d in no scheme
teacher of literature who, having read the book
for intellectual training alone does Professor
thoughtfully, and considered what it implies in
Corson's literary study find any place; he
university teaching nowadays, will lay it down
would be the first to say so. Whether it should
with a “ This will never do.” Such is, in fact,
be so, is another matter. That it is so, is fully
my own feeling, to be quite honest. It will not
understood by Professor Corson, as we see by
do,- for university teaching. Professor Cor-
his treatment of that essential feature of the
son's answer will be, “ So much the worse for
present university system, the examination.
the universities and those who are taught The university concerns itself with intellectual
there.” And to see how good is to come out training; its whole system, and method, and
of the deadlock requires a wiser head than discipline is designed for intellectual training.
mine. But there are one or two things which Other educational forces it deals with only in-
should be held in mind.
cidentally; they must look out for themselves.
Universities and colleges at present con So the matter stands at present. Literature
cern themselves almost entirely with one only is, in a manner, out of place in the universities.
of the several elements which should make a Every good teacher of literature has felt it a
part of everybody's education. Surroundings, hundred times.
hundred times. The study of language is one
conduct, art, religion, these are elements of thing; but the study of literature as one of
vast importance in education; but with these the fine arts, save as a branch of history or
the university does not particularly concern psychology, is not a university discipline. Ef-
itself. Whether this confinement of its sphere forts to make it such result to the detriment of
be for good or ill, may be an open question ; literature as an art.
literature as an art. And that gives the re-
but, on the whole, it will be allowed that as a lation of Professor Corson's book to present
matter of fact the university does very largely university teaching.
confine itself to science. Some universities are One thing further : In spite of much that
devoted to science for its own sake, and not as may be said, it does not seem to me that the
an educational agent. But our American uni- present is a time in which the intellect is ac-
versities deal chiefly with science for its edu corded too high a place of honor. I should
cational effect. Now the educational effect of say, on the other hand, that comparatively few
science is two-fold : it is special, as when a people nowadays have had the advantage of an
man who intends to be a chemist studies chem education which has enabled them to use their
istry, or as when a man who desires to have intellects to full advantage. The time is not
any sort of information or training pursues the overburdened with thought; or if it is, the
particular study that will give him the informa- | trouble lies with those who would like to think.


1895.]
111
THE DIAL
The schools may be full of ridiculous analytic ple; “ the work strives to observe scrupulous
method in the name of thought, but the world proportion in treating the different phases of
is full of ridiculous mental processes of no name our national career”; “ no pains has been
at all. One may be heartily in sympathy with spared to secure perfect accuracy in all refer-
Professor Corson's enthusiasm for spiritual ed. ences to dates, persons, and places, so that the
ucation, and yet not acknowledge that we have volume may be used with confidence as a work
too much intellectual education. Or we may of reference.” These are laudable endeavors ;
have too much of it, but it isn't of the right but candor compels us to say that they have
sort. The question is not one of substitution. never blossomed into actuality, and that the
We must keep on doing one thing (do it better failure of the book is noteworthy in these very
if only we could), and not leave the other un particulars.
done.
Whether or not scrupulous proportions have
I have tried to show clearly the place of this been observed is of course a matter of judg-
book of Professor Corson's in our thinking ment, and there must be differences of opinion.
about education. It is a very small book But it seems to me that, in spite of the import-
in fact, it is an 18mo. I wish it were larger, ance of the Civil War, a seventh of the whole
for it ought to hold a place of dignity on the work is too much to devote to its considera-
book-shelf alongside of works of greater size but tion. There is no space for a discussion of
less excellence. In its present shape, however, the Hutchinson controversy in Massachusetts,
it will be easier to bind it upon the tablet of whereas there is a page given to " Wigs” in the
the heart—which is rather more to the purpose. chapter on “Social Culture.” The chapter on
EDWARD E. HALE, JR.
“ American Manhood in the Revolution” is
well written, but space might have been found
for the statement that all of the Americans
were not Whigs,- for we are loth to attribute
AN UNSUCCESSFUL HISTORY.*
to any reason save want of space the fact that
President Andrews, of Brown University, the Loyalists are not mentioned. Of course
has written a history of the United States, in
this leaves the impression that the American
two volumes. It begins with pre-historic Amer- Revolution was a vast national uprising, in
ica and ends with the Congress of 1894. A which everyone entered heart and soul. Space,
book of this scope, written in good style, giv- it seems, might also have been given, if only
ing cleverly an outline of facts for the four a line or two, to an admission that we did not
centuries in which America has been known, always whip the British frigates and schooners
has long been needed. We have school texts,
in the war of 1812. Common fairness demands
and long scholarly histories ; but practically this, much as we love to lay the flattering unc-
nothing of moderate compass, at once accurate
tion to our souls that our Yankee sailors in
and readable. The series of three little vol many a hard-fought battle proved to the arro-
umes edited by Professor Hart of Harvard are gant English tar that he had not acquired a
scholarly, truthful, and in every way admira- monopoly of the ocean. The difference be-
ble; but it may be that the form and the
tween a well and an ill proportioned book may
method will not make them attractive to the be seen by comparing Professor Hart's “ Form-
general reader. President Andrews has en-
ation of the Union" with President Andrews's
deavored to satisfy the need of such a work.
treatment of the same period.
The disagreeable task of recording his failure
That the author has not succeeded in his en-
is thrust upon the reviewer.
deavor to bring out the “political evolution
The author gives seven reasons for the ap-
of the country, is as striking as anything else.
pearance of these volumes. Among them are
His treatment of the formation and develop-
these : This history is believed to utilize, "more
ment of the Republican party, for example,
than any of its predecessors, the many valuable
leaves almost everything to be desired. A chap-
researches of recent years into the rich ar ter on the Whig party, which is introduced im-
chives of this and other nations"; he has sought mediately after the war of 1812, will leave the
to make prominent not only the political evo average reader hopelessly at sea. The word
lution, but the social habits and life of the peo- Whig was not used until after 1830. It is dis-
tressing to find Webster's defence of the com-
* HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. By E. Benjamin An-
drews, D.D.,LL. D., President of Brown University. In two
promise of 1850 treated of before the Missouri
volumes, with maps. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons. compromise. Some regard for chronology is
..


112
[Feb. 16
THE DIAL
desirable in a popular work. Federalism and other inaccuracies. It is not a pleasant task to
anti - federalism are neither adequately nor make a review chiefly a list of blunders, but
clearly treated. The difference between strict only a recital of some of these can serve to sub
and loose constructions is thus given : “In
“In stantiate a final judgment on the book. Colum-
matters relating to the powers of the general bus did not die in 1505; nor is it by any means
government, ought any unclear utterance of the certain that the “ Columbus remains till re-
Constitution to be so explained as to enlarge cently at Havana" are “those of his son Diego.”
those powers, or so as to confine them to the The following statement concerning the found-
narrowest possible sphere?” Surely a considering of Massachusetts is, to say the least, inaccu-
ation of Hamilton's famous defence of the rate : “Boston was made the capital. Soon em-
Bank Bill, and of Jefferson's attack upon it, igrants came, and Charlestown was founded."
might have begotten a more distinct and schol As a matter of fact, the founders passed from
arly statement than this. But in this, as in Charlestown to Boston. The year 1638 is not
nearly everything else, the book betokens haste. generally accepted as the date of the founding
The author has not taken the time either to of Harvard College. McHenry was not "sec-
turn to the opinions of the men in this famous ond Secretary of War.” The first Congress
controversy, or to formulate for himself a clear did not establish the mint. It is flattery to say
and thoughtful definition of the doctrine of that Jefferson was “ ardent for the Constitu-
implied powers.
tion ” while it was before the people for adop-
The effort to have this volume strictly accu tion. France gained possession of Louisiana
rate in all references to dates, persons, and in 1800, not 1801. The author gives the price
places” has not been successful. Complete and which we paid for this accession to our terri-
absolute accuracy is perhaps not a possibility tories as eighty millions of francs, “we to as-
for anyone; but the author of this book might sume in addition the French spoliation claims
have achieved greater success in his attempt to
of our citizens." As a matter of fact, the price
reach the unattainable had he been careful and was sixty millions of francs, to be taken by
slow. Space will not be taken to give a list of all France in the form of United States bonds for
the mistakes. The following examples will suf- $11,250,000. We were also to pay the debts
fice: Of the five maps, three have gross errors which France owed to American citizens ; these
and a fourth is misleading. The worst is per were estimated at $3,750,000, or twenty mil-
haps the map purporting to show the United lions of francs, the whole sum being $15,000,-
Colonies at the beginning of the Revolution.” | 000, or eighty millions of francs. Again, a
There never was such a country thus divided. glance at a trustworthy map would have pre-
The map bears on its face marks of its own cluded the author from saying that Harrison
absurdity. The Northwest Territory, for ex pursued Proctor “up the River Thames to a
ample, organized in 1787, is found on this map. point beyond Sandwich.” Sandwich is not on
The Southwest Territory is there as well. And the Thames, but several miles south of the
yet Tennessee had been admitted by the time mouth of that river. At St. Clair's defeat the
the Territory of Mississippi was formed, Indians were not “ under the redoutable Jos-
although this also finds its place here. Other eph Brant.” There is some evidence that Brant
mistakes in the map need not be mentioned. was there and gave some advice to the head
On the map showing the progressive acquisition chieftain, but the Indians were under Little
of territory, West Florida is given as part of Turtle. It is not just accurate to say that the
Louisiana. It is true, we claimed it as part of fort on the Maumee Rapids was “still held,
our purchase from France; but modern re fifty miles within our lines.” The fort was not
search has shown that our claim and our seizure built till 1794. It is difficult to determine
were unjustified by any sound title. The map what the author could have had in mind when
introduced to illustrate the “United States af he says: “By 1840 nearly all the land of the
ter the admission of Arkansas" is misleading.
is misleading. United States this side the Mississippi had been
The author may have had the right idea, but taken up by settlers.” There is a very evident
the purpose of a map is graphically to show misprint, such as might escape anyone, on page
facts. What is here called the “ Northwest 361 of Volume I. Marshall was not one of the
Territory not yet admitted,” was Michigan signers of the Treaty of Ghent. Genet was
Territory. Florida was not yet a State in the not succeeded by Adet ; Fauchet intervened.
Union, as it here appears to be.
The tables of population of the Colonies are
It may be worth while to point out a few misleading. It is absolutely impossible to give


1895.]
113
THE DIAL
seen.
exact figures, and it is perhaps not too much to
SOME RECENT BOOKS ON EDUCATION.*
ask that the author give some indication that
his statements are only estimates. The words The first four books in our present list had, in a
about the famous Ordinance of 1787 are so general sense, the same origin. This is described in
wrong and misleading that they are worth the common preface that introduces them to the
quoting:
reader. This preface, which is signed by Mr. R. D.
Roberts, recites that the Gilchrist Trustees, for whom
“ July 13, 1787, Congress adopted for the govern-
he is Secretary, decided, in the early part of 1893,
ment of the Territory the famous Ordinance of 1787.
to send five women, teachers to the United States,
It provided for a governor, council, and judges, to be
appointed by Congress, and a house of representatives
for the purpose of studying and reporting upon sec-
elected by the people. Its shining excellence was a
ondary schools for girls, and training colleges for
series of compacts between the States and the Terri women, in different parts of the country ; being
tories, which guaranteed religious liberty, made grants moved thereto by the growing interest in secondary
of land and other liberal provisions for schools and col education in the United Kingdom and the import-
leges, and forever prohibited slavery in the Territory ant problems there awaiting solution. The Trustees
or the States which should be made out of it."
made their intention widely known, and invited the
A comparison between these statements and governing bodies of the various women's colleges
the words of the famous Ordinance would be and associations of teachers to submit to them names
interesting
of persons specially qualified to undertake such a
There are good things to be said about these
mission. From the list of names thus furnished,
after careful consideration of the qualifications of
volumes. The language is at times terse and to
the candidates, the Trustees elected the five ladies
the point. Whenever the author has taken the
whose names appear on the title-pages of these books,
time to look
up
his materials and to arrange and awarded to each of them £100 to enable them
them, he has shown power in narration and to spend two months in the United States in prose-
great vigor in description. In spite of the
In spite of the cuting their inquiries. The five scholars made their
roughness of the style, one is often hurried visits as proposed, and on their return home sub-
along with a sense of genuine pleasure, and is
mitted carefully prepared reports of what they had
at times aroused to real enthusiasm. This
The Trustees have aided also in the publi-
power has its dangers ; for the writer of a
cation of the reports, believing that a knowledge of
educational systems and experiments that have been
popular narrative is always tempted to make
tried in America cannot fail to be of interest and
sweeping assertions, and to declare in broad
value to teachers in the United Kingdom. These
phrases a mixture of truth and fiction which is
facts we have stated, not merely because they serve to
more characteristic of the historical novel than
* METHODS OF EDUCATION IN THE UNITED STATES. By
of history.
Alice Zimmern, Late Scholar of Girton College, Cambridge
One would like to be able to say that, in Mistress at the High School for Girls, Tunbridge Wells.
spite of occasional errors in fact, the generali-
London: Swan, Sonnenschein & Co. New York: Macmil-
lan & Co.
zations and final judgments of these volumes GRADED SCHOOLS IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
are sound and trustworthy, and that the nar By Mary H. Page, Head Mistress of the Skinners' School,
Stamford Hill. London: Swan, Sonnenschein & Co. New
rative is so arranged that the reader is led to
a judicious and sensible comprehension of the The Trainika OF TEACHERS IN THE UNITED STATES OF
drift and scope of our history. But it is im AMERICA. By Amy Blanche Bramwell, B. Sc., Lecturer at
possible to reach that decision. The book has
the Cambridge Training College for Women Teachers; and
H. Millicent Hughes, Lecturer on Education and Head of
been written in the utmost haste, at a reckless Training Department University College, South Wales and
rate of speed, and the indications are apparent
Monmouthshire. London: Swan, Sonnenschein & Co. New
York : Macmillan & Co.
on almost every page. Careful and thorough
THE EDUCATION OF GIRLS IN THE UNITED STATES. By
revision may do something to correct blunders, Sara A. Burstall, Scholar of Girton College, Cambridge, and
modify paradoxical judgments, and give se B.A. University of London. London: Swan, Sonnenschein
& Co. New York: Macmillan & Co.
quence and clearness to the narration.
THE EDUCATION OF THE GREEK PEOPLE, and its Influence
A. C. McLAUGHLIN. on Civilization. By Thomas Davidson. (International Edu-
cation Series.) New York: D. Appleton & Co.
TAE EVOLUTION OF THE MASSACHUSETTS PUBLIC SCHOOL
SYSTEM. A Historical Sketch. By George H. Martin, A.M.,
It was recently suggested in The Dial that a Ranke
Supervisor of Public Schools, Boston, Mass. (International
centennial celebration was among the possibilities of Education Series.) New York: D. Appleton & Co.
the present year, and it is now learned that a monu-
SYSTEMATIC SCIENCE TEACHING. A Manual of Inductive
ment has been planned, to be erected at Wiehe, the na Elementary Work for all Instructors. By George Gardiner
tive place of the historian, on December 21, his birth Howe. (International Education Series.) New York: D. Ap-
day.
pleton & Co.


