The bloom of German literature, the development of music, in which the most hidden springs of the German character are revealed to a height and depth never before dreamt of, are the unmistakable products of this stage of civilization. Such phenomena must have had an adequate cause in the national and social life in which they appeared, and though the historian, while not in doubt regarding cause and effect, cannot repro duce the vast treasures of silent virtues and quiet happiness which have sunk in the ocean of time, he knows that in spite of all corruption they actually existed. One example will suffice: the famous landgravine, Car oline of Hess, won the admiration of the cynical Voltaire himself, who blessed heaven and earth for having produced such a woman.
The close of the eighteenth century and the beginning of the present witnessed still another advance in the world of social intercourse. Inde pendently of the influence of the French political clubs, which were them selves simply an outcome of the ruling passion, and which in consequence of the stress of events occupied themselves with state affairs, men gen erally began to feel the need of mutual intercourse, and persons engaged in similar pursuits realized that their individual interests would better be promoted by united efforts. These feelings resulted in the establishment and universal spread of associations, such as clubs, assemblies, casinos, and similar institutions. Such modes of entertainment and social inter course had long existed in the Romance countries, where private houses were not sufficiently well ordered or neat to entertain the guest within their own walls. Their introduction into Germany detracted somewhat from family sociability, but they bad the effect of developing the art of conversation, which had always been characterized by reserve, though not lacking in refinement, especially in North Germany, where the women participated more largely in society.
Literary, musical, and even dramatic studies formed an important object of these meetings, and reacted beneficially on the family circle. The interest in literature, in art, and in purely intellectual subjects was exalted by the influence of such societies to a point never before or since attained. Polite society constructed an ideal world over the rotten polit ical fabric of the state and the sad condition of real life. A new drama
by Schiller comforted it for the loss of a battle. But we must not find fault with such transcendentalism, for all that is valuable in the modern state and society had its roots in that growth of German intellect and sentiment.
What grandeur that most important epoch—which was soon to be put to proof by a trial as of fire—was able to bring forth is amply seen in its long roll of statesmen, warriors, scholars, and artists, and its galaxy of noble women, headed by Oueen Louisa of Prussia, who exemplified the entire compass of culture in their lives and actions, and showed that the prophetesses and heroines of the ancient Teutons were not an extinct race; and as the deeds of the earlier class had illustrated what was most noble during the infancy of the nation, so the influence of the later, after its culture had been developed, became the incentive to the highest mo rality and duty.
Figures 7 and 8 (A2. 44), copied from contemporary illustrations, give us a glimpse of the social life of the period: although its depth and completeness are not at once apparent, its character is sufficiently sug gested by the scenes represented. The religious tendency of the eigh teenth century, which permitted the devotional exercises of the Church to be celebrated in the family circle also, was in keeping with an age that allowed the citizen no other liberty than that of thought mid feel ing. The unending repetitions of psalms, services, and morning and evening devotions sound like the cock's crow of the day which was to initiate worship in spirit and in truth. The more worldly tone which crept in later, and the games of cards which since the beginning of this century have been an important form of social entertainment, also had a positive value. Without such interruption, conversation, just because it did not concern itself with matters of daily life, would have degenerated into stagnation or formality.
The society of that clay, petty as it appears to us, contained the silent germs of an active and influential age, and sufficient vitality to transmit them to the succeeding period. We must remember that the feeling of well-being, different from the dull vegetation of ignorance, is more receptive and communicative than excited passion, which fails of effect precisely in proportion to its preternatural stimulation.