He was knowing; he was brave; he
was clean from all narrowness; he has a perfect propriety and taste,
-- a quality by no means common to the German writers. Nay, since
the earth, as we said, had become a reading-room, the new
opportunities seem to have aided him to be that resolute realist he
is, and seconded his sturdy determination to see things for what they
are. To look at him, one would say, there was never an observer
before. What sagacity, what industry of observation! to read his
record is a frugality of time, for you shall find no word that does
not stand for a thing, and he is of that comprehension, which can see
the value of truth. His love of nature has seemed to give a new
meaning to that word. There was never man more domesticated in this
world than he. And he is an apology for the analytic spirit of the
period, because, of his analysis, always wholes were the result. All
conventions, all traditions he rejected. And yet he felt his entire
right and duty to stand before and try and judge every fact in
nature. He thought it necessary to dot round with his own pen the
entire sphere of knowables; and for many of his stories, this seems
the only reason: Here is a piece of humanity I had hitherto omitted
to sketch; -- take this.
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