114
(Feb. 16,
THE DIAL
explain the appearance at the same time, from the form of comparisons of selected points in English
same publishing houses, of four works on such closely and American educational practice. As a result,
related subjects, but more especially because they the American reader who is not already informed
suggest the remark that holders of educational trusts, upon the subject will find in them much useful in-
and other persons interested in education, in this formation in respect to English schools, teachers,
country, could render the cause they have at heart and methods. Still, the great point of interest for
a service by emulating the example of the Gilchrist such reader will, no doubt, be the impression which
Trustees. While the practice is by no means an un our systems made on the minds of the five culti-
known one in our educational annals, it is still one vated English ladies, all practical teachers, and all
that might be extended with much advantage. intent on discovering what they could that might
Before the embassy left England, it was found prove advantageous to themselves and their co-
advisable, in view of the magnitude of the task,
workers in the good cause.
somewhat to divide the responsibility; three of its
All the ladies seem to have been deeply impressed
members undertook to visit and report upon insti- by the depth of enthusiasm for education that they
tutions offering the means of general education, met with everywhere. Miss Burstall thinks the
while the other two occupied themselves exclusively causes are these: The democratic constitution of
with investigating the provision made in the United
the country; the estimate put upon the public school
States for the training of teachers.
as a means of assimilating the vast foreign emigra-
The four, or rather five, reports are such in the
tion and as a pledge of national homogeneity; and
strict sense of the term; they are primarily books
education as a means of preserving the ideal and
of facts, statistics, information, rather than argu-
spiritual elements of human life in the midst of a
material civilization.
ment and criticism. Page on page is filled with lit-
eral transcriptions of courses of study, programmes,
We have been particularly interested in the re-
time-tables. The writers seek to inform their coun-
marks made by several of the writers about the
teaching of English and English literature as they
trymen in respect to matters that, they think, should
interest them, and not to correct the shortcomings general standing of English language teaching low;
saw it in our schools. Miss Zimmern thought the
of American teachers and educationalists. We see
no trace of that self-consciousness which listens for
but was especially impressed by the excellence of
an American reflection. While we meet with many
the literature. We venture to quote one of her
most interesting and suggestive pages.
errors of detail in all the reports, as is natural, we
cannot doubt the desire of their writers to get at
“The teaching of English literature in America pos-
the exact truth. When they overlap, they do not
sesses peculiar interest for the English visitor. If it is
true that to understand Old England, we ought to see
always agree in facts or conclusions, owing partly,
New England, where many of our old customs are still
but not wholly, to the fact that their observations
fresh and living, it is equally true that if we want to find
in some measure lay in different fields. Miss Page, a real living love for our English Classics, we had better
for instance, observes: “Speaking generally, the seek it in the United States than on this side of the water.
impression that I received was not only that origin- In many of our schools there is hardly such a thing as
ality and individuality were allowed full play [in literature teaching at all. There is a lesson bearing
the schools] where they were good, but that the
that name on most time-tables, but it is often a lesson
course of study, followed up as it is with frequent
in language, not always of a systematic character, a great
part of the time being given to studying etymology of out-
supervision, proved a great corrective of the mis-
of-the-way words, and discussing little of unimportant
takes which so often take place in the hands of a
details in set books. This deterioration in our literature
weak teacher.” Miss Zimmern, on the other hand,
teaching is due to the too successful attempt to make
thought too little liberty was left to teachers. “It
literature an examination subject, coupled with the dis-
is believed that careful supervision and superin astrous system of prescribing set books to be read, re-
tendence may do much toward obtaining good work read, criticised, paraphrased, patronized, and found fault
from a merely average teacher; and as the great with by young immature critics. The whole aim of lit-
majority of the American teachers are untrained,
erature teaching to train the mind to love of the beau-
and may have had no teaching beyond that of the
tiful, is forgotten in the necessity of cramming notes
for examination. Reverence and awe, which it should
High School, and not always that, some such sys-
tem is absolutely necessary to keep up the standard
produce in young minds by the presentation of the beau-
tiful, is exchanged for a desire to spy faults quickly,
of work. It appears, on the whole, to work well
and thus gain marks on questions set in the examination
and economically, though it is impossible that it about Shakespeare's inconsistency, anachronisms, mis-
should not sometimes be galling for a really capable interpretations of history, etc.”
teacher to have to follow such minute directions as
Not second in interest to any of the other volumes
are laid down in many of the courses of study.” is the one containing the parallel reports of Miss
We need hardly say which of these writers saw Bramwell and Miss Hughes on the training of
farther into the general conditions actually existing. | teachers. The two ladies travelled together, but
It must not be supposed, however, that the re have made separate reports, each writing in total
ports contain no criticism. The two or three stronger ignorance of what the other was saying.
ones contain plentiful discussion, put often in the All the books are written in an appreciative but


1895.]
115
THE DIAL
manner:
“In one
temperate spirit. There is no fulsomeness or exag clearest and most satisfactory pieces of educational
geration on the one part, or detraction on the other. writing that we have recently seen. For a long
Miss Bramwell, for example, sums up her observa time there has been an infinite amount of talking
tions of the training of teachers in this self-contained and writing about “nature” and “the natural” in
education, much the larger part of which has been
“1. That the State Normal Schools, adhering to old done by men who either had no clear ideas of the
traditions, and failing to insist on adequate and thor terms they used, or who failed to express them.
ough scholarship as an entrance qualification, have been With these ideas, this Introduction deals in the most
obliged to devote themselves, either to securing that
lucid and convincing manner,
scholarship, or to the pursuance of so-called training
The writer begins
under conditions the most conductive to mechanical
with telling us that, as applied to living things, the
lines of work and dead forms of method.
word “nature” is used in two senses.
“2. That the City Training Schools, being entirely
sense, it is the character or type with which a thing
local institutions, supported by local funds, and only
starts on its separate career, and which, without any
supplying teachers to the schools of the vicinity, are in effort on the part of that thing, but solely with the
danger of being cramped in their methods by seeking aid of natural forces, determines that career.” The
to wiu public favor.
acorn, bean, chick, and whelp, are given as exam-
“3. That the University Departments of Pedagogy, ples. “In the other sense, “nature' means that high-
especially those belonging to State Universities, are capa-
est possible reality which a living thing, through a
ble of affording the widest and best opportunities for the
thorough training of primary and secondary teachers,
series of voluntary acts, originating within or with-
and in supplying these opportunities, they will not only
out it, may be made to attain.” Thus the rose, the
help forward the cause in which they are immediately orange, the dog, may be brought to such ideal or
engaged, but afford a valuable means of unifying and “natural” perfection through the acts of man;
stimulating education generally."
while man himself, partly through the acts of others,
and partly through his own self-activity, attains his
If one were searching for the most striking evi-
own perfection. These natures may be called, the
dence of the great growth of interest in education
one “ original" and the other “ ideal”; and it is in
in this country the last few years, he would perhaps
the line of the second one that the work of edu-
find it in the series of volumes bearing the collec-
cation lies. “The aim of education is to develop
tive title of “The International Education Series.”
man's ideal nature, which may be, and very often
It must have required no little faith, on the part of
is, so different from his original nature that, in or-
editor and publishers, to undertake so extensive a
der to make way for the former, the latter may
scheme; and experience has amply justified them.
have to be crossed, defied, and even to a large ex-
The first volume of the series appeared in 1886;
the last one is the twenty-ninth in order, and still
tent suppressed.” This is going to the root of the
matter. The very important distinction between
others are to come. We are not, indeed, shut up to
education and erudition is drawn, and then followed
the conclusion that so extensive a series was neces-
up by these wise words :
sarily contemplated, and are quite at liberty to sup-
pose that, had it been less successful, but few vol.
“ It is the failure to draw this necessary distinction
between education and erudition that is misleading our
umes would have appeared; but the editor's origi-
universities into the error of allowing students to 'elect'
nal announcement shows that the whole plan lay in specialties before they have completed the cycle of ed-
his mind as clear in 1886 as it does to-day. He is ucation; the result of which is that we have few men
to be congratulated, and his publishers also, on the of thorough education or of broad and comprehensive
success of the enterprise.
views. If this evil is ever to be remedied, our univer-
Quite the most notable of the three latest contri sities will be obliged, either to abandon this practice, or
butions to the series is that on “ The Education of else to give up all attempt to impart education, and de-
the Greek People, and Its Influence on Civiliza-
vote themselves solely to erudition, leaving the other to
tion.” Some time ago, Professor Davidson, in his
academies, gymnasia, or the like.”
admirable work entitled “ Aristotle and the Ancient In narrating " The Evolution of the Massachu-
Educational Ideals," as he says, “set forth the facts setts Public School System,” Mr. Martin - unlike
of Greek education in historical order”; while his Mr. Davidson—has given us, not a book of thoughts,
present purpose is to show how the Greek people but a book of facts and comments. And very in-
were gradually educated up to that stage of culture teresting and important facts and comments they
which made them the teachers of the whole world, They give us a clear and just view of the
and what the effect of that teaching has been." evolution of the public school system of Massachu-
The one book gives a more objective or external setts, which, when all is told, is the most complete
view, the other a more subjective or internal one. system that we have to offer to the attention of the
The two, therefore, supplement each other; and it world. The writer shows conscientious industry in
is unfortunate that they could not have appeared in collecting facts, skill in narration, and also a con-
the same series. While we find it quite impossible siderable facility in literary illustration, whereby
to give to the present volume the space that it richly he renders interesting a subject that could easily be
deserves, we cannot refrain from calling particular made tedious and repellant. His book, no doubt,
attention the Introduction, which is one of the grew out of a pitched battle over public-school pio-
are.


116
[Feb. 16,
THE DIAL
neering, which Mr. Martin and President Draper On the basis of this work of Dr. Furnivall rests
waged a year or more ago in the pages of “The Professor Skeat's new and great edition of Chaucer.
Educational Review "'; but the book is thoroughly The just reputation of Professor Skeat as a thor-
good in tone, and is in no sense keyed to the con ough and admirable scholar in Early English, as
troversial note. There is much need of similar one of the best annotators of Early English texts,
books devoted to other States, and particularly the his previous editions of Piers Plowman, of Barbour,
State of Connecticut. The State Monographs pub- of Chaucer's “ Minor Poems” and “ Legend of
lished by the Bureau of Education, while good in Good Women,” of several of the “ Canterbury
their way, still leave much to be desired in complete- Tales," his “ Etymological Dictionary," and the
ness of treatment.
learning displayed in these and other works, justified
No competent judge will claim that the efforts high expectations upon the announcement of this new
that have been made in the last ten or twenty years complete edition of Chaucer. And now, that the
to give efficient science-teaching in the schools have six volumes have been published, we can justly
been as successful or satisfactory as could be de say that they form the best edition extant, and the
sired. Possibly science-teaching has some intrinsic best edition ever published ; that they represent an
difficulties; certainly school managers have not been edition for which not only every “general reader”
able to obtain, even when they desired to do so, the of a high order, but also every scholar, must be
services of competent science teachers, in adequate grateful. I wish to lay additional stress on this
numbers. It takes time to introduce a great sub-preliminary statement, because some of the follow-
ject, and still more a great group of subjects, into the ing detailed remarks, which represent the dark side
schools in such a way as to obtain from it the best of the picture only, might seem to clash somewhat
educational results. Of the several manuals look with this favorable judgment.
ing to the proper preparation of science teachers The first volume consists of some introductory
that we have seen, Mr. Howe's “Systematic Sci matter, a short biography, a list of Chaucer's works,
ence Teaching" is the most complete. It shows and contains besides the text of the “ Romaunt of
the marks of large experience and great labor on the Rose” and of the minor poeins, with introduc-
the part of its author. While only an expert, or a
tions. In the annalistic biography I do not miss
competent teacher who has thoroughly tried the anything ; but when, under 1373, Dr. Skeat says
book, can pass authoritatively on its merits, any of Chaucer's first visit to Italy, “ All that is known
one who has a good general knowledge of the work
of this mission is that he visited Florence as well
of schools and teaching can see at a glance that as Genoa, and that he returned before Nov. 22,
even the common teacher has here a whole maga 1373, on which day he received his pension in per-
zine of hints and suggestions that he can reduce to son,” he does not lay sufficient stress on the fact,
immediate practice, even if he never becomes able brought to light by Dr. Furnivall in 1873, and men-
to use the whole apparatus of method which the tioned by Skeat only in a note, that Chaucer's ac-
author has provided.
B. A. HINSDALE.
counts of this journey run for the period between
Dec. 1, 1372, to May 23, 1373. It would be strange
indeed if these accounts had stopped in the midst
of his journey. The more natural interpretation
SKEAT'S GREAT EDITION OF CHAUCER.*
seems to be, that Chaucer's journey did not last
Since Chalmers published, in 1810, his edition of more than six months; and so this document would
Chaucer's Complete Works, in prose and verse, with
corroborate what Professor Lounsbury expressed,
the addition of a good deal of spurious matter, no
for the first time I think, in the introduction to his
scholar has till now dared to edit a complete Chaucer.
edition of the “ Parliament of Foules”—that Chau-
And it was well that they waited; because it is only cer had no time to learn Italian in Italy, but was
by the tremendous preliminary work of Dr. Furnivall sent there just because of his knowledge of the
that a new and worthy edition of Chaucer has been Italian language. Besides, the document seems to
made possible. Perhaps Dr. Furnivall was not the show that Chaucer returned nonths before the 22d
first to recognize the fact that complete possession of of November, there being no evidence that he stayed
all the authoritative manuscripts of Chaucer was es-
longer than May 23. The burden of proof, then,
sential before a new edition could be undertaken ; rests upon those who assume the later date.
but certainly to his unparalleled energy was due the
When Mr. Skeat (p. liii.) “confidently" dates
foundation of the Chaucer Society (in 1868), which the coarser passages of “The Canterbury Tales"
made possible the magnificent Six-text edition of after 1387, the date of the death of Chaucer's wife,
“ The Canterbury Tales” (1877), the faithful ed-
because his wife, Mr. Skeat seems to suppose, kept
ition of the Harleian MSS. (1885), the parallel texts
him at the apron-strings of prudery, I cannot sup-
of the “ Minor Poems” (1880), the editions of press a mischievous counter-conjecture that possibly
“Troilus” (1882), of "Boece" (1886), etc. Mrs. Chaucer, like many other worthy ladies of her
time, would by no means have objected to the pro-
* THE COMPLETE WORKS OF GEOFFREY CHAUCER. Ed-
ited from numerous Manuscripts, by the Rev. Walter W. logue of the “Wife of Bath,” and
many another
Skeat, Litt.D., LL.D., etc. In six volumes. Oxford: The pas age which would not do in a “coeducational”
Clarendon Press. New York: Macmillan & Co.
Chaucer class.


1895.]
117
THE DIAL
The paragraph headed “Personal Allusions,” in pushed aside, only at the peril of the scholar who
which Dr. Skeat includes matters relating to the is guilty of such disregard. Professor Skeat's atti-
person of the poet, seems to me far from complete. tude in this instance bears an unfortunate resem-
I miss a mention of Ballerstedt's careful essay on blance to that of Mr. Sweet in his remarks upon
Chaucer's descriptions of nature, an essay which supposed followers and in his silence with respect
contains matter that Dr. Skeat might have made use to his own predecessors.*
of to advantage. Moreover, some observations on The introduction to the “Minor Poems ” is, as
Chaucer's humor, on his theory of life, more satis far as I can see, a reprint of the introduction to Dr.
factory references to his religious views, etc., would Skeat's former edition; but what was very good for
have been desirable. Among the “ Historical Allu the old edition may be in some respects insufficient
sions," no mention is made of Harry Bailey, the for a new one, and out of place in it. So, I think,
record of whose parliamentary career was first made Dr. Skeat's paragraphs on " Early Editions of Chau-
public (as far as I know) by Rendle and Norman cer's Works," his old description of Stowe's edition,
in their charming book on “ The Inns of Old South his remarks on Caxton's editions, do not belong to
wark.” A quotation from this book on the “Ta this place in a complete edition, but to another part
bard Inn” would have formed a welcome addition of the work altogether. Dr. Skeat’s list of the
to this chapter. I am sorry, too, that Mr. Skeat, MSS. (p. 49) would have gained greatly in value
in his paragraph on the portraits of Chaucer, does if he had seen fit to add approximate dates to each
not aim at greater completeness ; and that in his and every one of the MSS. which he describes,
paragraph on “Allusions to Chaucer,” he does not —not merely to a few. Here again he might have
give a fuller list of Lydgate's references to his reproduced more fully, or considered critically
“ Maister.” This would belong, of course, more to (with reasons added), what had been brought to
the long-expected volume to be called “Chaucer's light by the labor of Bond, Thompson, Furnivall,
Praise ”; but in the mean time fuller information on and others. To give only a few instances, Dr.
this subject would have been very welcome. Skeat's description of Ms. Gg 4, 27, does not in-
The chronological "List of Chaucer's Works, clude
any
date at all; from Dr. Furnivall's auto-
(p. Ixii.) is too meagre; and Dr. Skeat's words, that types (of leaves 433, 395, 416, 432, etc.) we learn
the list is “arranged as nearly as [he] can conjec- the approximate date 1430-40; from the autotype
ture," are misleading. Dr. Skeat is not the first to of leaf 332 we learn 1420-30; from his “ Tempo-
make conjectures about the chronology of Chaucer's rary Preface” (51) we get the date 1430–40; and
writings; and the best conjectures, even of a Pro the same valuable publication gives us even Dr.
fessor Skeat, would not go a long way if they were Furnivall's view of the dialect of the MS. (p. 59).
not based on or supplemented by the serious work Why does Dr. Skeat not quote this ? The auto-
of other scholars. As in the third volume, in the type of one leaf of Add. MS. 10340 informs us
introduction to the “Legend of Good Women," we that the date is about “the first third of the 15th
find Ten Brink's chronology quoted, we may ask, Century”; why does Dr. Skeat not quote this?
why did Mr. Skeat not save space by combining the The Tanner MS. 346 Dr. Skeat calls “a fair MS.
two lists ? and why did he not heighten the value of of the 15th Century,”— a very safe, but too vague
this list by adding a full account of the work of his conclusion ; from Schick’s “ Temple of Glass ” I
predecessors in this line? If he had given a synopsis see that some authorities on whom Schick, a care-
of conjectural dates, references to the sources and ful scholar, relies, date it between 1400-1420.
to his own reasons, he would have done an instructive, Fairfax MS. 16, Dr. Skeat dates as “ of the 15th
a highly interesting, and a necessary piece of work. Century”; in Schick I find it dated “about 1440–
A careful study of the question would also have 1450 ”; now if Dr. Skeat could not accept this date,
disclosed to him the fact, which, as far as I know, if he regarded it as given on insufficient authority,
has not yet been recognized, that a French period it would have been his duty to state this; he would
of Chaucer's work (but no Italian period) had been greatly have obliged many a scholar not living
suggested long ago by Pauli, years before Ten within the reach of the English libraries.
Brink's epoch-making book. Inasmuch as, accord The introductions to the separate“ Minor Poems"
ing to Dr. Skeat's own confession, Ten Brink's contain the old material, and the same seems to be
Skeat till 1887 (although Dr. Furnivall had pub- the case with regard to the notes. As in the old
“Studien ” (1870) remained unknown to Professor edition, a good deal of information given in the in-
lished a translation of the results of Ten Brink's troductions is repeated in the notes ; so the explana-
Chaucer-chronology in 1871), we fully believe that tion of the “ Herines ” given on page 62 is repeated
Mr. Skeat arrived at his conclusions independently; on p. 461. Likewise at p. 64 we read, “ The whole
but it is in the nature of scientific investigation that
* I am here referring to a remark in the preface to Sweet's
a man cannot do everything alone, that he must new edition of the Anglo-Saxon Reader: “It will be found
have the same great principle as our friend the clerk that my successors follow me pretty closely. Thus, Kluge
of Oxenford, who “gladly wolde lerne and gladly
shows his approval of the way in which I have accomplished
the difficult task of making a selection from the Laws by re-
teche.” The work of a man like Ten Brink, who
printing my extracts bodily." Unfortunately “The Laws
was not even an “inevitable German," but a Dutch-
of Ine"
are to be found in “Leo's Reader," published
man by birth, can be neglected, or slighted, or in 1838.


