,
which had dwelt alike with Shakespeare
and Goethe and Homer. 1t was a won
dorful composition. Herr Auerbach, the
author of "YilIage Tales "0n the
Heights and other works, and who was
the head of the committee on the tales,
had said, of the one named "The Village
Rector, that it was one of the finest he
had ever read. And the successful COM
petitor for all the prizes was Herr Max
Markmann.
The prize for the tale was the last one
announced, and as Markham stepped for
ward to receive it, amid thunders of ap-
plause, his face suddenly became ashy in
its whiteness, and he fell fainting on the
stage. A deathlike silence succeeded,
during which be was removed to an ante
room, aud but partially restored to con-
sciousness He fingered but for four
hours, and when he died, the physician
who had attended him announced that
death was caused by privation-in other
words, by starvation. All that the high
est medical skill could do had been of no
avail.
1t was found that for years he had oc-
eupied little chamber in an obscure
Case, where he had worked, gaining a
most precarious living in teaching Ian
guages, and nearly everything which any
body required to know. In his room were
found incomplete models of remarkable
mechanical contrivanees, broken chair
and mounds of manuscript, among which
we're letters from some of the most distin-
guished men in Europe. He had appar-
emily lived ON almost nothing for months,
and poor, detected, weary, yet glowing
with the fire of genius, had worked for
the prizes offered, amounting in all to
twenty -four hundred thalers, and then,
hungry and weary, had dragged himself
to the Gewandt- -Haus to win them all and
die. If tho history of genius and its re-
wards has a sadder tale to tell than this, |
know not of it.-Grdphtc.
H. ra,,, DnYrrxz nm NJ anr A.