By the way, do you know his "Happy Warrior"? I
find my insight of this sublime poet perpetually deepening.'
* * * * *
'Mr. ---- says the Wanderjahre is "_wise._" It must be
presumed so; and yet one is not satisfied. I was perfectly so
with my manner of interpreting the Lehrjahre; but this sequel
keeps jerking my clue, and threatens to break it. I do not
know our Goethe yet. I have changed my opinion about his
religious views many times. Sometimes I am tempted to think
that it is only his wonderful knowledge of human nature which
has excited in me such reverence for his philosophy, and that
no worthy fabric has been elevated on this broad foundation.
Yet often, when suspecting that I have found a huge gap, the
next turning it appears that it was but an air-hole, and
there is a brick all ready to stop it. On the whole, though
my enthusiasm for the Goetherian philosophy is checked, my
admiration for the genius of Goethe is in nowise lessened, and
I stand in a sceptical attitude, ready to try his philosophy,
and, if needs must, play the Eclectic.'
'Did I write that a kind-hearted neighbor, fearing I might
be _dull_, sent to offer me the use of a _book-caseful_ of
Souvenirs, Gems, and such-like glittering ware? I took a two
or three year old "Token," and chanced on a story, called the
"Gentle Boy," which I remembered to have heard was written by
somebody in Salem.
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