New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-13

pointing later life the author devotes a
brief chapter. OF the other child, boy,
nothing need he said here
Miss Reeks's accounts Of the chickering's
between the narrow father and the youth
in the first flush of his inspirations and
aspirations. his first fights into the poyS
db tenure as into that of poesy. have the
merit Of the simple realism Of Dutch
interior And ever Frau Ala" is there.
mediating. reconciling. employing her
admirable common sense. That name of
Frau Ala was given TO her in the
happy days after the sons return from
Strasburg. doctor of laws, to the In
tense delight Of his father, a rising poet,
his genius already recognized, TO the
pride and the justification of the mothers
mounting fight of ambition. 1t was the
day of Rousseau's influence Of wild rev.
dictionary theories and enthusiasms, no
doubt also, since youth is always the
same, Of the desire To 6pntcr les bourgeois.
Goethe's fame and personality drew
many young. hotheads to the stately
staid. paternal home which heard much
talk Of tyrants and their removal, The
Herr Rath grew FESTIVE, Frau Goethe
created a diversion by descending TO the
cellar and producing it's choicest vim
tages:
The scene of the mother bringing her
best wine and setting II before the wild
youths suggested 10 their poetic fancies
the legend of Frau Ala the sister OF
Charlemagne She was the wife of Count
Aymon, and the mother of four sons. one
of these sons had by mishap slain one Of
the Emperor's sons in brawl He there
fore. with his brothers. had 10 flee for
safety and TO lie in hiding. The Emperor.
not being able TO find the murderer, seized
on their father Aymon and kept him as
hostage, forcing him 10 swear to deliver
UP his sons TO vengeance should they dare
to return. After weary.years of exile they
vcntTed 10 revisit the paternal home dis
gused as pilgrims Frau Ala. Overioyed
to see her sons, brought food and her best
wine from the cellar 20 refresh them and
gladden. their WEAKNESS, so that they went
on their way strengthened and unmolest-
cd. Thus from her bright wine did Frau
4 ia get her name.
She often used it in signing her CORE
spondence Meanwhile. her mission as
mediator in the family, as her sons good
genius had not ended. Rdth Goethe,
who had refused to supply the funds for
the publication of "Goetz," could hardly
restrain his Impotence to see "Egmont'
in print, but soon found a new cause of
discomfort and distrust in the friend
ship between his son and the young
princes of Weimar His attitude toward
e 81. Of
the day He respected IL profoundly, but
he seriously doubted the sincerity and
dura blity of such intimate patronage of
it's interiors He had at his command no
end of homely middle class proverbs pre-
dieting disaster as the ultimate result Of
such associations. and. as matter of
fact. young Or. Wolf. as the poet was
called at that time. had to submit to
many a careless humiliation at the hands
Of his august acquaintance, who prob
ebly never saw the matter in that light.
Again Frau Ala encouraged her sons
ambition; she had faith. in his genius,
and would recognize no barriers 10 its
rice. And so Goethe went TO Weimar
Inc Time ndU tbUlt lot HIS uIitSSlSAtN
flight into the orld beyond.
Hencefortn Miss Reeks draws chiefly
upon Frau Goethe's letters 1t IS tale
Of ambitious trait justified. of growing
pride and undiminiahed love, but also
sorrow and Of loneliness. The Frank
fort burgomasters daughter became the
friend and correspondent Of her famous
sons friends and admirers but Of him
she saw but little thereafter. The
author barely LAYS sufficient stress upon
Goethc's long neglect Of her in the clos
ing years Of her long life, the only cpl
sode i'm his career which even Bielschow-
sky has not ventured To defend. Yet the
impression left is that Of a happy eX-
istence filled with the pride Of ever ris-
ing success and fame, and with an intel