Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 May 1892 — Goethe and Heine. [ARTICLE]

Goethe and Heine.

It did not speak well for Goethe’s penetration or his generosity that he never recognized, or at least never acknowledged, the poetic genius of Heinrich Heine. The younger man was, however, filled with glowing admiration for the great master of German poetry and prose, and was irresistibly drawn to Weimar by his de-, sire to see personally the most wonderful man of the time. - Goethe received Heine with his usual graceful cordiality, but in the long conversation which followed noreference was made to Heine’s work In any way. Goethe kept to topics of tho most common order, such as the poplar avenue from Jena to Weimar. Suddenly he broke off to say to Heine: “What are you busying yourself with now?” “With one Faust,” quickly and, 1 gracefully replied the young poet, i Goethe, the second part of whose "Faust” had not then appeared, started with surprise, and asked, In a pointed tone: “Have you no further business than that In Weimar, Herr Heine?” To which Heine, who was never slow of comprehension, Instantly replied: “With my feetover your threshold, all my business In Weimar is ended,” and Immediately took his leave. Ills modesty, which always prevented his being tho first to speak of his own work, might well bo cdpied by young writers who secmofl to feel that by virtue of a single published article or poem they are entitled to the privilege of boring every casual acquaintance with the history of their literary aspirations and genius.