New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-28
GERMAN LIFE AND LETTERS.
A VALUABLE STUDY OF THEIR RELA-
TON TO ONE ANOTHER


Professor Francke has aimed to trace the de-
velopment Of German ideals OF society as they
appear in literature. His history starts from the
time when the individual was made wholly sub
servient to the State. and the argument locks for
ward to that era, which the author apparently
hopes Is coming. when each man. In Independent
control Of all his faculties, will freely devote him
self to the common good. In other words. Pro-
fessor Francke believes that the full freedom of
the citizen is not Incompatible with a thorough
and minute organization OF the State: he Is a
coliectvist. Before his ideal can be realized.
however two things are essential-men must
learn to combine effectively and they must COM
bine by unanimous consent. To the ordinary
American mind Germany seems one Of the I'M
likeliest places in the world for such consum-
nation. In England, under a fairly efficient,
though loose organization OF the State. the indl-
vidual has large liberty. In France. under a
highly centralized Government. he is left to de-
termine pretty much for himself all questions OF
merely personal morals. But in Germany he has
found society vacillatng between what closely
approaches ANARCHY and what closely approaches
despotism. He has never been free man In an
organized State.
Whether true or false, however. Professor
Franckes theory serves capital purpose. IT
gives him definite point Of view from which to
survey German letters. 1t enables him to CLASSIFY
and correlate a great number OF important facts,
gathered only after untirng labor. To the gen
eral reader. therefore, his volume Will be inter-
esting chiefly. not for the central idea whlch
gives it unity, but for it's rapid and penetrating
review of a whole national literature. Primarily
the author Is a scholar; he has searched into the
obscure the minute and the facts Of the past
inf NJ a German
fessor. He differs from most Of his countrymen,
however in one respect he masters his learning.
he Is not mastered by Il. He Is none OF those
ambitious busybodies'' whom the historian
Arndt has characterized "heaping up endless
material for knowledge without being able to
make use of it," Professor Francke can con-
strlIct as we'll as accumulate The wide reach OF
his book deserves emphasizing. 1t Is difficult TO
see how 1t loses any Of It's value for the learned
by its capacity to interest every thoughtful ana
catholic reader Of European literature.
Such work asathls comes from a natural inter-
nreter from one who can sympathize with differ
emit views OF life and disclose what is common to
Thorn Here lies the secret one Is tempted to as
sert OF Professor Franckes skill as an expos
itor He responds not only to the past. but to tha
present and In all relations he Is human TO
borrow a phrase OF his own and change us ap-
pcatiOn, he Is aDie 10 translate inc idhsudsc Va
one century into that OF another"-to put an
Gent thought into modern terms. His character
izatlon Of German society from the fifth to the
ninth centuries is good example of his power.
The age Of the great German migrations could
hardly be better interpreted to the age OF Cecil
Rhodes.
Faith. allegiance, devotion. the precious in
heritance of a preceding age. undoubtedly en-
tered az factors into the life Of the time and
helped to bring about the political and moral re-
construction Of Europe. But the strongest in
centiye TO action at least on the part OF the lead
ers Of the people. seems to have been primitive
love Of power. an indomitable desire 70 live
themselves out, an instructive Impulse TO reach
beyond themselves The historical annals OF the
migration period are stained with greed
nerfdy and recklessness; they bring before our
minds. as the typical figure OF the time, the in
divdual cut loose from social bonds. full Of ami
NAL vigor and susceptibility. keer-eyed and
sharp-wltted. but without any moral reserve
obeyng the momentary impulse. having no
higher ideal than himself. carrying the germ OF
ruin within him."
In the authors chapter on the three centuries
that follow there Is found u clearer illustra-
ton of his diversity Of sympathes: on the one
hand. he pictures the soaring idealism Of an all
tising the abnegaton Of the flesh, the essential
vanity of earthly things. the rotEingness OF
human greatness; resting on the deep-rooted be-
lief of the human mind in the indestructlbility or
things spiritual, and the eternal longing or the
human heart for better world beyond the grave
On the other hand, the sturdy realism OF youth
full people settling down to the practical business
Of the day; turning the glebe of virgin SOIL, and
at the same time constantly at arms against
inner and outer foes; taking the first steps In
working out a national state. but also jealousy
watching over the maintenance Of individual
rights and privileges living In close communion
with nature and enjoying the rights OF the WIS.,
ibe world; prominently given over to the pres
ent to thirgs tangible and near at hand
Professor Francke indvidualiZes each period
Of which he treats. He makes 1t real; 1t would
hardly be an exaggeration to say that he endows
Il with something like a human personality. To
leave his skill as delineator here. however. were
TO do him grave injustice. He Is not content to
summarize men into periods. 1t Is surprising
with the limited space at his command. how
many men-poets dramatists preachers, essay
lists philosophers. literary Recommendation the
time of Otfried to that OF Heine. he has made
personal. individual. distinct One might cite a
dozen epitomes OF character as vivid. II not as
concise. his estimate OF Gottfried Won Strass-
burg. "one OF those finely organized natures who
see the essential nanity OF all things and yet de-
light in the beauty OF their outward aspects: a |
doubtful character, without respect reverence |
but a true artist. with the most delicate sense of
form and a caressing sympathy for human frail- |
ties and passions"
The analyses OF character in this book al !
ways scientific attempts to discover the source OF
an authors popularity and influence in his works
and actions. Such method often lays undue |
stress the verdicts OF merely transient public
opinion 1t often involves a careful consideration
OF hopeless mediocrites But. with all its defects
II furnishes unusual opportunities to the critic Il