118
[Feb. 16,
THE DIAL
poem (the “Complaint of Mars ') is supposed to be but I have purposely abstained from record-
sung by a bird and upon St. Valentine's day"; and ing variations of reading that are certainly inferior
on p. 495, “The whole of this poem is supposed to be to the reading in the text.” These words first ap-
uttered by a bird on the 14th of Febr.”; and similar peared in the prospectus, and I confess to an uneasy
repetitions are to be found in the introductions and feeling upon the first reading of them. A great edi-
the corresponding notes to almost all the poems tion, utilizing the vast results of the labors of the
(pp. 80 and 542; 82 and 550 ; 85 and 556; 86 Chaucer Society, ought to utilize them in such a
and 562; 559; 88 and 563, etc.).
manner that the personal element, the personal in-
The introduction to the “ Romaunt of the Rose" terference of the editor, would be reduced to a min-
contains a short history of the question of its au imum. What seems an “inferior” reading to me
thorship, a sketch which, oddly enough, begins with may be in the eyes of another the better reading ;
Dr. Skeat's own little essay on the subject pub- another may shed a new and clearer light on it; and
lished in 1880, and mentions neither Ten Brink's this new light may bring out a hitherto hidden su-
observations made in 1870 and 1871 (of which Mr. periority. De gustibus, etc., too, should be a warning
Skeat has known since 1887) nor Professor against being too positive. How many great schol-
Child's doubts and ingenious conjectures made in ars in Shakespeare philology, and elsewhere, have
1870. Did Dr. Skeat not realize that in these ob shown lamentable lack of taste! Should we prefer
servations of Ten Brink and Child (as Kaluza also Bentley's Milton to the old text? Not even for
observes) the theory by which Dr. Skeat and others Bentley's sake! With these principles in mind, I
happen to swear now was virtually stated ? For have made an examination of Professor Skeat's
Dr. Skeat, the whole question seems to end with text of the poem “Truth,” and give now part of
Kaluza's essay, which he apparently regards as the result.
final. Dr. Skeat does not even mention Ten Of the eighteen texts (seventeen manuscripts and
Brink's first view, nor Professor Lounsbury's views, Caxton's print) which have been re-published by
which might be supported by other reasons than the Chaucer Society, seven are enumerated by Mr.
those attacked in Kittredge's study. The bare pos- Skeat, the other ten (or eleven) are sweepingly re-
sibility of any hypothesis different from the one ferred to by the simple word “others.” Being my-
which he advocates seems never to have dawned self interested in a certain kind of statistics al-
upon the mind of Professor Skeat. The authorship though not in that kind which has become part of
of the “ Romaunt of the Rose " seems to be a sub- philology nowadays,
philology nowadays, - I require greater accuracy.
ject on which the views of scholars will change These seven MSS., Mr. Skeat, like Koch before
from decade to decade. But nevertheless, opinions him (Anglia 1881, 4, 105 ; edition of Minor Poems,
will be pronounced with the utmost confidence and 1883, p. 24) divides into two groups, one group (I
with passionate denunciation of opposite views, suppose) being regarded as “superior," the other as
while a modest “if” and “perhaps ” will be for “inferior.” But taking the test-lines, 2, 6, 8, 10,
gotten for the time being by both parties.
19, 20, as a basis, I have come to the conclusion
Dr. Skeat, in a paragraph on the French “ Ro that we have to distinguish at least three, probably
man de la Rose," quotes Henry Morley, who is no four, different groups. Taking the Ellesmere MS.
authority on the subject, and fails to mention Lan as a basis, which for “ Truth seems not quite as
glois' painstaking and splendid work on the sources good as the Additional and scarcely better than the
of the Roman; the oversight of Soltoft-Jensen's Phillipps MS., Mr. Skeat's text has in line 2 the
essay on Alanus and the Roman (“ Nordisk Tids harsh and not at all “simple” reading : “Suffice
krift for Filologi," 10, 3) is more pardonable. In unto thy good.” The reading of the Fairfax MS.
the introduction to the “ Parliament of Foules," no (“Suffice the thy good ") is given in the note and
mention is made (as far as I can see) of Professor called “capital,” but the equally good reading of
Lounsbury's excellent edition; and when Dr. Skeat the Phillipps MS. (“Suffise the thyne owne") is
refers to Koch's actual discovery of the historical ignored, as well as the equally good reading of the
background of the poem in these words, “See on Add. MS., “Suffise thin owen thing." Although
this subject Dr. Koch’s discussion of the question in Mr. Skeat says of the decidedly bad reading of the
Essays on Chaucer," I think that the English lan Ellesmere and other MSS., “ The sense is simply
guage might have expressed the plain fact more [!] Be content with thy property, though it be
clearly. Koch “discussed” the question indeed,
" the question indeed, small,” he does not really explain it, nor does he
but he is the discoverer of the whole matter, and support it by a sufficient parallel quotation. Mr.
Dr. Skeat merely the copyist.
Skeat does not mention the reading “with fastnes”
Before speaking of the text of the “ Minor Poems," (of the second Fairfax copy); nor does he quote
we should give Mr. Skeat's statement from the the reading " lyuynge" (of an Add. MS.) in the
“ General Introduction”: “In each case the best foot-note; nor does he register the reading of two
copy
has been selected as the basis of the text, and MSS., yf (yef), for “ though” in the same first
has only been departed from where other copies af line; and when he says, p. 551, seven MSS. have
forded a better reading. All such variations, as “suffice unto thy good,” the seven ought to be
regards the wording of the text, are invariably re changed into a ten (or, counting Caxton's print,
corded in the footnotes at the bottom of the page eleven). This inaccuracy seems to be due to Skeat's


1895.]
119
THE DIAL
not having taken any notice of the texts of “ Truth” curate as his text of “ Truth,” we should be forced
published by the Chaucer Society since the date of to the conclusion that the text, very readable as it
his first edition of the “ Minor Poems."
is, and perhaps sufficient for ordinary purposes, is
In line 4, the reading blynd of two MSS. is not certainly not a final one, and certainly lacks the
quoted, nor is the reading “is blent" of nine MSS. first requirement of a good text a full considera-
registered, by the side of blente of the Phillipps MS. tion and a patient registration of all the MS. ma-
In line 5, the reading of the same MS. Favour is terial.
not registered, nor thou for thee. In the note to On page 510, Dr. Skeat ought to have inserted,
line 6 we read, “ Most MSS. read Werk or Do; instead of the old Dante quotation for the inscrip-
only two bave Reule ; but the facts are that four tion over the gates in the “Parlament of Foules,”
MSS. have werke (wirke, wirche), four MSS. (not the real original which is to be found in Boccaccio,
two, as Mr. Skeat affirms) have Reule (Rewle, as Koeppel has shown (Anglia 14,233).
Rule), two MSS. have rede, seven MSS. have do The second volume contains the texts of “Boece"
(doo), and one MS. inserts a different line; the and of “Troilus,” with introductions and notes.
adverb weel is omitted by two MSS.; one MS. has In the printing of “Boethius," Mr. Skeat, follow-
men for folk (or folkis, one even forkis !). In line ing the ingenious suggestion of Bradshaw, has given
7, “thee” stands before “delyere" in fourteen Chaucer's explanations in italics. That it was Brad-
MSS.; and the statement of this fact would have shaw who first suggested this, Mr. Skeat does not
been more useful than the whole paragraph against take the trouble to tell us; but I learn it from a
this reading (p. 551), and indeed, would seem to note of Furnivall's in his edition of “Boece,” page
have been necessary at page 390, where the read V. It is a pity that Mr. Skeat's introduction does
ing is given as that of one [!] MS., the Trinity not take any notice of Hodgkin's great chapter on
College MS. In a note to line 8, referring to the “Boethius,” which, as well as Dahn’s results, would
reading “Tempest thee noght” we are informed that have modified considerably the old-fashioned Gib-
Harleian, Fairfax, and Trinity MSS. read Peyne ; bonesque eulogy of Boethius. On page xvi., Dr.
but there is nothing in these words to suggest the Skeat quotes the antiquated remark of Bohn on
fact that Peyne is the reading of seven more MSS. the Tavistock print of Walton's "Boethius,” not
– that is, of eleven in all; we do not learn, that knowing that a copy of it is in Magdalen College
Tempest is the reading of five MSS.; that one MS. Library, Oxford. He does not mention the ex-
has Ne study not, and another Restreyne the not; tracts given from Bracegirdle's "Boethius" in An-
the eche, yche, etc., the croked of six MSS. and the glia XV. That Mr. Skeat did not use Peiper's edi-
every of one MS. are also not registered. In line tion of the original is also a pity.
10 for gret reste are quoted four MSS., whereas it The introduction to “ Troilus” contains
is the reading of fifteen MSS.! Mych wele occurs good things, but it is far from complete ; it does not
in the Phillipps MS. as well as in the Add. MS.; even utilize all the material gained from the sources
Meche rest of the Corpus MS. 'is not mentioned, in several separate German dissertations (better
nor the different line in Add. MS. 22139. The than the average). Professor Skeat says in this
reading (1. 11) “Bewar therfore" and "Beware Introduction: “This is not the place for a full con-
alsoo" of twelve MSS. for “ And eek bewar” is not sideration of the further question as to the sources
given; nor the wholly different reading of the Cor of information whence Boccaccio and Guido re-
pus MS., nor the reading wall of two MSS., nor spectively drew their stories. Nor is it profitable
“hille" of one (the latter being a clerical mistake, to search the supposed works of Dares and Dictys
indeed, so that the omission is excusable after for the passages to which Chaucer appears to refer;
Skeat's preliminary statement). In line 12, the since he merely knew these authors by name, owing
second Add. MS. has a different line, and instead to Guido's frequent appeals to them.” I wonder
of with the wal we have ayens in three MSS. In where “the place for a full consideration ” of these
line 13, the reading Deme thiself of Caxton is not and other questions should be, if not here? Pro-
given, nor the Dawnte ay of the Harl. MS. In line fessor Skeat's remarks do not supersede Ten Brink's
19, the reading “ Knowe thi contre" is in six MSS.; theory with regard to Benoit.
Looke up on hye is the reading of ten MSS. The The third volume contains the “ House of Fame,”
reading of two MSS. lyft wp thyne ene and lyft vp the “ Legend of Good Women,” the “Astrolabe,”
thy hert, is as little recorded as the “thank thy and an introductory essay on the sources of “The
god” of three MSS. or the " Lorde of another Canterbury Tales." I miss, under the “ Imitations
MS., etc., etc.
of the House of Fame” (a paragraph that is, as
The perusal of this list will be no more interest usual, given twice — first in the introduction and
ing to the reader of these lines, I am sure, than the then in the notes, p. 243, any reference to the
careful comparison was to me; but it helped me to careful article of Paul Lange on Gawen Douglas
form an opinion on the value of the text, and of and Chaucer. It is stranger still that Mr. Skeat
Mr. Skeat's views about the inferiority and superi “is not aware that anyone has ever doubted [his]
ority of a reading in general. Should it turn out result" as to the Priority of the “A” Prologue of
to be a fact, -as I sincerely hope it will not,--that the Legend (p. xxi.) Here again Skeat is, un
Mr. Skeat's text of all the other poems is as inac- fortunately, quoting his old separate edition (p.
some
Our


120
(Feb. 16,
THE DIAL
addition to these is the Index of Proper Names, and
an Index of Authors quoted or referred to.
I conclude this notice by recurring to my opinion,
expressed at the outset, that, notwithstanding all its
shortcomings, few finer editions of an old English
classic have ever been published, and that Dr.
Skeat's edition of Chaucer is by far the best extant.
EWALD FLÜGEL.
BRIEFS 01
NEW BOOKS.
a few
xiii.), and has taken no notice of Ten Brink's last
essay. Skeat’s comparison of the two forms is in-
complete (p. xxii.), even overlooking the three al-
lusions to Chaucer's age, duly noticed by Ten Brink.
In the note to the “ House of Fame," line 1227,
Holthausen's little essay (Anglia 16, 264) would
have been useful. The edition of the “ Astrolabe,”
with its notes and diagrams, is excellent, as far as
I can judge from a very insufficient knowledge of
astrology. Some chapters on the “Sources of the
Canterbury Tales” conclude the volume, in which,
for the first time since Hertzberg and Düring (whose
names might have been mentioned here), a complete
survey of the field has been made. No mention is
made of Fränkel's quotation from Cropacius (An-
glia XVI.) in the note on the sources of the “ Mil-
leres Tale,” but if we consider the mass of valuable
information and of careful compilation, any lacuna
like this is of little consequence.
The fourth volume begins with some most wel-
come additions to the “ Minor Poems,” viz., three
new poems which Dr. Skeat's eye was fortunate
enough to discover and recognize as Chaucer's, -
as in the case of the “ Rosamounde
years
ago. After these three poems follows the text of
“The Canterbury Tales,” based on the Ellesmere
MS. In his introduction on the MSS., Mr. Skeat
is not able to trace the Norton MS., and therefore
I beg leave to refer him to Mr. Quaritch, in whose
hands the MS. now is. The MS. is valued at
$1500, and we hope that some rich American may
bring it westward.
The fifth volume begins with some introductory
matter on the “Canon of Chaucer's Works,” which
might more appropriately have been placed in the
first volume. Concerning the so-called Tyrwhitt
edition, first published by Moxon in 1845, there are
some very just remarks, which are not, however,
detailed enough to exhibit the exact relation which
the text of Moxon’s “Essay, Discourse, Notes, and
Glossary” bears to its prototype. Next follow some
far from exhaustive remarks upon the text of the
“ Canterbury Tales.” Then there are some « Rules
for Reading,” — practical hints for the modern
reader who takes Chaucer in hand without previous
study of his language. The volume is mainly de-
voted, however, to the Notes to the Canterbury
Tales. In these, as was to be expected, Dr. Skeat
appears at his very best. This is the most complete
commentary on the Tales ; and even if Dr. Skeat
had never written anything but this commentary,
it would have been sufficient to ensure the honora-
ble association of his name with that of his author
and to win for him the lasting gratitude of Chau-
cer students.
The sixth and concluding volume, which comes
just in time for a brief mention, contains, in a gen-
eral Introduction, an account of Chaucer's pronun-
ciation and versification ; a short Chaucer grammar;
a glossarial Index on the genuine works, and one
each for the Gamelyn and the B. C. Fragments of
the “ Romaunt of the Rose.” The most interesting
Messrs. G. P. Putnam's Sons issue, in
Translation of
a popular life a neatly made volume of 140 pages,
of Napoleon.
the “Napoleon" of Alexandre Du-
mas, translated by Mr. J. B. Larner. Mr. Larner's
seems to be, oddly enough, the first English version,
though the original is popular and has a continuous
sale in France. The book is essentially a very con-
cise review of Napoleon's public, and more especially
his military, career -political crises being briefly
touched, while of domestic history and criticism of
personal character there is next to nothing. About
thirty pages are given to Waterloo, and half that
number to Marengo; of the divorce from Josephine
we find only an indirect mention of five words. The
volume opens with a brief sketch of Napoleon's
school-days and youth, and closes with a touching
chapter on his five years of torment at St. Helena
under the wardenship of that excessively small crea-
ture, Sir Hudson Lowe — who remains to this day,
to the continental mind, the type of a singularly re-
pellant, and not unfamiliar, class of his countrymen.
“For five years,” says Dumas, forcibly and justly,
though with a certain hint of bathos, "the modern
Prometheus remained chained to the rock where
Hudson Lowe preyed upon his heart.” A caged
tiger teased and fretted, from outside the bars, by
a spiteful, grimacing monkey, were perhaps a truer
figure. Dumas saw the Emperor twice — the first
time as he drove by on his way to Ligny, amid the
acclamations of the populace; the second time on
his return from Waterloo, in a frozen and ominous
silence. “Each time he was seated in the same car-
riage, on the same seat, dressed in the same coat.
Each time it was the same vague and unoccupied
look. Each time it was the same face, calm and
impassable, only his head was a little more inclined
upon his chest in returning than in going.” Mr.
Larner has tried to make his translation as literal as
possible ; and while the general result is satisfactory,
there are occasional naïve renderings which smack
a little of the humors of the class-room. For in-
stance, we find General Paoli pronouncing Bona-
parte "a young man of old-fashioned shape"; and
we are told that the besiegers of Toulon, “ whose
eyes darted into the city and upon the road, saw the
conflagration,” etc. Without comparing them with
the original, we venture to say that these and sev-
eral other like phrases could be polished a little with-
out sacrificing literalness.


