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

thedral in Caracas a picture representing
himself in the arms OF angels being car
ried TO paradise. while the blessed Viz
gin and several of the apostles and mar
tyrs looked on with approval. The Wei
mar picture is almost as bad as that.
PASTOR Herders parsonage, in which he
lived for so many years, stands back OF
the church unaltered. and is occupied by
his successor. He owed his appointment
TO the friendship of Goethe, who when
youth of twenty-one was one of the stu
dents at StrassburS- The professor and
the pupil became great friends shortly
after they met. The older and ripper man
exercised gentle but effective infiunce
over the hayward genius by leading him
to appreciate the highest standards Of
poetry. although he does not seem to
have improved his morals to any great
extent.
After Goethe became prime minister of
Charles Augustus he called Prof. Herder
from StrassburS and had him appointed
pastor of the court church with a salary
sufficient to enable him to live In comfort
and to carry on his literary work. Herder
died in Weinar in 1863. one of the most
beloved and venerated men in Germany,
and is buried near the pulpit from which
he preached under simple slab of mar
BILE inscribed. LIGHT, Leibe, Leben'-
Light. Love. Life.
Luther was born and died al Eisleben.
He spent his boyhood at Magdeburg. his
youth at Eisenach. took his degree at the
University of Erfurt. spent the rest of his
life at Wittenberg and frequently preach
ed in the churches Of the surrounding
towns. Only few miles from Weimar.
al Wartburg Castle, Luther lived in dis
glise while he was translating the Bible.
In the market place Of Weimar today still
stand two houses from the windows OF
which the F'riar TetZel advertised indul-
gences for sale. which excited the indig-
nation Of Luther. But Weimar has never
been center of theological or even po-
net; ~ md CITY IN, oil
the world is so we'll satisfied with its
spiritual condition. Poetry and music
and not religion have excited the interests
Of this community. and it is not Luther.
but Liszt. Goethe and Schiller that the
people worship.
Goethe came 10 Weimar when lie was
twenty-six years old at the invitation OF
the young Duke Charles Augustus. who
was fascinated by the Sorrows of Wer-
Their, and after an acquaintance Of a
few weeks the friendship of life was
formed. The grand duke induced him to
settle in Weimar. and he made him a
member Of lis priNy council al salary
of 81 900 d year.
Goethe'S principal occupation was to
superintend the pleasures of the court
and to furnish Charles AUGUSTUS with a
delightful companion in his carousals as
we'll IS his more serious moments. One Of
the historians of the time says:
Goethe at once took his place as the
presiding deity. He rose like i star in
the heavens. Everybod worshiped him.
especially the women. His first years
were spent i'll wild and tumultuouS en-
jOyments, in which affairs or the heart
did not always end with the heart. But
! Goethe's nature was too profound. his in
tellectuai activity too great. to be long
| besuiled b. the frivoiities of masking.
hunting. drinking dancing and dicing,
and he resumed his more serious pur-
! SUITS.
| The Dowaser Duchess Amalia. a niece
OF Frederick the treat. was at that time
/ the leading spirit of the court. She was
| "A woman of remarkable mind and highly
cultivated taste. capricious temper. a
! love of pleasure and frivoiity. but a thor
Oueh appreciation of genius. She was a
composer. and set Goethe's poems to
music; she was a painter. and produced
I several meritorious rictures. (which may
| he found in the galleries. She read the
Greek poets in the original. was familiar
, with Italian literature and could read
and speak several other languages. She
was a thorough politician and knew vel
| how to manage her little KINGDOM and
| core for the IDENTITIES of the state,
Her son, Karl August. whom Frederick
| the Great pronounced at the age of four.
| teen to be the most promising prince ir
| Europe. was a versatile, and in many re
spects an admirable. character. His keer
appreciation OF genius and cultur.
brought to Weimar not only Goethe an(
Schiller, but several other eminent writ
ers and made his capital the literary cen
ter Of Europe during his reign. 1t ha.
been said that ''he was the prince, who
| with the smallest means. produced TIT
greatest results in Germany" He was
man of TREMENDOUS energy; he wa