316 PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY 



the darkness of German antiquity, to show the early civilization, settle- 

 ments, and migrations of the Germanic races. Of his " Deutsches 

 Wortei-buch" we have already spoken; though the master's hand was 

 arrested in the middle of his work, it is hoped that his collections of 

 material will fall to successors who, working in his spirit and with the 

 guidance of his example, will worthily complete this great monument 

 of his genius and leai-ning. 



But Grimm was no mere student of words. To him grammar and 

 lexicography were means, not ends. He saw manifested in them the 

 mind of the German people ; and all manifestations of the Germanic 

 mind attracted his attention and awakened his sympathy. This we see 

 in many extensive and laborious works which issued from his study, 

 such as his "Deutsche Rechtsalterthiimer " (1828), his "Deutsche 

 Mythologie" (1835), his "Deutsche Weisthiimer" (3 vols., 1840-42), 

 and not least in the " Kinder- und Hausmarchen," published jointly by 

 himself and his brother Wilhelm, which has endeared their names to 

 the children of all countries. A strong poetic sensibility was among 

 the characteristics of Grimm's mind. He loved the old German poetry, 

 and read it again and again with the keenest relish. In publishing the 

 remains of the early German literature, he rendered important service 

 by his " Reinhart Fuchs" (1834), his Anglo-Saxon "Andreas und 

 Elene" (1840), his " Gedichte des Mittelalters auf Konig Friedrich 

 I." (1844), etc. 



These and other important works, such as his numerous papers pub- 

 lished in scientific and literary journals, and in the transactions of 

 learned societies, — papers always characterized by great ingenuity 

 and laborious research, — may serve to show that it is no empty 

 vaunt when Grimm says of himself that there is in his nature a cer- 

 tain iron industry. At the same time, it is clear that no industry, how- 

 ever tough and plodding, could have accomplished such results, without 

 the qualities of quickness and acuteness, which Grimm possessed in a 

 high degree. His acuteness was conspicuous in his conversation, 

 which is described as singularly pithy and racy, full of unexpected 

 turns and striking suggestions. His quickness also was extraordinary. 

 His books were written with great rapidity, and were printed just as 

 they were written, without first draught and corrected copy. Composed 

 in this way, they are of course wanting in literary finish. They have 

 not the simplicity and transparency which can only come by careful 

 elaboration. 



