Neumann consented to be one. Champagne flowed
freely, and although I did not taste this beverage, and know by
experience little of its effects, it was easy to perceive that the
animation could not all be accounted for by love to the memory even of
Schiller. Poems were read, and speeches were made describing his
character as poet, historian, or otherwise, according to the fancy of
each speaker. I remember one from Bodenstedt, than whom few stand higher
in the walks of polite literature, and one from Sybel, than whom no one
in Germany ranks higher as a historian. Dr. Neumann, who, like an old
parade horse long withrawn from the excitements of a parade, felt amid
these scenes the spirit of former days stirred within him, rose to
speak. We shall be prepared to appreciate the effect when we get an idea
of the preternatural sensitiveness of those who composed the audience. A
well-known poet, who may perhaps be called the poet-laureate of Bavaria,
had read a poem on the occasion. It contained nothing to which any one
could object, as we might infer from his position with the king, and yet
I heard the poet himself say a few days afterward that the editors of a
certain well-known journal, in publishing it, left out the stanzas
containing the word _Freiheit_ (liberty), so fearful were they of not
pitching their tune to a key that would suit royal and Government ears.
Pages:
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139