The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-08-28
Goethe's Birthday
 Recalls His Prophecy
 of Germany's Future

German culture, of which so much has been heard of late, has enshrined as it's patron saint Johann Wolfgang Yon Goethe, who was born 166l years ago today, August 28, 1749, at Frank sort-on-the-Main Prussia, where his birthday is annually celebrated. Goethe has been given the same exalted place in German literature that the English speaking world has accorded to Shakespeare and the French people to Vo1taire. Few critics, even among the Gernans, have ever held that he was the equal as a dramatist of Shakes peare, and as a many-sided genius and master of language he fell far short of Voltaire. but as the poet of philosophy Goethe is without a peer. His great philosophical poem, Faust ranks as the gFeatest work of it's kind.
 It was to a. French army officer, Count de Thorane, who was for some time quartered in the house of Goethe's father, that the supreme fig ure in German literature owed his earliest inspiration. The F'renchnan was a scholar and a man of taste, and he encouraged the Prussian youth in his literary ambitions. He taught Goethe the French language, and a French company, performing at Frankfort, awakened in the boy a keen interest in the drama.
 In the light of present events it is
 
 of the culture of his people, and his predictions, as to the future of Ger many. contained in a. letter written about a. century ago.
 1T have often felt bitter grief wrote the poet lat the thought of the German people, so noble individually and so wretched as a whole. A com parison of the German people with other nations gives us painful feelings, which I try to overcone by all poSSi- ble means; and in science and art have found the wings which lift me above them But the comfort which they afford is, after all, only a rniser- able comfort, and does not make up for the proud consciousness of belong ing to nation strong. respected. and feared.
 ttBut I am lcomforted by the thought of Germany's future. Yes, the Ger man nation has a. future. The destiny of the Germans is not yet fulfilled. The time, the. right time, no human eye can foresees nor can human power hasten it ons To us individuals, meanwhile, it is given, to every one Recording to his talents, his inc1ina- tions, and his position, to increase, to strengthen, and to spread national cuI- ture. In order that in this respect, at least, Germany may be ahead of other nations and that the national spirit, instead of being stif1ed and discour- aged, may be Kept alive and hOp6fu1 and ready to rise in. all it's might when the day Of, glory dawns.s
 It is the belief Of the German peo- pie that this day of glory dawned with Prussfa's triunphs on the battle field in her wars on. Austria France, and that in the last half-century Ger man ttkultur,'' as represented by her achievements in science. literature and the arts and supported by the best trained military machine ever built up in the history of the world, has now reached the full flower predicted by Goethe. and by right of superiority should hold a dominant place in the world,
 Since the war began the German reverence for Goethe has increased n1anyfold until now the defenders of Teutonic culture consider that his name alone is sufficient answer to all who deny the supremacy of German literature. The unprejudiced will scarcely admit such claim; and yet it must be admitted that, for good or fu, Goethe played major role in the creation of that national culture, which he heraIded as the supreme consumnation of the future