higher literature of Germany, which is the higher literature of Europe, already gathers round this man as its creator; of which grand object, dawning mysteriously on a world that hoped not for it, who is there that can measure the significance and far-reaching influences?"

Characterization

The story of "Wilhelm Meister's Wanderjahre" is almost devoid of connected plot, and is used rather as a vehicle for a number of detached dissertations and apologues than as a presentation of character or an illustration of life. For this reason it has been made the subject of adverse criticism, and many of the independent sections have been valued less highly than would have been the case if they had been offered to the reader in a more artistic setting and more intelligible association. But the too evident want of coherence in the whole, and the defects for which the author more than once apologizes, do not deprive its contents of all value. The book has been severely criticised by Mr. G. H. Lewes, who speaks of its composition as "feeble" and 'careless," and cites a passage from Eckermann showing that the second edition was purposely made the receptacle of various odds and ends which very possibly would otherwise have remained unprinted. But even in the siftings of Goethe's work many grains of gold may be found; and, apart from the separate interest of some of the detached pieces, there is sufficient purpose evident in the whole to give it a concrete value. The main design is apparently the promulgation of a system of education and social life, as set forth in the sections relating to the Pedagogic Province. Unpractical as this system may seem, it is not more so than plans which have been gravely propounded and set afoot in our own day, and it is safe to predict that in generations to come there will be found educational reformers who may read with profit the description of Goethe's Pedagogic Utopia.

EDWARD BELL.

Selections from "Wilhelm Meister's Wanderjahre❞1

(Extract from a letter from Wilhelm Meister to Natalia, his wife, concerning his son Felix.) "I have to pass over many beautiful features of the common life of these virtuous and

1 This word is commonly translated Travels, but has in reality no equivalent in English. It denotes the period in which, by law or custom, a German artisan is required to sojourn in different places to perfect himself in his craft, after the completion of his apprenticeship.

happy people; for how could everything be written? A few days I have spent pleasantly, but the third already warns me to bethink me of my further travels.

"To-day I had a little dispute with Felix, for he wanted almost to compel me to transgress one of the good intentions which I have promised you to keep. Now it is just a defect, a misfortune, a fatality with me, that, before I am aware of it, the company increases around me, and I charge myself with a fresh burden, under which I afterwards have to toil and to drag myself along. Now, during my travels, we must have no third person as a constant companion. We wish and intend to be and to remain two only, and it has but just now seemed as if a new, and not exactly pleasing, connection was likely to be formed.

"A poor, merry little youngster had joined the children of the house, with whom Felix had been enjoying these days in play, who allowed himself to be used or abused just as the game required, and who very soon won the favor of Felix. From various expressions I noticed already that the latter had chosen a playmate for the next journey. The boy is known here in the neighborhood; he is tolerated everywhere on account of his merriness, and occasionally receives gratuities. But he did not please me, and I begged the master of the house to send him away. This was accordingly done, but Felix was vexed about it, and there was a little scene.

"On this occasion I made a discovery which pleased me. In a corner of the chapel, or hall, there stood a box of stones, which Felix-who since our wandering through the mountain had become exceedingly fond of stones-eagerly pulled out and examined. Among them were some fine, striking specimens. Our host said that the child might pick out for himself any he liked; that these stones were what remained over from a large quantity which a stranger had sent from here a short time before. He called him Montan,' and you can fancy how glad

1 This is a name supposed to be assumed by Jarno. See Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship."

S. M.-10

I was to hear this name, under which one of our best friends, to whom we owe so much, is travelling. As I inquired as to time and circumstances, I may hope soon to meet with him in my travels."

The news that Montan was in the neighborhood had made Wilhelm thoughtful. He considered that it ought not to be left merely to chance whether he should see such a worthy friend again, and therefore he inquired of his host whether it was not known in what direction this traveller had bent his way. No one had any more exact knowledge of this, and Wilhelm had already determined to pursue his route according to the first plan, when Felix exclaimed, "If father were not so obstinate, we should soon find Montan."

"In what manner?" asked Wilhelm.

