The morning times., 1897-02-07
In every age and cline

Not a great deal is known of Herman
Sundermann in this country He is the
German whose plays are literature as well
as his novels. We know him principally
for his drama which ModicSka. Bcrnhardt
and DuSe have made known under the
title "Magda." In German it is called
"Heimath.' Then die Ehre' has been
given here in America under the title
Honor and this ends the general IA
uiliarity with the man ana his works
Sundermann's home is i'll one of the
palatial apartment houses which have
risen rapidly around the new Kaiser VII
helm Memorial Church within the last
two or three years. HIS windows look out
On the spires and turrets of this most
beautiful OF Berlin churches, and over the
park OF the Geological Garden beyond. 1t
is a charming spot, and made a inviting
within as without 10y the pervading home
atmosphere, which the presence of wife,
child, ooks and works Of art creates. Here
he works the year through, with the ex-
cepton of short trips To Italy and the
Riviera
He is still a comparatively young man,
having just passed his thirty-eighth year.
AT first glance he is not taken for Ger
man, though his finely shaped head and
long black beard gave him a very handsome
appearance. He is more apt To be taken for
Southerner, and his companions find in
the freedom and jovialty Of his manner
something very un-Prussian, but it makes
him m ost pleasant to meet.
His study is a large room, with tasty
and comfortable appointments, and near
the desk, which is scrupulously in order, is
his library. There one may find books in
many languages, for he is a close student
and reads English, French, German and
other languag ges with ease. But he does
not venture to speak English.
To an interviewer he said recently: 81 am
afraid We Germans are not so qualified TO
be interviewed as you English and Amer
leans, be said, as they began TO talk
''Our thoughts move more slowly, and we
have not had the practice that you have
However, shall be glad TO tell you all
can Even III Germany one does not hear
much about his early career, and so his
inteTlocutor asked If he would be willing
to talk Of this. Gladly" he returned
but ] assure you il has not been ad-
venturous. ] was born in S57, in little
village. near the Russian boundary line
but l am not Russian. Ny name is prop
Crly Dutch, anI q great many years ago my
people lived in Holland and belonged to the
religious sect Of Mennonites My father,
however, married woman Of evangelical
faith, and we no longer count ourselves
members of that sect. My boyhood was
pretty much like that OF all lads whose
parents are poor and it was only through
their sclfGenial and perseverance that
was able to get on atan
"A happy chain Of circumstances, which
] will not relate helped me, when through
Uncommon school, I o 90 also TO the gymna-
SUM and later to the university My plan
while studying was to become a teacher,
and I looked forward 10 the usual career
which all such have to go through, but
] finally changed my mind and determined
% become a journalist. Even as lad
had had literary intentions. having written
the usual boyish verses and essays. and my
decision to enter Journalism seemed to
fit in with earliest hopes.
when my university work was over i
accepted a position in Berlin as editor
of . small political weekly Its 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 Ia
time in the paper, but / have never col
lected them in book form. After whilt
decided that my politics we're too radical
for Iny managers, and gave up the editor
ship. There was then nothing better for
me 90 do than TO devote myself to liter
ture proper, which 1 cid.
This change brought me a great many
prIvations, and for a number of years il
was exclusively bread and cheese exist
ence. However, 1 managed to live, and il
time brought out my first novel, In
Zwielicht This was followed by Fra,
Sorge,' or Dame Care as it appears
in the English translation. This little
story and half allegory was the result o.
impressions received in my child hood
Then came more short stories, and NO
Vellen,' after which / wrote my thirC
novel, Der KatZensteg' This brings m
life up tc the autumn of 1889. Soon aftc
this my first play appeared. I mean 'Di'
Ehre.' Ii turned out a success, and m
fortunes now changed decidedly for tn,
better. Since then / have written fou
more pieces for the stage, and they har
all been more or less successful"
Wilson Barrett's novel, ''The Sign o
the Cross" is notable exception to
general rule The rule is that play
noveli2ed make weak and unsatisfactor
reading, and seldom achieve any success
The exception to this rule is the success
OF Barrett's novel, dramatized from hi
play. All of Sardou's plays are write