New-York tribune., 1891-08-30
BISMARCK IN KISSINGEN.
HOMAGE OF THE GERMAN STUDENTS.
A PARALLEL AND SOME DEsULroRY REFLEc
TIoNs ON TWO TYPICAL TEUToNs.

.oo strict an accountability for his summer
wanderIngs but sometimes there is satisiacuo"
in contemplating the things which bring seeh'
inoly sidewise and irrelevant excursion into coll
sonance with orderly, logical and proper progress.
From Salzburg to Bayreuth was pilgrimage
with an obvious purpose to a musical studeno
three weeks ago. From Bayreuth 70 Assineen
now looks like a call on Hygeia after dining WIN
the MUSES.. Kissngen is not In itself spot tna'
invites to bodily repose and the social ana ar
tistic atmosphere Of its Curgarten is, JUST now e'
least, anything but spiritually refreshing. 30
an explanation of motive may be made-with
proper apologies.
Salzburr Is the birthplace of Mozart. Bay
reuth is the centre from which the modern lyric
dramn receives its most vital CURRENT Inc
festival which was held in Salzburg four weeks
a1o celebrated the centenary of Mozarts death
wear and its products. In that year the composer
| disclosed himself more nightly than ever Deiore
as a German Just one hundred years ago 'his
summer. he composed :" Die Zauberticete," which
Beethoven called the first German opera. IL was
not the language OF the book which msoe IL such
but the language of its score In come vi i0'
melodies the student scents the perfume ol "o
wild-hower Of the German Volkslled. 1he saiho
perfume which generation later rose rum V"'
garlands which Weber placed at the feet OIL V'ie
| MUSES.. III IIS Iemplc IHuslC UNIV >N
spirit Of solemnity, romance and honest piety
rrlicb rosts unon the religious cult of Germany
Catholic as well as Protestant The Ieutorisih
Of Mozart was not wholly new in " Die nauoei-
Aoeteo however It had already bubbled up
like q mountaineering in Die Entuehrung'
In Don Giovanni despite an Italian DOoK anu
Spanish subject, the spring grew into oorie.O
which dashed furiously against the rocks Oh La'ih
operatic conventions. in the eliminating soeHe
il swept them away forever. Then the stream
rolled broadly on and in its depths Beetho'eh
pointed out the reflections Of o vast woria ol
Imagination and feeling. Hand in hand WIN
Weber he wandered along its banks ana wheIe .ne
two walked, the lovelinesS of Nature IN all hel
moods and phases was pictured IN ,he h'nie
mirroy-the messy rocks the sombre hooks, the
wooded hills. the aspiring heights, the sunIt
glades A century later and the river is Droadeheu
into an ocean-the German ocean of lyric dramatic
art A hundred sailors have launched their
barks upon its surface, hundred adventures
have explored its shores. The wakes of theT
vessels crossing and recrossing in all dlrectlons
glisten In the sunlight but of them all the oold-
est bravest, most daring mariner was he who
after wears of stressful weather, sailed into the
haven of Bayreuth. His voyages had carried HIM
sor into the rugged Northland and thence he
brought the treasures which bear the mintmark
Of the German people
And Kissingen? Did any of its sons ever do
anything for German art, science or statecraftf
do not know | shall not try to learn. Only
O desperate fit of the blues could drive me to
study it's annals, for barring its surrounding hills
there is nothing amiabe about the town. 1t is
hopelessly commonplace and vulgar. COM
rusory sojourn of week or few visits TO the
Curgarten might provoke the necessary spirit Of
desperation; but those / shall be spared. kis-
singer exists for the purposes of this record only
because another mighty representative OF the Ger
man spirit is living temporarily in it vicinity.
In the rude forcefulness of his manner, IN the
fidelity with which he cung TO his ideals, in the
matter and the spirit of his creations, Wagner Is
Cierman-all German German in his virtues.
German hs vice. SO is Bismarck, and to study
him in his summer retreat strengthens the i'm
nressions which may be carried away from the Bay
reuth for in the life and person Of this man there
is exemplihed the gigantic spirit which imbues
the dramas of Wagner and is reflected in his re-
: formatory career. The battle which Bismarck
fought gave back to the German people that
1 national unity which for generations had been q
poet,s dream; the contest which Wagner waged
gave them q national art To the American mind
+ il is as difficult to get at the kernel OF the
5 achievements of the the other. 1t is not
easy to see in the illiberality which was the out
I ward covering of their conduct that high type of
e liberalty which in the last instance appears as
7 its fruits; but it is easy for people who have
S pursued o national career with clear-eyed IN
dependence of the political conventions of the
!, past. and have fought their way to victory with
straightforward, fearless, manly herOism, to adj
D mire men whose aims and methods have been
S equally direct To the American heart the
l. achievements of such typical Teutons make a
powerful appeal, for they revive the vital traits OF
q q common ancestry.
3 Wagner grounded his hope OF awakening O
saving love for art in Germany upon the spirit
c Of the people. That is the burden of his
y philosophy as set down in his "Knustwerk der
Il Zukunft." The heart of the masses must I've
stirred so that the false ideals and corroding con-
7 ventions created by the degraded and tyrannica
= aristocracy might be overthrown. His artistic and
7 political convictions were twin ofsprings of his
! y heart and brain. He became revolutionist In
Z politics because he a revolutionst in art. He
s was by force Of need democrat. Bismarck
II too says that he is In high sense Democrat
= ! To General Grant he is reported TO have said
v that he and William | were tie greatest demo
l. Gratis in Germany yet at the time that he said
this he appeared TO the ordinary observer as O
y tyrannical oppressor of the party in the national
!, legislatures which represented the spirit OF
/ democracy. This is one OF the paradoxes OF
y which his character represents many He pub
d sshes no principles, but acts according to hi,
d lights. That is relic of his Teutonic barbarian
/ lIe found the spirit Of democracy in the German
+ national idea, and this idea seems rooted in Ger
If man Imperialism. Political glory in Germany i:
IS lnseparally connected with Imperial glory. Th'
e people could not separate them if they would
- and they will not so long as they are nation o.
l. sentmentalsts. Affection, unreasoning affection
E for q ruling house is German sentiment which
- has been nstilled by generations of German poets
/ What is German? -TT-hat is the Germans Father
e tinualy being asked and often answered in con
- tinually being asked often answered in con
- annnnce with the feeling of the nnnta who lahorel