New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-12


HERMANN sUDERMANN.
Introduced 10 the author and could not let slip
the opportunity to ask him about his life and
those questions in which he is known to be inter-
ested His home is in one Of the palatial apart
lighthouses which have risen rapidly around the
new Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church WITHIN
the last two or three years. His WINDOWS look
ont on the spires and turrets OF this most oeauti-
fu Of Berlin churches, and over the PARK OF
the Geological Garden beyond. 1t Is charm-
ing spot. and made as inviting within as With
ont by the pervading home atmosphere whicn
the presence Of wife, child. books and WORKS OF
art creates Here he works the year through Will
the exception of short trips to Italy ana the
Riviera He is still comparatively young HAh'
having lust passed his thirty-eighth year. his
ene,v sbaped head and features and his long
black beard give him a very handsome aPpeAi
orcs. and AT first glance one would not take
ST., .or q German. He has more Of the South
erner IN his looks. and there are freedom ana
,ov,al,,v IN his manner and conversation mat
orc very unlike the Prussian character, but make
him most pleasant to meet
STUDENT OF ENGLISH.
His study. where we talked. is large room
with tasty and comfortable appointments. anu
oar .ha dssl which is scrupulously in order ID
bis library in which I noticed books OF various
languages. He reads English with ease anu 10
q close student Of our literature. out does ho'
venture Ia speak the language. HIS wilc shares
his interest in our books. and Is great au'''s
~ a number Of English authors
Resides his ordinary work. which keeps MIN
vary busy. Herr Sudcrmann is president OF INC
parn Press Club and takes lively interest III
oil matters pertaining to Journalism. ne h"'
p,so been active in politics. so far as MS pc"
would allow. and is known to be very hoei~'-
minded in public anairs. -
lam afraid we Germans are not SO quaii"eu ~
he interviewed ar you English and Americans
no said. as we began our talk Our 'hous"''
move more slowly. and we have not hao TIC
,,o. ,ba, Won have. However, shall be glad 10
..u vou all T can" Even In Germany one does
~, hear much about his early career. and so
49,, !, ha would he willing to talk Of this
"c,saiv" he returned but assure you II mas
x.o, adventurous l was born In 1857. in
u,,,s village near the Russian boundary line, out
Y.mr M. q Puss,an My name is properly Dutch'
and great many years ago my people hved III
uo,,.nd and belonged to the religious sect OF
usrror,tes Nv father, however. married
~omsn ~ evangelical faith, and we no longer
cour, ourse,ves members Of that sect My poy-
hooa ~as nretty much like that Of all lads whose
parent. are moor. and 1t only through their
self-denial and perseverance that WAS ao'e u
Eet on at all A happy chain OF circumstances
which will not relate. helped me. wneh through
the common school. to go also TO the gymnasium"
and later TO the university. My plan' whiie s'uuS-
inc WAS N hecome a teacher, and looked Tor
ward 70 the usual career which all such have TO
20 through hi, T finally changed my mind and
determined to become journalist. Even AZ
lad had had literary Intentions nav
Ing written the usual bovish verses and essays,
and my decision to enter journalism seemed 10
mt In with earliest hopes. When my university
work was over accepted position In Berlin az
editor Of small political weekly. It's capital was
so small that practically had to write the entire
paper. Besides the regular work. also wrote a
number OF short stories and they appeared from
time to time In the paper, but have never col
lected them In book form. After while de-
cded that my politics was too radical for my
managers. and gave up the editorship. There
was then nothing better for me to do than to de-
vote myself to literature proper, which did.
This change brought me a great many privations,
and for a number Of years II was exclusively
bread and cheese existence. However. managed
10 live. and in time brought out my first novel.
I'm Zwielicht." This was followed by Frau
Sorge' or Dame Care as It appears In the Eng
lish translation This little story and half allie
CORY was the result Of impressions received in my
childhood Then came more short stories. and
'NovelIen,' after which wrote my third novel,
Der Katzensteg' This brings my life up to the
autumn OF 1885, Soon after this my first play ap-
peared. mean Die Ehre.' 1t turned out a sue
cess, and my fortunes now changed decidedly for
the better. Since then have written four more
pieces for the stage, and they have all been more
or less successful"
GERMAN JOURNALISM.
do most German authors develop. like your
self, out Of the journalistic careerT
Just now ! should say not. Freytag. to be
sure. was an exception. but he hardly belonged
to the present generation Of writer's. Among
those who are now living. and that can think
Of. very few began their careers as Journalistic
heyse, Spielhagen and Fulda, for instance, were
Philologen. Hauptmann was sculptor and
Wildenbruch diplomat. There are others that
might mention but not many have been news
+ PAPER men,"
\ From your experience as journalist what
s Hould you say are at present the prominent