New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-04-20

and sleighing parties. endless firtations. and.
above all, theatricals The restless genius from
Frankfurt wrote quantities of plays, good bad
and Indifferent; Anna Amalia paid most Of the
expenses of the performances and was herself
a member of the amateur company, made UP OF
courtiers. authors and Iadies-in-waiting. Goethe
was an excellent stage director. as well
dramatist. but he was stiff and noisy actor.
He would not learn a part. and trusted 70 i'm
provisatiOn- Before this theatrical craze passed
high spirits and the streak Of hard bursher
coarseness. which showed itself now and again
throughout his life led him to writing burles T1es
and parodies. cruel. mean and tasteleSs- That
he burlesqued his own absurd "WertheT does
not justify the ridicule cast on Wielands pa
thetic '-AIceste," a ridcuIe which so wounded the
old man that he uttered a cry Of grief and left
the theatre The splendid Apollo did not
shine in this affair, nor it must be admitted IN
the practical joking. the horseplay in which ne
was also a leader, and which for a time be-
came very popular at court The Duchess her
self sometimes mildly took a hand IN thIs
amusement as when she invited q hungry COM
pany to a magnificent feast. which when tasted
proved 10 be made UP Of painted wood ms
had a pleasanter ending. however tnan most Oh
GOethe's Jokes for a real banquet was pro-
vided in another room
The nIeasantest Of all the pictures Of Anna
AmaIia's life in weinar is that OF her qIe'er
evenings. when with her friends about her she
listened 10 the music she loved, to chapters 1fon
some new book read aloud by one of her ladies' or
70 Messages from the unpublished MS. Of some
one Of the authors who basked in the genle
warmth Of her kindness WieIand was one or the
most sensitive of the band and would brook no
feminine whisper or other interruption Let
such be heard and the irascible author V'I-d
burst into an angry TRADE. put his paper pacA
in his pocket and retire into his shell. where ne
remained unrnoved alike by the most aoJ-0U
apologies from the offending r~rty or oy Ahld
AmaIia's soothing words, until the appearance
of the supper tray, when the cIoudS o-9'le-
away and a most enjoyable interchange u
thought on every subject followed On lAeSe
evenings it is noted. the Duchess was a' Hef
best She philosophical without af1ectati'h she
responded to wit. she had gift OF narrative
Sb, was in truth a charming companion. and
most of her tame authors had genuine appre-
citation of her wisdom. her benefcence-and her
good dinners She was consideration itself anu
if they lent glory to her reign they received IN
turn material benefits such as they could nave
found in no other German state. As much as
might be she trained the young Duke Karl Au-
gust her own way OF tninhlIlS anu tt' Se-'~~@
of Goethe which through his long life centred
in little Weimar. testifies To their generous ana
delicate dealing with eccentric or selfish genius
AT a later time. when BOnaparte "crushed 'He
duchy Anna Amala had grievous cause u
criticise the famous poet-minister- IN place VI
being a support in these days of trouble. writes
her biographer "he retired into hiIllSeII' anu
acted as if the great drama of this cruel Wal
was being played before him. without MS nav
iuc. any personal interest in the matter Iue
Duchess complained of this attitude OF HIS '''''
effort TO free himself personally from any par
ticipation in the events that were passing Oe-
fore the eyes of all the world 1t is well Aho"n,
however that it was GOethe's practice 20 '''0l1
every painful consideration. He could n't 'V''!
the thought of death. the eternal fairy -''0'
and in his later years never mentioned thr "''N
or allowed it 10 be named in his presence.
We commend this eminently readable worn W
all Interested in the curious and picturesque ".0
of the oId-time German courts Ii a ne" s''I
ton should be called for. it is to be hoPed ''-A|
better proofreading may be secured.