New-York tribune., 1908-11-15

ceivabIe appearance OF the black knight the OBJ
Ject OF the poet IS ambiguous; IN the character %
Talbot. and many other parts Schiller has entered
Into competition with Shakespeare. without SIC
cess; and I know not whether the colorins en-
poyed which IS not brilliant might be I'm
agined. is equivalent FOR the sevs-er pathOs
which has thereby been lost. The history OF ths
Maid OF Orleans is most accurately vOuched: the
high mission was believed by herself and generally
by her contemporaries, and produced the most
traordinary effects. The wonder might theretors
have been represented by the poet. even though
the skeptical spirit Of his contemporaries should
have deferred him from giving il out tor real; and
the true. !gnominioUs martyrdon OF the betrayed
and abandoned heroine would have agitated Is
deeply than the gaudy and rose-coIored enc
which Schiller has invented for her IN contradic-
ton history ShakespeaTes exhibition. though
partial from his national point OF view. still pos
sesses much historical truth and prorundiJy.
However. the German piece will always remain a
beautiful attempt 20 save the honor OF dis
hcnored by tmpudent ridicue: and It's dazzling et-
feet. supported by the rich ornaments OF the Ian
guase. deservedly gained for II the most distn-
guished success the stage.
am least disposed 10 approve OF the principles
which Schiller followed IN the Bride OF Aessina.
and which he himself declares IN his preface Tbs
investigation however. would lead me far into
the province OF theory 1t intended for
tragedy, antique II It's form, but romantic sub
sIstence. A story altogether fictitious Is kept n
a costume indefinite and s dvested - all In
ward probability that the picture Is neither truly
ideal truly natural neither rnytholOgical
historical The romantic poetry seeks. indeed
blend things the remote from each other into
one. but It cannot admit OF things which alto
sether Incompatible with each other. the way OF
thinking OF the people exhibited cannot be az orCs
Pagan and Christian. I viii not complain oS him
for borrowing openly a he has done; the whols
is composed OF two principal ingredients. OF tbs
story OF EteOcles and Polynices. who. notwtth-
standing the mediation OF their mother Jocaste.
Of he nd
Of the brothers impelled by jealousy In love 20
natricide. in the Zwnlinsen Klinger. ard Ia
Julius Won Tdrent- In the introduction OF the
chOruses. also. though they possess much lyrical
sublmity and beautiful passages. the sense Of ths
ancients has been totally mistaken TO each ot
the hostile brothers peculiar chorus is partially
attached. The contendng against the other.
they both cease to be a true chorus. that Is q
voice Of sympathy and contemplation elevated
above every personal consideration
The last of SchiIler's works. Wilhelm Tell 10
also. in my opinion. the best Here ne has wholly
returned 10 the poetry OF history; the manner N
which he has handled MS subject Is true. cordial
and. when We consider Schiuers ignorance OF Swiss
nature and manners. wonderful in point OF local
truth. 1t is true he had here a noble source 70
draw from in the speaking pictures OF the turror-
tai John Muller In the view OF Tells chapel on
the banks OF the Lake OF Lucerne. in the open air
and with the Alps for a background. this picturs
OF heart-elevatng. old German manners piety. and
true heroism. might have merited representation
a solemnization OF Swiss freedom ave hundred
years after It's foundation.
Schiller was in the most mature fulneSs Of his
mind when he carried of BY an untin1sly
death; up to the moment OF which his health
which had long been undermined. always made
10 yield TO his powerful will and completely ex-
hausted IN the most praiseworthy endeavOrs- How
much might he not have still performed. ne dsdi-
Gated himself exclusively to the theatre. and with
every work attained higher mastery OF bis aFrL
He a virtuous artist in the ge1ulas sense OF
the word: he worshipped the true and r1s oSauu-
tul with purity OF mind. and TO his t2Ssfaus@o$s
endeavors to reach them, he Offered up hs s~h
existence a sacrifice. far from petty self-oVe-
and from the jealousy but ssksSsn -v@n among
ar.ists q axcellancA