Asst. Prof. Bartlett's Lecture.

Assistant Professor Bartlett delivered the fifth of the series of lectures by the German instructors, yesterday afternoon. His subject was "Goethe and Schiller."

He said: In that period between the dynastic conquest and popular revolt in Germany, the lives of both Goethe and Schiller are principally laid, the one a patrician and of high rank, the other a plebian of poor parents. Goethe was born at Frankfort on the Main, August 28, 1749. His father was not very rich and had a meagre education which he gained mostly from travel; his mother was quite different, for she was a woman of broad intellect and a kind heart, and seemed to the young poet more like a companion than a mother. When only ten years old Goethe wrote Latin correctly, and while still a child delighted in entertaining his youthful mates with strange stories. In 1765 he went to Leipsig to study law. He found poetry, however, more interesting, and returned to Frankfort, but afterward completed his legal education at Strasburg. With his entering into Strasburg came the beginning of his intellectual wakening, for the sight of the great cathedral and his falling in love with the village pastor's daughter furnished him themes for many of his most famous lyrics. In 1775 he left for a short visit to a small principality where he became so intimate with the duke that their intimacy became the general topic of conversation. For ten years Goethe, as prime minister, fulfilled the duties of court, engaged in private theatricals and devoted himself to literature, composing some parts of "Faust" and other noted works. On September 17, 1786, Goethe started for Italy where he spent two years in acquainting himself with Rome, the home of the Caesars. Returning from Italy, Goethe devoted himself to the natural sciences, and it is from this time on that the lives of these great poets, Goethe and Schiller go hand in hand. Schiller was born on November 10, 1759, ten years after his contemporary. He was a sickly child but showed great ability in speaking, often addressing his little sister from a chair. He was forced into a military school to learn a profession, but feigning sickness was taken to the hospital where he succeeded in obtaining pen and paper and composed his "Robbers" a play laid in the fields and woods of Germany. At this time his condition was most wretched but with the assistance of friends he was enabled to continue his literary work. Then the professorship of history at Jena put him on a firm financial standing and allowed him to marry, yet he still continued his writing which resulted in the production of the Revolt of the Spanish Netherlands, the Thirty years War and many others.

In 1805 Schiller died. His life was indeed romantic, filled with many struggles against adverse circumstances, and at a time when he had gained a high position among his people he was cut off by disease. Goethe lived a silent life for twenty-seven years after and at his death left works which filled forty volumes. Of the two, Goethe was the more natural and worked on the inspiration of the moment; Schiller, a man who worked in art for art's sake. As to the relation that existed between these men, possibly the monument that is erected to their memory is the most complete. Goethe stands before. erect, proud, and stately; Schiller a little taller is looking out into the distance while Goethe holds in his hand a laurel crown which he seems to think no man has a better right than himself to place upon the head of Schiller his nearest rival and dearest friend.