ntinues to impress the average German. The
spirit of English scientific intercourse forms a highly pleasing
contrast to the German habit. Take such writers as Mill and Darwin; they
speak to the reader as though he did them a favor by listening to them,
and whenever they enter upon a controversy, they do it in a manner
which expresses respect and a desire for mutual understanding. The
German scholar believes that it will detract from the respect due him if
he does not assume a tone of condescension or overbearing censure.
Examine the first scientific journal you may happen to pick up; even the
smallest anonymous announcement breathes the air of infinite
superiority."

A second passage is quoted from the great work of Wilhelm Scherer,
"Geschichte der Deutschen Litteratur" (Pages 20-21): "Recklessness seems
to be the curse of our spiritual development ... obstinacy in good and
in evil. Beauty we have not often served, nor long at a time." These
are, of course, not the judgments of the present writer.

Conviction does not flow from the argument concerning England's brutal
egoism and reckless immorality under the cloak of sanctimoniousness; nor
is there strength in the appeal for Teuton culture. All has the tone of
special pleading and makes doubly significant a sentence from Nietzsche
when he pleads for an overcoming of our ideals of veracity: "'I have
done this thing,' says my memory, 'I could not have done this thing,'
says my pride and remains inexorable. Finally memory yields." ("Beyond
Good and Evil," Page 94.)

JOHN WARBEKE.

Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, Sept. 23, 1914.

[Illustration: BRANDER MATTHEWS

_(Photo by Brown Bros.)_

_See Page 541_]

[Illustration: NEWELL DWIGHT HILL

_See Page 573_]

Concerning German Culture

By Brander Matthews.

Professor of Dramatic Literature at Columbia University;
author of many works on literature and the development of the
drama.

_To the Editor of The New York Times:_

In the earnest and sincere appeals of various distinguished Germans,
Prof. Eucken, Prof. Haeckel, and the several authors of "The Truth About
Germany," we find frequent references to "German culture" as though it
was of a superior quality to the culture of every other nationality; and
we seem to perceive also a sustaining belief that Germany is not only
the defender of civilization, but its foremost exponent. We have no
right to question the good faith of scholars