salutation to his second fatherland, and the first foundation-stone
of his future fame.

Chamisso was often pestered with questions respecting what he really
meant by the story of Schlemihl. These questions amused as well as
annoyed him. The truth is, that his intention in writing it was
perhaps scarcely of so precise a nature as to admit of his giving a
formal account of it. The story sprang into being of itself, like
every work of genius, prompted by a self-creating power. In a
letter to the writer of this notice, after he had just commenced the
story, he says, "A book was the last thing you would have expected
from me! Place it before your wife this evening, if you have time;
should she be desirous to know Schlemihl's further adventures, and
particularly who the man in the grey cloak is--send me back the MS.
immediately, that I may continue the story; but if you do not return
it, I shall know the meaning of the signal perfectly." Is it
possible for any writer to submit himself to the scrutiny of the
public more good-naturedly?

In the preface to the new French translation (which appeared in
1838) of this story, Chamisso amuses himself in his own peculiar
way, over the prying curiosity of those who want to know what his
real object was in writing this tale: --"The present story," he
says, "has fallen into the hands of thoughtful people, who, being
accustomed to read only for instruction's sake, have been at a loss
to know what the shadow signifies. On this point several have
formed curious hypotheses; others, who do me the honour to believe
that I am more learned than I really am, have addressed themselves
to me for the solution of their doubts. The questions with which
they have besieged me have made me blush on account of my ignorance.