1895.]
121
THE DIAL
Biography of
In his study of “The Empress Eu lution proper, its intricate party strifes and dra-
the Empress génie” (Dodd, Mead & Co.), M. matic episodes, Mr. Rose has given relatively little
Eugénie.
Pierre de Lano appears to have space (95 out of the 370 pages), his chief aim be-
taken his heroine's not very imposing mental and ing to make clear the relation of that movement to
moral measure pretty correctly. M. de Lano is by the general European revolution, of which it was an
no means friendly to the Empress, but he writes earlier and acuter manifestation, and its consequent
mostly without bitterness; and while finding Eu-bearing upon existing political boundaries and con-
génie fickle, frivolous, cold, and of narrow aims ditions. The military dictatorship of Bonaparte,
and ambitions, he admits some good qualities, and born of domestic anarchy and foreign war, curbed
acquits her of grosser accusations which her more the revolution in France while extending it over the
venomous enemies have not scrupled to make. Eu Continent. “ The conflict with monarchical Eu-
génie's shortcomings, however, whatever they may rope,” says Mr. Rose, “is therefore the central fact
have been, pale into trivialities beside the damn of the revolution, determining not only the trend of
ing charge that she instigated the war of 1870. events in France, but also the extension of French
History now admits that the Emperor opposed the influence over Europe, and the formation of the
war; as to the degree of his wife's culpability in chief Continental States.” While Mr. Rose is a
the matter, there seems to be some question. M. good narrator, as his admirable account of Water-
de Lano has no doubt whatever on this point; and loo attests, his attention is mainly given to showing
his views may be gathered from the following story, the political and economic bearing of his facts ;
which he quotes with approval and considers trust hence his book is one for the serious reader. The
worthy — though it appears suspiciously melodra volume is well printed, and contains a half-dozen
matic. It seems that when the debate over the pro-
excellent maps.
posed declaration of war had reached its height, the
Emperor refused to sign the fatal paper. As the
Too much chit-chat, and too much
Historical gossip, importance attached to trifles, is what
ministers insisted," he became angry,
he—the
gen of modern England.
tle, obstinate one, as his mother called him—became
must be generally predicated of Mrs.
violent, and seizing the decree, tore it in pieces, and
Elizabeth Wormeley Latimer's otherwise respect-
scattered the fragments on the floor. . . . The Em-
able compilation, England in the Nineteenth Cen-
press, on hearing of the scene which had taken
tury” (McClurg). The author says in the preface
that she intended at first to call her book “ His-
place, and of the determination of the Emperor,
was much annoyed. She was most indignant. She
torical Gossip"; and we see no good reason why the
now became angry, and having compelled the min change of title was made. It is possible that Mrs.
isters to restore the manuscript, she took possession
Latimer has injected the over-liberal element of
of the new document, and went with it to the Em-
small-talk into her work as a concession to the “gen-
peror, who signed it, as it were, in a dream.” With-
eral reader"; and if so, we think she has in many
out putting too much faith in this anecdote, one may
cases largely overrated the supposed mental infirm-
add that the seeming stability of the republic gives ity and taste for twaddle of that abused individual.
good hope that the long list of mischiefs wrought
We can, for instance, fancy no reader “general'
or furthered in France by the ignorant political enough to like his history diluted with such infor-
mation as this : “ After the breakfast was over,
meddlings of royal wives and royal mistresses ended
with Sedan. The germ of M. de Lano's book is a
bride and bridegroom changed their dresses - the
series of articles published in 1890 in the "Figaro."
Prince for a dark travelling suit, the Queen for a
These provoked at the time a bitter attack on the
white satin pelisse, trimmed with swan’s-down, with
author in the “Gaulois"; and he now answers his
a white satin bonnet and feather,” etc. We would
critics, and presents a fuller exposition of his case.
not imply, however, that Mrs. Latimer's book is
The Empress's life from the time of her marriage
barren of instruction, for parts of it are good enough
to the death of the Prince Imperial is freely dealt
to make us wonder the more at the frequency of
with; and while M. de Lano is certainly more than
passages like the one quoted; and in styling it a
a bit of a gossip, he appears to have tried to get at
compilation it is fair to add that the text is not with-
out occasional signs of an underlying logical process.
the truth.
That the author is not strong in economics is amus-
France and
“ The Revolutionary and Napoleonic ingly indicated by her naïve ascription of the forced
the European Era” (Macmillan ) is the initial vol separation of husband and wife in the Union work-
revolution.
ume of a promising historical series, houses, not to Mr. Malthus and common sense gen-
the “Cambridge,” which aims to sketch the history erally, but to a wish on the part of the hard-hearted
of modern Europe and its colonies from the close of framers of the Poor Law of 1834 “ to inspire an
the fifteenth century down to the present time. The intense horror of the workhouse.” England was
editor is Dr. G. W. Prothero, Prefessor of History pretty nearly ruined by unwisely relaxing the strin-
in Edinburgh University; and the author of the gency of the Elizabethan Poor Law; and what the
opening volume is Mr. J. H. Rose, University Ex effect would have been of going further in the same
tension Lecturer in Modern History, late scholar of direction, and maintaining at the public cost in every
Christ's College, Cambridge. To the French Revo. half-dozen or so parishes a huge establishment for


122
[Feb. 16,
THE DIAL
ume
as
the breeding and rearing of hereditary paupers, Mrs. Painter's book is that it spares the student the weari-
Latimer does not stop to consider. Beginning with some burden of detail forced upon him by most of
the year 1822, the author rapidly sketches the lead the compilers of such books. Only writers of great
ing events and personages of the reigns of the last importance are mentioned at all, and only fifteen
two Georges, William IV. and Victoria — the last authors altogether are taken up for careful study.
reign taking up three-fourths of the book. There But we do not believe that the problem will ever be
is a fairly full account of the Reform movement, the solved by putting history and texts into a single
East Indian administrations and mutiny, and the volume. What is needed is a history in one rather
governments of Disraeli and Gladstone. The vol small volume, and a great many annotated texts in
well printed, and contains twenty-seven nota a very big volume—the latter being a book to delve
bly good portraits after photographs.
in rather than a book to be studied from beginning
to end. As an alternative for the single big vol-
A new series of “Handbooks of En-
New handbooks
ume, we suggest a series of smaller ones, containing
of English glish Literature," edited by Professor different sets of texts, the teacher being free to
literature.
J. W. Hales, is announced, and the choose the volume or volumes that he can best use,
first volume, “ The Age of Pope," by Mr. John and to vary the selection from year to year.
The
Dennis, already published (Macmillan). It is pro- simple fact is that no student can hope to get any
posed in this series “to deal with the chief epochs satisfaction out of the study of English literature
of English literature in separate volumes of mod unless he is prepared to spend a few dollars upon
erate length, but in such a manner that, taken to books.
gether, they will ultimately form a consecutive his-
The volume on Abraham Lincoln by
tory.” The plan of the series is to adopt for each
A popular Life
volume some one great writer, such as Chaucer,
Mr. Noah Brooks (Putnam), which
of Lincoln.
has been added to the “Heroes of the
Shakespeare, Milton, Dryden, or Wordsworth, “
Nations series, is a new edition of a book first
the representative man of his period and the expo-
nent of its leading tendencies and movements.” Pro-
published six years ago.
The author was in inti-
fessor Hales himself will undertake some of the vol-
mate relations with Mr. Lincoln after 1856, and
umes, and others are promised by such scholars as
wrote with full knowledge of the man and the times.
Dr. Richard Garnett and Professor C. H. Herford.
His avowed purpose was to impress the image of
This is a promising programme, and we must add
his hero upon the “ heart of that common people'
that Mr. Dennis has dealt with “ The Age of Pope”
whom he loved so well, and of which he was the
in so scholarly and at the same time so interesting
noblest representative." The book is not at all
critical in its treatment of Lincoln's life. All un-
a way that much is to be hoped of the series thus
auspiciously inaugurated. The period covered is pleasant features and events are glossed over after
the first half of the eighteenth century. Some idea
the manner of the hero-worshipper. Though it can-
of the spirit in which Mr. Dennis has done his
not compare with other volumes in the series—such
work may be got from the following sentences :
as Hodgkin's Theodoric and Strachan-Davidson's
“ The first object of a guide is to give accurate in-
Cicero—in weight and strength, it will do good as
formation ; his second and larger object is to direct
a popular life of one whom the people cannot know
the reader's steps through a country exhaustless in
too well or honor too highly.
variety and interest.” “There is perhaps no dan-
Five « Commemorative Addresses'
ger more carefully to be shunned by the student of
addresses by
literature than the habit of resting satisfied with
by Mr. Parke Godwin are issued in
opinions at second-hand.
attractive shape by Messrs. Harper
Better a wrong estimate
formed after due reading and thought, than a right
& Brothers. The papers, one and all, are much
estimate gleaned from critics, without any thought
more comprehensive and readable than the collect-
at all.”
ive title leads one to expect—an occasional address
being in general a pretty trite and perfunctory per-
Introduction
“ This work is an attempt to solve formance. Mr. Godwin's subjects are: George
to English the problem of teaching English lit William Curtis, Edwin Booth, Louis Kossuth, John
literature.
erature.” Such are the opening James Audubon, and William Cullen Bryant. No-
words of Professor F. V. N. Painter's preface to tably good is the paper on Mr. Curtis—really one
his "Introduction to English Literature" (Leach). of the best biographical sketches of the Montaigne
Well, we can hardly admit that the problem has of the “ Easy Chair" that we remember to have
been solved, although the author has taken a step Necessarily a shade declamatory and eulo-
in the right direction. Briefly, he has divided the gistic in tone, the addresses are nevertheless quieter
history into seven periods, and for each period has and more critical than most compositions of their
written a general characterization, followed by a kind; and their graphic and anecdotal quality makes
careful study of from one to four authors, and an them pleasant reading. A propos of Mr. Curtis's
notated examples of their work. Entire works are · Brook Farm” experiences, briefly narrated by our
selected in most cases, although extracts are now author, it is instructive to learn that he was chiefly
and then resorted to. The merit of Professor remembered by his associates in that venture “for
Commemorative
Mr. Godwin.
seen.


1895.]
123
THE DIAL
66
his sprightly leadership of picnics and masquerades, “Stendhal,” Gautier, Leconte de Lisle, Flaubert, and
and his pleasant singing, after nightfall, of roman many of the moderns. The selections are in both prose
zas from the operas.” One can hardly fancy the
and poetry. Finally, the Christopher Sower Co. pub-
genial humorist playing a very serious part in Mr.
lish - Jean Mornas” and “Tuyet,” two stories by M.
Ripley's idyl—or, indeed, taking the idyl itself very
Jules Claretie, edited in a single volume by Mr. Edward
H. Magill.
seriously
In the new and revised edition (Macmillan) of Dr.
Miss Anne Hollingsworth Wharton's Oskar Seyffert's “Dictionary of Classical Antiquities
More pictures
“Colonial Days and Dames" (Lip-
of Colonial life.
English readers are offered what is probably the most
pincott) forms an acceptable supple useful single-volume work upon the subject to be had.
ment to her bright little book, "Through Colonial The present edition, which is the third, has been edited
Doorways,” reviewed at length in THE DIAL for
by Dr. J. E. Sandys, and brought sufficiently to date to
include the latest discoveries and theories. The articles
May, 1893. The volume presents a chatty picture
of Colonial home and social life, liberally sprin-
Comitia, Music, and Theatre, are examples of this incor-
kled with extracts from letters, journals, etc., of
poration of new matter. There are over seven hundred
two-columned pages of clear type, nearly five hundred
the period. It is pretty plain that Miss Wharton
illustrations, and full indexes.
has written with a certain sense of personal in-
Mr. G. Steel's “ An English Grammar and Analysis”
terest in her theme; and our budding American
(Longmans ) hardly satisfies the author's claim of being
noblesse who “trace back ” genealogically to Colo an "improvement in the methods usually followed” in
nial and Revolutionary days should find her pages language study. In fact, several works could readily
by no means “thin sown with profit and delight. be called to mind that are distinctly superior to it for
Outwardly the volume is, like all of Messrs. Lippin-
class-room work. The main fault of the book is the at-
cott's recent publications, notably tasteful and at tempt to bring grammar, etymology, rhetoric and com-
tractive.
position within the limits of 300 pages.
Mr. Thomas Atkinson Jenkins, a candidate for the
doctorate at the Johns Hopkins University, has just
le published his dissertation, which has for its subject
BRIEFER MENTION.
• L'Espurgatoire Seint Patriz” of Marie de France. This
A batch of modern language publications from the important twelth-century poem is presented in a critical
press of Mr. W. R. Jenkins includes several useful text text, with a careful study of the language, and intro-
books. “Les Historiens Français du XIXe siècle," by
ductory chapters upon the author, her work, and the
M. C. Fontaine, is a series of selections from the best dialect in which she wrote. Concerning the latter sub-
historical writers, forming a fairly connected history of
ject Mr. Jenkins concludes that her dialect was Franco-
France from the age of Louis XIV. to our own times.
Norman, thus controverting the opinion of Professor
Notes, few but sufficient, are given at the bottom of the Suchier, who declares for a specifically French dialect.
page. Smaller books are “L'Art d'Intéresser en Classe,” Mr. Jenkins has produced a solid and valuable piece of
including stories, fables, and Labiche's “ La Lettre philological work.
Chargée,” edited by M. Victor F. Bernard; “La Tra Three new volumes in The Student's Series of En-
duction Orale,” also by M. Bernard; “La Conversation glish Classics” (Leach) include Goldsmith’s « Traveller"
des Enfants,” by M. Charles Du Croquet; and “ Pre and « Deserted Village,” edited by Mr. Warren F.
liminary French Drill,” by “Veteran." A new French Gregory; Tennyson's “ Elaine," edited by Miss Fannie
text is M. Daudet's “ Le Petit Chose,” in the “ Romans M. McCauley; and “ The Merchant of Venice,” edited
Choisis,” edited by M. Fontaine. Two stories by Sig. by Professor Katharine Lee Bates. The latter volume,
de Amicis, “ Fortezzo” and “Un Gran Giorno," edited in particular, is an admirable piece of editorial work,
by Mr. T. E. Comba, make a pamphlet number of the
having notes that deal largely with parallel passages
series of “ Novelle Italiane." Last of all, there are two from other poets—a sort of help too often neglected by
Spanish texts: “El Final de Norma,” by Señor Alarcón, commentators. We may also give mention in this
opening a series of “Novelas Escogidas,” and “ El Pá paragraph to Mr. George P. Baker's edition of Lyly's
jaro Verde,” by Señor Valera, opening a series of Endymion” (Holt), which has few notes, but, on the
“ Cuentos Selectos.” The former is edited by Mr. de other hand, an elaborate biographical and critical intro-
La Cortina, and the latter by Mr. Julio Rojas.
duction, which shows workmanship of a high order.
The multiplication of French texts for school use goes Once in a year or so the University of Nebraska
merrily on. From Messrs. D. C. Heath & Co. we now issues a pamphlet volume of “University Studies.”
have editions of “ Hernani” and “ Ruy Blas,” the for The latest of these issues, dated July, 1894, is at hand,
mer edited by Dr. George M. Harper, the latter by and contains three papers of solid value. Mr. E. H.
Dr. Samuel Garner. A portrait of Hugo prefaces the Barbour has some “Additional Notes on the New Fos-
one, a map of Madrid the other. Introductions and sil, Daimonelit,” twelve plates richly illustrating the
notes are excellent in both. The same publishers send paper. “The Decrease of Predication and of Sentence
us M. Halévy's “L'Abbé Constantin,” edited by Dr. Weight in English Prose” is the subject of a study by
Thomas Logie; and M. Pailleron's “Le Monde où l'On Mr. G. W. Gerwig. It represents much careful work
S’Ennuie," edited by Mr. A. C. Pendleton. From Messrs. done in continuation of Professor Sherman's chapters
Ginn & Co. we have two useful texts — " A Scientific upon the subject in his “ Analytics of Literature.” The
French Reader,” edited by Mr. Alexander W. Herdler; third paper is by Mr. Fred M. Fling, and considers
and “ Difficult Modern French," edited by M. Albert Mirabeau as an opponent of absolutism, a subject in-
Leune. The former includes short articles with illus teresting in connection with Professor von Holst's re-
trative woodcuts, the latter selections from such men as cent lectures on the great French statesman.


