y analysis would separate everything into its
parts, and then by combination would unite all in one complete whole.
In this lies Schiller's peculiar individuality. He demanded of poetry
more profundity of thought and forced it to submit to a more rigid
intellectual unity than it had ever had before. This he did in a
two-fold manner--by binding it into a more strictly artistic form, and
by treating every poem in such a way that its subject-matter readily
broadened its individuality until it expressed a complete idea.

It is upon these peculiarities that the excellence which characterizes
Schiller as a writer rests. It is because of them that, in order to
bring out the greatest and best of which he was capable, he needed a
certain amount of time before his completely developed individuality,
to which his poetic genius was indissolubly united, could reach that
point of clearness and definiteness of expression which he demanded of
himself. * * *

On the other hand, it would probably be agreeable to the reader of
this correspondence if I should attempt briefly to show how my opinion
of Schiller's individuality was formed by intercourse with him, by
reminiscences of his conversation, by the comparison of his
productions in their successive sequence, and by a study of the
development of his intellect.

What must necessarily have impressed every student of Schiller as most
characteristic was the fact that thinking was the very substance of
his life, in a higher and more significant sense than perhaps has ever
been the case with any other person. His intellect was alive with
spontaneous and almost tireless activity, which ceased only when the
attacks of his physical infirmity became overpowering. Such activity
seemed to him a recreation rather than an effort, and was manifested
most conspicuously in conversation, for which Schiller appeared to
have a natural aptitude.

He never sought for deep subjects of conversation, but seemed rather
to leave the introduction of a subject to chance; but from each topic
he led the discourse up to a general point of view, and after a short
dialogue one found oneself in the very midst of a mentally stimulating
discussion. He always treated the central idea as an end to be
attained in common; he always seemed to need the help of the person
with whom he was conversing, for, although the latter always felt that
the idea was supplied by Schiller alone, Schiller never allowed him to
remain inact