The TenIons possess the greatest interest for us from the standpoint of our own subject as well as from that of every other, because they are the truest representatives of the nations which now appear on the stage of history, and, notwithstanding manifold later interminglings, have pre served their original nationality in its purest form. Their migrations, settlements, divisions, etc. must be left to the research of the historian proper; our task is to illustrate the life of these nations. Fortunately, we are aided in this by the circumstance of their possessing an advantage entirely unique: we refer to the Germania of Tacitus, a treatise—we may say a eulogium—upon their national character, which, supplemented by other statements and confirmed by the events of subsequent history, imparts valuable knowledge as to their condition and circumstances—a knowledge which we are enabled to gain in the case of other nations only through uncertain inferences.
As drawn by the sympathetic pen of the great Roman historian, the Teuton of that day stands out so complete and rounded that later history has added nothing to the nobility of his character, but has rather taken from it much that is valuable. The true history of the German is that prehistoric one which shaped his character and gave it such moral power that it has endured thousands of years and seems destined to give new life and energy to the world. An insight into the prehistoric growth of the German people would be most valuable, for it would show us what Man is able to develop from the pristine condition of nature by the undis turbed growth of his powers.
Prcli sioric Life.—Guided by philology, we can say with certainty that the Teutons were nomads at the time when they separated from their Indian brethren, since many words referring to such a condition of life arc cognate to those of the Sanskrit, which is not the case with regard to terms relating to agriculture.' Indeed, the designation of many import ant terms used in every-day life originally conveyed ideas connected with flocks and herds. The root zv-i, for example, means "to enclose a place," and from it is derived the word " garden" or fenccd-in spot, in early times the place where the movable huts were set up and into which the cattle were driven at night. The master of such a place was called Fro, still preserved in the German word Frond/ens!, " villainage;" the mistress was called Frau. In the word umfriaien, " to enclose," the root remains unchanged, and the word Friallinf, " cemetery," means simply " the enclosed yard." The word Fricde, "peace," is connected with the same root, for peace was found only within the enclosure, while hostility and force prevailed without.
The word _ire/en was used to denote the establishment of a separate homestead, and this was so closely connected with the entrance into the matrimonial state that in course of time the inferential signification " to woo" prevailed over the original one. Only the Frei(' ("the free man "—
c. a member of a pre-existing household) could establish such a place; the villain could own no property. The goddess of the marriage relation was called Fi-cia. But it would lead us too far beyond our plan were we to follow the ramifications of this root. We will only acid that Sohn, "son," which is connected with Sonne, "sun," means '' the traveller;" that is, he who goes about to oversee shepherds and flocks. Tochter, "daughter" (lhaugtra in Sanskrit, (lv;d7);p in Greek), means " the one who milks," while the Latin flies, signifying " the spinner," indicates a more advanced state.
Characier.—The basis of the Teutonic character is freedom. We do not mean that liberty which is worshipped as au abstract ideal by all men, for it is well known that their constitution permitted slavery, but we mean that the natural independence of the Teutons was not destroyed by their long migration, which was undertaken not in obedience to the behests of a despot, but as a rational yielding to necessity.
The Teutons preserved that independent trait wherever they settled, for each one laid out his farm where he chose, and usually at such a dis tance from others (as is still customary among the North-German peasants) that his neighbors could not look over his fence. From that trait was developed their universal appreciation of individuality, a characteristic which has been a leading factor in the history of Teutonic nations and the source of their merits and their failings, their greatness and their ill fortune. Other peoples were indeed favored by similar external advan tages without having been able to bring forth similar results. The origi nal Teutonic character must have been the effect of historical causes for which we have no other evidence than the certainty that they existed.
The Teutons are related to the Indians not only philologically, but also in that depth of character which was of prime importance in developing their sense of personality. In virtue of that sense the Teuton had at the opening of his authentic history far surpassed the principle upon which classical civilization rested. While in the case of the latter the submis sion of the individual to the community became the source of all his rights, and enabled the state to accomplish those great results which made it strong and powerful, the Teuton, recognizing in the individual the organic unit of the community, had thus grasped the substance of true civilization.