The Rudolf Steiner Archive

Books like this one can only owe their origin to the unfortunate mania of wanting to write at all costs. On 124 pages, the author compiles all the ideas he has come up with about human abilities, branches of culture, God, religion, religious development, the state, education, morality, law and the life of nations. It is understandable that he does not spare us ideas of social reform, for how could he not believe that he knows something about the future if he thinks he can judge all the circumstances of the past? But we are of the opinion that every educated person has probably already thought something about the above-mentioned concepts; this, however, is no reason to string together such random, incoherent ideas without guiding points of view, without a uniform world view, in a book and have them printed. We do not mean to say that among these ideas there are not some good ones, but alongside them we find sentences which we cannot understand how a man who has grown up in the education of the present can write down, for example, page 73: "Sufferings which someone endures through the sins of his parents, he does not suffer unjustly because he is the flesh and blood of his parents." It would have been more commendable than welding this book together if the author had pursued his really good thoughts on the position of the peasantry in the state and on the mortgage system in economic life and worked them out for himself. For the complete misunderstanding of the principle that (see page 64) "a peasant population that is as strong and healthy as possible is a mainstay of the nation through its ability to develop" on the part of many so-called free-minded men of the people cannot be countered often enough by clarifying the correct view. It is also necessary that the realization of the need to reform the mortgage system, which in its present form is causing serious damage to agriculture, should become more and more widespread. The author would have to deal with these questions separately if his comments, which are correct in this respect, are to fall on fertile ground.

Clearness, clarity and vividness are undoubtedly the characteristics of a good textbook. The present psychology meets these requirements to a large extent. In terms of clarity, the author even seems to go too far. He keeps too close to the surface of the subject matter in his treatment of the material and in his choice of examples. For this reason, he only passes on to the candidates for the magisterium the most tangible, coarsest facts of the life of the soul. The more intimate manifestations of the spirit, the finer forms of its expression are not taken into account. We consider this to be a shortcoming, especially in view of the purpose of the book. The future teacher should also be introduced to the more secret expressions of the human inner being. It is precisely through this that the right ideal of education will develop in him. He will understand the golden rule of all pedagogy, that every pupil is to be treated individually; he will take pleasure in studying every new human soul. He will discover new points of view in every single object of education. He will put his best into his profession because he knows the knowledge of the developing human being in its finest ramifications. He will know how to make something out of the child because he knows the germ that is to develop. If he only understands the main threads of the spiritual fabric, his educational activity will be pedantic, mechanical, average, not appropriate to the subtleties of the soul, which he cannot hear. The arrangement of the material in this book seems to us otherwise excellent, the empirical treatment generally appropriate to the purpose. The discussion of the facts and the exegesis of the phenomena are always followed by the conclusion of the laws, and then their application to pedagogy. However, the pedantic uniformity with which this maxim is applied throughout the book makes it appear as if this method did not originate from the subject matter, but had been introduced into it from outside.

In eight chapters: Development of socio-ethical culture, the origin of language, language and thought, the sounds of language, the development of writing, the development of moral-religious ideas among the Greeks, philosophy of art, science, the author gives the main features of the content of modern education. In a preface, he develops his ideas in an attractive form on how our higher educational institutions can be given a development appropriate to the times through the conversion of mere memorized knowledge into organically absorbed educational material. Knowledge should be transformed from a mere collection of material details into a living skill, so that the educated person is able to see through the surrounding circumstances with a sure eye and to give them the desirable direction according to the current state of cultural development. Instead of dead formal stuff, Biese wants to deal with a sense of orientation in the world and in life. These are general propositions whose correctness is not in doubt. The only question is: what needs to be done to reform our secondary schools in this direction? Biese offers very little to answer this question. The answer would have to consist of two parts: ı. What direction should teacher training take in future? 2. What educational material will lead pupils most safely to the stated goals?

There is no doubt that a great deal needs to be done in both respects. The exclusively "scholarly" interest that is rooted in our secondary school teachers, because their previous education only imbues them with such an interest, must be replaced by studies of culture, art history, philosophy and, in particular, psychology, which are obligatory for every future secondary school teacher, with an interest in the free development of human nature. The future teacher must be capable of two things: studying the great developmental process of humanity and observing the individual nature of every single person. Only equipped with these preconditions will he be capable of his true educational task: integrating the individual into the correctly understood total development process of humanity in accordance with the special dispositions inherent in the former.

