Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-17

brusque and imperious: was at home with
the rough soldiers Of the garrisons OF
those days quite as much as In the draw
ing room. He was witty and wise in
many things, but his faults were quite as
conspicuous as his virtues. He and
Goethe put on miners dresses once and
danced all night with peasant girls. He
often wandered about among the people
seeking excitement in wine and in f1irta-
lions with pretty women without respect
to station. He was eight years younger
than Goethe and loved him as a brother.
In those days dissipation was fashion
able and the morals Of men and women
in high places were not so strict AZ they
are today. The duke and the poet en-
gagged in all sorts of deviltry. not only
in Weimar but In Leipzig, Erfurt, Eisen-
drank deeply. loved indiscreetly and con-
sumed an infinite amount of beer and
Sausages.
All Germany was scandalized by their
escapades. but Goethe had his apologists
and defenders. An eminent writer said:
HE was not a reformer, not martyr.
He was poet. whose religion was beauty,
whose worship was nature. whose aim
was culture. His mission was to paint
life. and for that it was requisite that he
should see it, and he did see 1t, wide
open and without smoked glasses; but
after while, as they grew a. little older
and wiser. both Goethe and the duke set
tied down, and Weimar became the cen
ter and the source of many good things.
The theater at Weimar surpassed every
| thing of the kind in Germany under
[ GOethe's direction-its actors, its compos-
ers, it's scene painters and its costumiers.
| Everybody who had any talent was
pressed into the service, including the
dOwager duchess herself, the grand duke
as we'll as the peasants in the villages
along the lin. Sometimes French come
| dies. sometimes TRACE dies of Shakespeare
and sometimes broad farces and extrava D.
| ganZas were presented upon the Weimar
stage, and both Goethe and Schiller wrote
| their best things for these performances
| GOethe's influence extended in every di-
| rection. He was the dukes closest adj
wiser in political and practical matters
| he was the censor of architecture in Wei
| mar. and designed the present palace
as landscape gardener he laid out the
| parks that are so much admired. and es-
tablished and organized the educational
and benevolent institutions that are con-
| sidered models. And all this time he
| was writing the works that have made
/ him as famous as Shakespeare
| The first part of Wilhelm Meister ap-
peared in 1875, and it was concluded in
1891. Faust" was published in 1906. and
| these two works clinched his reputation
| They placed him at the ad Of German
| literature. position that has never been
challenged. At the same tim4 he was
| assisting to guide the duke through the
tumutuous complications which Napo
Icons invasion Of Saxony had caused
| October "a, 1906, after Napoleon's victory
at the battle of Jena, Goethe's house was
| invaded by French soldiers, who ran
! sacked his chambers and his cellars and
| destroyed many precious mementOes in
I his cabinets. 1t was the most exciting
| and distressful episode OF his life. His
soul was rent with indignation and wrath
but soon Napoleon withdrew he re-
sumed his peaceful habits and literary
| work. and took great satisfaction in ar
| interview with Napoleon. because the lat.
| ter had read The Sorrows OF Werther
| seven times and Willie I'm Meister'' three
| times. Any writer would have been fiat
tered by this compliment. especially as
| the emperor invited him to Paris an6
decorated him with the cross of the lie.
| gion of Honor.
! residence in Weimar was celebrated by a
grand public festival. which gave hin,
! even greater satisfaction. He said IL
| extended his life several years. In 1881
after the production of Faust" fifteen
| Englishmen distinguished in literature, in.
GLIDING Sir Walter Scott, Thomas CARLYLE
| Wordsworth and Southey. presented him
| with a seal. bearing an Inscription from
one OF his own poems, and characterizine
him as THE Master Spirit: the Spokes.
man of His Age and the artist par ex.
cellence OF the nineteenth century,"
, The following year Goethe acquired 6
serious cold. which grew worse and worse
until he was compelled to take to hi:
bed, and on q cold spring day, March %
1882. his great soul passed into the infinit,
as he sat in his chamber. with his SON:
widow. Ottiiie. clasping his hand.
| Goethe was born In Frankfort-on.the
Main. and his father was taller. H