I will not fail to draw the attention of the Catholic nobly-born 
members of the knighthood to a poem which, though written by a 
commoner, is perhaps for this very reason the more worthy of 
being preserved as a precious pearl, as a due tribute of bourgeois 
humility. 

In the year of grace eighteen hundred and forty-two a booklet 
appeared in Erfurt published by F. W. Otto: Das Wissenswiirdigste 
der Heraldik oder Wappenkunde by F. W. Andrea, with a dedication 
which reads as follows: “Respectfully dedicated to the entire high 
nobility of Germany, by the publisher.” 

“The Aristocracy by Right are loftiest in the Land, 
The Virtues of Their Forebears always ranked full high. 
Hereditary Worth has waxed and multiplied, 

In no way doth the Present yield before the Past. 
Thus Reverence greets Them humbly everywhere They go, 
On every State the richest blessings They bestow. 

“A Coat of Arms conceals a Wealth of hidden Meaning, 
How the sublimest Deeds were done in ancient Times; 
How Sovereigns gave the Nobles all Their just Deserts 
In War as well as in the palmy Days of Peace. 

Thus, Coats of Arms as high as Royal Crowns are rated: 
Only exalted Deeds are therewith consecrated. 

“With all Humility and Deference deeply felt 
For Glory thus resplendent down the Aeons of Time, 

I dedicate this Monument of Reverence 
To the most lofty Scions of Virtue-breeding stock. 
Pray, of a great Intention take this feeble token; 
It might yet tell you what lay in my heart unspoken.” 

Does the man not deserve to be knighted? 


Berlin, August 19. I am writing to you today to report that there 
is really nothing to report from here. Heaven knows, it is now the 
silly season or gherkin time, as they say here. Nothing is 
happening, absolutely nothing! The Union of the Historical Christ 
gives no more signs of life than the Union of the Free; although 
officially it exists, no student really knows where it exists or who 
belongs to it. It is probably the same as with the famous torchlight 
procession six months ago for the philosopher in the Leipziger 
Strasse, in which, too, no student would afterwards admit having 
taken part, and of which it was already said the day before that 
they were unfortunately mostly “philistines”. The Commissions of 
the Estates have not yet materialised either, in spite of the 
Leipziger Zeitung? which, with its passion for unhatched Prussian 
eggs, conducts interminable debates on whatever is to be placed 
before the Commissions.’ But we console ourselves with the 
wisdom of our King,’ and leave the unhatched eggs in peace. He 
is said to have brought with him a trade treaty and a new cartel 
convention, and that will certainly not be unhatched eggs! Far 
from bothering about that, we—-I mean we Berliners—envy the 
Rhinelanders the great enjoyment that will be theirs in a few 
weeks, when not only our King, but many other persons of high 
rank, including the worthy King Ludwig of Bavaria, the poet on 
the throne, author of Wathallagenossen and founder of Valhalla,'” 
will attend the laying of the foundation stone of Cologne Cathe- 

dral, which is to be completed as an ornament for the German 
people. The Walhallagenossen caused a lively sensation in local 
educated circles, and the general, competent judgment pro- 
nounces without qualification that King Ludwig has added a new 
laurel branch to his crown. Terse as Tacitus’, strong and elemental- 
ly forceful, the King’s style can be confident of imitation and yet 
will only rarely be equalled.