to live for generation after
generation; and his character as a man, although subject in many
respects to severe criticism, can always be covered with a mantle of
loving charity, when we remember his generosity of heart, his manly
independence of spirit, his natural nobility of mind, and consider the
difficult circumstances and terrible temptations that encompassed his
stormy life.

[Signature of the author.]

SCHILLER[9]

[Footnote 9: Copyright, 1894, by Selmar Hess.]

By B. L. FARJEON

(1759-1805)

[Illustration: Schiller.]

It is a common belief, and a common error, that clever children seldom
became illustrious, and though we have instances of youthful dullards
who have ripened into fame, they are rare in comparison with those who
in early youth have given some indications of future renown. Of these
last Germany's favorite bard is one. Born in the little village of
Marbach, in the duchy of Wuertemberg, on November 10, 1759, he, when a
child, evinced proofs of remarkable imaginative and creative power. At
as early an age as six he showed that he possessed a fearless nature
and an inquiring mind. A terrific storm was raging, and his parents
searched for him in vain; the vivid lightning and the crashing thunder
increased their anxiety, but they could find no trace of the child. At
length, when the storm was over, he was seen to descend from the
topmost branches of a great lime-tree near the house. They rushed
toward him and inquired why he had selected so dangerous a refuge. "I
wanted to see," he replied, with an intrepid air, "where all the fire
came from." Even at this period he found his favorite reading in the
prophetic books of the Old Testament, and it was probably from Ezekiel
that he derived his inspiration for Franz Moor's dream in "The
Robbers." His mother taught him to read, and the stories she related
to him were listened to with avidity; she was his closest companion
and friend, and from her he inherited the gifts which made his name a
household word in every home in Germany. He was brought up in a
religious and scholarly household. Prayers twice a day, regular
attendance at church, the study of Greek and Latin already
commenced--these were his principal occupations at seven years of age,
when other lads were playing about the fields. From his father he also
inherited the literary instinct. The elder Schiller, at the time his
son was born, was a lieutenant in the service of the d