134. Eduard Simson

Eduard Simson has died. It is not only those circles involved in the political development of Germany who are thinking of the deceased, but also those within the literary movements. Simson was one of the few of our contemporaries who still met Goethe in person. He had been recommended to Goethe by Goethe's Berlin musical friend Zelter and counted among his personal memories the strong impression of which all those who have experienced this impression know how to report. It was probably with this in mind that the German "Goethe Society" elected Simson as its first chairman when it was founded. He remained so until his death. Only those who have the necessary understanding of Germany's political development will be able to properly assess the actual effectiveness of this man. He was, after all, far removed from literary life, apart from his stated personal relationship with Goethe.