he Thousand and One Nights,--where we find logic even in the domain of
the impossible. Chamisso, it must further be pointed out, while
possessing all the qualities of the Romanticists, is free from their
obscurities. His nationally dual nature and his peculiar poetic gifts
enabled him to give expression in poetry to the variegated
manifestations of science and of art. He contributed greatly to the
unification of the national German and foreign elements, and was one of
the most useful and productive workers in the lovely garden of fairy
tales. Surrounded by a circle of admiring friends, Chamisso continued
his literary work until his death in 1839.

A. S. RAPPOPORT.

Berck-Plage,
September, 1913.

FOOTNOTE TO THE INTRODUCTION:

[Footnote 1: From certain passages in Chamisso's works it appears,
however, that he was born on January 31st.--Cf. Brun X., A. de
Chamisso's de Boncourt, Lyon, 1895, p. 4.]

THE MARVELLOUS HISTORY OF
THE SHADOWLESS MAN

[Illustration: "An extraordinary looking old man left me these papers,
saying he came from Berlin."]

AUTHOR'S INTRODUCTION

A LETTER FROM CHAMISSO TO JULIUS EDWARD HITZIG.

You, who forget nobody, must surely remember one Peter Schlemihl, whom
you used to meet occasionally at my house,--a long-legged youth, who
was considered stupid and lazy, on account of his awkward and careless
air. I was sincerely attached to him. You cannot have forgotten him,
Edward. He was, on one occasion, the hero of our rhymes, in the hey-day
of our youthful spirits; and I recollect taking him one evening to a
poetical tea-party, where he fell asleep while I was writing, without
even waiting to hear my effusion: and this reminds me of a witticism of
yours respecting him. You had already seen him, I know not where or
when, in an old black frock-coat, which indeed, he constantly wore; and
you said, "He would be a lucky fellow if his soul were half as immortal
as his coat,"--so little opinion had you of him. _I_ loved him,
however: and to this very Schlemihl, of whom for many years I had
wholly lost sight, I am indebted for the little volume which I
communicate to you, Edward, my most intimate friend, my second self,
from whom I have no secrets;--to you, and of course our Fouque, I
commit them, who, like you, is intimately entwined about my