BITZIUS, Albert (pseud. JEREmiAs Gorr HELF), Swiss author: b. at Murten in Switzer land, 4 Oct. 1797; d. in Liitzelflith im Emmental in Switzerland, 22 Oct. 1854. He belonged to a family of pastors, and after studying theology in Bern and Gottingen and traveling in Ger many, he became first vicar and in 1832 pastor in Liitzelfliih, which position he occupied until his death. He did not begin writing late in life. His first work, 'Der Bauernsplegel, oder die Lebensgeschichte des Jeremias Gott helf appeared in 1836. It sketches the de velopment of a poor country orphan boy, but is not an autobiography. Henceforth Mums was a prolific writer and in the last 18 years of his life became one of the important novel ists not only of Switzerland but of the German language in general. He was not a conscious artist, but was nevertheless wonderfully gifted by nature. He saw things as they were, was susceptible to all impressions of life and re produced them in true fashion —a genuine realist, though not a naturalist. He knows the peasant folk of his native country with all their fads and foibles. He sketches his characters with epic simplicity and yet elevates them into the domain of the universal. His peasant world is a mirror of the world in general. His great est work is 'In der Knecht' (1841). It tells the story of a poor peasant laborer who de velops into the owner of a prosperous farm. A
plain theme, to which the epic imagination of Bitzius gives universal application. Vreneli, the chief woman character, charms us by the nobility and purity of her soul. Another novel almost on the same plane is Wh der Pachter' (1849). Three other novels may be classed in importance with Uli; 'Anne Bali Jowager' (1843-44); und Geist' 1842-46); and (Kathi, die Grossmutter' (1847). One of his short stories, 'Elise die seltsame Magd' (1850) was particularly attractive to Gottfried Keller. Other works of lesser importance are (Leiden und Freuden eines Schulmeisters' (1838); (Fiinf Madchen' (1838); (Dursli, der Brannt weinsaufer' (1839); 'Die Kiserei in der (1850); und Berner geist> (1852). Bitzius is an interpreter of peasant psychology. In the writing of country and village stories he was a pioneer, and in his ideas on social betterment he pointed to the future. At times the preacher and reformer obtrudes and endangers the artistic effect, but we must admire the sincerity of his desire to ameliorate the condition of the poor. Consult Muret, Gabriel, (Jeremie Gotthelf' (Paris 1913) ; also Roedder, E. C., in Vol. VIII of 'The German Classics) (New York 1914).