124
[Feb. 16,
THE DIAL
ert bill for the limitation of newspaper liability, found
NEW YORK TOPICS.
a very large snake in the grass in the shape of possible
New York, February 11, 1895. nominal damages for infringement of copyright. In
The “ Trilby” living pictures foreshadowed in a spite of Mr. Johnson's efforts, seconded by Mr. Covert,
previous letter have materialized in an elaborate char-
to have definite sums ($250 to $5000) named, the bill
ity entertainment given last Saturday in the ball-room passed the Committee on Patents in its objectionable
of a fashionable caterer's in this city. “ Scenes and
form; and the fight must be carried on in Congress itself.
Songs from Trilby” consisted of tableaux of the princi Another correction concerns my reference to Mr. Pick-
pal illustrations in the volume, with renderings of the
ard and “The Life and Letters of Whittier," the con-
songs mentioned therein. The proceeds are to go to the
densation of which seemed to make me reflect on his
New York Kindergarten Association, in which Mrs. editing of that work. This was quite apart from my
Wiggin and Mr. Gilder are deeply interested. A copy
intention. In regard to copyright, an important though
of “Trilby," with autograph inscriptions by Mr. du
not final decision has been rendered in the famous Rider
Maurier and Henry James, and a manuscript copy of
Haggard case, which Mr. Daniel G. Thompson has been
Dr. English's song,
“ Ben Bolt,” was auctioned off by conducting for Messrs. Longmans, Green, & Co. The
Mrs. Wiggin during the intermission for a hundred dol-
chief point at issue was not the constitutionality of the
lars, a surprisingly small price considering the packed International Copyright Law, but the claim that books
house and the Trilby-mania now rampant. The list of
published in the United States are not protected by
lady patronesses included the wives of several literary copyright unless the American notice is printed in all
men, as well as a number of society women, some of
foreign editions as well. This claim has been set aside
them belonging in a sense to both classes. In fact,
in favor of Mr. Rider Haggard and his publishers, al-
books are a fad in the outskirts of “society” at present,
though leave is given the defendant firm to plead again
and I have even seen within a week a letter from one
in answer.
of the late Mr. McAllister's “Four Hundred "requesting
“The Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc,” to ap-
the autograph of a well-known New York novelist. pear serially in " Harper's Monthly," will show Joan, it is
The chilling thought occurs, however, that she may
have announced, as a daughter of the people; the scenes and
wanted it for a church fair, and that her interest was incidents of her girlhood among her rustic playmates;
merely fictitious. After all, this would be quite proper her childish superstitions; her distressful solicitudes for
in the case of a writer of fiction. “Trilby" enthusiasm her country; the heavenly voices and visions that nour-
has reached the art circles also, and various idealized ished the hope of deliverance that should surely come
portraits of the “ dear Trilby ” have been painted. The through her; her conquest of a corrupt court; her mar-
best piece of work of this sort which I have seen was
tial triumphs, and her betrayal and martyrdom. The
in the studio of Mr. C. Y. Turner, who has made a author's name is not disclosed, although he is described
lovely ideal painting of “Sweet Alice,” immortalized in as one of the most successful among American writers
“ Ben Bolt.” The dress of the damsel is copied from
of fiction. He is disguised as “the Sieur Louis de
his mother's wedding-gown, of even date with “ Trilby” Conte," Joan's “ Page and Secretary.” This nom de
and “Sweet Alice."And so no more of ” Trilby. plume almost makes me think that Mr. Janvier is the
Far removed from this hysteric, hypnotic patroniza-
hidden author; but on the whole I stick to “Mark
tion of literature and art was the lecture given, on the Twain” for the present. I trust this work will turn out
morning of the same day, by Mr. William Crary Brown to be an American rival of “ Trilby" et al. At the same
ell, on the life and genius of Auguste Rodin. It was
time it should be borne in mind that Mr. Crawford's
delivered at the Metropolitan Museum, in the course books are reaching large editions,—and Mr. Crawford
given under the auspices of Columbia College, having is an American, I believe.
already been repeated privately before the Sculpture The appointment of Mr. Herbert Putnam, brother of
Society. An intelligent and interested audience listened the publishers, as librarian of the Boston Public Library,
to Mr. Brownell's keen characterizations and brilliant meets with solid approval here and in that city. Inci-
epigrams. He made very plain the distinction between dentally, it leads the Boston “Transcript" to another
Rodin's art and the academic art of the Institute sculp needless outburst of parochialism to the effect that Mr.
tors, and illustrated his points with some fifty stereop-
Putnam's being “a New Yorker by birth shall not be
ticon views of Rodin's work, including details of the treasured up against him in Boston, since he has lived
Dante portal for the new Museum of Decorative Arts there but little since his Harvard days and his gradua-
at Paris, studies of which were shown in a private room
tion in the class of 1883.” Mr. Putnam is a classmate
at the Columbian Exposition, “St. John the Baptist,” of Professor Edward E. Hale, Jr., and of Assistant Sec-
“ The Kiss,” “The Calais Bourgeois," "A Danaide," retary Charles Sumner Hamlin. He organized the new
and portrait statues and busts of Bastien-Lepage, Hugo, Public Library of Minneapolis, and President Eliot has
Laurens, Henly, Legros, and Mme. Morla. Mr. Brownell said that in doing this he proved himself one of the three
will be succeeded in these Columbia College lectures best librarians in the United States. Mr. Putnam has
by Mr. T. Humphry Ward, who will give a course on been practicing law in Boston for some three years, but
“The History of English Art, with especial reference had decided to leave that city for New York, so the
to Reynolds, Gainsborough, and Romney." The first Boston “Herald” says, when the appointment came.
lecture, on February 16, treats of art in England under The traditions of his family and his own personal abil-
the first two Georges. The remaining three are devoted ity promise large results. As for the Public Library,
separately to the above-mentioned artists. Mr. Ward the long hiatus in its management has turned out for
arrived from England last Saturday, after a most tem its benefit. May Mr. John Bigelow's inaction as to the
pestuous voyage.
Tilden trust prove equally beneficial, is the prayer of
It is never safe to “holler" until you are out of the many here; for New York has no public library.
woods. It seems that Mr. Robert Underwood John Two new books of importance, to be published shortly
son and the Copyright League, on examining the Cov by Messrs. Charles Scribner's Sons, as yet unannounced,


1895.]
125
THE DIAL
are as
are “ The Mogul Emperors of Hindustan,” by Dr. Ed The School of Applied Ethics, which has already held
ward S. Holden, and “ Letters of a Baritone,” by Fran three summer sessions at Plymouth, has added the win-
cis Walker. Messrs. G. P. Putnam's Sons announce ter session to its programme, and began its meetings at
“ The Arthurian Epic," a comparative study of the Washington, D. C., on the thirteenth of this month.
Cambrian, Breton, and Anglo-Norman versions of the This winter session will continue for seven weeks, with
story, and Tennyson's “ Idylls of the King," by S. Hum two or three lectures a week. Professors Felix Adler,
phreys Gurteen. Mr. Gurteen is a graduate of Cam Woodrow Wilson, and Henry C. Adams are the prin-
bridge University, and has become popularly known as cipal lecturers. Three educational conferences, March
the originator of charity organization in England. This 19, 20, and 21, are included in the programme.
excursion into the field of comparative criticism deals Mr. Karl Károly, whose beautiful “ Raphael's Ma-
with the rise, growth, and later developments of the donnas and Other Great Pictures” was one of the most
legends relating to King Arthur, from the first mention successful of recent holiday gift-books, has in press a
of his name in Welsh song to the epic cyclus perfected full account of all “ The Paintings of Venice,” which
under the clever romancers of the twelfth century, and will be published in a few weeks by Messrs. Bell &
compares the original tales with Tennyson's versions.
Sons, London, and Macmillan & Co., New York. The
Many interesting facts in regard to Tennyson's varia book will be handsomely illustrated with photographic
tions from the legends are given, as yet generally un reproductions of some of the celebrated Venetian pic-
known. Mr. Gurteen has gone back to the original tures, and will be out before the Art Exposition begins
sources in each case. He is now occupied with a com in Venice in April.
panion volume to the above, to be entitled “The Epic
of the Fall of Man." This work will be a comparative
The following notes taken from the editorial depart-
study of the epics of Cædmon, Dante, and Milton, with
ment of the February “Educational Review”
sound in doctrine as their praise is well-deserved: “ The
critical comparisons of their masterpieces. There is
last annual report of Superintendent Lane of Chicago
room for only a mere mention of the success of Verdi's
“Falstaff” at the Metropolitan Opera House last week.
contains conclusive evidence that, notwithstanding the
The sale of the Foote collection of books proved suc-
ravings and revilings of certain newspapers specially
cessful beyond the expectations of the owner, and was
prepared, as Mr. Charles A. Dana would say, to be read
by fools, the public schools of that city are making sub-
an event in the world of letters. Next Thursday the
Authors Club will hold its first meeting in the rooms
stantial progress. More than any other city superin-
devoted to it in the new Carnegie annex, first described
tendent in the country, Superintendent Lane has been
called upon to resist the civium prava jubentium ardor.
in this correspondence. A notable love-feast is expected.
He has stood nobly for the right. He deserves the thanks
ARTHUR STEDMAN.
of progressive teachers throughout the land.”
Sir John Robert Seeley, K. C. M. G., author of “ Ecce
Homo,” “ The Life and Times of Stein,” “ The Expan-
LITERARY NOTES.
sion of England,” and small books upon Napoleon and
Goethe, died at Cambridge on the thirteenth of Jan-
Messrs. Macmillan & Co. announce a translation of
uary. A historian of the scientific school, his work was
the great “ Lehrbuch der Botanik,” the joint work of
without the qualities that attract a large audience (al-
Drs. Strasburger, Noll, Schenck, and Schimper.
ways excepting the “ Ecce Homo”), but those that
Mr. W. J. Courthope has long been engaged upon a found their way to it got from it such instruction and
“ History of English Poetry," and the first of the four
discipline as has been afforded by few of the historical
volumes projected is now ready for publication. writers of our time. We learn from the “ Cambridge
“The Publisher's Weekly " records 4484 books issued Review” that Professor Seeley's great work on the for-
in this country during 1894, a decrease of 650 from the eign policy of England in the seventeenth century was
total for 1893. The falling-off was mainly in fiction nearly completed before the long illness that preceded
and theology. Many departments, on the other hand, his death.
exhibit a slight increase.
The Grolier Club of New New, the parent biblio-
A uniform library edition of the more popular prose maniac club of the country, has been giving an inter-
works of Robert Louis Stevenson will soon be issued by esting exhibition of historic book-bindings at its club
Messrs. Scribner's Sons. The set will number sixteen building in that city. The books displayed are from
volumes, comprising romances, short stories, and essays, the libraries of famous collectors, and from the collec-
and will be published at a reasonable price to meet a
tions of various kings of France and England and their
popular demand.
consorts, and are loaned by members of the club. The
New York has had its Grolier Club for several years, libraries of Mr. Samuel P. Avery and Mr. Robert Hoe
and now Chicago has its similar organization—the Cax have been especially drawn upon. It was something of
ton Club, of which Mr. J. W. Ellsworth is president. a surprise, our correspondent writes us, to see fifteen or
The Club will soon begin a series of publications, and twenty bandsome volumes from Grolier's library, with
is meanwhile engaged in superintending an exhibition 'their distinctive bindings and motto. Books from the
of bookbindings to be held at an early date at the Art collections of de Thon, Mazarin, and a host of similar
Institute.
amateurs of book-binding, are shown; but the interest
Mr. Thomas B. Mosher, of Portland, Maine, has centres in an extensive exhibit of volumes emblazoned
just issued the first number of a monthly magazine with the arms and insignia of certain fair ladies and
called “ The Bibelot,” and containing selections from their royal lovers. Diana of Poitiers and Henry II., the
the prose and poetical works of authors whose produc Marquise de Maintenon and Louis XIV., the Comtesse
tions are hard to get or out of print. The first number du Barry and Louis XV., are so represented; as well as
is devoted to William Blake. Another will include Henry IV. and Margaret of Valois, and Charles I. of
translations of the poems of Villon.
England and Henrietta Maria. A rare quarto from the


126
[Feb. 16,
THE DIAL
Indian Territory, Problems in the. O. H. Platt. No. American.
Journalist, Confessions of a. Dial (Feb. 16).
Literature and the English Book Trade. “Ouida." No. Am.
Literature as a University Study. E.E.Hale, Jr. Dial (Feb.16)
Manitoba. E. V. Smalley. Review of Reviews.
Matrimonial Puzzle, The. H. H. Boyesen. No. American.
Mind, The Dynamics of. Henry Wood. Arena.
Mongol Triad, The. Margherita A. Hamm. Overland.
Music in Court. J. J. Kral. Music.
Music, The Future of. W. S. B. Mathews. Music.
National University, The Need of a. North American.
Oregonian Characteristics. Alfred Holman. Overland.
Penology in Europe and America. S. J. Barrows. Arena.
Politics and the Farmer. B. P. Clayton. North American.
Populist Campaign in Chicago, The. W.J. Abbott. Arena.
Psychical Comedy, The. C. S. Minot. North American.
Pulpit, The New. H. R. Haweis. North American.
Reading and Education. Dial (Feb. 16).
Rubinstein, Antoine. Review of Reviews.
Rubinstein, Antoine. Music.
Serum Treatment of Diphtheria. S.T.Armstrong. Pop. Sci.
Skeat's Chaucer. Ewald Flügel. Dial (Feb. 16).
Stevenson, Robert Louis. Charles D. Lanier. Rev. of Reviews.
Symbols. Helen Zimmern. Popular Science.
Thorns of Plants, The. M. Henri Coupin. Popular Science.
Wild Flowers of Hawaii. Grace C. K. Thompson, Overland.
Windmills and Meteorology. P.J. De Ridder. Pop. Science.
Woman Suffrage in the South. Arena.
library of Henry III. of France bears an inlaid full-
length portrait of the king worked out in different
colored leathers. The exhibition uld scarcely be du-
plicated in this country outside of four or five of the
New York collectors' libraries.
Charles Etienne Arthur Gayarré, the Historian of
Louisiana, died at his home in New Orleans, early in
the morning of February 11. On the 9th of January
he celebrated his ninety-first birthday. He was a na-
tive of New Orleans, and descended from persons em-
inent in the French colonial history of Louisiana. After
graduating at the College of Orleans, he studied law in
Philadelphia, and was there admitted to practice in
1829. Returning to Louisiana the following year he en-
tered upon a political career, and was successively State
Senator, Attorney General, and Presiding Judge of the
City Court of New Orleans. In 1835 he was elected to
the U. S. Senate, but ill health prevented his entering
upon the duties of this office. He went abroad and spent
eight years in Paris and Madrid. Upon his return he
was again elected to the State Legislature, and in 1846
was appointed Secretary of State of Louisiana. This
office he held for seven years.
He was defeated for
Congress in 1853, and unsuccessful in his attempts to se-
cure the nomination in 1868. For several years he was
Reporter for the Supreme Court of his native state.
Judge Gayarré's literary life began during his college
days and continued until within the last decade. His
more serious work began with the publication of “His-
toire de la Louisiane,” two volumes, in 1847. Historical
works followed in quick succession, viz., “ Romance of the
History of Louisiana,” 1848; “ Louisiana, Its Colonial
History and Romance,” 1851; “ Louisiana, its History
as a French Colony,” two vols., 1851-2;“ History of the
Spanish Domination in Louisiana from 1769 to Decem-
ber 1803," 1854; “ History of Louisiana” completed,
revised, and brought down to 1861, three vols., 1866;
“ Philip II. of Spain,” 1866. Some of these comprised
courses of lectures delivered about 1847-48.
the author of two works of fiction, “ Fernando de Le-
mos ” (1872) and its sequel, “ Aubert Dubayet” (1882),
and of two comedies, “The School for Politics” and
“ Dr. Bluff," besides numerous pamphlets, addresses,
lectures, and magazine articles. The author retained
his mental vigor to the last. His later years have been
spent in a modest cottage in the eastern portion of New
Orleans, not precisely in the old “ French Quarter," but
east of Esplanade street, and in a neighborhood where
the French element dominates. Of late years it has
been the custom among his friends to celebrate his birth-
day in a more or less public manner. Judge Gayarré
married many years ago, but was childless. His wife
survives him.
LIST OF NEW BOOKS.
[The following list, containing 55 titles, includes books re-
ceived by THE DIAL since its last issue.]
He was
GENERAL LITERATURE.
The Works of Edgar Allan Poe. Newly collected and
edited, with memoir, introductions, and notes, by Ed-
mund Clarence Stedman and George Edward Woodberry.
In 10 vols. Vols. 1, 2, and 3; each illus., 12mo, gilt top,
uncut. Stone & Kimball. Each vol., $1.50.
Aristotle's Theory of Poetry and Fine Art; with a Criti-
cal Text and a Translation of the Poetics. By S. H.
Butcher, Litt. D. 8vo, uncut, pp. 384. Macmillan & Co.
$3.25.
Corrected Impressions: Essays on Victorian Writers. By
George Saintsbury. With portrait, 16mo, gilt top, pp.
218. Dodd, Mead & Co. $1.25.
The Aims of Literary Study. By Hiram Corson, LL. D.,
author of “A Primer of English Verse.” 24mo, gilt top,
pp. 153. Macmillan & Co. 75 cts.
The Yellow Book: An Illustrated Quarterly. Volume IV.,
January, 1895; illus., 12mo, uncut, pp. 285. Copeland &
Day. $1.50.
The Overland Monthly, Vol. XXIV., July - December,
1894. Edited by Rounsevelle Wildman. Illus., large
8vo, pp. 666. San Francisco: Overland Monthly Pub'g
Co. $2.25.
HISTORY.
The History of the French Revolution, 1789-1800. By
Louis Adolph Thiers; trans., with notes, etc., by Fred-
erick Shoberl. New edition in five vols., vols. III., IV.,
and V.; each illus., 8vo, gilt top, uncut. J. B. Lippin-
cott Co. Per vol., $3.
Napoleon Bonaparte's First Campaign. With comments
by Herbert H. Sargent, U. S. A. 12mo, pp. 231. A. C.
McClurg & Co. $1.50.
Napoleon III. and Lady Stuart: An Episode of the Tuil-
eries. By Pierre de Lano; trans. by A. C.S. With por-
trait, 12mo, pp. 260. J. Selwin Tait & Sons. $1.
POETRY.
In Woods and Fields. By Augusta Larned. 12mo, gilt top,
pp. 157. G. P. Putnam's Sons. $1.
Select Poems of Sidney Lanier. Edited with introduc-
tion, notes, etc., by Morgan Callaway, Jr., Ph.D. With
portrait, 16mo, pp. 97. Chas. Scribner's Sons. $1.
Sonnets and Lyrics. By Katrina Trask, author of "Under
King Constantine." 12mo, gilt top, pp. 103. A. D. F.
Randolph & Co. $1.
TOPICS IN LEADING PERIODICALS.
February, 1895 (Second List).
Abelard and Héloïse. Anatole France. Cosmopolitan.
Armenian Melodies. Mary G. Reed. Music.
Ballet, History and Progress of the. Rosita Mauri. Cosmopol.
Bimetallism and Legislation. C. S. Thomas. Arena.
China and Japan. General Lord Wolseley. Cosmopolitan.
Cotton States Exposition of 1895, The. Review of Reviews.
Currency Plan, The President's. W. J. Bryan. Arena.
Divination and Fortune Telling Among the Chinese. Overland.
Educational Books, Recent. B. A. Hinsdale. Dial (Feb. 16).
Geological Survey, The U.S. C. D. Walcott. Pop. Science.
History, An Unsuccessful. A.C. McLaughlin. Dial (Feb. 16).
Income Tax, The, Opposition to. Overland.


