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From Ernst Krause1   4 October 1880

Berlin N.O. Friedenstrasse 11. 3 Tr.

den 4.10.80

Hochverehrter Herr!

Wenn ich mir gestattete, Ihnen gestern die zweite Auflage meines Buches “Werden und Vergehen” zu übersenden und Sie bitte, dieselbe als Zeichen meiner herzlichen Verehrung in Ihre Bibliothek aufzunehmen, so hege ich nicht die Anmassung, zu denken, dass Sie das Buch lesen würden.2 Sie würden auch wenig Neues darin finden. Es ist eine populäre Darstellung der gesammten durch Sie in’s Leben gerufenen modernen Weltanschauung, zu der ich durch einen Auftrag des “Vereins für deutsche Literatur”3 vor vier Jahren angeregt wurde, und der wegen seiner versöhnlichen Sprache sich einer guten Aufnahme zu erfreuen hatte. Im vorigen Jahre was das Buch zum Gegenstand mehrtägiger Debatten im preussischen Abgeordnetenhause gemacht worden, weil Dr Hermann Müller in Lippstadt das Buch den Schülern der obersten Klassen als Lectüre empfohlen hatte. Die Ultramontanen machten das Buch deshalb zum Gegenstand heftiger Angriffe, die nicht nur darauf hinausliefen, Dr. Herman Müller, sondern den Cultusminister, der solche Lehrer anstelle u. dulde, zu stürzen.4 Glücklicher Weise erwies sich das Buch bei näherer Betrachtung als so harmlos und in einem so concilianten Sinne geschrieben, dass diese fürchterlichen Anklagen in nichts zusammenfielen.

In Betreff des Kosmos lässt Sie der Verleger herzlich bitten, Ihnen das Journal wie vordem zusenden zu dürfen, wir hoffen, dass es mit der Zeit an Gehalt zunehmen wird. Bisher hatte es allzusehr mit dem Vorurtheil einzelner Kreise zu kämpfen.5

In der Hoffnung, dass diese Zeilen Sie in erwünschtem Wohlsein treffen, zeichne ich, hochverehrter Herr | Ihr | herzlichst ergebener | Ernst Krause

CD annotations

End of letter: ‘Kosmos m⁠⟨⁠essa⁠⟩⁠ge to Editor— | Dr. D.’ pencil; ‘I have been very glad to hear about H. Müller’6 blue ink

Footnotes

1
For a translation of this letter, see Appendix I.
2
Krause published Werden und Vergehen: eine Entwicklungsgeschichte des Naturganzen in gemeinverstädlicher Fassung (Genesis and decline: a popular account of the developmental history of nature) under his pseudonym Carus Sterne; he had sent CD a copy of the first edition, which is in the Darwin Library–CUL (Sterne 1876; see Correspondence vol. 25, letter from Ernst Krause, 11 March 1877 and n. 4). The second edition, Sterne 1880, is in the Darwin Library–Down.
3
Society for German literature.
4
The Ultramontanists were Catholics who wanted to integrate church and state, with ultimate authority resting with the church. Criticising Hermann Müller was a way for the Ultramontanists in Germany to attack the liberal minister of education, Adalbert Falk. CD had heard about this incident from Müller himself the previous year (see Correspondence vol. 27, letter from Hermann Müller, 14 February 1879).
5
Krause was the editor of the journal Kosmos, founded in 1877; it was published by Karl Alberts in Leipzig. In 1879, Francis Darwin had reported that Kosmos was widely regarded in Germany as the ‘organ of “uncultivated materialism”’ (Correspondence vol. 27, letter from Francis Darwin, [after 2 June 1879]). In July, CD had offered to pay two years’ subscription to the journal rather than continue to receive issues gratis from the publisher (see letter to Ernst Krause, 29 July 1880).
6
CD’s annotations relate to his reply to this letter. See letter to Ernst Krause, 7 October 1880.

Bibliography

Sterne, Carus, pseud. (Ernst Krause.) 1876. Werden und Vergehen: eine Entwicklungsgeschichte des Naturganzen in gemeinverstädlicher Fassung. Berlin: Gebrüder Borntraeger.

