The stir made in the
company by this little brush at arms arrested the attention of all, and
gave the Americans their first information as to where our quondam
friend stood, as well as set them an example of zeal and enthusiasm in
their own cause.
I must close this notice with an incident which lies quite outside of
Dr. Neumann's relations to America and Americans. On his retirement from
his university labors, he withdrew mainly from the exciting scenes of
public life. But in November, 1859, occurred the centennial anniversary
of Schiller's birth. Of all the men connected with German popular
literature, Schiller is most in the hearts of the people of Germany. The
spirit of liberty shown in his 'William Tell'--his exile from his native
Wirtemberg for the free expressions used in the first play he ever
wrote--his high order of genius as a poet and historian--the subjects he
chose, and the way he treated them, and, finally, his social and
domestic character, have all combined to endear him to the whole people.
This festival was everywhere observed, and with the highest enthusiasm;
for although Governments were afraid of its effects, they were still
more afraid to refuse permission to hold it. It lasted for several days,
on one of which was a great public dinner, with several hundred in
attendance, of which Dr.
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