Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1916-06-07
HISTORY OF THE GERMAN
PEOPLE.

Walu ". EiliS, a. M, ana AUGUSTUS
r.. Keller, have been issued The
annals which the editors are sub
hitting to the intelligent American
reader date back to the ante-Caesar-
can days and the conquest Of Vercin-
gotorix and his pagan Averni, on the
banks OF the Rhine. leading the OBJ
servant student through the vicissi-
tudcs and changes in the days of the
Allcmanic, Gothic and TeutOnic
tribes, through ancient and medieval.
through feudal and popular rule and
early civilization, until in the two
volumes before as is reached the
opochal time known as the Reforma-
ton.
The earnest efforts of the editors
to impress, through the pages Of
their historical work, the wonderful
strides made even by the primitive
Germans and their steady progress
and enlightenment arc clearly dis
corniblo in these books, pressing
steadily toward the one end in view,
the well-being and the mental and
physical advancement through the
means of civilization and education.
They demonstrate that il was the
firm belief in and the application of
educational and self-imprOving agen-
ces which brought about the result
that the German language so forcibly
expresses by the single word "Kul-
tur." 1t was the Same self-imposed
task, the same purpose, which led
the editors to discuss at considerable
length, in q preceding volume, tho
establishment OF schools and ,univer-
stiles which have since blossomed in
TO famous institutions of learning
with regulations extending through
out the civilized world. including law
tribunals in the primitive stage Of
their existence.
This laudable cndcavor Mcssrs
Ellis and Keller, masters of their
task, now supplement in their pres
ent Offering with an interesting,
graphic and authentic pen picture of
the era of the great Reformation and
OF Martin Luther himself
or the youth and early days OF
Martin Luther enough is known to
warrant repetition. His father was
Hans Luther, an elder son of the
MOehra farmer who, in accordance
with the rule that the youngest child
must inherit the homestead. since he
needed the most care, had to seek
his fortune elsewhere After marry
ing Margarethe ziegler the young
couple removed to Eisleben, where
Hans found work as n miner; he was
baptized Martin in honor of the saint
whose feast day 1t was The public
school, whore he started as so tender
an age that he often had to be car
riod to and fro by older companions,
was very poor as was to be expected
in such q small out-of-the-way town
Luther himself said i'm later life that
bis school was "hell and purgatory"
But, in condemning thus severely
both schools and teachers, he Judged
them from the vantage ground OF q
larger world that had then opened
before him.
At thirteen, Martin was sent to
school at Magdoburg, instead of be-
ing kent at home to aid in the sup
port OF the family This shows tho
high and unselfsh character of hls
parents. His want OF skill in handi-
work may have had something to do
with the decision to give him
schooling, but no doubt his mental
gifts were the determining factor
Both at Magdcburg and at Eisonach.
whittier he went the following year.
he had to beg and sing his way into
obtaining food and schooling.
Luther's life was full Of startling
crises. The most unexpected one oc-
Cured in the summer OF 1906 when,
as a law student. he paid a visit to
mis- home. Suddenly one day, to the
CONSERVATION OF his father, he aban-
doned everything and entered mon
astery. The immediate occasion for
this surprising step was thunder
storm which overlook him outside
the town. In mortal dread of death,
he threw himself upon the ground,
praying to the patron saint OF the
miners. to whom he had often turned
in times of distress. Help, st. Anna,
and 7 win become monk.
Another version Of his sudden con-
version to the faith is that. CHANGING
one day to examine the 'Vulgate" in
the Erfurt University library, he per-
ceiyed with astonishment that there
We're more gospels and epstles than
in the dictionaries. His heart was
deeply touched and he resolved to
devote himself TO a spiritual life He
carried out this VOW by entering the
Augustinian monastry at Erfurt.
We CLEAN for the first time in the
present volumes, and can readily
understand the decision of the edi-
tors, that Luther, aggressive refor-
mer in the first stage of his career
and when dealing with practical
was nevertheless ultra con-
servative in his intellectual charac-
ter. shutting his mind pertinaciously
after middle life to any advanced
doctrnal opinion. Hence, in 1890.
when the Diet convened at Augsburg,
Luther was prudently kept at Coz
burg, while the interests Of the rro-
testant cause were entrusted 10 Me-
lanchton.
The establishment Of the Protest
ant creed at Augsburg marks the
elimination Of the German Reforma-
tion, according to the editors. Luther
survived for sixteen years, dying in
February 1916.
Both Of these latest volumes deal
with the history of the Reformation.
The work, when completed, will
cOnfafn nhOuf 1f or Y vOlumou and