Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-28
MYSTERY OF THE TANGIBLE
DR.. HAUPTMANN ON THE MA
TERIALISTIC IN DREAMS.
German Philosopher Lectures at the
Pythian Temple-Impressed With
Energy in American Life.

Before number of German-Americans
and members of the German embassy, DR..
Karl Hauptmann the German philosopher
and author, and formerly a member of
| the faculty Of the University of jena. lee
tured last night in the auditorium of the
Pythfan Temple on "Das Geheimniss der
Gestalt." or ''The Mystery of the Tangi-
Bile The theme ranged from the fan
cies of poet TO the development of the
materialistic. the speaker endeavoring to
show an Intimate connection of the two.
DR.. Hauptmann remained seated and
adopted conversational manner, speak
ing clearly and slowly. From the time he
took his position upon the platform until
the end of the lecture he seemed utterly
oblivious of everything except his subject
and desire that his audience should
clearly understand his thoughts.
Dr. Hauptmann was introduced 20 his
audience by Prof. Spanhoofd of this city.
The introduction was in the lecturers ma
tive tongue. as in fact. was the lecture
and the language used in an informal re-
ception rendered by the Columbia Turn
verein later in the evening. Among the
auditors We're Mrs. Hauptmann, the wife
of the lecturer who is ACCOMMODATING her
husband on his trip to America, and the
following members of the German en-
basSy: Capt RetZmann. naval attachc
Capt. Won Livonius, military attache and
Baron Hartmann Won Richthofen. second
secretary. Others present were Hofrat
Sachse. Miss Townsend Mr.. and Mrs.
Heurich, Mrs. Shade and Miss Anita
Shade.
Material Creations Result of Dreams.
The most materials creation of the
human kind said Dr. Hauptmann. lis
the result OF a dream-the dream of a
poet if You wish, for inventors are poets
to my mind. The inventor dreams Of his
work and surrounds it with a sanctity be-
fore he attempts to bring it into the
materialistic. before his ideas evolve into
tangible form. This he does gradually,
and gradually perfecting it, each addition
representing. so to speak. another dream,
until it is ready for the use of mankind.
The airship, the locomotive. the tele-
phone. the automobile are all the works
OF poets. the dreamerS. Their models
appeared in visionary way before them
and the ideas We're dreamed over, mental
~ toiled over. until gradually they began
to assume materiaistic form. and were
finally placed before the world as per-
fected inventions for the benefit of man
kind. DR.. Hauptmann said in extending
his theme to things of nature. that it APP
peared to him as though the very trees.
the animals. the sun. the moon. the rivers
lakes. birds and fish were the result of
fore the creation of man and became the
things Of nature they now are.
Informal Reception.
After the lecture at the Pythian Tenn
pie DR.. Hauptmann was given an in
formal reception in the Columbia Turn
verein Hall. Those in charge of the re-
ception We're A Werner-Spanhoofd, E r
Abner. Richard Bartholdt. F. Brinkmann,
Gustave Bender. Chr Heurich. H. II.
Bergman. Rudolph, DeZapp, Ernst Gich-
ner, Anton Lerch, +. +. Mann W. Nord-
hoff. Aug. Plugge, Robert Pluym, Henry
G. w. Speir, DR.. Christian Strack, Curt
NOelckner, DIR. f. Selhausen. Representa-
tive August kuesterman and Fred kra-
mer.
Impressions of America.
DR.. Hauptmann was asked TO give his
impressions of America and the result of
his observations so far He at first ap-
peared dislncIined to talk. but finally
his impressions of the energy of Amer
leans.
II have heard of the skyscrapers. as
they are called. in your large Cities said
the speaker. land have heard it said
that they were inartistic. From what
have seen Of them I don't agree with
these critics, for the simple reason they
are the silent tokens of the energy and
power of the people who first conceived
and then created them into things tangi-
BILE. Instead of being inartistic they sug-
gest to me poetry and sentiment.
II have also been impressed with the
energy of your people in their daily life.
Every act indicates resolution and a def
mite purpose. from the man who handles
your baggage in the hotel to the street
urchin Who sells newspapers. They have
something definite to do. and in doing it
they go about their duty in a resolute
manner. indicating a decision of mind
and a directness of action"