Note 1 — Chapter V · STERNE’S INFLUENCE IN GERMANY

A writer in the Gothaische Gelehrte Zeitungen, 1775 (II, 787 ff.), asserts that Sterne’s works are the favorite reading of the German nation.

2. A further illustration may be found in the following discourse: “Von einigen Hindernissen des akademischen Fleisses. Eine Rede bey dem Anfange der öffentlichen Vorlesungen gehalten,” von J. C. C. Ferber, Professor zu Helmstädt (1773, 8^o), reviewed in Magazin der deutschen Critik, III, St. I., pp. 261 ff. This academic guide of youth speaks of Sterne in the following words: “Wie tief dringt dieser Philosoph in die verborgensten Gänge des menschlichen Herzens, wie richtig entdeckt er die geheimsten Federn der Handlungen, wie entlarvt, wie verabscheuungsvoll steht vor ihm das Laster, wie liebenswürdig die Tugend! wie interessant sind seine Schilderungen, wie eindringend seine Lehren! und woher diese grosse Kenntniss des Menschen, woher diese getreue Bezeichnung der Natur, diese sanften Empfindungen, die seine geistvolle Sprache hervorbringt? Dieser Saame der Tugend, den er mit wohlthätiger Hand ausstreuet?” Yorick held up to college or university students as a champion of virtue is certainly an extraordinary spectacle. A critic in the Frankfurter Gel. Anz., August 18, 1772, in criticising the make-up of a so-called “Landbibliothek,” recommends books “die geschickt sind, die guten einfältigen, ungekünstelten Empfindungen reiner Seelen zu unterhalten, einen Yorick vor allen . . . .” The long article on Sterne’s character in the Götting. Mag., I, pp. 84–92, 1780, “Etwas über Sterne: Schreiben an Prof. Lichtenberg” undoubtedly helped to establish this opinion of Sterne authoritatively. In it Sterne’s weaknesses are acknowledged, but the tendency is to emphasize the tender, sympathetic side of his character. The conception of Yorick there presented is quite different from the one held by Lichtenberg himself.

3. The story of the “Lorenzodosen” is given quite fully in Longo’s monograph, “Laurence Sterne und Johann Georg Jacobi” (Wien, 1898, pp. 39–44), and the sketch given here is based upon his investigation, with consultation of the sources there cited. Nothing new is likely to be added to his account, but because of its important illustrative bearing on the whole story of Sterne in Germany, a fairly complete account is given here. Longo refers to the following as literature on the subject:

Martin, in Quellen und Forschungen, II, p. 10, p. 27, Anmerk. 24.

Wittenberg’s letter in Quellen und Forschungen, II, pp. 52–53.

K. M. Werner, in article on Ludw. Philipp Hahn in the same series, XXII, pp. 127 ff.

Appell: “Werther und seine Zeit,” Leipzig, 1855, p. 168. (Oldenburg, 1896, p. 246–250).

Schlichtegroll: “Nekrolog von 1792,” II, pp. 37 ff.

Klotz: Bibliothek, V, p. 285.

Jacobi’s Werke, 1770, I, pp. 127 ff.

Allg. deutsche Bibl., XIX, 2, p. 174; XII, 2, p. 279.

Julian Schmidt: “Aus der Zeit der Lorenzodosen,” Westermann’s Monatshefte, XLIX, pp. 479 ff.

The last article is popular and only valuable in giving letters of Wieland and others which display the emotional currents of the time. It has very little to do with the Lorenzodosen.

4. The letter is reprinted in Jacobi’s Works, 1770, I, pp. 31 ff., and in an abridged form in the edition of 1807, I, pp. 103 ff.; and in the edition of Zürich, 1825, I, pp. 270–275.

5. XI, 2, pp. 174–75.

6. Quellen und Forschungen, XXII, p. 127.

7. Ibid., II, pp. 52–53.

8. This was in a letter to Jacobi October 25, 1770, though Appell gives the date 1775—evidently a misprint.

9. Review of “Trois lettres françoises par quelques allemands,” Amsterdam (Berlin), 1769, 8^o, letters concerned with Jacobi’s “Winterreise” and the snuff-boxes themselves.

