New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-28

that the authors mastery OF English speech ID
most evident: his vocabulary Il discriminating
and precise: his style Is vigorous. often vivid.
more than once eloquent. II Is perhaps In transa-
ton, however that linguistic abilities are put 10
the severest test. The successful translator must
not only think but feel in two languages. must not
only know but master with artistic discrimination
two vocabularies. He must carry on TWO nneV
differentiated mental processes at once. success
full TRANSACTIONS are naturally r&re. 1t Is sgnin-
cant Of Professor Francke's style as whole that
many OF his translations have something or the
charm and force Of original compositions
The defects which one finds in the treatise as a
review OF literature are perhaps essential TO its
virtueJ They would follow almost Inevitably on
any earnest attempt to establish a new and COM
prehensive principle OF criticism. and PROFESSOR
Francke's theory Of the struggle between indi-
vidualIstlc and collectivstc ideals In German
literature is certainly both new and comprehen-
sive. At any rate, his theory occasionally rioes
him bit hard At times he appears to exag-
gerate the sociological import OF comparatively
unimportant things. To the blind and ill-resu-
lated Romantic movement in Germany ne I'M
putes more system and purpose than ms eVioence
tustifes. To such self-indulgent sentlmentaiIStS
as Geert and Lenau he attributes more SINGER
ity and therefore more significance tnan they
would ever gain the credit OF from ludicious COIL
paniOns In everyday lie or from crltcs 4
theory His Interpretation OF contemporary Ger
man literature is fragmentary and unconvinclhe.
throughout his work he ignores the fact tha'
great writers-often highly idlosyrcratic men
are far from being perfect representatives OF
general public opinion with its sluggish inditer-
cnces its venaties, its crude exaggeratioh Oh the
superficial and inconsequental
But even In these defects Professor Francke
Is largely his own corrective III is not ulHicuit ~
make allowance for whatever undue inVuence ms
theory exerts upon him. He is TOO genuine
critic not to discover his readers the genius OF
a Helne who does not serve his purpose OF tHe
medocrity Of the many who do. Nor Is one
tempted to find fault long with method or crit
icsm which has produced unusually valuable re-
suits One may doubt whether there be any
principle Of growth. any guiding purpose, any
logical sequence in the literature or people one
may think letters to be mere congeries or happy
accidents and individual attachments. But
doubt or no doubt. before any literature can ne
comprehended. some method must be seen III ~,
or If worst com - to worst, read INTO H. Inc
memory has no place for mere heaps OF fac.s ~
the principle Of growth which PROFESSOR RI nche
finds In German literature. this nucn cahno. pe
gainsaid. It makes Of that literature unit anu
explains 1t all from the dstinctlveiy German
point OF view. With an appreciation OF thgnsn
which goes deeper than a mere knowleoee Oh
words and phrases. with no little Understanding
of English, or at least American, MODES Oh
thought and peculiarites Of feeling, the author
stands as a sympathetic interpreter OF the couh-
try Of his birth 10 the country or MS adoptioh
AS far as such a thing is possible to American
readers his book discoses literary Germany
much as II sees itself.