1895.]
127
THE DIAL
Songs from the Nest. By Emily Huntington Miller. With
frontispiece, 16mo, pp. 85. Chicago: Kindergarten Lit-
erature Co. 50 cts.
FICTION
The Good Ship Mohock. By W. Clark Russell, author of
“The Wreck of the Grosvenor." 16mo, pp. 259. D.
Appleton & Co. $1.
Doctor Judas : A Portrayal of the Opium Habit. By Will-
iam Rosser Cobbe. 12mo, pp. 320. S. C. Griggs & Co.
$1.50.
Noémi. By S. Baring-Gould, author of " Little Tu'penny."
12mo, pp. 263. D. Appleton & Co. $1.
Paul and Virginia. By Bernardin de Saint-Pierre; trans.
with biographical and critical introduction by Melville B.
Anderson. *16mo, gilt top, pp. 218. A. C. McClurg &
Co. $1.
Little Dorrit. By Charles Dickens; with introduction by
Charles Dickens, the Younger. Illus., 12mo, pp. 788.
Macmillan & Co. $1.
The Mystery of Evelin Delorme: A Hypnotic Story. By
Albert Bigelow Paine. 18mo, pp. 129. Arena Pub'g Co.
75 cts.
The Doctor, his Wife, and the Clock. By Anna Kather-
ine Green (Mrs. Charles Rohlfs), 18mo, pp. 131. Put-
nam's “ Autonym Library." 50 cts.
Madame Sans-Gêne: An Historical Romance. Trans. from
the French by Louie R. Heller. With frontispiece, 16mo,
pp. 400. Home Book Co. 50 cts.
NEW VOLUMES IN THE PAPER LIBRARIES.
Bonner's Choice Series : For Another's Wrong, by W.
Heimburg ; illus., 16mo, pp. 358, 50 cts.
U. S. Book Co.'s Lakewood Series: Berris, by Katherine
S. Macquoid, author of " Appledore Farm '; 16mo, pp.
286, 50 cts.
Harper's Franklin Square Library: A Traveller from
Altruria, by W. D. Howells ; 12mo, uncut, pp. 318, 50 cts.
TRAVEL AND DESCRIPTION.
The Wonderful Wapentake. By J. S. Fletcher. Illus.,
12mo, uncut, pp. 250. A. C. McClurg & Co. $2.
The Amateur Emigrant; From the Clyde to Sandy Hook.
By Robert Louis Stevenson. 16mo, gilt top, uncut, pp.
180. Stone & Kimball. $1.25.
In the Heart of the Bitter-Root Mountains: The Story
of “The Carlin Hunting Party," September - Decem-
ber, 1893. By Heclawa. Illus., 12mo, pp. 259. G. P.
Putnam's Sons. $1.50.
Trans-Caspia: The Sealed Provinces of the Czar. By M.
M. Shoemaker, author of " The Kingdom of the White
Woman.” Illus., 12mo, gilt top, pp. 310. Robert Clarke
Co. $1.50.
Ancient Rome and Its Neighbourhood: An Illustrated
Handbook to the Ruins in the City and Campagna. By
Robert Burn, M.A., author of “Old Rome.” Illus.,
12mo, pp. 292. Macmillan & Co. $1.25.
From a New England Hillside : Notes from Underledge.
By William Potts. With frontispiece, 24mo, gilt top, pp.
305. Macmillan & Co. 75 cts.
Comte, Mill, and Spencer: An Outline of Philosophy. By
John Watson, LL, D., author of “ Kant and his English
Critics." 12mo, uncut, pp. 302. Macmillan & Co. $1.75.
Ethical Addresses: First Series. By the Lecturers of Eth-
ical Societies. 12mo, pp. 194. Philadelphia : S. Burns
Weston. $1.
THEOLOGY AND RELIGION.
A Buddhist Catechism: An Introduction to the Teachings
of the Buddha Gótamo. By Subhadra Bhikshu. 16mo,
pp. 107. G. P. Putnam's Sons. $1.
Landmarks of Church History to the Reformation. By
Henry Cowan, D.D. 24mo, pp. 154. A. D. F. Randolph
& Co. 30 cts.
The Religions of the World. By G. M. Grant, D.D. 24mo,
pp. 137. A. D. F. Randolph & Co. 30 cts.
SCIENCE AND NATURE.
The Great Ice Age and Its Relation to the Antiquity of
Man. By James Geikie ; LL.D. Third edition, largely
rewritten; illus., Svo, uncut, pp. 850. D. Appleton &
Co. $7.50.
The Pygmies. By A. de Quatrefages; trans. by Frederick
Starr. Illus., 12mo, pp. 255. D. Appleton & Co. $1.75.
Dictionary of Scientific Illustrations and Symbols:
Moral Truths Mirrored in Scientific Facts. By a Bar-
rister of the Honorable Society of the Inner Temple.
12mo, pp. 420. New York: Wilbur B. Ketcham, $2.
REFERENCE.
Manners, Customs, and Observances: Their Origin and
Signification. By Leopold Wagner, author of "Names
and Their Meanings. 12mo, pp. 318. Macmillan &
Co. $1.75.
EDUCATION.- BOOKS FOR SCHOOL AND
COLLEGE.
The German Universities: Their Character and Historical
Development. By Friedrich Paulsen ; authorized trans-
lation by Edward Delavan Perry. 12mo, uncut, pp. 254.
Macmillan & Co. $2.
Higher Medical Education: The True Interest of the Pub-
lic and of the Profession. By William Pepper, M. D.
8vo, pp. 100. J. B. Lippincott Co. $1.
Lectures Faciles pour l'Etude du Français. Par Paul
Bercy, B. L. 12mo, pp. 256. Wm. R. Jenkins. $1.
Simples Notions de Français. Par Paul Bercy, B, L.
Illas., 8vo, pp. 105. Wm. R. Jenkins. 75 cts.
Second Book in Physiology and Hygiene. By J. H.
Kellogg, M. D. Illus., 12mo, pp. 291. American Book
Co. 80 cts.
Oral Arithmetic by Grades. By Alfred Kirk and A. R.
Sabin. Books 1 and 2 ; each, 16mo. American Book
Co. Each, 25 cts.
Mme. Beck's French Verb Form. 4to. W.R. Jenkins.
50 cts.
Partir à l'iempo. Por Don Mariano José de Larra; edited
by Alexander W. Herdler. 16mo, pp. 51. Jenkins's “ Tea-
tro Español.” 35 cts.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Commitment, Detention, Care and Treatment of the
Insane: A Report of the 4th Section of the Congress of
Charities of 1893. Edited by G. Alder Blumer, M. D.,
and A. B. Richardson, M.D. 8vo, pp. 300. Johns Hop-
kins Press. $1.50.
POLITICS.-ECONOMICS.-FINANCE.
Our Fight with Tammany. By Rev. Charles H. Park-
hurst, D. D. 12mo. Chas. Scribner's Sons. $1.25.
Select Chapters and Passages from “The Wealth of Na-
tions” of Adam Smith, 1776. 16mo, pp. 285. Macmil-
lan's “ Economic Classics.” 75 cts.
The First Six Chapters of the “Principles of Political
Economy and Taxation" of David Ricardo, 1817. 16mo,
pp. 118. Macmillan's “Economic Classics.” 75 cts.
The Currency and the Banking Law of the Dominion of
Canada, considered with Reference to Currency Reform
in the U.S. By William C. Cornwell. 8vo, pp. 86. G.
P. Putnam's Sons. 75 cts.
The Income Tax Law; with a Speech by David B. Hill.
18mo, pp. 90. Brentano's. 10 cts.
THE BOOK SHOP, CHICAGO.
SCARCE BOOKS. BACK-NUMBER MAGAZINES. For any book on any sub-
ject write to The Book Shop. Catalogues free.
EDUCATIONAL.
PHILOSOPHY AND ETHICS.
Allgemeine Geschichte der Philosophie, mit Besonderer
Berücksichtigung der Religionen. Von Dr. Paul Deus-
sen. 8vo, uncut, pp. 336. Liepzig: F. A. Brockhaus.
$2.50.
MISS GIBBONS' SCHOOL FOR GIRLS, New York City.
No. 55 West 47th st. Mrs. SARAH H. EMERSON, Prin-
cipal. Reopened October 4. A few boarding pupils taken.
YOUNG LADIES' SEMINARY, Freehold, N. J.
Prepares pupils for College. Broader Seminary Course.
Room for twenty-five boarders. Individual care of pupils.
Pleasant family life. Fall term opened Sept. 12, 1894.
Miss EUNICE D. SEWALL, Principal.


128
[Feb. 16, 1895.
THE DIAL
FRENCH BOOKS.
B. WESTERMANN & CO.,
[LEMCKE & BUECHNER),
BOOKSELLERS AND IMPORTERS,
No. 812 Broadway, New York.
JUST READY.
CATALOGUE RAISONNÉ
Of German Belles-Lettres containing the Classics, their
contemporaries, and the best modern fiction, with crit-
ical notes as to the comparative merits of different edi-
tions, as well as the literary standing of the authors, and
a list of
English Translations of German Books,
being hints for selecting the Gernian Library of a man
of culture.
Subscriptions for Foreign and American Periodicals.
Readers of French desiring good literature will take pleas-
ure in reading our ROMANS CHOISIS SERIES, 60 cts. per
vol, in paper and 85 cts. in cloth; and CONTES CHOISIS
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alogue of all French and other Foreign books when desired.
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ANIA
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154
v. 18
no. 209
March 1, 1895
KALASHNI
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A SEMI-MONTHLY JOURNAL OF
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EDITED BY I Volume XVIII.
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COMPLETION OF GREEN'S SHORT HISTORY. Illustrated.
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130
[March 1,
THE DIAL
The Atlantic Monthly for March. Henry Holt & Co.'s New Fiction.
CONTENTS.
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THE SEATS OF THE MIGHTY. I.-III. Gilbert Parker.
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[March 1, 1895.
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THE DIAL
A Semi-Monthly Journal of Literary Criticism, Discussion, and Information.
PAGE
.
0
THE DIAL (founded in 1880) is published on the 1st and 16th of
each month. TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION, $2.00 a year in advance, postage
POETRY AS CRITICISM OF
prepaid in the United States, Canada, and Mexico; in other countries
LITERATURE.
comprised in the Postal Union, 50 cents a year for extra postage must
be added. Unless otherwise ordered, subscriptions will begin with the
current number. REMITTANCES should be by check, or by express or
We have heard much (something too much,
postal order, payable to THE DIAL. SPECIAL RATES TO CLUBS and
indeed) of poetry as a criticism of life, since
for subscriptions with other publications will be sent on application;
and SAMPLE COPY on receipt of 10 cents. ADVERTISING RATES furnished
the time when Matthew Arnold, in his essay on
on application. All communications should be addressed to
Wordsworth, started that famous phrase on its
THE DIAL, 315 Wabash Ave., Chicago.
career. Its inadequacy has been pointed out
by many critics since, and it is now, we should
No. 209. MARCH 1, 1895. Vol. XVIII.
say, definitely relegated to the limbo of half-
truths that fascinate for a time by virtue of
CONTENTS.
their novelty, but that speedily become discred-
ited. Probably the most convincing of the
POETRY AS CRITICISM OF LITERATURE. . 133 many protests it evoked was that of the writer
THE PASSING OF CHRISTINA ROSSETTI
who urged that, so far from being a mere criti-
(Poem). Katharine Lee Bates
135 cism upon life, the greatest poetry is life itself,
COMMUNICATIONS
135
in direct transcription. But, while we must
The Humanities and College Education. M. Bross regard as whimsical the notion that poetry is
Thomas.
nothing more than criticism, even glorified
Dialect Study in America. E. W. Hopkins.
criticism, we may freely admit that there is to
“Axe” and “Spunky" in Dialect. Henry M.
Bowden.
be found in poetical literature a large element
Lafayette and Mirabeau Once More. H. von Holst. critical of life and of many other things as
THE RENASCENCE OF POE. D. L. Maulsby 138 well. Among those other things, literature
ART IN PRIMITIVE GREECE. John C. Van Dyke 142
itself is of considerable importance; and we
here wish to say a few words about the treas-
HENRY OF NAVARRE. W. H. Carruth
144
ures of literary criticism that are among the
A NEW ENGLAND NUN. Louis J. Block
146
precious gifts brought us by the poet.
STUDIES IN MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT. Harry In this age of the multiplication of antholo-
Pratt Judson
147
gies, it has for many years been to us a matter
Shaw's Municipal Government in Great Britain.-
Conkling's City Government in the United States.
of surprise that some one did not prepare a
-Parkhurst's Our Fight with Tammany. - Cham volume of “Poems of Poets,” to go with the
pernowne's The Boss.
“Poems of Places,” the “ Poems of Books,”
RECENT ENGLISH POETRY. William Morton the “ Poems of Nature,” and the many other
Payne .
: : . 150 special collections. Within the last year or so,
Watson's Odes and Other Poems.-Gosse's In Russet
and Silver.- Davidson's Ballads and Songs.-Stur-
the want has been supplied, after a fashion, by
gis's A Book of Song. - Herbert's Windfall and two independent collections; and the lover of
Waterdrift.-Miss Kendall's Songs from Dreamland.
poets, as well as the owner of dogs and the
-Akerman's The Cross of Sorrow.
smoker of tobacco, is now provided with his
BRIEFS ON NEW BOOKS .
153
own anthology of favorite pieces. There is
Miss Repplier's latest collection. --Side glimpses of the
still room for a better collection than has yet
Colonial Cavalier.- Conversations on literature and
other matters.-Mrs. Fields's "Shelf of Old Books." been made, but the needs of a deserving class
-One year of "The Yellow Book."- Two popular of readers have at least received recognition.
expositions of Buddhism. - Selected essays by Maz-
zini.-J. A. Symonds on blank verse. A new history
It has often been urged that the critic of any
of the English language.-Mr. James as dramatist. art should be at the same time an adept in the
BRIEFER MENTION
156 practice thereof. This view doubtless rests
NEW YORK TOPICS. Arthur Stedman
upon a misconception, being analogous to the
157
view that no one can intelligently read a for-
LITERARY NOTES
158
eign language without speaking it as well.
TOPICS IN LEADING PERIODICALS
159
In the case of the language, as is sufficiently
LIST OF NEW BOOKS
150 obvious, the process by which one acquires its
.
.
.
•
•
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.


