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The Museum Gazette 



in almost all instances, make the same features obvious. The 

 face is shorter in those of age, as is indeed the general rule. 



A most interesting subject of speculation is as to what was 

 Goethe's race-descent. He was born amongst a Teuton 

 population, but that he was exclusively German it is difficult 

 to believe. His mother's name was Textor, and the salient 

 features of her character were by no means those of the 

 German race. Frankfort was a city of old renown and of 

 mixed population. For ages it had been the home of many 

 Jews. If his dark eyes and his arched nose might be allowed 

 to suggest a remote introduction of Semitic blood there was 

 much in his own character to give plausibility to the con- 

 jecture. No man had ever a more liberal outlook on the 

 world. He was universal in his sympathies and quite un- 

 trammelled by prejudice or narrow patriotism. 



As both poet and philosopher, Goethe has been styled "the 

 greatest intellectual power of our age," and he probably 

 deserves the title. He was a philosopher almost from his 

 cradle, and a poet from his early youth. Perhaps no man 

 ever owed less to teachers. Through his whole life he might 

 be said to be self-educated. Both his parents were highly 

 intellectual and his childhood was passed in close association 

 with them and with an only sister who was a year his 

 junior. 



He had no tutor or governess, and was never sent to 

 school. His father, who was middle aged, and somewhat 

 austere, is believed to have rather stimulated the boy's inborn 

 appetite for knowledge than attempted much in the way of 

 guiding and developing it. His mother, who was only seven- 

 teen years his senior, was lively, sympathetic and keenly 

 sensitive to all forms of beauty and enjoyment. As her son 

 grew up she soon assumed to him the position of an elder 

 sister and devoted companion. 



Without doubt Goethe was what he was from inheritance, 

 and owed but little to environment other than that he was 

 left to himself, with every home comfort and with ample 



