The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-11

| Literary Germany.
Recent statistics have again demonstrated
| that in literary productivity Germany
| excels all other nations. The num-
| Der Of now works issued each year in
| that country is greater than those OF
| England, America, and Franco combined.
During tho year 1889 England published
AGA new books and 1873 new editions;
America published 4,014 new books and new
editions; the literary crop in France was
even smaller than that of America or Eng
land; while Germany published no fewer
than 1865 separate works. This is IN in
crease of go over the preceding year, while
both England and America show small
or returns for 1889 than for 1888. The
Germans make no distinction between en-
tirely new works and new editions. Except
in the case of standard literature and fiction,
every new edition is practically new work.
II is one Of the most stringent rules of Ger
man literary ethics that every new edition
must bring the subject under consideration
down to tho day of publication. Stereo-
tipping is accordingly the rare exception and
not the rule. In nino cases out Of ten the
new edition is also revision; a mere title
edition is looked upon as an imposture and
n deception; and work that is not in touch
with current thought on tho subject pre-
sented, is considered antiQuated.
This remarkable literary activity OF Ger
many is not at all accidental. It's causes
stand in close connection with the ideals
and ambitions Of the people. There is no
land under the sun where n literary reputa-
ton stands higher in the estimation Of the
han t,,ra NJ,
the most common and generally the most
effective way of securing and maintaining
public prominence. 1t is Just as natural
for q German to want to write q book
as it Is for an American to want to make
money. In some spheres and call
ings n mans official and public stand
ing is almost entirely conditioned by his
literary reputation. This is notably the
case in university circles. The prominence
and fame of university teacher, as also
his advancement in his career, is dependent
not SO much upon his ability to teach as
upon his recognized power Of independent
thought and research in his chosen depart
ment as 1t Is exhibited in his books. The
most renowned university teachers are
often, according to American ideas, the
poorest of teachers; but they arc never
poorly equipped as authors. university
man who does not by new publication
every two or three years or oftcner convince
his colleagues that he is up to the times in
his speciality, is sure to bear the stigma of
stagnation and mental inanition.
This circumstance alone does not explain
the extraordinary literary zeal of the Ger
mans; though it shows why the general run
ofpublications in Germany is of more solid
and substantial kind than in other nations.
In England, France, and America fiction
leads all other kinds OF literature. In Amer
lea fiction was in 1889 represented by 942
works, nearly One-fourth in the whole list
OF new publications. In Germany, how
ever, pedagogic or school and educational
books lead all the rest, tho number
published in 1889 being 2,O83. Fiction
Is included in the same class with
bellies lettres and poetry, with total of
LIS. and is closely followed by such solid
departments as theology with 1882; law,
including politics and statistics. with 1919;
medicine with ,248 history and biography
with S92; and natural science with S52.
Certainly no nation has IL larger proper
ton of competent literary men. The Ger
mans justly call themselves the nation of
writer's and thinkers" They are also the
nation Of educators and they count an in
creasing number of Americans among their
pupils. OF the 29,491 students mt the
German universities no fcwcr than 1880
are non Germans and 430 are from America
In proportion to the population no
other land, with the possible exception
of Greece and Denmark, has SO large
a number OF university students as Germany
There the question OF q learned proletariat,
an overproduction Of technically educated
men, is perpleXing social problem. When
we remember that tho whole tendency OF
university studies Is toward specialization,
it Is readily understood why even the most
obscure pastor or public official should wish
to be an author too. II is the case that the
great majority of professional men in Cor
many, in addition to their general studies In
the department into which their lines have
fallen, make the one or the other section of
tins department the sphere for special re-
search anu In this particular field have a COM
paratlvely complete library. and can sneak
on It's problems with some authority. In
deed, Germany is literally beehive OF
specialists, whose researches are ~ much
rs possible published To the world. Some of
the greatest literary enterprises Of the dav
however, are in the hands of modest and
retiring nOn-univGrsity men. A signal eX-
ample of this is tho great Womar or iIn-
periaI critical edition of LUTHER. which the
Prussiau Government IN 1885, the great
LUTHEK year, intrusted 10 Pastor KAwERAN,