The sun., 1919-05-25
"FrightfulneSs" in
German Fiction
By N. P. D.

OuuSl HAUL, cdLeu Inc DHeH uNly
is rubbing it in. But Hfrightfulness" is
apparently not confined to the German
army, being sometimes found in German
Iction, when it should doubtless be ex-
posed and delivered over to the people
for Judgment. 1t is tosi that this story
was written by Sudermann "many years
ago." whereupon it was tucked away"
and completely forgotten" fortunately,
until @some five years ago it came to
light" 1t may well have been one of the
causes Of the war. It is unbeievably silly
in its sentimentality, naive In its tragedy,
and quaint-to use a mild word-in its
expression. 1t has scenes, however, that
might well make a sentimental German
machen SILVER to her soul.
1t is the story of two brothers, Martin
and Johannes. Martin is the sober, less
attractive elder brother, who in a violent
rage once had hit his little brother Fritz,
with the result that the boy was an idiot
until he died. After that, whenever
Martin showed signs of anger, the words,
@Think Of Fritz" were sufficient to calm
him instantly. In secret room in the
mill, be writes think of Fritz on the
wall. After their parents death, Martin
and johannes live happily together at the
mill, until the younger brother is called
away to Berlin to be Uhlan. Each had
promised the other not to marry, so that
johannes is angry when he hears that
Martin has brought a bride to the mill,
and when he receives his discharge from
the army he does not at once go home.
As Sudermann exclaims in the peculiar
style in which this story is written: allow
now, Johannesf We are so obstinate
that on no account viii we go home, and
prefer to seek our fortune in foreign
parts; we roam about, now to right, now
to left, up hill and down hill" 1t sounds
Like nursery rhyme.
But finally the handsome young Uhlan
comes staggering home, with his hat
cooked on one side and clanking his spurs.
In the garden, he has the first glimpse
Of his new sister-in-law. "Good heavens
what sweet girl How her bonny cheeks
glow, how her dark eyes CLEAN, how her
pouting lips seem to invite a kiss"
Whereupon, Sudermann interjects: "Uh-
Ian, beware! Take carelw
Johannes and his sister-in-law are soon,
Of course, great friends In the evening
they read together the @Album of Ly-
RIGS" about Count Won Sackingen and his
bride, and the Lovely Miller-Maid; or
they wander to the romantic weir, where
there is a draw bridge. Think of the
draw bridget In fact, it is not long be-
fore things become pretty hot between
Johannes and Gertrude. One evening,
like a tiger he springs towards her-he
encircles her with his arms-he presses
her to him-she closes her eyes and
breathes heavily-then he bends down and
lays his hot and thirsting lips upon hers.
She gives a loud moan-her body
trembles feverishly in his embrace"
The Schutzenfest dance brings matters
to a climax in the miller's family. The
slippers Johannes buys for Trude are too
small for her. She confesses to him that
her feet "burn like heIl-fre" But they
dance, and "she leans her face with a
deep drawn breath upon his breast" FL
nally, however, Gertrude's feet hurt her so
much that Johannes has to carry her
home. Poor Johannes. "Her bosom
heaves upon his breast; her wavy hair
nipples over his neck; her warming breath
earesses his glowing countenance"
The final catastrophe occurs-guess
vheref Why at the fatal draw bridge by
the romantic weir. Martin thinks Of
Fritz" too late. Gertrude enters the
Church, where "she expiates the great
crime which is known as YOUTH" The
translator bushes unseen. Perhaps, after
all, publishing the book at this time is a