The Malady of the Century

ere beat a still warmer heart, that of Paul Haber, who had received a letter from Wilhelm the day before, telling him of his dismissal from Berlin, and that he was leaving fo

was short and

d Paul. "We will do our best to

when I had to look about me for som

you. Keep your ears stiff, and don'

in arm toward an elegant brougham lined with light blue, with a conspicuously hands

k sharp about it!" And before Wilhelm could offer any remonstrance, he found himself pushed into the carriage, Paul at his side.

time to time, and pressing his hand. Rather less than half an hour's drive brought them to their destination. Paul would not hear of Wilhelm making any alteration in his dress, but drew him as he was into the smoking room on the ground floor, where Malvine came to meet hi

re them into the next room, where they found an amply spread table over which hovered the fragrant smell of several steaming dishes. It was a lavish breakfast in the Engl

of all this splendor. "But, my dear

ne, and not without a smile of satisfied pride; "

ld never have written to you, if I had dreamed that you would get up before da

used to getting up early. At Fries

is in th

ken rest is not made up to

et, he remarked, between two mouthfuls, "I was struck all of a heap by your letter. You turned out! the mos

m aware of having comm

without some provocation-it's only your beggarly Progressives who think that, but nobody w

ecome a warm admire

e the way the opposition parties go on I

at you will consider tha

was somethin

ollection for the distressed families of the Soc

ng his knife and fork, and st

ems so crimi

I must say you have only got what you deserve. How could

a question of women and children deprived of their bread-win

on the part of the Revolutionists-a means of agitation, a weapon against the government. The beggars simply speculate on the tears of sentimental idiots. They get up a sort of penny-dreadful, whereon the one side you have a picture of injure

ears to speak so lightly of other people's hun

ny advocate of division of property. I trust you have not turned Socia

t. But for years I have seen the distress of the working people with my own eyes, and

end of time. But, on the other hand, that is what charity is there for. We have hospitals for the sick, workhouse

you going to do with the honest men

ll be at my place next summer. Then you'll see how I positively sweat blood in harvest-time trying to get the necessary number of laborers together, and what I have to put up with from the rascals only to keep them in good humo

cannot work i

eir fancy. They would rather be in the town, rather starve in a workshop, or ruin their lungs in a factory, because there they have more freedom-that is, they can go on the spree all night and shirk their work all day, if they like-they can play the gentleman, and think themselves as good as any gen

ed Malvine gently, as her husband grew

"So you think the Socialis

To deal mildly with the enemies of society is to be unjust to us, the orderly and industrious members of the community, who work hard to get on, and who don't want to be for ever

arranged it in their minds, there should be room for every individual, every opinion, all sorts and conditions of men. What the ruling classes say against them to-day has been said against the adherents of all new ideas since the beginning of time. Whoever tried to make the slightest alteration in the existing order of things was always considered, by those who derived advantages therefrom, to be a foe to the State and to society in general-a robber and a revolutionist. The e

evil omen!

u see, human nature remains the same, and its organization alters only very gradually, almost imperceptibly, though it sometimes changes its name. Christianity promised to be the beginning of the thousand years' reign, but in the main, everything has gone on just as it was before. A Socialist State would not be able to make the sun rise in the west, or do away with death any more than we can. They would ha

tter man, but you certainly beat me at metaphysics. Prophecy decidedly c

is quite unpardonable of you to start off on a long dis

boy came bounding in, and threw himself with a shout of delight upon Wilhelm's neck. Willy was still his mother's only child. He was nearly six years old, not very tall for his age, but a fine, handsome, thoroughly healthy child, with firm legs, a blooming complexion, the dark eyes of his grandmother, and long fair curls. H

every day," cried the child in his clear

his father answer

his hands with glee. "And you will teach me

o ride myself," returne

isappointed. "Wha

d leave uncle in peace and go back to the

and Paul led his guest to the room prepared

. The visitor's room was not less splendidly furnished than the smoking and breakfast rooms he had already seen, and when he looked about him at the great carved bedstead with its ample draperies, the silk damask-covered chairs, t

land, which six years ago had been but a bold theory, into an established scientific fact, and his methods, the excellence of which was amply proved by his almost tropically luxuriant harvests and uninterruptedly increasing wealth, were assiduously imitated on all sides. Paul Haber was acknowledged far and wide to be the first authority on the management of marsh land. The government had long since taken note of his success and kept an eye upon his doings, and was furnished by the Landrath with regular accounts of his agricultural progress. Young men of the best county families contended f

