The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-13
GOETHE's LOVE AFFAIRS.
They Were Many and of a Varied
Character.


The "Sturm und Drang" period in Ger
many. which was but one factor in the
great general romantic movement in let
ters of the last century, was different
from our latter day romanticlsm In that
the poets. and authors who provoked 1t
not only wrote remarkably, but also liv
ed Economically. Goethe, who was one of
the great promoters of this phase of liter
atures dipped his pen in his own heart
and very susceptible and emotional heart
it was One of his earliest works. THE
Sorrows Of Werther," was nothing less
than a record Of his hopeless passion for
Charlotte Bun, who lived at Wetzler, and
was the aftianced bride OF Goethe's friend.
Kestuer
A writer in the Cosmopolitan gives an
interesting account of Goethe's many
heart affairs in a paper ehttled THE
Love of Goethe" The explanation adj
vanced by the writer for Goethes appar-
ent fickleness Is THAI Goethe seems 10
have possessed dual nature. He was,
from early youth, conscious of his own
power. He admitted that he never met
man whom he felt to be his Intellectual
superior, and he rendered the same hom-
age to his own genius which he demanded
and received from others. Goethe the man
adored Goethe the genius. Like Napoleon,
ne believed himself 10 be a man of desu-
n.y. and like Napoleon, he was willing to
sacrifice all things to his own controlling
ambition" It was therefore with less than
the usual computations he cast from him
the nistresses of his soul when they lent
sufficient color TO his dreams. II was with
The blood of their hearts that he wrote
some of his most notable poems. Goethcs
first sweetheart was Charitas a lovely
girl, the companion of his sister. Corne-
lia at Frankfort Her image was soon dis
PEELED by the attractions of "Katchen"
Saunkopf, an lnn-keeper's daughter ut
Leipsie; during the young poets Attend
ance at the university there. Music, dane
ing, amateur plays and verse making"
says the writer made the days and even
ings In the little wine shop very attrac-
tive"
A dramatic story of Goethes vernal
courtships is that Of his passion for
the elder daughter of French dancing
master Lucinda, the younger, was Sc
cretly in love with the handsome Wolf
gang, and one day, breaking into the room
where he was declaring his affection for
her sister. she In her excitement pressed
kiss on his lips. declaring that curse
should fail upon the next maiden whose
lips he touched. Goethe IN his old age re-
fers TO This tale as a verltable incident,
and it would seem that the curse Of the
mad girl was visited on the next object of
his worship, Frederick Brion, perhaps the
first real grand passion Of the poet
"The Leipsic love affairs" writes
Grimm, seem childs play compared with
this. Frederick was the first whom he
earnestly loved, the first whose heart he
broke. and whom he never could forget"
Frederica was the daughter OF a pastor of
Sessenheirn, a beautiful, hlgh-minded girl.
The quaint charm OF life in the country
parsonage appealed 10 Goethe's nature
Frederick sang her Swiss and Alsatlan
fo,k-songs for Goethe Goethe wrote to
her his most melting love songs. "The
confession Of love and the plighted troth
seem to have dealt loves death blow in the
strange experiences Of Goethe. To win a
heart was rapture; to possess IL when won
safety" Goethe discovers that his love
was dream. realizing that simple coun-
try girl was not a fitting life companion
Frederick wrote a heart breaking letter
to her lover which received no reply. "One
would forgive him much" comments
Grimm, but to have broken the heart OF
such a maiden was inhuman."
After this Goethe meets Charlotte Buff.
whom he has immortalized in THE Sor-
rows Of Werther" on discovering his
passion the botrothed "Lotte" bids him
farewell The publicity given Charlotte
by this tale was deeply resented Anna
Schonemann. known as "Lili,"
was GoctAe's next idol, brilliant girl. be-
longing to the aristocracy Of Frankfort.
The match was opposed by Lilrs family, 1
who cared nothing for genius, and re-
garded Goethe as an undesirable sultor.
Goethe suffered much on account Of these
obstacles; he journeys 20 Italy, but fails
10 forget his passion. Goefhes earlier love
affairs reach the girls ear. and she de-
cdes 10 give up her adorer, writing to
him at the last. Whatever we may sur
Ter apart. true happiness will not come
10 our union" Lii afterward married the
Baron Won Turckheim. and Goethe usec
10 see her as a happy wife blessed vita
children.
His love for Charlotte Won Stein was
5oethe's next great emotion. He met her
az Weimar. whittier he had been invitec
by the Duke Charles Augustus, and was