134
[March 1,
THE DIAL
13
use for reading is essentially unlike the pro The contemporaries and immediate followers
cess by which one learns to speak it. To speak of Chaucer had at least one English poet to
psychologically, the nexus of associative tracks panegyrize; and so Gower, and Occleve, and
worn by much reading of French or Latin is Lydgate, to the best of their mean powers,
one thing, and the nexus worn by much speak- paid tribute to their master. Even to-day, do
ing of a foreign tongue quite another. To be we not feel some thrill of sympathy when we
more exact, we should perhaps say that the as read Occleve?
sociative stimulus, while going over the same “O maister dere and fader reverent,
nerve-track in any particular case, takes one
My maister Chaucer, flowre of eloquence,
Mirrour of fructuous entendement
direction in the case of reading, and the re-
O universal fader in science,
verse direction in the case of speech. Because
Allas! that thou thyne excellent prudence
the passage from word-symbol to concept is
In thy bedde mortel myghtest not bequethe
What eyled dethe, allas! why wolde he sle thee?"
easily made, it by no means follows that the pas-
sage
from concept to word-symbol will present
When we come down to the Elizabethans, we
no difficulty. A similar situation, although find the poets rioting in versified criticism of
a far more complicated one, is presented when one another. Shakespeare is a notable excep-
we compare the practice of literary composi tion to this rule, and in the one case in which
tion with its criticism. But it is nevertheless he displayed enthusiasm for a contemporary,
true that the reader of a foreign tongue is better and spoke of “the proud full sail of his great
prepared to get its full significance if his asso verse,” he forgot to tell us whom he meant.
ciations have been trained to work freely in both There is a good deal of log-rolling, and no lit-
directions; and it is likewise true that the critic tle malice, in all this personal poetry (such
of literature who has made literature himself things have been known
things have been known in later times, even in
is, ipso facto, in some respects better equipped our own), but
many
of these tributes strike a
to understand just what has been accomplished note of sincerity, and display an insight, for
by his fellow workers. Only we must not go
which we must ever cherish them.
How true,
so far as to
say that creative power brings with for example, is Drayton's familiar description of
it the critical faculty; the former may indeed Marlowe: “His raptures were all air and fire”;
add something to the effectiveness of the lat and Barnfield's of Spenser : “ Whose deep con-
ter, but the intuitional character of the one is ceit is such, as passing all conceit, needs no
still permanently differentiated from the re defense”; and Jonson's of Shakespeare: “He
flective character of the other.
was not for an age but for all time.”
That the poets are capable of writing good It is curious to note, as we work down the
prose criticism of their art, it needs no argu-
needs no argu-centuries, how the taste of each age is reflected
ment to show. We think at once of Lessing in these appreciations of poets by poets. In
and Goethe, of Voltaire and Hugo, of Shelley the seventeenth century, Milton and Dryden,
and Coleridge, and of fifty others. We are now indeed, as we might naturally expect of the
concerned to call attention to the fact that two greatest men of their age, showed an un-
some of the most acute and sympathetic criti derstanding of Shakespeare's supremacy that
cism of the poets that we have is to be found leaves nothing to be desired; but the lesser
in poetry itself. Since English literature best
men of the time clearly preferred the lesser
illustrates this fact, although other literatures Elizabethans, or the decadent artificers among
might profitably be adduced in further support their own contemporaries. The poets of our
of it, we shall be content with English ex so-called Augustan age usually referred to the
amples alone. The good work of poetical criti- great English classics in a perfunctory sort of
cism was begun by Chaucer, who labored un way, and gave them but a grudging recogni-
der the disadvantage of having no fellow-poets tion. It is very amusing to find Addison, with
of his own speech to sing about, and who was all the airs of the Superior Person, saying of
thus compelled to find subjects for his "House Chaucer that “In vain he jests in his unpol-
of Fame” and other critical ventures in the ished strain," and of Spenser, that he “In an-
great names of classical antiquity or of con cient tales amused a barbarous age,” writing
temporary Italy. From Chaucer's time to the on the other hand of “Great Cowley then, a
present, the work has gone merrily on, and the mighty genius,” and going into rhapsodies over
last of our great poets has written more good that “ harmonious bard,” the “courtly Wal
poetry about his fellow-singers than we owe to ler.” Equally amusing contrasted citations
any of his predecessors.
might be made from Pope. It was only in the


1895.]
135
THE DIAL
23
later eighteenth century, with Collins and Gray,
THE PASSING OF CHIRSTINA ROSSETTI.
that poetry acquired a saner outlook upon
itself, and began to grope back toward the old
It was little for her to die,
For her to whom breath was prayer,
truth that art is better than artifice.
For her who had long put by
The nineteenth century is so rich in the
Earth-desire;
homage of poet to fellow-poet, that an essay,
Who had knelt in the Holy Place
rather than a paragraph, would be needed to
And had drunk the incense-air,
do it justice. Wordsworth's sonnet to Milton,
Till her soul to seek God's face
Shelley's
Leapt like fire.
“ Adonaïs,” Keats's 66 Chapman's
Homer," Landor's sonnet « To Robert Brown-
It was only to slip her free
Of the vestal raiment worn
ing,” Mrs. Browning's “Wine of Cyprus,”
O'er the lengthening lily lea
Rossetti's “Dante at Verona," Arnold's “Thyr-
Toward the west,
sis,” Tennyson's “ Alcaics,” and Mr. Swin-
For a robe more lustrous white
burne's sonnets on the Elizabethan drama-
By the sunset spirits borne
tists, are a few of the countless examples that
From mansions jewel-bright
Of her rest.
will occur to every reader. And we would call
particular attention to the fine critical quality of
It was only to shift her clime,
the mass of work which these poems so imper-
Clinging still to the harp of gold,
Fairy-gift of her cradle-time,
fectly represent. Their writers have good rea-
Angel-gift,
sons for the faith that is in them; they do not
Of a strain so thrilling rare
merely eulogize, they illuminate as well. If
We shall hunger on earthly wold
And listen if down the air
this were not so, the present article would have
Echoes drift.
no excuse for existence. We do not know
It was little for her to pass
where in prose to find better criticism than
From this storm-sea, sorro
Tow-iced,
Wordsworth's of Milton :
To a summer sea of glass,
“Thou hadst a voice whose sound was like the sea;
Sea of sky,
Pure as the naked heavens, majestic, free,”
To change the dream and the spur
or Landor's of Browning :
For the truth, the goal, the Christ.
"Since Chaucer was alive and hale
Oh, but it was for her
Much to die.
No man has walk'd along our roads with step
So active, so inquiring eye, or tongue
KATHARINE LEE BATES.
So varied in discourse,"
or Arnold's of Goethe:
“He took the suffering human race,
COMMUNICATIONS.
He read each wound, each weakness clear;
And struck his finger on the place,
THE HUMANITIES AND COLLEGE EDUCATION.
And said : Thou ailest here, and here !'"
(To the Editor of THE DIAL.)
Or Mr. Swinburne's of Dante mourning over
The plea for the humanities as essential to genuine
a country recreant to its mission and dead in
culture, in the editorial article of your last issue, is
spirit:
greatly needed in these present days, when the philis-
“The steepness of strange stairs had tired his feet,
tinism of Herbert Spencer is too rapidly making its way
And his lips yet seemed sick of that salt bread
in the faculties of not a few of our Western colleges.
Wherewith the lips of banishment are fed ;
You put it too mildly, however, when you say that the
But nothing was there in the world so sweet
humanities “ may fairly demand as much attention and
As the most bitter love, like God's own grace, as large an expenditure as the sciences of nature."
Wherewith he gazed on that fair buried face."
Should they not in the curricula of our secondary schools
We hope that some one will undertake the and colleges demand more? The naturalists are not
preparation of an enchiridion of poetical crit-
modest in their claims. Accepting, as many do, whether
consciously or unconsciously, the view that man is
icism more comprehensive than has yet been
merely the product of his material environment, they
attempted, a collection of the best things that
quite logically exalt the study of that environment above
have been said in the poetry of half a dozen the study of man himself. Moreover, in so far as they
modern literatures about the best poets of the
study man it is rather as naturalists than as those who
whole world. Such a collection would be of
recognize and feel the deeper powers and significances
of human life. But physics, chemistry, physiology, or
the greatest value to the student of literary
even physiological psychology, cannot rightly and ade-
criticism, and would deserve to stand on the quately teach us of man. As Paulsen, who claims that
shelf beside the “ Poetics” of Aristotle, the in the university the sciences of nature should have
treatise of Longinus, the impassioned pleas of
equal footing with the sciences of man, yet says, “ Man
Sidney and Shelley, and the essays of Coleridge, sociology, language, literature, psychology in its true
lives in history, the brute in nature.” Hence history,
Arnold, and Pater.
sense, philosophy, and the great religious books of the


136
[March 1,
THE DIAL
world, will best teach us of man, and best develop the “where are you going," but (in reply) "going home”
finer elements of manhood. And it is to be devoutly is gwine hum. Apropos of this, could not sentence ac-
hoped that our colleges will never wholly cease to recog cent and syncope be noticed in rendering dialectic ex-
nize this. Some of them have yielded too much to the pression ? We venture to doubt whether an uneducated
really arrogant claim that the natural sciences give a negro ever used exactly the expression (cited by Pro-
culture equal if not superior to the humanistic studies. fessor Bondurant), “How is your old 'oman ?” Does not
Indeed, our educational system is at present in the midst the darkey say always “ Hówsya old ?” In respect of
of a process of experimentation. The results thus far shet of or shut of in New England, both forms are heard.
are not, it is true, satisfactory. The former means and The idiom is common ; the pronounciation of the verb
methods produced a riper and more rounded develop- depends on that of the same word when it is used in the
ment. But then what may we not expect when labor meaning "close,” for the expression shut of is employed
atories wholly take the place of libraries, and the things | by them that would not in any circumstances say shet.
of sense absorb our contemplation rather than the things In other words, the provincial idiom, as often happens,
of mind ? Certainly we may not expect any ministry survives the intrusion of the new pronunciation. In
“ to our deepest spiritual needs," nor any of the finer conclusion, may I ask Professor Wheeler what collec-
issues of thought and feeling, and the power to quicken tors are to do in the case of words like apron ? The pro-
other spirits to those issues.” Darwin, on his knees nunciations ap-run, a-prun, and a-purn (a-pern) are fre-
studying the products of a square foot of soil, with one quently heard not only in the same village but even in
whole side of his nature, as he sadly confessed, "atro the same family; one of the forms being commonly the
phied,” is the type of this sort of education. Plato, one taught by the schoolmaster (as far as I have ob-
with his face upward, and his inward eye fixed on the served the taught form in this instance is a-purn), and
more elusive but nobler realities of the soul, best rep therefore of no value. It seems to me that it might be
resents the other. And, however Thracian handmaid well for a committee of them that are interested in the
ens may laugh at the one and extol the other, yet at the matter to formulate some general rules by which col-
last “Wisdom is justified of her children.”
lectors may govern themselves; and that all collections,
Plato's contention, “ Until kings are philosophers or whether made in accordance with these rules or not,
philosophers kings, cities will never cease from ill,” may before they are sent to England should be analyzed by
with equal truth be applied to colleges and schools. a number of Americans who ought to represent differ-
Educators need most of all to be psychologists and phil- ent parts of the country, and so be able to control the
osophers. They must have a thorough and sympathetic returns.
E. W. HOPKINS.
knowledge of the human mind and its orderly develop-
Bryn Mawr College, Feb. 19, 1895.
ment. When they attain to this, they will confine to
the universities, as alone appropriate to them, that sys-
tem which places all studies on an equal footing and
“AXE” AND “SPUNKY" IN DIALECT.
allows entire freedom of choice. They will at the same
(To the Editor of THE DIAL.)
time recognize that the peculiar function of the college is your issue of the 16th inst. is an article by Alex-
not to make learned specialists, but to educate. It takes ander L. Bondurant, in which he speaks of “the negro
young men while still in their formative age, when prin dialect” as being “rich in survivals," and makes several
ciples and aims of life are being consciously determined. quotations to support the fact. There can be no doubt
Therefore the course of study which it offers, while by as to the fact stated. Two of his instances, however,
no means excluding the natural sciences, should yet be are of survivals by no means confined to negro or even
largely made up of what De Quincey calls “the litera Southern usage. Axe for ask is common in the East,
ture of power" as distinguished from the literature of and I think also throughout the North and West; it is an
knowledge.” Indeed, it would be an excellent plan to old Anglo-Saxon variant. It occurs in Lowell (« Biglow
write on the walls of every college, especially in the Papers: The Pious Editor's Creed "_“I git jest wut I
room where the faculty meets, the entire passage where axes "); and I have frequently heard it in various New
this distinction is so finely drawn out.
England States.
M. BROSS THOMAS. The other word is spunky; and that word is used where-
Lake Forest University, Feb. 18, 1895.
ever I have found any Scotch or Irish emigration — and
no part of our land is free from either. Both of these
survivals are in common use by thousands who have never
DIALECT STUDY IN AMERICA.
stood in any close connection with negroes.
(To the Editor of THE DIAL.)
HENRY M. BOWDEN.
In your last issue, Professor Benjamin Ide Wheeler
Braddock, Pa., Feb. 18, 1895.
requests such scholars as will contribute to the English
Dialect Dictionary to send their material either to the
English or to the American editor. Permit me to sug-
LAFAYETTE AND MIRABEAU, ONCE MORE.
gest that trouble and inaccuracy may be avoided if all
(To the Editor of THE DIAL.)
the material be sifted first in America. One obvious It would probably be presumptuous on my part to
reason for this is furnished by the letter (published in assume that the public are sufficiently interested in my
the same number of THE DIAL) of Professor Bondu writings to warrant my soliciting a second time some
rant, whose words certainly would imply, if they were space to show up Mr. Shorey's most peculiar critical
not really meant to convey the impression, that axe (for methods. But I venture to hope that THE DIAL will
ask), spunky, liefer, peart (in good health), clomb (pro deem it its own interest as a leading critical journal to
nounced clum), and right (for very), are peculiar to the correct erroneous impressions, for which it has been
dialect of Southern negroes, although all of them may made the vehicle by a contributor.
be heard on occasion on Yankee farms or in a Yankee Though I can well understand that Mr. Shorey "pre-
school-yard; where, too, “ going ” (when it is without fers" to shift the controversy to another ground, I must
accent) is pronounced gwine, thus: hwarya gon is enter my protest against his doing so. Whether his or


