New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-07-16

Bohemian, than that he was "two-legSed
donkey" II there is one thing more than an
other which Count LutZow makes plain IL is
that the masters OF Bohemian literature were
accustomed to speak their minds without hest
tation to emphasize roundly every statement
they hurled at the heads Of their adyersaries.
Their fervor and their forcible speech were
natural enough, too. for Bohemia was for CEN
turtles a land of military and religious turmoil
The writings Of the country have been largely
polemcal. They streaked with theological
and didactic argument 1t IS perhaps for mis-
reason that our author gives US small ground
for the belief that Bohemia ever cultivated lit
erature for its own sake. The only plausible
testimony to such a cultivation of the national
genius is not to be found. indeed, in any monu-
ments Of creative art but in the biography Of
Peter Of Rosenberg, a NJ = Of the sixteenth
century. He and all his family sincerely
interested in the things Of the mind The Rosen-
berg archives are described as Of great Auk,
and il is recorded that when Peter had coca
sion to sell Of his castles TO the ErnperE
he stipulated that he should be allowed to
retain one thousand documents that had been
preserved in the edifce- The Rosenberg library
became a considerable gathering Of valuable
books. But We Judge from what Count Lutzow
says that the average Bohemian noble was far
from caring Peter cared for literature anS
art. The surmise is confirmed by carefd
scrutiny Of all that this book contains Of trans
lation and description. There was abundant
fighting spirit in the writings Of Huss and Of
a hundred others. but, except the patriotism
and religious feelings Of the country are re-
fected in their letters, poems and books, there
Is nothing in those productions to provoke the
adj rrfra+f Of ha yTa hQ
cited some Of the poetry. Let US glance at the
prose, choosing a passage from the Labyrinth
OF the World" an allegorical narrative, the
masterpiece Of Komensky. We are supposed %
be listening TO a pilgrim approaching two gates
the first that Of life. through which all must
pass; the second that OF separation. Before en-
tering this gate all must draw lots and accept
career in the world in accordance with The
lot they have drawn" The pilgrim proceeds
thus:
We went downward by a dark winding stair
case, and before the door there was wide hall
full Of young people, and on the right side there
sat a fierce looking old man; holding IN
hand a large copper jar. And I saw that all
those who came from the gate ~ life stepped
up 20 him. ana each one put his hand into the
jar and drew from IL A scrap Of paper on Wnich
something written. Then each Of tn.
went down one IF The streets. some running.
and shouting from joy, while others crept along
slowly, looked around them, groaned and
lamented.
also then came nearer, looked AT some II
the scraps Of paper. and noticed that me con-
tanned the word Rule" another Serve" an
other Command" another Write" another
'Ploughr' another Learn" another Dig an
other "Judge" Jet another Fight and 50
forth. Impudence said 10 me. Here vocatons
and work are distributed, and according TO THIS
distribution every one has 10 fulfil his task in
the world He Who distributes the lots j. called
Fate and from him in this fashion every one
who enters the world must receive his nstruc-
tons
II might be said Of the author Of his that
he had Imagination. but We should hes tate
about ascrbng to him an unusual Measure Of
that quality; and Of the mark u literature in
the true sense Il that term We should say that
he was quite innocent As much might be said
Of the rest Of the writer's with whom Count
Lutzow deals But it is only fair 70 add that
such a judgment must be very humhly advanced
by all who cannot repeat, with full, spontaneous
understanding and enjoyment Of the syilaDes,
ia isem Czech kdo je yic?"