PREFACE. THE HE present volume is intended for students in high schools, colleges, and German-American schools, who have mastered a German grammar and an elementary reader, and who know how to use such a dictionary as Whitneys. It differs from other books of the kind, published in this country, 1. In confining its selections to the master-pieces of German authors, which can be accepted by students as models of style and expression. 2. In giving a full representation to modern literature. 3. In adding selections from the best and latest works on German history, history of civilization and language, and 4. In giving texts which can be relied upon for their accuracy. The texts are taken from standard works, and the full titles of these works are given, so that the Reader presents a bibliography of the best and latest works on German literature and history. From the dramas which Prof. Hart has edited only a few selections have been given, and the reader is referred in each instance to the work itself. In preparing the brief biographies, the following works have been consulted: Meyers Fachlexika, Brockhaus' and Meyers ConversationsLexika, Goedekes and Kurz' Litteraturgeschichten and the LitteraturKalender. In preparing the notes, reference has always been made to Profs. Brand and Hart's German Grammar. Mythological terms and terms of the philosophical sciences are explained in English. Krauth and Flemming's Vocabulary, and the mythologies of Beren, Jeup and |