The individual chapters of Biese's book are stimulating throughout. Everyone will enjoy reading them. The author combines his knowledge of recent views from the fields of ethnology, linguistics and national economics with an eye for the ideal areas of human activity, sharpened by a deeper understanding of the spirit of the classical period. The latter is particularly evident in his remarks on art. The laws of artistic creation and enjoyment are dealt with in a straightforward manner. Everywhere a spirit rooted in the humanism of the classical period is expressed. Some things could have been deepened, some things sharper in expression, but everything is borne by a noble spirit and a fine way of looking at things. The same can be said of the overview of the individual sciences and their interrelationships. To summarize: Biese's book will be useful to anyone who wants to familiarize themselves with the humanistic educational content of our time in a comfortable way. From this point of view, we recommend it to the widest circles.

A journey through the most recent German poetry

Woldemar von Biedermann, who celebrated his eightieth birthday on March 5, is widely known for his contributions to Goethe literature. For thirty years, he has published studies on Goethe, edited his works, letters and conversations and devoted himself to their interpretation. But Biedermann is not only a researcher; he is also an interesting personality. Anyone who has spent an hour chatting with him will remember it fondly. The passion with which the old gentleman talks about things he is interested in reveals that he has kept his heart young. There is still something in him of the enthusiasm with which he sang rapturous songs about love and women fifty years ago. In 1847, he published poems under the pseudonym Ottomar Föhrau, which he called "a young singer". He also approached the figure of Goethe as a poet before turning his researcher's intuition to it. A play "Doctor Goethe in Weimar" is his first Goethe work. However, it was followed just one year later (1865) by his first academic work "Goethe and Leipzig". Biedermann is not a professional scholar. He was a Saxon civil servant for thirty-eight years. His numerous works are not scholarly enough for philologists. But they are indispensable for anyone who wants to get to know Goethe's life and work better. As co-editor of the Hempel and Weimar editions of Goethe's works, he rendered good service with his wide-ranging knowledge. His collection of "Goethe's Conversations", published a few years ago, is an almost monumental work.

The whole world is under the impression of Kaiser Wilhelm's passing. It almost seems as if the whole of non-German politics is celebrating until the glorious prince is led to his grave. Even in the Orient, there is no movement on the Bulgarian question; Sofia has wisely given no reply to the Grand Vizier's telegram and, determined to maintain its present position, is awaiting further action by Russia or Turkey. Prince Ferdinand apparently feels completely secure on his throne and can count on the devotion of his people. After the failure of the Ghika project, the Romanian ministerial crisis found its simplest and best solution in the reappointment of Bratianu. In the Italian parliament, Crispi answered an interpellation from the radical side concerning the attitude of the kingdom to the Bulgarian question by saying that Italy, if it did not want to deny its own history, could never allow a people striving for freedom and independence like the Bulgarians to be oppressed by foreign despotism. In France, the latest Boulanger hype - individual districts wanted to elect the radical "savior of democracy" as a deputy - has fizzled out like all previous demonstrations that had Boulanger as their focal point. In Russia, the devaluation of public values and the armament for war continued; there was already half-loud talk of the imminent outbreak of state bankruptcy. The Austrian House of Representatives discussed the Catechist Law, but the general interest throughout Austria, as in the other states, is only focused on the events in Berlin. To squeeze them into the space of a short weekly review is simply impossible and could only detract from the force and solemnity of it. We must therefore refrain from doing so. Only one thing may be mentioned in particular, namely that the serious bereavement affecting Germany has given renewed cause to emphasize the solidarity between the allied Central European empires. This found particular expression in a brief exchange of dispatches between Prince Bismarck and Count Kalnoky. What else can we say? Emperor Wilhelm has died! His great son succeeded him under the name of Frederick IIIL! He has issued a proclamation to his people and at the same time a letter to the Imperial Chancellor containing the principles which the new Emperor and King has laid down for his government policy. These two mighty documents, which form an everlasting monument to history, must not be missing from any journal that wants to serve the German people. And that is why we are publishing them in full, even though our readers are undoubtedly already familiar with them. Such words should be preserved and cherished and read again and again in every German home. They read:

To my people!

The emperor departed from his glorious life. In the much-loved father, whom I mourn, and for whom My royal house mourns with Me in deepest sorrow, Prussia's loyal people lost its glorious king, the German nation the founder of its unification, the resurrected empire the first German emperor! His noble name will remain inseparably linked with all the greatness of the German fatherland, in whose new foundation the enduring labor of Prussia's people and princes has found its finest reward. By raising the Prussian army to the height of its serious profession with never-tiring patriotic care, King Wilhelm laid the sure foundation for the victories of German arms won under his leadership, from which national unification emerged; he thereby secured a position of power for the empire that every German heart had longed for until then, but had hardly dared to hope for.

