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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Untitled Article
in ' tfefcpreceding fcentuiy ; from Silesia , probably in cons ^ uence , of religious p 6 i * sec ^ i ( feW ; ^ ftd the ^ recollection of this circumstance perhaps cwtribiited to' strengthen tbe ^ dedp sense of religion for which the family of , Herder ^ as remarkable . nH ; s fotbfctf was theteacher of a female school , and , fe ^ cjered hims ^ ffexpectable i « i tha ? t lowly station by his piety and the conscientious dischai ^ gfc or tiis duties * From his mother Herder inherited warm domestic affections and a ' sympathising tenderness of heart * Their mode of life was . distinguished by its order , regularity * and harmony , and by a patriarchal
simplicity of manners . At the close of every day the whole family assembled to unite in singing a hymtt . To these simple exercises of domestic piety Herder always looked back in after life with peculiar emotion ; and to their first impression on his infant mind , combined with the remembrance of a happy and affectionate home , and the almost exclusive limitation of his early reading to the Bible and the Psalm-book , may reasonably be traced the profound" devotional sensibility which pervaded all the subsequent effusions of his genius , and his decided predilection for oriental poetry .
HeTder received his earliest instruction in literature at the grammar-school of Mohrungen , which was at that time under the superintendence of a rector named Grimm , a man of exactness and diligence in his calling , but withal stern and pedantic , and ill qualified to cultivate the taste and develop t , he finer sensibilities of a mind like Herder ' s * To this instructor of his youth Herder , however , always confessed his obligations ; and the following description of him , as an amusing p icture of a Grerman school-master in the middle of the last century , we give in the graphic colouring of Herder himself :
* ' Notwithstanding his severity , and grim as he looked ( for his appearance corresponded to his name ) with his pale complexion and his black peruke , I must still acknowledge myself indebted to him for having grounded me in learning * . He insisted strictly and inexorably on having the rules of grammar exactly learned . Every lesson _ , whatever it might "be , he made us repeat over many times , till we completely understood it , and had fixed it in our memories * During the repetition of the lessons , we were required to stand ; a practice which accustoms the scholars to a respectful demeanour towards their
teacher , and enforces attention to the lesson . He insisted on the highest reverence being paid to him by us school-boys ^ the instant we saw nimy an d came in si ^ bt or his dwelling , we took off our hats . Qi * the other hand , with all hi * strictness , he cheerfully testified his . satisfaction with the industrious ; and some few ; of whom I was one ,, he particularly distinguished , by allowing us to-accompany him in his walks , during" which we were to gather speedwell
and ( cowslips for the tea which formed his daily beverage . I have ever since been fond of speedwell and cowslips ; they remind me of those walks of my youth , > anid , of the praise aiid approbation of my old master . Sometimes he w ^ ld invite , one or two scholars , whom he wished especially to honour ^ into hi ^ study , to partake of a cup of this tea with a small lump of sugar ; and this w ^ yegaT ^ le ^ l as a peculi ar mark of favour and distinction ; For myself , he always appeared satisfied with me , and shewed me kindness and attention . "
¦ uU&dev thisiinstructor , Herder made very considerable proficiency in , Latin aad Greek ;> and , notwithstanding the many depressing influences to which theddvek > pnaentof his tender and sensitive ; genius was exposed , frfa thirst ,, of kmibwl ^ dge ' CODtiatialhr ii ^ c rea ^ ed , and he gratified it by obtaining the loan of hooteiiramj ^ ifapfrienat . , 1 Jfe qnce pointed out Italy on the . map to hjs ^ ster , with the enthusiastic exclamation , " 0 my beloved Italy ! I must see thee qu $ ofrfttesefdays&Vi i >]^^ aocjuiited > sortie kticfwkdge of : rilk »* t ¦ ^ cb ^ pi ; but alway s > regr ^< 9 cl th ^^ h « bad not > enjdyed » iw ^ yOulhibdU ^ Koppo ^ unitie ^ of insitruptiQi ^ 09 th ^ n music and
Untitled Article
730 v Lt / e and Writings of Herder .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Nov. 2, 1830, page 730, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2590/page/2/
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