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    Treytag ? s theory is not the noblest ; but it embraces many points which are included in the projects of nil philanthropists and social reformers . As a aiovelist "we are . inclined to attribute to him in Germany a position somewhat resembling' that of Mr . Charles Dickens in England . As a humorist he is not to be compared with him ; indeed , Ave hardly think that Chevalier

    J ? unsen concedes much when he rates JVeytag as inferior in this respect to Cervantes and Fielding . As the preface suggests , however , the dark characters axe brought out amid Rembrandt shadows ; they appear and vanish lik-. e the demons in a mediaeval all ' egoxy . ; their shapes and voices are startling , \ -nnd they impress a peculiar moral horror upon certain episodes of the ro-Tnarece . In the typical impersonations of . beauty and delicacy by Sabine and Lenore the blood is of the same warmth and brightness as that cthexealized In the veins of Ottilie and Mignon , pure-and immortal '' creations as the Chevalier describes them to be . jjut the chief merit of the book is its xeality as a picture of manners , its broad and deep perspective throwing open the interior of German life , its faithful illustration of the intercourse between' classes , its assortment of representative characters . The hero , Anton , or Anthony , as we find the name varied in the translations , with Lenore or Leonora , is the model personage of the drama , and we are told

    that , in homage to this conception , hundreds of fathers belonging to the higher classes have placed the work in the hands of their sons as a testimony to the dignity and high importance attributed to the social position they . are called upon to occupy . Anton is not . an ideal , although a portrait toned and polished after a noble design ; he 5 s natural in his excellences and his frailties , the one principle worked out in his character being that of undeviating honesty accompanying perseverance and ambition . His antetype is Veitel Itzig , a sort of aualignant , irreclaimable Oliver Twist , educated to be a disciple of Jews , and a conqueror of the craft that first en tangles him ; he finds , as he fancies , his ultimate development as the son-in-law and heir of his master . Rosalie , daughter of ' the broker Ehrenthal , becomes the bride of the boy who once offered an impudent petition on the step in front of her father ' s door . This leads to one * of the few passages of moralizing rhetoric in thenovel ; we quote it from Mrs . Malcolm ' s version :-

    —Lay aside your bridal attire , beautiful Rosalie , ' - throw your golden bracelet with turquoises into the darkest corner of the house , where mould covers the walls , find no ray of light falls on gold , or precious jewels . The jewels will turn pale , in the course of years ; the -wood-louse will settle in the liDks of the bracelet , and . glide through the . golden rings . Long-legged spiders will crawl over and spin their webs upon it , to surprise simple flies iu the dark . Pling the bracelet far from you , for every grain of gold in it has been paid for by a roguery . Take off your nuptial rob ' e , and Avrap up your "beautiful "body in mourning , tear the flowers from your hair , pluck off the leaves , a . nd throw them out into night , as sport foT the cold night wind . Watch them ho-w they flutter in the light of the window , and disappear in the dark ; they fall down into the dirt of tlie streets , and the foot of the passers-by covers them with mud . You will celebrate no betrothal , no wedding with your promising bridegroom ; you will soon hurry through the streets with your head bent down , and wherever , you pass , people will jog each other and whisper , ^ That is his bride . " Anil when the time

    conies , when your mother ' hopes saw you in the residence , in the enjoyment of your honeymoon , you will inhabit a foreign town , to ' which-you will fly , to escape from the scorn of the malicious . You will not die of grief , and your cheeks will not grow pale ; you . are handsome , your father has collected much money ; you will find more than one who will be ready to be Itzig's successor . It -will be your fate to fall to one who will marry you-for your money , aud you will despise him from the lirst day of your marriage , and will suffer him « 9 you -would « a disease that the physician cannot cure . Yoxi will wear new dresses of bright silk , and other trinkets will cling on your arm , and the object of your life will be to walk about as a dressed-up doll , comparing your husband jeeringly with other men . 13 ut the money which old Ehrenthal has collected for his children , with a thousand anxieties , by usury and cunning , will again roll from one hand into another , will serve the good and the bad , and will flow into the mighty stream of capital whose current preserves and embellishes the lile of man , makes nations and commonwealths great , and individuals prosperous , or miserable , according to their actions .