10. XII, 2, p. 279.

11. Longo was unable to find one of these once so popular snuff-boxes,—a rather remarkable fact. There is, however, a picture of one at the end of the chapter “Yorick,” p. 15 in Göchhausen’s M . . . . R . . . .,—a small oval box. Emil Kuh, in his life of Fredrich Hebbel (1877, I, pp. 117–118) speaks of the Lorenzodose as “dreieckig.” A chronicler in Schlichtegroll’s “Nekrolog,” 1792, II, p. 51, also gives rumor of an order of “Sanftmuth und Toleranz, der eine dreyeckigte Lorenzodose zum Symbol führte.” The author here is unable to determine whether this is a part of Jacobi’s impulse or the initiative of another.

12. Fourth Edition. Berlin and Stettin, 1779, III, p. 99.

13. “Christopher Kaufmann, der Kraftapostel der Geniezeit” von Heinrich Düntzer, Historisches Taschenbuch, edited by Fr. v. Raumer, third series, tenth year, Leipzig, 1859, pp. 109–231. Düntzer’s sources concerning Kaufmann’s life in Strassburg are Schmohl’s “Urne Johann Jacob Mochels,” 1780, and “Johann Jacob Mochel’s Reliquien verschiedener philosophischen pädogogischen poetischen und andern Aufsätze,” 1780. These books have unfortunately not been available for the present use.

14. For account of Leuchsenring see Varnhagen van Ense, “Vermischte Schriften”, I. 492–532.

15. Schlichtegroll’s “Nekrolog,” 1792, II, pp. 37 ff. There is also given here a quotation written after Sterne’s death, which is of interest:

16. Works of Friedrich von Matthison, Zürich, 1825, III, pp. 141 ff., in “Erinnerungen,” zweites Buch. The “Vaterländische Besuche” were dated 1794.

17. Briefe von Friedrich Matthison, Zürich, 1795, I, pp. 27–32.

18. Shandy, III, 22.

19. Briefe, II, p. 95.

20. “Herders Briefwechsel mit seiner Braut”, pp. 92, 181, 187, 253, 377.

21. Quoted by Koberstein, IV, p. 168. Else, p. 31; Hettner, III, 1, p. 362, quoted from letters in Friedrich Schlegel’s Deutsches Museum, IV, p. 145. These letters are not given by Goedeke.

22. The review is credited to him by Koberstein, III, pp. 463–4.

23. XIX, 2, p. 579.

24. See “Bemerkungen oder Briefe über Wien, eines jungen Bayern auf einer Reise durch Deutschland,” Leipzig (probably 1804 or 1805). It is, according to the Jenaische Allg. Litt. Zeitung (1805, IV, p. 383), full of extravagant sentiment with frequent apostrophe to the author’s “Evelina.” Also, “Meine Reise vom Städtchen H . . . . zum Dörfchen H . . . .” Hannover, 1799. See Allg. Litt. Zeitung, 1799, IV, p. 87. “Reisen unter Sonne, Mond und Sternen,” Erfurt, 1798, pp. 220, 8^o. This is evidently a similar work, but is classed by Allg. Litt. Zeitung (1799, I, 477) as an imitation of Jean Paul, hence indirectly to be connected with Yorick. “Reisen des grünen Mannes durch Deutschland,” Halle, 1787–91. See Allg. Litt. Zeitung, 1789, I, 217; 1791, IV, p. 576. “Der Teufel auf Reisen,” two volumes, Frankfurt and Leipzig, 1789. See Allg. Litt. Zeitung, 1789, I, p. 826. Knigge’s books of travels also share in this enlivening and subjectivizing of the traveler’s narrative.