And what he had won for his people in a fierce, sacrificial struggle, he was destined to consolidate and beneficially promote through the long peace work of arduous years of rule. Resting securely in its own strength, Germany stands respected in the council of nations and desires only to rejoice in the peaceful development of what it has won. That this is so, we owe to Kaiser Wilhelm, his unwavering loyalty to duty, his unceasing activity dedicated solely to the good of the Fatherland, supported by the unwavering devotion to sacrifice demonstrated by the Prussian people and shared by all German tribes. All rights and duties associated with the crown of My House have now passed to Me, and which I am determined to faithfully exercise in the time that may be granted to My government according to God's will.

Pervaded by the greatness of My task, it will be My whole endeavor to continue the work in the sense in which it was founded, to make Germany a haven of peace and to cultivate the welfare of the German land in agreement with the allied governments, as well as with the constitutional organs of the Empire such as Prussia.

I place my unreserved trust in my loyal people, who have stood by my house through centuries of history in both good and difficult times, because I am convinced that on the basis of the inseparable connection between prince and people, which is which, regardless of any change in the life of the state, forms the imperishable heritage of the Hohenzollern dynasty, My crown will always rest just as securely as the prosperity of the country to whose government I am now called, and to which I vow to be a just and, in joy and sorrow, a faithful king.

May God give me his blessing and strength for this work, to which my life is henceforth consecrated.

Berlin, March 12, 1888 Frederick III

My dear Prince!

At the start of My government, I feel the need to address you, the longstanding, much-tried first servant of My Lord Father, who rests in God. You have been the faithful and courageous advisor who has given form to the goals of his policies and ensured their successful implementation. I am, and My House remains, deeply indebted to you. You therefore have a right to know, above all, what are the points of view which should determine the attitude of My Government.

The constitutional and legal systems of the Empire and Prussia must above all be consolidated in the reverence and customs of the nation. The upheavals caused by frequent changes in state institutions and laws must therefore be avoided as far as possible. The promotion of the tasks of the imperial government must leave untouched the best foundations on which the Prussian state has hitherto rested securely. In the Empire, the constitutional rights of all allied governments are to be respected as conscientiously as those of the Imperial Diet; but equal respect for the rights of the Emperor is to be obtained from both. It must be borne in mind that these reciprocal rights are to serve only to elevate the public welfare, which remains the supreme law, and that newly emerging, undoubted national needs must always be fully satisfied. I see the necessary and surest guarantee for the undisturbed promotion of these tasks in the undiminished preservation of the country's military strength, My tried and tested army and the flourishing navy, to which serious obligations have arisen through the acquisition of overseas possessions. Both must be maintained at all times at the level of training and the perfection of the organization which has established their fame and which ensures their continued efficiency.

I am determined to lead the government in the Empire and in Prussia in conscientious observance of the provisions of the Imperial and State Constitutions. These were founded by My ancestors on the throne in wise recognition of the unavoidable needs and difficult tasks to be solved in social and state life and must be respected on all sides in order to be able to exert their power and beneficial effectiveness.

I want the principle of religious toleration, which has been held sacred in My House for centuries, to continue to be a protection for all My subjects, whatever religious community and creed they belong to. Each one of them is equally close to My heart. After all, all of them have equally proven their full devotion in the days of danger.

In accordance with the views of My Imperial Father, I will warmly support all endeavors that are likely to raise the economic prosperity of the various classes of society, to reconcile their conflicting interests and to mitigate unavoidable grievances to the best of my ability, without creating the expectation that it is possible to put an end to all the ills of society through the intervention of the state.

I consider the care given to the education of young people to be closely linked to social issues. If, on the one hand, higher education must be made accessible to ever wider circles, then it must be avoided that serious dangers are created by half-education, that life demands are awakened which the economic forces of the nation cannot satisfy, or that the educational task remains unconsidered through the one-sided pursuit of increased knowledge. Only a generation growing up on the sound foundation of the fear of God in simple morals will possess sufficient power of resistance to overcome the dangers which, in a time of rapid economic movement, arise for the whole through the examples of highly exalted lifestyles of individuals.

It is My will that no opportunity be missed to influence the public service to counter the temptation to disproportionate expenditure. Every proposal for financial reform is assured of My unprejudiced consideration in advance, unless the time-honored thriftiness of Prussia allows the imposition of new burdens to be avoided and previous requirements to be eased.

I consider the self-government granted to larger and smaller associations in the state to be beneficial; on the other hand, I put it to the test whether the right of tax imposition granted to these associations, which is exercised by them without regard to the burden emanating simultaneously from the realm and the state, may not disproportionately burden the individual. In the same way, it will have to be considered whether a simplifying change in the structure of the authorities would not appear permissible, in which the reduction in the number of employees would make it possible to increase their salaries.