    There is a shadow behind Rosalie iu . her yellow bridal dress . Ifc is that of Justice , and Itzig has not even time to take home his betrothed . TVe give the scene in L . C . C . ' s vei * sion : — As he neared the inn he saw a dark shadow at the door . Tlie little lawyer had often stood there in the dark , waiting for Vcitel ' s return . " Was lie standing there now and waiting ? The wretched fugitive started back , then approached—the door was free , he stepped in , but the shadow rose again behind him and stood at tlie door . Voitel took off his boots and crept up-staira , groped in the dark for a room-door , opened it with trembling liand , and took down a bunch of keys from the . wall , with which he hurried to the gallery , hearing , us if at a great distance , the long-drawn breath of sleeping men . lie stood at the door of the staircase , a violent shudder convulsed him . aa he went down step , after step . When he lirst put his foot into the water he hoard a lamentable groan , lie clung to the banisters as that other had done , nnd looked down . Again there was a gronn , and he now found out it was only his own breathing . Ho fult the depth of the water with his foot . It had risen since that time—it was higher than his knee—but ho found a footing , and stood safely in the stream .

    The night was dark , the rain . still came down , the mist hung thick over the houses —a gahle , a paling , peeping out hero mid there ; thu water rushud along , the only Hound to break the silence of the night , and in thin man ' s ear it roared like thunder , lie felt all tho torments of the lost , while wading on and groping I ' or his way . lie had to cling to the slippery palings , in order not to sink . Jle renclu-d the staircn . su of the next house , felt iu his pockets for tho key—onu . s \ viii ££ round the corner , and hi * foot would bo on the lowest 8 t « p . Just uh ho was about to turn ho started back , his raised foot foil into tho water ; ho . saw a dark stooping li-rimi on the . staircase . There it ant motionless , lie knew the outline of ( he old hut ; dark as it washe . could stni

    , thcnyly features of the well-known face . lie wiped his eyon , ho waved his hands to dispel it ; it was no illusion , tho spectre sat thero a few Hti'pH off . At length thu horrible-thing stretched out a hand toward * him . The murderer started buck , his foot slipped off tho platform , ho fell up to hia neck in water . There ho -stood in the . stream , tho wind howling over him , the water rushing over louder and louder , lie raised hia hands , lii . s oyoa still ttxcq upon tho vision . Slowly it rose , from its seat—it moved along the platform , it ntretched out its hand . 110 sprang buck horror-stricken into tho Btrciun—a fall , a loud scream , the short drowning struggle , and all was over . The stroam rolled on , and carried the corpse awny .

    lowards this tragedy the story is worked with admirable art , a parallel lino being occupied by Anthony , who makes his way , so to speak , by counteracting Itzig . lhus a high moruL purpose is kept iu view , while tho

    narrator does not forget that he is an artist . Prom the relation of his career , as translated by Mrs . Malcolm , we quote a singularly characteristic passage descriptive of his installation as clerk in the great firm of T . 6 . Schroeter The senior clerks are deputed to acquaint him with the fact of Ms promotion : —

    But Herr Speeht jumped up and stopped him . " We are not pigs , ' he said , stretch ing out his hand before the door ; " wC ; are not wild beasts , to rush in such a disorderly way to receive a new colleague , as if he were one of a herd . I beseech -vou to think of the honour of our Firm . It is necessary tliat a deputation of two should go to him , and at least two bowls of punch be made ; and Jordan must welcome him -with a speech . " ¦ This motion met with applause . Herr Liebold and Herr Pix were chosen to bring in the new colleague . Herr Speeht inspected the room with searching eyes , arranged tbe tables , placed the chairs in a semicircle on both sides , fetched bottles and glasses , and placed on a tobacco-box in the middle of the table a green papier-mache" knight carrying a gilt sword . Then he fetched a carpet and laid it between the door and the company , that Wohlfart might stand on it like a bride before the altar . He exhausted all his eloquence to get candles and lamps from the rooms of his colleagues , and collected them together in a group . Finally , lie drew down the blinds , closed the

    coloured curtains , and produced , first , an artificial dusk , and then an uncommonly brilliant light , which was accompanied by a strong smell of lamps . Thus he succeeded in giving the room a strange and mysterious appearance ; the others at first only looked on , but afterwards , carried away by the example of . his zeal , they assisted him actively . At last he allowed the deputation to go up-stairs , and a vague recollection having- come across him of the imposing appearance of the lioraan senate who . sat motionless in their chairs when the enemies of Rome entered , he urgently implored those who remained to sit silent and immovable in then * places in a circle . When the door opened , arid the astonished YVohlfart , ' . who had not an idea of what was going on , appeared between his two guides , one of whom , Herr Pix , brought v . ith practical forethought Anthony ' s sugar-cauister , and the other carried his nosegay , the Roman senate vanished from the imagination of Herr Speeht , and the * three wise men or holy kings , with their gifts , Christmas , and Christian ceremonies took its place . He sprang up in an ecstasy and exclaimed , " Let all stand up . "