1895.]
137
THE DIAL
success.
my opinions of Mirabeau and Lafayette are correct, is tions from letters to Mercy “the real opinion of La
not the issue raised by me. Neither would THE DIAL Marck in relation to Mirabeau," with the intimation
be the proper place for such a contention, nor would that they contain his whole “real opinion," or that what
I anywhere enter upon it. My charge was distinctly he says in his letters to Mirabeau himself is not his real
that Mr. Shorey misrepresented me, partly by what he opinion ? Such an intimation in the face of what La
said and principally by what he did not say. Mr. Shorey, Mark himself has declared to be his real opinion in his
being a lawyer, must be familiar with the maxim that long “ Introduction ” to his correspondence with Mira-
suppressio veri is no less an offence than suggestio falsi. beau — taking up more than half of the first volume -
This charge he has not even attempted to refute. I now is more than “surprising.” Moreover, these quotations
reiterate it, adding that he has aggravated the offence do not contain anything as to Mirabeau's “venality" or
as to myself and extended it to von Sybel and La Marck. even his morality in general, and Mr. Shorey started to
He says my “charge relating to the conduct of Lafay make up a case against me as to these. Now, as to the
ette on the 5th and 6th of October, 1789, is supported “venality,” why does he not take any notice of Lafay-
on the authority of the light and frivolous Camille Des ette's opinion quoted by me (II., 179) that, though he
moulins "-intimating thereby that it is supported only “was not inaccessible to money," " for no amount would
on this authority. He keeps his readers in ignorance he have sustained an opinion that would have destroyed
of the fact that I charge the General chiefly with “sins liberty and dishonored his mind”? As to the morality
of omission ” (II., 58), as to which no particular au in general — was there any necessity whatever of mak-
thority is needed; it is based upon the notorious facts, ing up a case against me? Apparently the greatest, for
which have never been denied by anyone. He is pleased Mr. Shorey says: "The author could not well avoid (!)
to ignore that I support my view besides by the report stating damaging facts in relation to the character of
of the commission of the municipal council, a general Mirabeau. The question at issue is (!), whether the
reference to “the account of La Marck, who speaks vices and venalities of Mirabeau explain his failure to
as an eye-and-ear witness ” (II., 63), and a “statement win that confidence of colleagues which is necessary to
of Lafayette himself” (II., 59). The latter is of espe a public man.” I leave it to every fair-minded person
cial import as an item of the circumstantial evidence, to judge whether that is or is not grossly misrepresent-
for, as I expressly state, “ though it cannot be directly ing — by suppressio veri — an author, who writes: “But
proved that Lafayette rather liked to be led to Ver there is a third element indispensable in the make-up of
sailles, circumstantial evidence renders it likely" (II., a genuine statesman's character. The motives and the
61). By quoting one sentence of von Sybel, depicting ends must be essentially moral. Was Mirabeau pos-
in general terms Lafayette's character, Mr. Shorey pro sessed of this requisite ? Could (!) it be presumed that
duces the impression that the eminent German historian he possessed it ? It was this question that rendered his
is arrayed against me, while he must know, if he has past an almost insurmountable barrier between him and
read von Sybel, that this authority is altogether on my
Confidence he needed above all, and just this
side. Not only is von Sy bel's general estimate of La he found nowhere. It was bitter and cruel, but terribly
fayette practically identical with mine, but also as to true (!) what the father had written: «He gathers in
the 5th and 6th of October in particular does he make what those reap who have failed as to the basis, the
exactly the same charge, with this difference only, that morals. . . . He will never obtain confidence, even if
he substantiates it more than I could do and that he he tried to deserve it.' And it was by no means only
formulates it more pointedly (I., 95-105, 4th ed.). the immorality of his youth that caused all to distrust
That I, too, know of noble traits in Lafayette's char him . . . Immorality was so deeply ingrained into his
acter, the reader of Mr. Shorey's articles is not likely whole being, that it would crop out at the slightest pro-
to suspect. He will be surely not a little astonished to vocation or temptation ... he was ever lamentably
learn that I have written: “ Not only his physical cour ready to make it (the maxim that the petty morality
age and his own belief in the intensity and perfect hon kills the great morality ') a cloak for his inexcusable (!)
esty of his lofty sentiments and aspirations are above moral trippings. . . . The moral pollution was certainly
suspicion; as to the negative side also his moral cour not only skin-deep. The whole blood was vitiated.”
age must be acknowledged to have been of a high or (II., 236-238.)
der” (II., 142). On the other hand, who can suspect, As I am precluded from assuming either that Mr.
from what Mr. Shorey has told him, that his glowing Shorey reckoned upon my not being able once more to
picture of the General is confronted in my lectures by gain access to the readers of The Dial, or that he in-
Jefferson's charge that he had “a canine appetite for tentionally wrongs me, I can find only one explanation
popularity” (II., 140)—by the disparaging declarations for his proceeding: as to von Sybel, La Marck, and my-
of La Marck (II., 137, 143, 144), of whom he quotes self, he has excused himself from reading our books as
in his first article only an appreciative opinion -- of a books and contented himself with reading sentences.
considerable number of damaging self-confessions of the He concludes his second paragraph with the exclama-
General (II., 126, 127, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139)? To tion, “ Poor Camille !” evidently expecting the reader
an unbiased mind these things will be of greater weight to substitute for “ Camille" von Holst. With all defer-
than the array of historical writers, by which Mr. Shorey ence I submit that my humble name would not be the
thinks he can crush me. To the unprofessional reader correct substitute. Whether a greater one could claim
the list will, however, be imposing enough. Upon the the honor with more propriety, is for the reader to de-
historian it will — with the exception of Taine — make cide. I herewith abandon the field to Mr. Shorey for
very little impression. The historian, though he will
good. Our way of reading historical books and our
acknowledge Michelet, Martin, and Thiers to be names
methods of investigating historical questions are so dif-
of weight, knows why they are not conclusive authori-
ferent that, in my opinion, our crossing swords can no
ties as to Lafayette, apart from the fact that their books
longer be of any benefit to either ourselves or the public.
were written a good many years ago.
H. von Holst.
What right has Mr. Shorey to declare his two quota hicago, Fel iry 13, 1895.


138
[March 1,
THE DIAL
music, found nothing in Poe's verse but nursery
The New Books.
jingles. Lowell, while allowing “ three-fifths
of him” to be “ genius,” precipitated a sharp
THE RENASCENCE OF POE.*
rejoinder from his former friend by pronounc-
The appearance of a handsome illustrated ing the remainder fraction “sheer fudge.”
edition of Poe's complete works, carefully ed-
Nowadays, Professor Barrett Wendell, although
ited, opening with a memoir by Professor G. E.
naming Poe as one of the three distinctive
American writers, condemns his work as “ fan-
Wood berry and a special introduction to the
tastic and meretricious throughout.” He is ap-
tales by Mr. E. C. Stedman, is an event of
considerable importance in the history of Poe's
proached by Mr. Greenough White, with allit-
fame among his countrymen. For Poe has had
erative compassion, as “poor Poe,” “pessim-
istic Poe," -- and “The Fall of the House of
the singular fortune to be praised with distinc-
tion in some quarters abroad, while receiving
Usher” is preposterously discovered to be an
generally but a qualified welcome at home.
allegory, shadowing autobiographically “ the
Baudelaire hastened to translate the author's
burial of conscience, and the ruin resulting
therefrom."
complete works, with appreciative commentary,
--an act typical of the popular approbation be-
The present edition of Poe, with its commen-
stowed
taries, makes some amends for past ill-treat-
Poe in France to-day. Some of
upon
the tales have been rendered into Spanish and
ment. Mr. Stedman had already shown in his
some into German. Ulissi Ortensi, finding the
· Poets of America” that he could appreciate
Poe's verse with discrimination, and without
example of Baudelaire more potent than his
warning precept, dared to turn all of the poems
patronage or pity. His estimate of the tales is
into musical Italian prose. Among English-
judicious, weighing defects candidly, and mean-
men, James Hannay of the preceding genera-
ing to make full recognition of Poe's intellec-
tion, and Professor Ernest Rhys of the present,
tual genius. Occasionally a word seemed mis-
applied, as when the sumptuous but incongruous
have been intimate and favorable critics. In-
gram’s life of Poe, though discriminating, is furnishings of “The Assignation” are said to
be“ lauded” by the author and thus to evince
friendly and full. In illustration of Poe's
his untutored taste. It seems gratuitous, too,
proposition that it takes a poet to catch a poet,
to call - William Wilson” a “confession," and
Robert Browning presented to Mrs. Benzon a
then
urge
that the author was not really so
copy of the poems, — dedicated, as were all the
hardened in conscience as in this fiction he pre-
English editions, to Miss Barrett, —and wrote
tended to be. But the introduction to the tales,
on the fly-leaf that the book was given “partly
on account of the poetry, partly on that of the showing as it does a scholarly attempt to trace
Poe's conceptions to sources in contemporary
dedication.” Mr. Edmund Gosse, after criti-
cal discussion of the more prominent makers
continental writers, must be accounted the work
of verse in this country, decided that, if Amer-
of an experienced and just-minded critic. The
casual descriptive phrase, “a misfitted Amer-
ica has produced a great poet, Poe has the best
claim to that sacred title. And Mr. Andrew
ican,” aptly expresses the sense of strangeness
with which Poe has so long been regarded in
Lang, in his “Letters to Dead Authors," ad-
dresses the shade of Poe as that of the great: Woodberry, is excellent in its restraint. The
the United States. The memoir, by Professor
est poet, perhaps the greatest literary genius,” story of the poet's life is told without com-
of his country.
ment, and the facts are left to make their own
On the contrary, excluding the list of the
poet's personal friends, where, hitherto, could impression. How many authors, one asks, have
we look among his own countrymen for an es-
to endure the printing of such intimate and un-
timate of his genius in which stinted praise 52, 53), describing Poe's arrival in New York,
braced correspondence as that here given (pp.
should not be outweighed by abundant blame?
His biographers, from the notorious perversion
almost penniless, with his consumptive wife,
of Griswold to the accurate documentary life
In this case the
and his search for lodgings ?
by Professor Wood berry, have seldom been partial friend, who considerately edits his sub-
sympathetic.
Emerson's ear,
ject's correspondence, is absent. Every squalid
insensible to
and trivial detail is laid bare.
*THE WORKS OF EDGAR ALLAN POE. Newly collected and The new edition is beautiful in paper and
edited, with memoir, introductions, and notes, by Edmund
Clarence Stedman and George Edward Woodberry. In ten
typography, and the illustrations by Mr. Sterner
volumes, illustrated. Chicago : Stone & Kimball.
are a distinct addition. Of course in all illus-


1895.]
139
THE DIAL
trations the artist's conception is to be expected explain this as the trick of a passionless man !
- not the writer's; for no draughtsman ever How can one receive the mournful cadences
yet succeeded in exactly apprehending the wri- of “ Ulalume,”—that dirge to a dead wife out
ter's idea, except the illustrator of " Trilby." of a mood rejecting the possibility of a newer
But Mr. Sterner shows great sympathy with love, — and deny the poet's volcanic passion ?
the weirdness and beauty that give tone to the Even Mr. Woodberry, in his memoir, bears
tales. The three volumes already published testimony to Poe's “ardent temperament,” calls
include an unfamiliar sketch, " The Elk,” their him “impetuous, self - willed, defiant," and
contents being subdivided ingeniously into ro quotes Mrs. Whitman concerning “his turbu-
mances of death, old-world romance, tales of lent and passionate youth.” In the words of
conscience, of natural beauty, of pseudo-science, his youthful
do-science, his youthful poem, “ Romance ":
of ratiocination, and of illusion. But perhaps
“And when an hour with calmer wings
the whole of Poe's work - besides a dozen hu-
Its dawn upon my spirit flings —
That little time with lyre and rhyme
morous and satirical sketches, in which the
To while away
- forbidden things!
laughter is not genial but cool and sardonic-
My heart would feel to be a crime
may be said to fall into three groups: the im-
Unless it trembled with the strings."
aginative, the ratiocinative, and the critical, In his tales, Poe's imagination found wider
the first division including his verse and most expression than in his poems. True, the com-
of his tales. In his poetry Poe strove for novel pass of his imaginative writing was restricted
stanzaic and melodic effects, in the conviction in the main to sombre and ghastly themes. Sev-
that the resources of English versification in eral causes were at work. Some account must
this direction were not indicated by the few be made of his pitiful struggles for subsistence
traditional forms. Believing also that the mu in that America where, fifty years before the
sical element in verse is of great importance, successful Mr. Howells gestured young men
he sought for sweet sounds, and used fully the away from literature as a means of livelihood,
devices of alliteration and the refrain. The the pen was indeed a feeble staff to lean one's
melodious quality of his poetry is generally whole weight upon.
whole weight upon. Poe knew “ America,
acknowledged, although difference of opinion where, more than in any other region upon
the
exists concerning the relative value of sound face of the globe, to be poor is to be despised ”
in poetry. Those who delight in music for its (memoir, p. 57). An idealist, chained to hack-
own sake, however, will be slow to condemn his work for his daily bread, must in some way
verse as too exclusively addressed to the ear. manifest the intrusion of penury into his
A more striking divergence of view is revealed dreams. The drink habit is the popular ex-
on asking whether the poems are the outcome planation of his wild creations, and it is not
of personal feeling. Professor Woodberry, uncommon to adduce a finished tale, involving
making Poe mainly a skilful artist, denies, in arduous artistic application, as the result of a
the “ Life,” that he ever experienced passion. night's debauch. But the principal cause of
So Mr. Stoddard: “There is a simulation of his “unearthliness” lay in the temperament
emotion in it (the poetry), but the emotion which Poe had inherited from his forefathers.
is as imaginary as the method by which it is For good or bad, he was endowed with a mind
sought to be conveyed is artificial.” But Mr. that hovered by affinity over the grave, and
Stedman, one is glad to note, takes the oppo dared to guess what might be immediately be-
site view. The anecdote is well-known of Poe's yond the phenomenon men call death. As re-
quivering gratitude for unwonted kindness re lated in “Silence - A Fable,” he could not
ceived at the hands of Mrs. Stanard, who in- laugh with the Demon in the shadow of the
spired the exquisite lyric. " To Helen,” and tomb. But, restricted in scope as are the tales,
over whose grave the unforgetting boy used to their spell is undeniable. The writer has per-
brood by night. Many of Poe's published let- sonal acquaintance with at least one boy who
ters are written at so white a heat that the again and again found himself caught away by
cold comma and period utterly fail to indicate these marvellous romances to a land of enchant-
the broken thought. He addressed his " Eu- ment, from which the descent to earth was ab-
reka” “ to those who feel rather than to those rupt and dull. The boyish admiration has en-
who think,” and this without the capacity him- dured, now mingled with sober valuation of the
self to feel! He declared in the preface to his consummate art that produces such results.
poems that poetry had been with him “not a pur The reader was not, so far as he is aware, at all
pose, but a passion,” and some would doubtless | morally unstrung, or even haunted with gob-


140
[March 1,
THE DIAL
lin visions, by reason of what has been termed bined imaginative and ratiocinative power is
Poe's morbid fiction. And, while not discover the so-called prose poem “ Eureka.” Not in
ing a self-drawn portrait of the author in every effect, say astronomers, what it purports to be
murderer and maniac that crosses the page,
he an explanation of the material universe.
does find that most important ingredient of “ Nonsense!” ejaculates the scientist, as he
sustained literary renown—the distilled essence turns from the prefatory note: “I offer this
of life.
book of Truths, not in its character of Truth-
It has been truly said that Poe's tales dis- Teller, but for the Beauty that abounds in its
play the conceptions of an idealist, conveyed Truth; constituting it true.” Yet the work
through the method of a realist. Nothing could remains the expression of a gigantic effort to
be in greater contrast with the commonplace go behind the most general laws of science, to
narratives of the modern school than the gor account for the attraction of gravitation, to en-
geous finishings, the impossible incidents, the ter into the thought of God at the moment of
unparalleled characters of Poe's dreamy ro creation, to reduce to a single impulse of the
mances. Yet the calculating accumulation of Divine Will the multitudinous phenomena of
detail, each particular being easily credible be created things. The author requests that his
cause so exactly stated, leads the reader step work be judged after his death, as a poem only;
by step to cross the boundary of the actual, and but nobody seems willing to oblige him. From
to tabernacle for a time in a land of shadows. the purely intellectual point of view, it will be
It is only at the close, awakening from his illu- granted that this attempt to furnish a founda-
sion, that he can perceive the constructive art tion for Kepler and Laplace is at least ingen-
which admits no useless circumstance, fully pre ious and bold. If judged as a
If judged as a “prose poem,"
pares for the conclusion, yet conceals the dénoue it takes rank among the striking products of
ment until it flashes out like a lightning-stroke. the creative imagination.
Few men of imagination are gifted in com To Poe as critic, a few contemptuous words
mensurate degree with the power of analytical have commonly been thrown. He is said to
reasoning. Poe exemplified his dictum that to have been unguided by principles, prejudiced,
reason well one must share the nature of both ferocious. It will be acknowledged that, with
poet and mathematician. His ratiocinative a fine native appreciation for good writing, he
power is shown in the five tales grouped in the lacked the judicial temperament. He was liable
present edition. It has been objected, and by to be swayed by his personal likes and dislikes.
Poe himself, that little credit is due for unrav According to the editor of the once popular
elling a web of one's own tangling; but the “ Graham's Magazine,”—“No man with more,
point at issue is whether the fictitious situation readiness would soften a harsh expression at
is illustrative of actual affairs. “The Purloined the request of a friend." But that Poe had re-
Letter,” for example, is a case under the ob- flected upon the principles of composition, his
served law that the most obvious fact is fre several well-known essays on the subject abund-
quently the fact perceived with the greatest antly prove. His definition of poetry as the
difficulty. It will be remembered, too, that Poe rhythmical creation of beauty, having its effect
proved his faculty of analysis when the answer to in elevating excitement of the soul, stands side
the problem was not predetermined by himself by side with a score of other similar though
in solving numerous difficult ciphers, in fathom- partial statements, which must serve us while
ing the mystery surrounding the murder of we await the perfect definition. Poe tested
Mary Rogers, in guessing from the first chap- poetry by reading it aloud. He ascribed the
ters the development of “ Barnaby Rudge.” varied musical effects of verse to the principle
Moreover, Poe possessed not merely analytical of equality. He opposed allegory and humor
insight, but the ability to express in clear lan- in poetry, thought the Greek drama manifestly
guage the steps of his mental process. Doubt the outgrowth of a cruder age, and the older
less other spectators guessed the secret of Mæl- English poetry over-praised because of its an-
zel's mechanical chess-player, but nobody else tiquity. He corrected Coleridge's distinction
gave so logical and convincing an account of between fancy and imagination, showing that
his reasoning One is almost ready, before neither faculty truly creates. Among the qual-
the clearness of his philosophical exposition, to ities that he was accustomed to praise, in crit-
say with him that no thought is beyond the ical consideration of poetry, were truth or nat-
reach of expression in language.
uralness, imagination, rhythmic effect, melody,
The most remarkable outcome of his com force, grace, abandon, and what he called keep-


1895.]
141
THE DIAL
as to
ing, or propriety of treatment. In fiction, as in a
ance in manner or matter; and even when the
verse, originality was the quality placed high- similarity cannot be said to amount to plagiar-
est, then constructive ability, imagination, and ism, it is still injurious to the poet in the good
“the minor merits of style,” meaning rhetor- opinion of him who reads.” If we turn to the
ical and grammatical accuracy.
delicate and sympathetic estimate of Mr. Sted-
In the application of his criticism, Poe man, we shall find him saying, before claiming
praised Bulwer, Dickens, Scott, Moore, Cole for Longfellow the credit of a distinctive tone,
ridge, Tennyson. He placed Longfellow at the or manner of treatment: “Reviewing our sum-
head of American poets, and Bryant second in mary of his work, I observe that each of his
rank. