New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-08
THE LIFE OF FAUST.
MISS FORDS INTERESTING LITERARY
CONFERENCE AT THE WALDORF.
THE FIRST PART OF GoErHE's FAUST CON-

OO-Nf J%lNL->CI al I'M NhLbOA'A'
THE FIRST PART OF GOETTIE's FAUST CON-
PARED WITH THE sEcoND-THE SUMMING
Up OF THE WHOLE STUDY.
p life-study from 1.-The Second Part Of Faust"
was the subject chosen for consideration by Miss
~ F. Ford the Waldorf Saturday morning.
masterpiece is written for all time and ell peo-
pie and the symbolic character of the creations
in Faust" regarding the real altruism Of life was
logically portrayed. Miss Ford spoke Of the ethical
development. which character. and the
aesthetic. which signifies beauty. Faust was an
historic parsonage in the time Of Luther who had
bargained his soul for pleasure and luxury, and.
Ike all lovers OF self. this ended In disaster.
''In the second part we find" said Miss Ford.
Faust resting-soothed by the gentle ministry of
Nature till aspiration awakes. and he resolves TO
lead better life He is taken by Satan TO the
Emperor's court. with the thought that Fausts
good resolves would be corrupted. The fieeting
prosperity of the empire even 10 the issuing Of fiat
money. graphically described
The Emperor, seeking better form Of enjoy
ment desires 10 see Helen Of Troy. who is TO him
only a beautiful woman. but to Faust the en-
bodiment of ideal beauty. This typifes the Teu-
tonic mind before touched by the classic beauty
of Greece
THE physical evolution was the germ OF life IN
the bundle of ideas In bottle. which. touched
by love, burst. and progress began After Delng
elevated by the art problems of life. Faust goes
back to his lifework with purified vision for
Helen's mantle had fallen upon him. and he now
seeks to benefit humanity; but Satan is at hand
with his last temptation. and great wrong is
perpetrated, quite contrary 10 Faust's wishes.
The lesson drawn from this that when evil
IS called In you cannot limit the mischief. Az
last IT is not Helen. but Gretchen-the spiritual
life and not the aesthetic-who leads him TO final
happiness
Miss Ford explained that tho union OF classic
tdealism with romanticsm-the fairest flower OF
the Anglo-Saxons-produced our modern literature
As the struggle between the two was most intense
at the time OF Goethe. II naturally FORMED the
basis OF his great drama.
One of the women in the audience. at Miss Fords
request compared the first part Of the drama with
The second part saying: THE second part or
Faust must, ! think be regarded as the greater
part though II does not lend itself TO operate
treatment like the first and though 1t is too full of
classicisn TO ever become feature in popular
reading 1t is related that Goethe. In expressing
his admiration Of Shakespeare. said. one day: Why
Shakespeare is far ahead OF me as am ahead
OF Schiller This bit of sublime egotsm must find
its Justification in the second part Of Faust II Mt
all In theme and treatment the first part throb-
bng with human sympathy and touching hearts
high and low will impress student Of German
literature as transcendently superior TO the work
of the author Of The Bride of Messina.' But the
second part is different. 1t has the optimism of
maturity as the 0rSt naQ the peSSlinlSli VI COHi-
parative youth IT portrays the redemption as the
other portrayed the damnation OF Faust. Some one
has said OF Ihanatopsis that it is thoroughly
heather poem which might have been written by
Plato. The same thing Is true Of Goethe's Faust
Church and clergy alluded TO only with a
smile Of scorn on the poets lips. Yet like 'Thana-
topss. Faust especially in its second part,
breathes the devout spirit Of natural religion"
Faust having signed his Internal compact with
Mephistopheles, having been long intoxicated with
sensual pleasures, is sobered by the death OF Mar
guerite. AS the poor girls spirit passes away. an
eelic voices are heard calling Faust while at the
fame time Mephstopheles cries TO his victim
sierny: Come thou with me- Thus ends the first
went finally with Marguerite's or was given to
ffulhI that hideous agreement win tie Irnce OF
IN ne second part Faust T. greeted at the opening
choir, types of the healing power OF time and
nature. Ariel sings:
Assuage the cruel strife mat rends his heart.
Remove the burning shaft Of deep remorse
From ranking horror cleanse his inn,ost soul
Now" continued the speaker. how IS the as
fuaging and the removing and the cleansing 10 be
Gone? In other words. what is Goethe's idea or
o. f b duy OF Of psnn Tha faith ms
atonement? Is II Standardization? Is II fasting and
al ais sRa aH5s INJURED a 'fs nj hq by bad
example. by recklessness by sensuaiy, by greed.
the deveopmpe GS OF sei-contro OF purity Of unset
fshness. He does not retire from the haunts or
most luxurious court in christendom. lie begins
70 love beauty for Itself Having caught mo-
mentary glimpse OF Helena" the type OF artistic
grace. he goes TO search for her through all the
realms OF mystery under the guidance or the
hOmunculus lie finds her. They are married
Back again In Germany Faust filings himself into
grace The old selhshness reappears al times. and
IS followed by repentance. But. in the end. angels
bear away his soul to the utter discontinue and
disgust OF Alephistophcles who declares that he
has been Outrageousy sWindled.
iTennyson has expressed the moral OF the second
part OF Faust in these Ines
Mother age Gor mine knew noo help me. as when life
- begun;
H the hills roll the waters. fash the lightnnss.
Oh. sSe the crescent promise OF spirit hath not
Ancient founts Inspiration vel through all fancy
The remedy for remorse for despair for dissat-
isiaction with the world and with ones self, Is TO
ones fellow All cannot be lost when the
capacity and the disposition 10 do good remain.
-, The weakness OF Milton's philosophy is dis
g!ayea In the diminuendo movement between Para
oise Lost and Paradise Regained.' The strength |
q ioethes is shown In the crescendO from the
hfst part OF Faust to the second
H., snow me thy faith without works. said ST |
r2ul and will show thee my faith by my works |
The German poet teaches the lesson. His |
o. the whole problem OF fiat money-the vital issue
~ our last American Presidential election. covered
~ Mephi5topheles's creation of like money for the
Smperor You remember that the effect was 10 |
maHe me court reckless and the people improvident
- nere In the whole argument we md the breadth |
- cnakespeare mingled with the wit of Heine and |
ssS intensity q swhburne! For myself can but