Sterne, Carus, pseud. (Ernst Krause.) 1880. Werden und Vergehen: eine Entwicklungsgeschichte des Naturganzen in gemeinverständlicher Fassung. 2d edition. Berlin: Gebrüder Borntraeger.

Translation

From Ernst Krause1   4 October 1880

Berlin N.O. Friedenstrasse 11. 3 Tr.

4.10.80

Most esteemed Sir!

Even though I was so bold yesterday as to send you the second edition of my book “Werden und Vergehen” and to ask you to receive it into your library as a token of my heartfelt admiration, I do not entertain the presumption to think that you would read this book.2 You would find little in it that is new. It is a popular account of the overall world view given life by you, an account I was inspired to undertake on commission from the “Verein für deutsche Literatur”3 four years ago, and which due to its conciliatory tone enjoyed a good reception. Last year the book was the subject of several days of debate in the Prussian parliament, because Dr Hermann Müller in Lippstadt recommended the book for pupils in the upper forms. For this reason, the ultramontanists made the book the target of violent attacks, which would end up in toppling not only Dr. Herman Müller, but also the minister of culture for employing & tolerating such teachers.4 Fortunately upon closer inspection the book proved to be so harmless and to be written in so conciliatory a tone that these dreadful accusations evaporated into thin air.

Regarding Kosmos, the publisher asked me to pass on his cordial request to let him send you the journal as before; we hope that it will increase in value over time. Until now it had to struggle all too much with the prejudices of partisan circles.5

In the hope that these lines may find you in a desirable state of health, I remain, most esteemed Sir | Yours | most cordially devoted | Ernst Krause

Footnotes

1
For a transcription of this letter in its original German, see pp. 316–17.
2
Krause published Werden und Vergehen: eine Entwicklungsgeschichte des Naturganzen in gemeinverstädlicher Fassung (Genesis and decline: a popular account of the developmental history of nature) under his pseudonym Carus Sterne; he had sent CD a copy of the first edition, which is in the Darwin Library–CUL (Sterne 1876; see Correspondence vol. 25, letter from Ernst Krause, 11 March 1877 and n. 4). The second edition, Sterne 1880, is in the Darwin Library–Down.
3
Society for German literature.
4
The Ultramontanists were Catholics who wanted to integrate church and state, with ultimate authority resting with the church. Criticising Hermann Müller was a way for the Ultramontanists in Germany to attack the liberal minister of education, Adalbert Falk. CD had heard about this incident from Müller himself the previous year (see Correspondence vol. 27, letter from Hermann Müller, 14 February 1879).
5
Krause was the editor of the journal Kosmos, founded in 1877; it was published by Karl Alberts in Leipzig. In 1879, Francis Darwin had reported that Kosmos was widely regarded in Germany as the ‘organ of “uncultivated materialism”’ (Correspondence vol. 27, letter from Francis Darwin, [after 2 June 1879]). In July, CD had offered to pay two years’ subscription to the journal rather than continue to receive issues gratis from the publisher (see letter to Ernst Krause, 29 July 1880).

Bibliography

Sterne, Carus, pseud. (Ernst Krause.) 1876. Werden und Vergehen: eine Entwicklungsgeschichte des Naturganzen in gemeinverstädlicher Fassung. Berlin: Gebrüder Borntraeger.

Sterne, Carus, pseud. (Ernst Krause.) 1880. Werden und Vergehen: eine Entwicklungsgeschichte des Naturganzen in gemeinverständlicher Fassung. 2d edition. Berlin: Gebrüder Borntraeger.

Summary

Has sent 2d ed. of his book, Werden und Vergehen [1880]. Notes that book was attacked in Prussian House of Deputies by ultramontane critics of Hermann Müller who had recommended it to his pupils.

Letter details

Letter no.
DCP-LETT-12737
From
Ernst Ludwig (Ernst) Krause
To
Charles Robert Darwin
Sent from
Berlin
Source of text
DAR 169: 109
Physical description
ALS 1p (German) †

Please cite as

Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 12737,” accessed on 27 May 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-12737.xml

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