If we succeed in maintaining the foundations of state and social life, it will give me particular satisfaction to see the blossoming of German art and science, which is so abundant, develop to its full potential. For the realization of these intentions of mine, I am counting on your devotion, which you have so often demonstrated, and on the support of your proven experience.

May it be granted to me to lead Germany and Prussia to new honors in peaceful development with the unanimous cooperation of the imperial organs, the dedicated activity of the people's representatives and all authorities and through the trusting cooperation of all classes of the population.

Unconcerned about the splendor of glorious deeds, I will be satisfied if one day it can be said of my government that it has been benevolent to my people, useful to my country and a blessing to the empire.

Berlin, March 12, 1888

Your well-wishing Frederick III

With the intention of continuing the "Magazin" in the spirit indicated by the outgoing editor in the above words of farewell, we are taking over the management of the magazine. We wish to offer the readers of the "Magazin" a picture of contemporary intellectual life in the broadest sense of the word. All significant phenomena in the fields of literature, art, science and social life will find their illumination in this journal. Contributions from poets and writers will reflect the artistic life of the present day.

Without favoring one-sided currents, we would like to serve the progressive development. We will always keep our columns open to new directions and aspirations. Dilettantism will never find a place in "Magazin"; but we will always endeavor to show full understanding for individual expressions if they are based on solid foundations.

We intend to run the magazine in the spirit of the living present, but no less in the spirit of genuine art and science. We would like to provide an organ for honest artistic creation and free, unreserved judgment.

We believe that the ground for our endeavors has been prepared in the best possible way by the excellent work of the previous editor and his staff. It is our fervent wish that the excellent relationship he has with his staff and readers will also be passed on to us. The "Magazin" was already a valuable magazine for us, as we were only friends and attentive readers. We now approach our task with all the more enthusiasm and good will, and with the best hopes for the future. The fact that the outgoing editor will continue to be a dear guest is a source of great pleasure to us and will also be welcomed with particular gratitude by our readers.

Our publisher, Mr. Erzil Felber, has been close to the one editor (Steiner) for years, both in business and as a friend. His excellent publishing work to date is particularly suitable for arousing the best expectations for the future of the paper.

Rudolf Steiner
Otto Erich Hartleben

Dr. Kurella has just obtained a book entitled "Socialism in England, described by English Socialists, edited by Sidney Webb". This book will be of great use to anyone who wants to understand socialism in the characteristic forms it takes in England. Important contemporary issues, for example unemployment, are discussed in the book by thorough experts. The writers William Morris, Robert Blatchford, John Burns and others have contributed. A wealth of stimulating material is considered from fruitful points of view.

The University of Berlin will follow the example set by the universities in Jena, Leipzig, Munich and Vienna and also set up popular university courses. Professors Diels, Ortmann, Schmoller, Waldeyer and Witt are said to have made a special contribution to the realization of this undertaking, which will be launched next autumn.

Much has been said about courses of this kind. In a widely read weekly newspaper, one could hear the voices of all those whom a nimble journalistic mind considers authorities in the field of university and popular education. One should actually believe that there is no need to talk so much about this latest institution. If it is implemented well, it will certainly have a beneficial effect. But putting it into practice well means, among other things, not overlooking one requirement. The teachers who take on such university courses must not in any way accommodate the desire of our time for the trivialization of knowledge. The audience must be raised to the heights of science, not lowered to the tone that is unfortunately demanded today in popular scientific lectures and journals. If the university kutse can be used to counteract the malaise of popular trends in science, then we will be able to rejoice in it. I believe that this cannot be too difficult. For those who get to know the true nature of the scientific enterprise must lose their taste for the trivial. Courses can do a great deal to increase respect for science. If, at the beginning, the "people's" mind, which has been thoroughly corrupted by our popular magazines, shows little interest in the undertaking, there is no need to be put off by this.

Eduard Simson has died. It is not only those circles involved in the political development of Germany who are thinking of the deceased, but also those within the literary movements. Simson was one of the few of our contemporaries who still met Goethe in person. He had been recommended to Goethe by Goethe's Berlin musical friend Zelter and counted among his personal memories the strong impression of which all those who have experienced this impression know how to report. It was probably with this in mind that the German "Goethe Society" elected Simson as its first chairman when it was founded. He remained so until his death. Only those who have the necessary understanding of Germany's political development will be able to properly assess the actual effectiveness of this man. He was, after all, far removed from literary life, apart from his stated personal relationship with Goethe.