Dirva = Field. [volume] (Cleveland, Ohio) 1915-current, 1944-12-08
$500 SUPERIOR AVENUE
(Continued)
Lithuanian Literature

was encouraged, reaching it's height
about the middle of the seventeenth
century This period is associated
with the names of such Lithuanian
writers as MaZvydas (translator Of
Luthers smaller Catechism, first
book printed in Lithuanian language
in 1547), Bretkunas, Kleinas, etc. In
1859 Daniel Kleinas, pastor of Til
sit, published a grammar of the
Lithuanian language of which he
wrote in the introduction: ut is the
dialect of Kaunas that we, with
small differences, speak in Prussia
as the best and most suitable. In
his Lithuanian prayer-books "our
Lithuania" is substituted for the
word PRUSSIA.
On the occasion of the coronation
of the first king of Prussia, Frede-
rick l, an order was issued for the
translation of the New Testament in
to Lithuanian. It's translators say
in their introduction that "the tran
station conforms to the genius of
the Lithuanian language as spoken
in the Kingdom of Prussia as well
as the Grand Duchy of Lithuania'
(genio loquendi Lithuarorum in re-
gio Prussiae 40 in Magno Ducatu
Lithuaniae accomodatum.)
Even official documents and ap
peals from ducal chancelleries ad-
dressed to Lithuanians were written
in Lithuanian; some copies of such
documents are to be found in the
United States. AS late as 1918
the Gumbine (Gumbinnen) admin
istrative unit was named "klg.
Preussische Litauische Regierung
(the Royal Prussian- Lithuanian gov
ernment).
In the eighteenth century the
Prussian government began to take
precautions against the Lithuanlza-
ton of German colonists; later, the
situation was reversed. Kristlonas
Duonelaitis (1714-178D, the great
est Lithuanian poet of Prusslan
Lithuania, deplored the Germaniza-
ton of the Lithuanian peasant,
painting the German colonists IN
dark colors in his poem Metal cine
Seasons). German scholars such
as Lessing, Herder and Goethe ex-
hihited interest in the Lithuanian
! language and its folklore.
AS reaction against the policy
of Germanization in 1726-T5, flfty
new Lithuanian books were printed
ir Prussian Lithuania. AS re-
suit of the French Revolution, Prus-
sian nationalism gained impetus,
and restrictions on the Lithuanian
| language became more severe. Prof.
7. ! Reza and others defended the
right to use the Lithuanian lang
uage. Keleivis (Traveller), weekly
t Acknowledgements publication OF
KoeHiesberg published by Profes-
| sor kursaitis, also championed the
| Lithuanian cause.
The GarmaniZation and colonial
tion of Lithuania Minor were fur-
ther intensified under Chancellor
Bismarck. Between 1865 and 1873
the Lithuanian language was BAN
ned from the schools. A special
law of 1876 declared German to be
the only language of the state
Lithuanian resistance continued. re-
, titions for the reintroduction OF the
Lithuanian language into the schools
were presented to the Kaiser: IN
1879 with 16,AOO signatures, In 1857
with 10000 signatures. and again
in 1895 with $4,000. However. the
petitiors were of no avail. A Llth-
uanian representative, Jonas Slma-
lakis. was elected to the German
Reichstag in 1895. Another Lithu-
anian member was Maciulis. The
first Lithuanian representative IN
Prussian Landtag was DIR. V. Gal
gala!tis (19O3); announcer fePlese"-
tativc was DR.. V. Steputaitis, from.
Gumbinnen precinct, in 1913.
Dr.. G. Sauerwein, a German phlio-
logist. did much to keep the Llthu-
anian language alive He learned
the Language himself and intercedcd
whenever possible on behalf of the
Lithuanians. He is especially note
worthy because of his song, "lhetu-
viais esame mes gine, Lietuvials
turime it but" (Lithuanians we are
born and ,Lithuanians we must re-
main). which was adopted by the
I.ithuanians of East Prussia as their
national anthem.
A number of Lithuanian-language
papers were published in Prussian
Lithuania. The first appeared in
1892. The most influential was Ne
LEWIS (Traveller) mentioned above.
The strongest in Lithuanian spirit
was the Lietuviska Ceitunga (Lithu-
anian Paper), which appeared in
| 1919 The TilzeS KeIeiyis. published