25. Altenburg, Richter, 1775, six volumes.

26. Reviewed in Allg. deutsche Bibl., X, 2, p. 127, and Neue Critische Nachrichten, Greifswald V, p. 222.

27. Many of the anonymous books, even those popular in their day, are not given by Goedeke; and Baker, judging only by one external, naturally misses Sterne products which have no distinctively imitative title, and includes others which have no connection with Sterne. For example, he gives Gellius’s “Yoricks Nachgelassene Werke,” which is but a translation of the Koran, and hence in no way an example of German imitation; he gives also Schummel’s “Fritzens Reise nach Dessau” (1776) and “Reise nach Schlesien” (1792), Nonne’s “Amors Reisen nach Fockzana zum Friedenscongress” (1773), none of which has anything to do with Sterne. “Trim oder der Sieg der Liebe über die Philosophie” (Leipzig, 1776), by Ludw. Ferd. v. Hopffgarten, also cited by Baker, undoubtedly owes its name only to Sterne. See Jenaische Zeitungen von gel. Sachen, 1777, p. 67, and Allg. deutsche Bibl., XXXIV, 2, p. 484; similarly “Lottchens Reise ins Zuchthaus” by Kirtsten, 1777, is given in Baker’s list, but the work “Reise” is evidently used here only in a figurative sense, the story being but the relation of character deterioration, a downward journey toward the titular place of punishment. See Jenaische Zeitungen von gel. Sachen, 1777, pp. 739 ff.; 1778, p. 12. Allg. deutsche Bibl., XXXV, 1, p. 182. Baker gives Bock’s “Tagereise” and “Geschichte eines empfundenen Tages” as if they were two different books. He further states: “Sterne is the parent of a long list of German Sentimental Journeys which began with von Thümmel’s ‘Reise in die mittäglichen Provinzen Frankreichs.’” This work really belongs comparatively late in the story of imitations. Two of Knigge’s books are also included. See p. 166–7.

28. “Laurence Sterne und C. M. Wieland, von Karl August Behmer, Forschungen zur neueren Litteraturgeschichte IX. München, 1899. Ein Beitrag zur Erforschung fremder Einflüsse auf Wieland’s Dichtung.” To this reference has been made. There is also another briefer study of this connection: a Programm by F. Bauer, “Ueber den Einfluss, Laurence Sternes auf Chr. M. Wieland,” Karlsbad, 1898. A. Mager published, 1890, at Marburg, “Wieland’s Nachlass des Diogenes von Sinope und das englische Vorbild,” a school “Abhandlung,” which dealt with a connection between this work of Wieland and Sterne. Wood (“Einfluss Fieldings auf die deutsche Litteratur,” Yokohama, 1895) finds constant imitation of Sterne in “Don Silvio,” which, from Behmer’s proof concerning the dates of Wieland’s acquaintance with Sterne, can hardly be possible.

29. Some other works are mentioned as containing references and allusions.

30. In “Oberon” alone of Wieland’s later works does Behmer discover Sterne’s influence and there no longer in the style, but in the adaptation of motif.

31. See Erich Schmidt’s “Richardson, Rousseau und Goethe,” Jena, 1875, pp. 46–7.

32. 1790, I, pp. 209–16.

33. This may be well compared with Wieland’s statements concerning Shandy in his review of the Bode translation (Merkur, VIII, pp. 247–51, 1774), which forms one of the most exaggerated expressions of adoration in the whole epoch of Sterne’s popularity.

34. Since Germany did not sharply separate the work of Sterne from his continuator, this is, of course, to be classed from the German point of view at that time as a borrowing from Sterne. Mager in his study depends upon the Eugenius continuation for this and several other parallels.

35. Sentimental Journey, pp. 31–32.

36. “Ich denke nicht, dass es Sie gereuen wird, den Mann näher kennen zu lernen” spoken of Demokritus in “Die Abderiten;” see Merkur, 1774, I, p. 56.

37. Wieland’s own genuine appreciation of Sterne and understanding of his characteristics is indicated incidentally in a review of a Swedish book in the Teutscher Merkur, 1782, II, p. 192, in which he designates the description of sentimental journeying in the seventh book of Shandy as the best of Sterne’s accomplishment, as greater than the Journey itself, a judgment emanating from a keen and true knowledge of Sterne.

38. Lebensbild, V, Erlangen, 1846, p. 89. Letter to Hartknoch, Paris, November, 1769. In connection with his journey and his “Reisejournal,” he speaks of his “Tristramschen Meynungen.” See Lebensbild, Vol. V, p. 61.

39. Suphan, IV, p. 190. For further reference to Sterne in Herder’s letters, see “Briefe Herders an Hamann,” edited by Otto Hoffmann, Berlin, 1889, pp. 28, 51, 57, 71, 78, 194.

