ABSTRACT
The most memorable day in Thackeray’s earlier years, and one which he never forgot, was Wednesday, October 20, 1830. On that day he saw for the first time the greatest of living Germans, Wolfgang von Goethe. The theatre was admirably conducted, and besides the excellent Weimar company, famous actors and singers from various parts of Germany performed Gastrolle through the winter. ‘Thackeray remained in his private apartments, where only a very few privileged persons were admitted; but he liked to know all that was happening, and interested himself about all strangers. The one famous beyond all living men, as poet, dramatist, romancist, and philosopher; the other only as yet dreaming of becoming a famous artist, and, perhaps, Hushing with pleasure to think that his host had approved of some of his early drawings and youthful caricatures.
