New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-21
IESSING.

inc without having prepared himself 10 compre-
bend their significance by an examination Oh
the authors relations 10 his own time, IS apt 10
he disappointed SO much has the point OF view
changed since he wrote. And perhaps there are
not many scholars who, if pressed TO CANTOR upon
the question, would not own that they ma COM
paratively little of interest and not much That Is
mastery IN the six 10 twelve volumes OIL the
various editions of Leasing OF the dramas, not
one can be considered excellent to-day. The most
truly dramatic Emilia Galotti, is mar1ed by
defects which only German audience, thinking
more of the author than the play, would tolerate
Nathan the Wise is n decidedly bad play
though a very good controversial poem. " MISS
Sara Sampson" which produced so potent ana
,alutary an effect upon the German stage, Is 1ar
too sentimental and far too extravaganza Less
incs other plays. such as The Young Scholar"
and 1.-THE Jews" are obviously experimental ana
immature. The Tables will stand So will
the "Iaokoon7 and the "Hamburgische Drama
turgie. The poetry generally must be given up
It's emphatcahy bad lifeleSs, SoullcSS, wooden
md mechanical. Some readers may find certain
satisfaction in the criticisms other than dramatic
in the fierce assaults upon Lange and klolz ana
Gottschcd Some people like TO read Millions
prose pamphlets There is no accounting LOT
tastes But taking Lessings works altogether
the probability is that the average reader would
if he achieved the task Of mastering Them DC
puzzled and surprised at the celebrity of the au-
thor
Yet il is certain that Leasing was one OF those
men of genius, the reality and extent OF whose
powers are conclusivey proved by the influence
they exert, not alone upon their own gencralon'
but upon posterity. To realize what this has oeeh
il is necessary to survey briefly the state OF 1T
crature in Germany when, in the first hall OF the
eighteenth century, GOtthold Ephralm LcsSlh@
entered upon the scene The Thirty Years war
had exhausted the whole country and had lOosed
its intellectual standards. German literature
prior 10 that prolonged convulsion had not been
in fourishing condition. but now 1t was IAN
gushing indeed. 1t had apparently lost all orig
inality, and had fallen into the ignoble state OF
q mere borrower and imitator, and it was 10
France that it turned for its ideas and methods
of expression A more infccitous choice of
model could not have been made, for both IAN
guage and racial character rendered either faith
full imitation or assimilation of Gallo literary
methods impossible The lightncSS, dclcacy. grace
wit and subtlety Of French literature could not
he REPRODUCED in so cumbrous. infleXbc and COM
plcated a language as the German; nor was the
Teutonic temperament fitted for competition IN
the special field Of French successes. Al later
period Jean Paul. and still later Heinc. proved
that German humor can find vehicle in its own
tongue But Hciue in spirit more French than
German. and Jean Paul did not always escape that
ptfall Of excess which the French humoristS avoid
as by sure instinct The result Of the aping Of
French models was the establishment Of thor
ouchly false and meretricious literary tastes and
fashions and these vices were emphasized by the
prevalence of provinciality and a cliquism which
al Of arpfa
strangled all healthy development.
To reform this condition of things a man Of
strength and originality was needed, and LeSSing
possessed both qualities in an eminent decree
We can see now what lie was 10 be from the man
ncr of his education. He went 10 school and -
college, and took his doctors degree in due course
but he brought from his collegiate career little
save classical knowledge, and the vast learning
he acquired was due TO the prOmptings of his own
restless and inquiring spirit and not TO the lec1-
urs Of the professors under whom he sat. His
method is very well shown in one incident OF ms
adolescent life. lie undertook 10 arrange q large
private library. receiving little beyond his board
for the service. in order that he might absorb
and assimilate all the knowledge contained in the
collection When he had sucked the orange dry
he threw mp the work. His father, a Lutheran
minister of mediocre abilities. and his mother,
stand their son. The case was like. that Of a hen
with ducklings Old Leasing thought the young
man onght to become thcologian. When he
heard that Gotthold was interesting himself about
the stage was asSociating with actors, and pres
emily, even writing play, blank
horror fell upon the country parsonage
and strong circumstances were poured forth. But
Leasing was rcsolue. He would 60 his own way
and do that which he felt himself fitted for. II
theology he was already a sceptic, and he would
not become a hypocrte. SO he turned 10 hack
work for daily bread, dined cents day
Joined high thinking TO his plain living, and was
contented All through life ne was satisfied witt
bare suGicicncy. No man was ever fTeer from
the lust of acquisition lie lived for literature
and. though literature did her best TO staIve linn
he never repined or regretted his choice.
lie priced his independence above everything
until the process Of years brought bitter OK
perience. ana taught him that he who has 10 liv
from hand TO mouth can never be truly Free am
nav easily be quite as dependent as he who eat
the bread of place or patronage. II is grea
satisfaction 10 know that there is in Losing
whole lie nothing that calls for apology, con
ccalmcnt or explanation. lie the uanlies
Of men, and he was pure and free from stain
In his maturity he loved a noble woman, and, ate
being compelled by mutual poverty TO wait scY
eral years they were married Eva KOenig va
q true hepmect to him, and during the too brie
period of their welded life Leasing was happle
than he had ever hoped TO be. But the frs
child brought death TO the mother, ana iollowc
her. In most pathetic letter to his frien
Eschcnburg he wrote: Il wanted at last I
have as good life Of it as other men, But !
has turned out badly for me-; and 70 Karl
wrote =" If you had known her! They say
is nothing but seh-praise 10 praise ones VIII
Well, | will say 10 more OF he
But If you had known her. Ncve
again, I fear, will you me as Our frien
Moses did, calm, contented within my fou
walls" lie plunged into work, above oil int
controversy 10 obtain oblivion for his grief II
editing of Ramaruss Fragments" brought Il