The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-07-15

and published has been told <many times. but, unfortunately. few of the prevalent tales conccrning this remark able work are in accordance with the facts. Recently it has been stated in a popular magazine t5at Ben-Hur be- longed to the long list of manuscripts which met with repeated rejection. This is not the fact The story was first submitted to Harper and Broth CTS for publication and promptly ac- cepted. The book, moreover. was a reasonable though not a remarkable success in Its first year. The fact which surprised the publishers was that It's sales were doubled in the year fol- lowing. It advanced, from year to year. by geometricai progression until 1t became the most widely selling book in American literature Many interest ing facts concerning the inspiration and growth of Ben-Hur are set down by General wallace in his autobiog- raphy, which Is one of the important forthcoming publications of the fall.
 Frederick sehiller.---3y Paul Carns Ihe celebration last year of the hundreth anniversary of the death or Schiller makes this sketch of his life and appreciation of his poetry p@cul- iarly interesting. Says Dr. Carus: Frederick Schiller is not merely great poet, he Is greas as man. as think CT, and as leader in the progress of humanity. He is a disciple of Kant, but not his blind follower. He ap- plies Rants philosorny to practical life. but works 1t out in his own way. Especially in his religious convictions Schiller is far ahead of his time. He points out a way of conservative ad- vance along the lines of liberty ant ad- vance, and so the opposition in which he stands to the narrow dogmatism of his age, Is not a lack of religious but the surest evidence of a deep religious spirit. It pervades all his works and makes him a prophet of this religion of the future. priest on the altar or mankind, and a poet of the eternal ideals of life" All this Is true, if one agrees with the writer who <said: Poetry is precious for the charm IL works upon the intellectual eyesight Like the fabled plant of antiquity. 1t purifies and brightens the understand ing" And so, though the world may never he that which Schiller dreamed vet his lofty ideals will have it's ef- feet on mankind, and men will even- tuailv find. as Schiller found ana taught, that the only real joy in lire is the joy of the spirit"
 All of us arc familiar with the main n0iFltg or interest m 0CnlltcI iilO, poS Dr. Carns makes his biography of the roet's life a very comprehensive one A full account Is given of the mothers influence upon her gifted son, whom so greatly resembled her both physf- caIly and mentally.
 It is related how Schiller intended studying for the ministry, bat Duke Karl's interference landed him in tne military school. established by the Duke at his castle. The royal invita- tion amounted to a command. and all though sorely disapointed Schill- CT was compelled to enter the military prison. The critical incident in Schiiier's life was his flight to Mannheim. in company with his friend Steicher, a musician. Conditions in Stuttgart had become intolerable, and he felt that unless he surrendered all his ambisions and ideals, he was oblis- ed to take the risk of cutting loose from his home. and his duke, wno was willing to keep this lofty soul 'cabin'd cribb'd. confined" All Of his battles with poverty and ill-health are touched unon. Considerable space, of course. is given to his friendship with Goethe, his home in Weimar, and the silent faithful hours spent in that calm ana peaceful retreat. where he enjoyed the friendship of the greatest literary men of his age. There he knew all the thinkers poets anu ufath1e'Ses "'SN knowing.
 Dr carns does not begin with the first period into which Schiller's poet ic activity Is generally divided. that of storm and Stress" but he first gives the most important passage from his philosophical poetry, those which most fully characterize his philosophy and views of life.
 Speaking of his work to preach in his early youth. Dr. Carns says: He did not foresake the calling, but chose only a wider and freer pulpit than the church at that time afforded him. Every one who approached Schiller closely in life or in his writings was impressed with this sense of his priest ly and prophetic character, using the words in their best sense, so true IS this, that one of the chief criticisms of Schiller's work on the part of those who hold that the artist must love beauty for beauty'e sake alone, has been this tendency to preach" schill- CTS religion was not limited to any sect. This apparent lack of religion was an evidence of his extraordinary religion seriousness, which he ex- pressed in tine famous distich: What my religion7 I'll tell you! There IS none among all you mention. Which | embrace. And the cause. Truly, re- ligion 1t is"'
 Translations are usually feeble af- fair, and but poorly express the height and beauty of the original. so Dr. Carns mt oI'y gives the English vision of Schiller's best known poem, but underneath each is the original. that none may fail to know this mar vellous writer In his own tongue, if he be fortunate enough to be able to read German
 "The Lay of the Bells" says the au- thor, should be noteworthy to Ameri- cars, because 1t suggested to Longfel low, the plan of his poem, The Build ing of the Ship" The same, however might be said of many of the best things in literature.
 The book is to be commended, and will be interesting to any at all desir- ous of knowing more of Germany's best loved singer.