40. Lachmann edition, Berlin, 1840, XII, pp. 212, 240.

41. Eckermann: “Gespräche mit Goethe,” Leipzig, 1885, II, p. 29; or Biedermann, “Goethe’s Gespräche,” Leipzig, 1890, VI, p. 359.

42. “Briefwechsel zwischen Goethe und Zelter, in den Jahren, 1796–1832.” Ed. by Fr. W. Riemer, Berlin, 1833–4, Vol. V, p. 349. Both of these quotations are cited by Siegmund Levy, “Goethe und Oliver Goldsmith;” Goethe-Jahrbuch, VI, 1885, pp. 282 ff. The translation in this case is from that of A. D. Coleridge.

43. Griesebach: “Das Goetheische Zeitalter der deutschen Dichtung,” Leipzig, 1891, p. 29.

44. II, 10th book, Hempel, XXI, pp. 195 ff.

45. “Briefe an Joh. Heinrich Merck von Göthe, Herder, Wieland und andern bedeutenden Zeitgenossen,” edited by Dr. Karl Wagner, Darmstadt, 1835, p. 5; and “Briefe an und von Joh. Heinrich Merck,” issued by the same editor, Darmstadt, 1838, pp. 5, 21.

46. In the “Wanderschaft,” see J. H. Jung-Stilling, Sämmtliche Werke. Stuttgart, 1835, I, p. 277.

47. “Herder’s Briefwechsel mit seiner Braut, April, 1771, to April, 1773,” edited by Düntzer and F. G. von Herder, Frankfurt-am-Main, 1858, pp. 247 ff.

48. See Frankfurter Gel. Anz., 1774, February 22.

49. Kürschner edition of Goethe, Vol. XXII, pp. 146–7.

50. See introduction by Dünster in the Kürschner edition, XIII, pp. 137 ff., and that by Fr. Strehlke in the Hempel edition, XVI. pp. 217 ff.

51. Kürschner edition, Vol. XXIV, p. 15; Tag- und Jahreshefte, 1789.

52. “Goethe’s Romantechnik,” Leipzig, 1902. The author here incidentally expresses the opinion that Heinse is also an imitator of Sterne.

53. Julius Goebel, in “Goethe-Jahrbuch,” XXI, pp. 208 ff.

54. See Euphorion, IV, p. 439.

55. Eckermann, III, p. 155; Biedermann, VI, p. 272.

56. Eckermann, III, p. 170; Biedermann, VI, p. 293.

57. Eckermann, II, p. 19; Biedermann, VII, p. 184. This quotation is given in the Anhang to the “Wanderjahre.” Loeper says (Hempel, XIX, p. 115) that he has been unable to find it anywhere in Sterne; see p. 105.

58. See “Briefwechsel zwischen Goethe und Zelter.” Zelter’s replies contain also reference to Sterne. VI, p. 33 he speaks of the Sentimental Journey as “ein balsamischer Frühlingsthau.” See also II, p. 51; VI, p. 207. Goethe is reported as having spoken of the Sentimental Journey: “Man könne durchaus nicht besser ausdrücken, wie des Menschen Herz ein trotzig und verzagt Ding sei.”

59. “Mittheilungen über Goethe,” von F. W. Riemer, Berlin, 1841, II, p. 658. Also, Biedermann, VII, p. 332.

60. See Hempel, XXIX, p. 240.

61. Kürschner, XVI, p. 372.

62. IX, p. 438.

63. See “Briefe von Goethe an Johanna Fahlmer,” edited by L. Ulrichs, Leipzig, 1875, p. 91, and Shandy, II, pp. 70 and 48.

64. “Goethe’s Briefe an Frau von Stein,” hrsg. von Adolf Schöll; 2te Aufl, bearbeitet von W. Fielitz, Frankfurt-am-Main, 1883, Vol. I, p. 276.

65. References to the Tagebücher are as follows: Robert Keil’s Leipzig, 1875, p. 107, and Düntzer’s, Leipzig, 1889, p. 73.

66. See also the same author’s “Goethe, sa vie et ses oeuvres,” Paris, 1866; Appendice pp. 291–298. Further literature is found: “Vergleichende Blätter für literarische Unterhaltung,” 1863, No. 36, and 1869, Nos. 10 and 14. Morgenblatt, 1863, Nr. 39, article by Alex. Büchner, Sterne’s “Coran und Makariens Archiv, Goethe ein Plagiator?” and Deutsches Museum, 1867, No. 690.

