MATTHIAS CLAUDIUS, the German poet, born at Reinfeld in 1740, lived the life of a “country editor” in the village of Wandsbeck near Hamburg, where for many years he published the Wandsbeck Messenger (Bote). In this he published the lyrics and short essays which made him famous. He was naturally a humorist, but the intensely religious undertone of his character became dominant as he grew older. Before his death he collected from the Messenger eight volumes of his verse and prose which he published under the name of “Asmus.” He died January 21st, 1815.