e Landrath, the Kronen Order of the fourth class was added to the rest. Paul was on the District Committee and County Council, and if he was not deputy of the Landtag and member of the Reichstag, it was only because he considered all parliamentary work a barren expenditure of time and strength. He s

del of good taste, and in no single detail smacked of the parvenu, and that for the very good reason that Paul was no parvenu, but a man who was conscious of having attained to a position which was his by nature and by right. He had never suffered from undue diffidence, and his success had naturally increased his sense of his own value, which, however, he did not display in any bumptious or aggressive manner as one who would force reluctant acknowledgment of his merits, but quietly and naturally, seeing that he received full and voluntary recognition from all sides. He believed in himself, and was quite right to do so, for everybody else believed in him too. He spoke with authority, for there was no one about him who did not hang upon his lips with respect, and mostly with admiration. He made assertions and gave his opinion with the assurance of superior knowledge, but he had a right to do so, for it always referred only to matters about which he knew, or was fully persuaded that he knew, more than most peo

for their advancement or actual support. Some were employed on his estate, others he had trained in his particular branch of agriculture, after which, and with his recommendation, they had found no difficulty in obtaining brilliant positions as s

had taken on a certain fatherly tone; although there was a difference of but one year between them, there was a touch of

horough rest, but the next morning early he kn

he door at the same moment, Wilhelm appear

early rising-that is right," said Pa

returned Wilhel

makes the cattle fat.' But your books don't require to be fed and watered at brea

wore a long blue morning gown with gay colored embroidery at the throat and wrists and

lhelm. We have a shooting party, the weather is

ather you left me here. I am no s

nd to show you Friesenmoor in its winter dress, and for the society which will interest you. They are neighbors of mine-nearly every one of them a character-old Baron Huning, who fought in the Crimea as an English officer, Count Chamberlain von Swerte, crammed with curious court stories, Graf Olderode, who, in spite of his gout, will jump f

ld be very sorry to make your

had time to settle comfortably. You stay with me. Herr Doctor; this is my day, and you shall make the acquain

ne has designs upon you, she wants to get you married. If you came with me you would b

better part to let yourself be caught by a pretty

r., and the absence of any sort of distinguishing mark by the addition of which she might recommend him to the special notice of her circle of friends. He was not a landed proprietor, nor a professor, not even a master. Nor could she conscientiously say, "the celebrated Dr. Eynhardt." He had no military title, and to introduce him as "the handsome Dr. Eynhardt" would hardly do. Fortunately she had no need to mention the latter adjective. The ladies observed without further assistance how remarkably handsome this gentleman was with

head had made upon him? When he frankly confessed that he had paid very little attention to any of the young ladies, and could scarcely remember one from another, she was very much disco

A woman without fortune, of no position or importance, and at the present moment even homeless and a wanderer. As things had turned out she was wealthy and distinguished, the best people in Hamburg and the whole of Luneburg came to her house, and she ruled like a small queen over a large settlement of dependents. And all this she owed to her dear Paul, who, during the seven years of their married life, had never given her one moment's pain, never cost her eyes a single tear. Out of her grateful acknowledgment that Wilhelm had materially assisted in

ere in the midst of the gay chatter just as quiet and wooden as on the first occasion, made no advances to any of the girls, singled out no one from the rest. After that Mal

she was blooming and as silent as ever. Old Frau Brohl was simply astounding. She had not changed in the smallest degree, time had no power over her, she was just as doubled up and colorless, and her movements just as slow as ever, her brown eye

, while the other was filled with a choice collection of fancy work. On these treasures being unpacked, it was discovered that the inventive genius of the old lady of seventy was still undiminished. For the master of the house there wa

y late encourage, in the heir to a large estate, there was a Flobert rifle, the strap of which was ornamented after an entirely new method by cutting out thin

A large party had gathered for the lighting-up. Beside the relatives of the aristocratic pupils, who had come over from the estate, there were some neighbors from the Uhlenhorst, with five or six little children, and the Chambe

n order that she might frequently obtain a back view, and so gaze upon the proud badge in silent awe and admiration. The children had no eye for such matters, but rushed shrieking with delight round the tree, whose branches shed such gorgeous presents on them. Willy got a hussar uniform, with sword, knot, boots and spurs all complete,

