New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-15
"MIRZA SCHAFFY.n
THE FAMOUS SONGS OF Won BODENSTEDr
AND THEIR SINGER-MlRZA SCHAFFY
WAS REAL.

Wiesbadcn April %.
| Friedrich Won Bodenstedt Is dead and buried.
From all parts of the world messages of sorrow
| have come to his widow and children Princes
and peasants laid wreaths upon his coffin, million
aires and paupers followed him to the grave. Few
men have died in Germany more deeply mourned.
Those who lived in Germany in 1851 well re-
member the sensational success of the Songs OF
| Mira Schaffy.' Men wondered that writer of
| such beautiful vcrse-Persian though he was said
| to be-could have remained hidden in the Orient
Enterprisng Journals sent correspondents to visit
him in the East. Columns of conjecture as to his
| history and printed. Trbaned.
white-bearded photographs were exhibited a.
those Of the popular poet and philosopher. People
began TO study Oriental literature never be-
! fore. But the search even TO the most industri-
Gus, revealed no other poems OF Mira Schahy.
few persons more audacious than the rest
dared to suggest that German author was
masq uerading under foreign name; but the sug-
gestion found little credence, and the search for
the writer went on.
Naturally no one enjoyed the efforts to solve
the mystery surrounding the name Of Mira
Schary' so much as Bodenstedt himself; and
for twenty years he kept the secret Not until
the publication Of the One-hundredth edition Of
the famous songs did he reveal himself as the
author. Germans, Engshmen, Italians and
Russians THE poems had been translated into all
modern tongues were astonished to read that
Friedrich Won Rodenstedt was Mira Schafy, and
that the songs, with exception were not trans-
atons, but productions Of his own pen. He
became at once literary lion, and the works
which had appeared from time TO time under his
own name were re-read with greater interest.
Yet. Mira Schary was in reality no myth. He
was a Of flesh and blood.
When young man Of twenty years. Friedrich
Won Bodenstedt-the Blond Frederic az he
was called-accepted a tutorshp in the family OF
Prince Galitzin, an art-loving citizen Of Moscow
The tutor was an ardent student and soon mas
tered the Russian tongue In the house of his
employer he met the most DISTINGUISHED literary
people Of Russia, and gained an insight into Rus
sian life and character possessed by few But
when the opportunity came. he went further east.
accepted place in the college Of Tifis
Among the members Of the faculty was
a genuine son Of the Orient, professor OF lam
guages, who soon became the intimate companion
Of the fair-hared German. His name was Mira
Schaffy
1t was one Of Bodenstedt's keen regrets in after
life that lie had not learned more Of the career Of
the man who became his teacher and whose name
he made famous But in those days he little
dreamed Of his future glory. However, Mira
Schafy, il appears the son OF Kerbear-
Ssadyk. the companion Of the last Khan Of Gands-
hah. He began the study Of theology, but his
ideas were too liberal and he expelled from the
priests seminary. lie became then the secretary
Of the Princess Puesta, the Daughter Of the Khan.
who disappeared in a mysterious manner after the
conquest of the Persian province by Russia in
1921. Mira then went TO Tiflis, where he was
engaged at the time Bodenstedt took up his resi-
dence there.
So far as is known, be never wrote single
poem. But his influence upon the German was
strong and lasting. To him was due the intimate
knowledge Of the Oriental character which subse-
quenty made it possible for Bodenstedt to mislead
the literary critics Of half dozen nations. The
two men travelled together, sang together aud
drank together for Mira lad no Mussulmannic
adversion to wine. So intimate did they become
that Bodenstedt almost decided 10 make Tifis his
permanent home. But the requirement Of Russia
that he become a citizen Of that country reawak-
ened the love Of the Fatherland within him, and
he bade farewell to his friend and returned to
Germany by way of Greece and Turkey
Six years later he gave TO the world the Songs
Of Mira SchaGy7 His whilom friend had died
in the meantime but Bodcnstcdt made his name
forever famous
The poets life was busy one after he had
settleI again III the fatnerldHu, Dut IL was q
life lacking in striking incidents. We find him
living editor in Bremen. professor at
the University OF Munich, an intendant Of the
famous court theatre of Neningen, a news
paper correspondent in Italy. and lecturer In
France. England and America. His pen
fruitful during all the years. His TRANSACTIONS
OF Pushlin, Lermontof and Dorlof were among
the first revelations of the treasures of Russian
literature. He translated. too. many Of Shake
srcare's sonne,s and wrote Shakespeares Female
Characters" Few Germans ever excelled him az
a translator He had the faculty of catching the
spirit as well "a the meaning of the literary gems
Of foreign tongues But he wrote also A
Thousand and One Nights in the Orient the
' People of the Caucasus the epic "Adah,' and
the drama Alexander in Corinth.' which was
produced in the Royal Theatre Of Berlin. Tho
cry for more Songs Of Mira" led him 10 pub
lish The Request of Mira Schafy." poems in
the same strain as their predecessor bur lacking
much Of their depth, power and fire. The last
work which appeared under his name was vol
ume of memoirs, published few years ago. shortly
after the celebration Of his seventeen birthday.
But BodeIstedt will be remembered by the Ger
mans as Mira Schaify. He produced many
other things full of beauty, but nothing that ap-
peals TO his reader as do the famous songs penned
in his youth
For the last sixteen years Bodenstedt lived IN
his city. With Ills slverwhite hair and beard,
md rudy complexion, despite his three score
,cars and ten. hc familiar and popular figure
n Wiesha len. lie was often TO be met in the
title inns of the neiehboring villages, seated at
he table with his glass OF wine. His house in
he Rheinstrasse has been visited by pilgrims from
very land II contains many things of interest
md will continue 70 be the trysting place Of his
friends and admirers. The recommendation has
been made that the house he preserved by the
lily or nation. A Bodenstedt Museum in the
house where he lived and died would be fitting
monument TO Mira Schafy.