Felix answered: "Little Fitz said yesterday that he would most likely follow up the gentleman who had the pretty stones with him, and knew so much about them too."

After some discussion Wilhelm at last resolved to make the attempt, and in so doing to give all the more attention to the suspicious boy. He was soon found, and when he understood what was intended, he brought a mallet and iron, and a very powerful hammer, together with a bag, and, in this miner-like equipment, ran merrily in front.

The road led sideways up the mountain again. The children ran leaping together from rock to rock, over stock and stone, and brook and stream, without following any direct path. Fitz, glancing now to his right and now to his left, pushed quickly upwards. As Wilhelm, and particularly the loaded carrier, could not follow so quickly, the boys retraced the road several times forwards and backwards, singing and whistling. The forms of certain strange trees aroused the attention of Felix, who, moreover, now made for the first time the acquaintance of the larches and stone-pines, and was attracted by the wonderful gentians. And thus the difficult travelling from place to place did not lack entertainment.

Little Fitz suddenly stood still and listened. He beckoned

to the others to come.

"Do you hear the knocking?" said he. "It is the sound of a hammer striking the rock."

"We hear it," said the others.

"It is Montan," said he, "or some one who can give us news of him."

As they followed the sound, which was repeated at intervals, they struck a clearing in the forest, and beheld a steep, lofty, naked rock, towering above everything, leaving even the tall forests deep under it. On the summit they descried a person. He stood at too great a distance to be recognized. The children. at once commenced to clamber up the rugged paths. Wilhelm followed with some difficulty, nay, danger; for in ascending a rock, the first one goes more safely, because he feels his way for himself; the one that follows only sees where the former has got to, but not how. The boys soon reached the top, and Wilhelm heard a loud shout of joy.

"It is Jarno!" Felix called out to his father, and Jarno at once stepped forward to a steep place, reached his hand to his friend, and pulled him up to the top. They embraced and welcomed each other with rapture under the open canopy of heaven.

The two friends, not without care and difficulty, had descended to join the children, who had settled themselves in a shady spot below. The mineral specimens collected by Montan and Felix were unpacked almost more eagerly than the provisions. The latter had many questions to ask, and the former many names to pronounce. Felix was delighted that he could tell him the names of them all, and committed them quickly to memory. At last he produced one more stone, and said, "What is this one called?"

Montan examined it with astonishment, and said, "Where did you get it?"

Fitz answered quickly, “I found it; it comes from this country."

"It is not from this district," replied Montan.

Felix enjoyed seeing the great man somewhat perplexed. "You shall have a ducat," said Montan, "if you take me to the place where it is found."

"It will be casy to earn," replied Fitz, "but not at once."

"Then describe to me the place exactly, so that I shall be able to find it without fail. But that is impossible, for it is a cross-stone, which comes from St. James of Compostella, and which some foreigner has lost, if indeed you have not stolen it from him, because it looks so wonderful."

"Give your ducat to your friend to take care of," said Fitz, "and I will honestly confess where I got the stone. In the ruined church at St. Joseph's there is a ruined altar as well. Among the scattered and broken stones at the top I discovered a layer of this stone, which served as a bed for the others, and I knocked down as much of it as I could get hold of. If you only lifted away the upper stones, no doubt you would find a good deal more of it."

"Take your gold piece," replied Montan; "you deserve it for this discovery. It is a pretty one. One justly rejoices when inanimate nature brings to light a semblance of what we love and venerate. She appears to us in the form of a sibyl, who sets down beforehand evidence of what has been predestined from eternity, but can only in the course of time become a reality. Upon this, as upon a miraculous, holy foundation, the priests had set their altar."

Wilhelm, who had been listening for a time, and who had noticed that many names and many descriptions came over and over again, repeated his already expressed wish that Montan would tell him so much as he had need of for the elementary instruction of the boy.

"Give that up," replied Montan. "There is nothing more terrible than a teacher who does not know more than the scholars at all events ought to know. He who wants to teach others may often indeed be silent about the best that he knows, but he must not be half instructed himself."