, and never forgot how well he had behaved at a critical moment, and with what modest

d be sure to interest him, she suddenly remembered one, and said, between the fis

rted and ch

e off nicely if you had married Fraulein Ellrich. There have been all sorts of rumors for years, but now it has come to an open scandal. She

s, thinking of the girl he had once loved, who was now rushing blindly down the path of dishonor. Why should the thought pain him so much? Do heart wounds heal so slowly and imperfectly that a rough touch can make the scar burn

afternoon to Ronneburg by way of Harburg, but Wilhelm could not be prevailed upon to accompany them. Paul took him severely to task; Malvine represented to him, with an eloquence unusual to her, the horrors of a lonely New-Year's Eve; Frau Brohl pointed out the advantage

in his hand, lost in thought. At last he shook himself out of

he world. I am alone in this grand villa, the servants seem to be enjoying themselves downstairs over their roast goose and punch, Paul has taken his fami

thout the consent of the estate owners of the district, and raves about local police prerogative. His only newspaper, beside the little local one, is the Kreuzzentung, he is learned in the Army List, and the writing-table at which I am sitting is strewed with volumes of the Almanac de Gotha. He looks after his subjects-for I think he calls his workmen his subjects-in a truly fatherly or feudal manner, but I do not doubt that he would drive the best of them off the estate with dogs, if, even in the depth of winter, they did not stand hat in hand the whole time they were talking to him. The sole problem of the universe which has any sort of interest for him is the outlook of

ting expeditions. He is a masterly 'skat player, and is most anxious to enrich my existence by the joys which, according to him, this intellectual game affords to its adepts. When I venture timidly to propose that I should leave him and live by myself, he looks so honestly hurt and grieved that I have not the courage to insist further. And Frau Haber, kind soul, who is so set upon getting me married and thereby insuring my happiness! I and marrying! What have I to offer a woman? Love? I am too poor i

hild into the world, and though, of course, he does not know what its ultimate fate will be, he sees for the present, as do I and everybody else who is not blind, that it fills his home with sunshine and warmth. He provides hundreds with their daily bread. That is, I know, of no moment to the universe; it is of very little importance whether a few more obstruse human creatures walk the face of the earth or not. But meanwhile, the creatures in question enjoy more agreeable sensations, if, th

of the senses! And yet, I am conscious that I miss just those houses which happen to stand, in Berlin and that I feel an unspeakable longing for the phantom called Dr. Schrotter. Once again it has been proved to me that I am an unconscious plaything in the hands of unknown powers, for again, as more than once in my

ch I should like to add that life is real

ani, who, I trust, does not suffer too severely from this hard winte

LM EYN

m received the followin

er, that it is explained by the fact of your being rooted up out of your accustomed surroundings that you are oppressed by Haber's hospitality

ilosophy-if I may use the word-or yours, is the right one. That is a great question, and I do not presume to answer it, either in general or for your particular case; and all the more, for the very good reason that your life is only really beginning now. You are not yet thirty-four, you may yet do something great, something pre-emin

, I value and am very fond of. But there are people living over our heads too. I have known Indian sages who looked down upon all we strive after and with which we occupy ourselves with the same pitying wonder as you do on Haber's passion for sport and 'skat,' and his longing for a title; who have difficulty in understanding that we should earn money, be ambitious, entertain passions, conform to outward rules of custom, and, und

to be banished from Berlin; then submit yourself to those still higher ones, who let you live and feel and think. Do not fight against the natural instincts which lead you to cling to life and love. Your fears that you have nothing to offer a wife are groundless. There are women who do not seek the

read alone; and by simply being what you are, you supply many people-myself for instance-wi

humble handmaid miss the dear friend with the soft eyes and gentle voice. We live as in a bungalow in the season of rains-clouds and ever clouds, and no sun. When

k of doing, and be assured of t

HRO

ract from my to-day's Times. That man's

the suspicions of his confederates by his luxurious and showy style of living. In order to discover the source from which he drew the money for it, they appointed one of their female members to be his mistress. She had shared in his extravagances,

ld him, without further circumlocution, that the Socialists had kept their eye upon him, had found

y that?" asked Wilh

duced himself as Stonemason Hessel, "whether

You are all that, as we know. By banishing you from Berlin they have, in point of fact, made you one of us. So go a step further, Herr Doctor; defend yourse

at last, "but I really cannot thin

e name of the heads of the party, and have means of convincing yo

ou come to kn

schooling. The struggle for our daily bread uses up all our time, and all the brains we have. Look at me, Herr Doctor, for years I never had more than five hours' sleep, and always used half the night to learn the little I know. There are plenty of people among us who-more's the pity-are distrustful of the better educated-call them upstarts, and won't have anything to do with them. Their idea is that t