    i > y this change of ceremonial he unluckily spoilt the effect of the scene , as only one part of the gentlemen followed his example , the others remained sitting . Then Herr Jordan went up to Anthony , and said with hearty cordiality , " Dear Wohlfart , you have been working with \ is for two years , you have taken pains to learn , the business , and you have won our affection . It is the wish of the Principal , and ours , that the customary term of probation should he shortened for you . Herr Schroeter intends to receive you to-morrow as one of the regular clerks , and we axe allowed the pleasure of informing j'ou of it to-day . We heartily- "wish you joy , and trust that ive may ever continue friends . " Here the kind-hearted Jordan ended his address , and offered his hand to his pupil . " Anthony stood for a moment bewildered , then seized it with both his , and , over--p ' oweretl with happiness , threw his arms round his neck . The other colleagues then gathered round Mm , and there followed ; a- shaking of hands and embracing unexampled hi the annals of the Jordan room . Again aud again Ahthoiry went from one

    to the other shaking hands with tears in his eyes . Speeht did not even regret the rain of his ceremonial by this ebullition of feeling in the new colleague ; Baumansat delighted in a corner with his hands over his knees ; Pix offered our hero his cigar twice in the course of five minutes , and even held the candle for him to light it . All were in the best humour ; the colleagues were proud of having a share in giving him such an important privilege , and Anthony was charmed to receive such kindness . He sat iu state in an easy chair placed for him by his friend Specht , before him stood the green knight in the midst of the bunch of roses , saluting him with his gilt sword , and around him were his colleagues , all endeavouring to add to his enjoyment . Herr Pix rose and proposed the health of Anthony with an eloquence unusual to him : lie described how he had come to them as a mere baby , who was as ignorant of the difference between a pen-holder and a cinnamon ^ stalk as a greenfinch is of the art of making coffee , and how he had made such striking progress in so short a time bv means of the

    groat scales , which had been , as it were , a cradle to him , and of the pr . cker who had nursed him , and by the co-operation of another individual whom modesty prevented him from naming . Then Anthony rose and proposed the health of his colleagues . He told them how alarmed he was when he for the first time opened the ofSce-doox . He reminded Herr Pix of the black brush with which he had pointed but the way to him , Herr Speeht of his habitual question , " What is your pleasure ? " and Herr Jordan of the over-sleeves which he had put away when he conducted the new comer to his room . These playful allusions to the distinguished attributes of the three gentlemen were received with great applause . Toast followed toast , and , to the astonishment of all , even the quick Uirnbauin , clerk of the customs , displayed an extraordinary gift of nature , for , after the third glass , he actually spouted some rhymes , the company became more and more merry , the lights shone brighter , and the cheeks assumed a more rosy hue .

    JLhe best part of this is omitted from the translation by L . C . C , which in a few chapters seems to bear marks of abridgment . lV e can scarcely suspect Mrs . Malcolm of amplifying . It would perhaps detract from the reader ' s enjoyment were we to tell more of the story ; but it would lead him on hy its originality of detail , even if he were familiar with the plot and catastrophe .

    Untitled Article

    ANCIENT HUSBANDRY . Lectures on Roman Husbandry . Delivered before the University of Oxford by Charles Daubcny , 51 . D ., I' . RS . Oxford : Parker . Dr . ]) aubi : nt takes up the history of Agriculture as the science was developed by Columclln . Perhaps at some future time ho may truce it to remoter sources , within the light of HesiocVs simpler learning , and interest his Oxford audience in the labours of those early husbandmen , who first prized the rich loam soils on the hanks of the Stymphalian and Copaie lakes , who learned to distinguish the earth that is soon crusted by the sun from that which is friable , black , and porous , nnd who judged of laud by

    ascertaining "whether it produced the lotus , the reed , or the basket-rush , -they knew where to linil springs , and how to estimate an argillaceous district . To tlii . s da }' , in the south of France , men fire held in high estimation who possess the art of discovering hidden waters , and that was an old Grecian invention ; it is a curious circumstance that one of the methods described by tlie most ancient authors is precisely the sumo as that now employed by certain tribes of Africa . They ascend to a hill-top before . sunrise , and whoa thu warmth of the dawn be mm a to glow , they observe where exhalatione rkse . Tlie Attic fanner , moreover , understood tlie processes of artificial irrigation , the tokens of the weather , the agricultural signification of stars .

    Untitled Article

    No . 398 , November 7 , 1857 . ] THE LEADER . 1075

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 7, 1857, page 1075, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2216/page/19/