Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-01-28

row DR.. JOHNSON, GOETHE, KEATS AND BALzAC
WROTE 70 WOMEN THEY ADMIRED.
From the London Queen.
Or. johnson was not a letter writer In the true
sense OF the word. His balanced style lacked nex-
bity; bis strong nature abandon; but his cp.stles
breathe the sincerity sof his piety the holiness OF
his spirit, the dependence Of MS heart upon human
anectiou. He could write with picturesque, some
what ponderous yivacity, as may be seen by the
group OF letters addressed TO Mrs. Thrae during his
Journey through the hebrides, which the lady
thought We're more delightful than his books How
pathetic and solemn Is the glimpse we have Of the
sick man In the following, Written to his friend,
Mrs. Boothoy: ut Is again midnight, and am
alone. With what meditation shall amuse THIS
waste hour or darkness and vacuity? II turn
my thoughts upon myself, what do perceive but
poor, helpless body, reduced by blast OF wind to
weakness and misery?" How touching Is this re-
quest TO Miss Porter: "a SHAH take 1t very kindly
every week. for am now very desolate and ann
loeth TO be universally forsotten."
Mr.. Lewes has thrown di5credit upon the cor
respoIdence OF Bettfna; he treats 1t as q romance
OF Bettina's brain, aiding that, ''How much is
true, how much exaggeratlon, and now much pure
s1 Ss ,Saa a IN nc position to explain
poets DEATH threw Germany into ferment Ir
was the story OF the passionate reellng with which
girl or twenty, and OF the ha1r-tOIerant hslf.en.
courSgtng response he had made to IL. The poet
seemed god 70 Bettina This orphan girl, nalf
before she saw him, and when she knew
him she worshiped him like votary in an
abandonment OF devotion. ~ lie on the ground
on the spot where thy rect rested; am wei there
and nownere else, /" she writes. Goethe answered
letters iull Of such outbursts in o manner that
showed his vanity wa, nattered, his Imagination
stimulated, his int lectual curiosity (Which was
ever on the alert Tor Manifestations or characteD
aroused Thy letters" he writes, "are IKE
order 10 classify It's beautiful wealth. He bids
her 70 on conriding her feeiings to him so that
n. may translate them, put them INTO
Thy letters are read and re-read with
great deal Of pleasure; what my pen
could answer fails to convey the immediate I'm
oneself so willingly to YIELD Keeling notw ithstand
Ing that those are all sons tor who could rea
sonaoy believe IN 30 much love? II Is best TO ac-
'Thou art like a lovely llghl, softly Frightening
the evening OF my Nre." Did the great man tire OF
his votary; did Goethe's wire cause the sudden
Of Betttna's raptarous devotlon7 Long arterward
they MT again just once, short time before the
or the love letters Of illustrious men, none are
more exquisite or tragcally pathetic than those Of
Keats 70 his '!Leopardess" as the boy poet called
the woman he loved There Ia no pl,yfulness in
those letters They are written from The shadow
OF the tomb with the despair Of an ali-absorDlng
love, making life rapture.
BAizac's Letters 70 the Comtesse Hanska. the
lady whom be afterward married, are marvels Of
expression OF the sway OF love over ricn nature
81 have In the treasure OF your ietters In the no
less Incompatible one OF my lec0lecJions OF you
In my grateful and constant Thought OF all me
good you have done my Soul by your advice your
example, sovereign remedies against all misfor-
tune; and bless you often, my dear and bensfcenC
star, In the silence OF the night and In the stress
Of my torrents" Balzac had written few years
before 70 woman friend, Friendship goes further
than love- for 10 me appears to be the last stage OF
love auie!ness and security In happiness" When
superiority OF friendship.