Mirabeau and Wilberforce, and the thought passed through his mind that, at any rate, there was one good thi

"we workmen too must be led

ed Wilhelm. "To be your leader, one must

the present social system. The government, which oppresses us, sees it as clearly as we do

ing-classes suffer, but I do not know why, and I do not believe your theorists when they say it is all because

the plundering feu

d up a workingman's State upon the ruins, you will thereby only have improved the condition of a select few, not of the whole-not even of the many. I would not like to be in the shoes of your present l

ne for us, and that we ought calmly to be left in wan

e bounden duty of every man to love his nei

hurch-the standpoint of the Middle Ages. You would give us alms. No,

cialists so proud, but kept the thought to himself, not wishin

exactly what we want, although the majority do still cling a good deal to phrases. You will assuredly soon begin to interest yourself in the emancipation of the proletariat. And what a future to look forward to! You might be another Lassalle, famous

elm

to be either famous or mighty, or to make triumphal progresses. If I could really do anything for you, believe me, I would do it gladly. But I assure you I possess neither the philosopher's stone, nor a prescription

urned slowly away, and left him without

ure in the work was gone again for days. The consciousness of exile, instead of being blunted by time, weighed ever more heavily upon him. He never realized till now what an absolute necessity it was to his nature to lean upon a kindred spirit, for he had never before been without one. Since the death of his father he had first had Paul, and then Dr. Schrotter, whom he had seen daily, and thus had always had some one to share his mental life

ng forth some such sweet golden-haired mystery that would cling to its parent and break away from him-a continuation and yet a wholly new departure that had its roots in the past, and yet struck out boldly into the future, and whose bright gaze would be trying to penetrate the riddle of the universe when he himself had long since sunk into oblivion. Had Malvine been something more than good-natured and commonplace, had she possessed a little more tact and insight into the human heart, she would have seen that in Wilhelm were now combined all the conditions necessary for predisposing him for marriage-the sense of a spiritual void, the longing for love and companionship, a consciousness of being alone in the midst of a cheerful, peaceful family circle, and the desire to see his own l

elm would have liked to seize this opportunity for withdrawing himself from a hospita

can see what country life is like for a whole s

ch Paul had built on to his house, giving it quite a baronial appearance, one could see for miles across country, almost to Hamburg, the spires of which were plainly visible on a clear day. But far and near one saw nothing but cornfields and meadows, that had the regularity of a carpet pattern, intersected by clay-colored dikes, straight ditches full of stagnant bro

very step one encountered the marks of that struggle and victory, reminding one of Jacob's mysterious encounter with the angel. The waters of the marsh were now forced within the prescribed limits of a system of drains and canals. Luxuriant crops t

to be repaired, ditches to be deepened, drain-pipes to be laid or improved, or artificial manure to be carted, and Paul was active from break of day till nightfall, either on foot or on horseback, hurrying from one end of the estate to the other, everywhere ordering or giving a helping hand, and always leading h

t of poles, already gave promise of their first harvest of apples and pears. The village hall and the school-house were distinguished by superior size and green-glazed tile roofs; nor was a church, with a pointed belfry and weathercock, missing. For Paul was a model landowner, who took ample thought for the welfare of hi

d strong and hearty; the women, carrying dinner to their husbands in the fields, or sitting knitting on the benches in front of their doors, all presented bright and cheerful

this first instinctive emotion was followed by the usual fatal speculations, and he said to himself, "Paul has converted swamps into cornfields, has enriched himself thereby, and supports some hundreds of families. Good! but what further? This great ac

by, which was to be had for a moderate sum; he would give him a helping hand at first, and as property of that kind could very well afford a steward, he could easily get him a first-rate one. They would be neighbors, Wilhelm would hav

but leave the sun to its work of brooding on the fields, Paul went one day to a c

y remonstrated with me on the subject in a discreet and well-meaning way. I can't tell you how the man amused

ery doubtful company for a man in your position, and I

solable at his stupidity in having told the story. Wilhelm declared firmly that he must leave

ks at least to Friesenmoor House. Malvine had tears in her eyes as she said, "No one will care for you so much as we do." Even little Willy was downcast, and gazed with a reproachful look at th