von
EDITED FOR THE USE OF SCHOOLS
BY
OTTO HELLER
professor of the German language and literature, WashingtonUniversity
If any prose-writer may be called a poet, none is more worthyof that name than Adalbert Stifter. And, unless it be arequirement that, to be ranked as classic, a writer must be deadfor many years, Stifter is entitled to an honorable place amongthe classic writers of Germany. Not all he has written bears thestamp of beauty and genius, but at his best he is truly great,and of his best we have a great deal.
Adalbert Stifter was born in Oberplan, Bohemia, October 23d,1806. His father was a poor linen-weaver who was killed by anaccident when the boy was only ten years old. An uncle assumedcharge of his education and sent him to the monastic Latin Schoolat Kremsmünster. His education was completed in Vienna,whither he went in 1826, principally to study history andphilosophy, but also to cultivate his love of nature by thepursuit of natural science and landscape-painting. His love fornature remained throughout his life the most characteristic traitof the man. In all his works, but especially in his "Studien," heshowed himself to be a painter of words who has only one equal inGerman Literature--Paul Heyse. His love of detail confined him toone form of literary production, the short novel. And even withinthese narrow limits Stifter's works show little action. But forthis we are amply compensated by the simple beauty of hisdiction, its calm moderated tone, with never a word superfluousor lacking, the manly nobility of his sentiment, and the almostwomanly delicacy of his perception. No one can read "DasHaidedorf" without feeling the poet's love for man andnature.
The two volumes of which "Das Haidedorf" forms a small partare entitled "Studien." In an English translation of extractsfrom Stifter this is rendered by "Sketches." Far from beingsketches, they are exquisite studies carefully finished by amaster hand. It may be said without exaggeration that thefollowing beautiful prose-idyl will suggest to a sensitive andappreciative mind a succession of pictures destined to remain aspermanent possessions of art. And, when it is added that thestyle is simple and modern, no further apology need be made forthis publication, save this, that the "Studien" have not, as faras I have been able to gather, been reprinted singly.
Stifter's life, like his writings, was idyllic. He wasappointed in 1846 to one of the higher educational posts by theAustrian government, and took up his residence in Linz. This posthe had to resign in 1856, owing to impaired health. His remainingyears were spent in happy retirement, given to literary work,landscape-painting and his favorite pastime of horticulture.Adalbert Stifter died at Linz, Austria ob der Enns, January 28th,1868.
OTTO HELLER.
Philadelphia, February, 1891.
N.B. The orthography of this edition is that used in theoriginal edition of the "Studien."
DIE HAIDE.
Im eigentlichen Sinne des Wortes ist es nicht eine Haide,wohin ich den lieben Leser und Zuhörer führen will,sondern weit von unserer Stadt ein traurig liebliches Fleckchen[1] Landes, das sie die Haide nennen, weil seit unvordenklichenZeiten [2] nur kurzes Gras darauf wuchs, hie und da ein StammHaideföhre, [3] oder die Krüppelbirke, an deren Rindezuweilen ein Wollflöckchen hing, von den wenigen Schafen undZiegen, die zeitweise [4] hier herumgingen. Ferner war noch inziemlicher Verbreitung die Wachholderstaude [5] da, im Weitern[6] aber kein andrer Schmuck mehr; man müßte nur [7]die fernen Berge hierher rechnen, die ein wunderschönesblaues Band um das mattfar