New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-24

pUCTNG THE MOST PROMINENT CHARAC-
rERs-THE CHIEF DEITY OF THE
GERMAN OLYMPUS.
Mics pulds Geist gave the first OF her course o;
lectures on German Mythology in connection VIII
Wagners Nibe,ungen Ring yesterday morning a. 'ne
home Of Mrs William 7. Blodgett' NO a Nes'
Twelfth-st The talk Introductory one. giving
the general outlines OF ths myths and introducing
their most prominent characters In tho four succeed
Ing ones the different legends Of the Noeiungeh hls
Will be taken I'd separately. the subject FOR trlday'
the 9th being "Rhengod." The lecture Wild be
e,ven At the home Of Mrs Frederick ". De Voc. No
81 Park-ave-
In preparing these lectures Miss Gels; says she has
consulted all the greatest authorities. but Is princi-
pally indebted 70 Professor Carl Wenhold. OF Berlin
University to whose lectures she Is the only woman
who was admitted.
The story told yesterday was as follows:
The chief deity OF the German Olympus was Odin
father OF gods and men. Nevertheless, he was not
considered as the creator Only the ruler 90 me G
he. Odin personlhed mind, will wisdom and law
Ss s mSS ' orr wives were also Attributed to
him. but their names all mean the earth
rhdT the thunderer His occupation was TO fight
against the giants. the personihed powers Of evil
The best beloved OF gods was Baldur, the beau
tifui. He also the son OF Odin and personiiied
fng could perve his judgment and nothing that was
evil eOnld approach en-, hi and IN order to
the beloved Baidur against death. his mother Friga
took an oath OF all things animate and inanimaie
that they would not harm him. She omitted now
ever 70 exact this promise from the mistetoe. think
wicked god Loki availed himself of the oversight 20
compass Baidur's death -
After the oath taken the gods used TO amuse
themselves by throwing things at Baldur, Knowing
that nothing would hurt him, and on one or these
OF the Lob bn 6u so Of TE XII asd guded his
arm so well that Baldur dropped dead. His wife
died OF a broken heart. and the bodies were burned
Then the gods begged the goddess OF death 20
restore Baldur. and shc promised 10 do so II all
things would weep for him. But one old woman
refused TO weep This was Loki, VINO had taken
thar form and who as the personhcatiOn of fire,
could not IN the nature OF things. shed tears.
The gods were 20 enraged that they bound lokl
n q cavern where poisor drlpped conuhualy from
q rock above His faithful wife remained with him
and caught this poison in a cup. When Il was fulI
eha had 10 go and empty II. and SO drop coca
eionallv fell on LokL When this happened he
wrthed in his agony. and there was an sarthquake
Tokl was destined at length to break loose his
bonds and then Will come the GOtterdan.nerung or
twilight OF the gods. Nahal!a Will be destroyed py
fire and the earth will sink into the sea.
tnd then comes beautiful ending 70 the story
new earth will rise out OF the sea and those who
have saved themselves Il boats made from the
sacred ash-tree, Igdrasil, Will take refuge there
There will be a race OF men, the gods Will
return and the great unknown goa WI" come HHo
establish the reign of eternal law.
Miss Gels: said that the Northern myths simply
reflected nature and that the lofty morality run
hing through them made the task Of the mission
aries among Northern people an easy one for 1t
was only necessary 10 tell them that Baldur was
the one Almighty God and that Odn and 1hor had
Among those present a. the lecture were Miss
Emma Thursby and her sister. Miss Ina IhnrsDy.