67. Minden i. W., 1885, pp. 330–336.

68. “Druck vollendet in Mai” according to Baumgartner, III, p. 292.

69. II, pp. 230–233. May 15, 1831.

70. Goedeke gives Vol. XXIII, A. l. H. as 1829.

71. Hempel, XIX, “Sprüche in Prosa,” edited by G. von Loeper, Maximen und Reflexionen; pp. 106–111 and 113–117.

72. Letters, I, p. 54.

73. This seems very odd in view of the fact that in Loeper’s edition of “Dichtung und Wahrheit” (Hempel, XXII, p. 264) Gellius is referred to as “the translator of Lillo and Sterne.” It must be that Loeper did not know that Gellius’s “Yorick’s Nachgelassene Werke” was a translation of the Koran.

74. The problem involved in the story of Count Gleichen was especially sympathetic to the feeling of the eighteenth century. See a series of articles by Fr. Heibig in Magazin für Litteratur des In- und Auslandes, Vol. 60, pp. 102–5; 120–2; 136–9. “Zur Geschichte des Problems des Grafen von Gleichen.”

75. Weimar edition, Vol. XLI, 2, pp. 252–253.

76. Gesammelte Schriften, Stuttgart, 1839, IV, pp. 272–3.

77. Frankfurt and Leipzig, 1775. See Gothaische Gel. Zeitungen, 1776, I, pp. 208–9, and Allg. deutsche Bibl., XXXII, 1, p. 139. Jenaische Zeitungen von gelehrten Sachen, September 27, 1776. This does not imply that Sterne was in this respect an innovator; such books were printed before Sterne’s influence was felt, e.g., Magazin von Einfällen, Breslau, 1763 (?), reviewed in Leipziger Neue Zeitungen von Gelehrten Sachen, February 20, 1764. See also “Reisen im Vaterlande,—Kein Roman aber ziemlich theatralisch-politisch und satyrischen Inhalts,” two volumes; Königsberg and Leipzig, 1793–4, reviewed in Allg. Litt. Zeitung, 1795, III, p. 30. “Der Tändler, oder Streifereyen in die Wildnisse der Einbildungskraft, in die Werke der Natur und menschlichen Sitten,” Leipzig, 1778 (?), (Almanach der deutschen Musen, 1779, p. 48). “Meine Geschichte oder Begebenheiten des Herrn Thomas: ein narkotisches Werk des Doktor Pifpuf,” Münster und Leipzig, 1772, pp. 231, 8^o. A strange episodical conglomerate; see Magazin der deutschen Critik, II, p. 135.

78. Leipzig, 1785 or 1786. See Allg. Litt. Zeitung, 1786, III, p. 259.

79. Altenburg, 1772, by von Schirach (?).

80. See Auserlesene Bibl. der neuesten deutschen Litteratur, IV, pp. 320–325, and VII, pp. 227–234. Allg. deutsche Bibl., XXIII, 1, p. 258; XXVI, 1, p. 209.

81. Riedel uses it, for example, in his “Launen an meinen Satyr,” speaking of “mein swiftisch Steckenthier” in “Vermischte Aufsätze,” reviewed in Frankfurter Gel. Anz., 1772, pp. 358–9. Magazin der deutschen Critik, I, pp. 290–293.

82. “Briefwechsel zwischen Goethe und Marianne Willemer (Suleika).” Edited by Th. Creizenach, 2d edition; Stuttgart, 1878, p. 290.

83. “K. L. von Knebel’s literarischer Nachlass und Briefwechsel;” edited by Varnhagen von Ense and Th. Mundt, Leipzig, 1835, p. 147.

84. See Mendelssohn’s Schriften; edited by G. B. Mendelssohn, Leipzig, 1844, V, p. 202. See also letter of Mendelssohn to Lessing, February 18, 1780.

85. Third edition, Berlin and Stettin, 1788, p. 14.

86. II, pp. 218 ff.

87. II, 2, p. 127.

88. These two cases are mentioned also by Riemann in “Goethe’s Romantechnik.”

89. See Frankfurter Gel. Anz., May 8, 1772, p. 296.

90. III, pp. 276 ff.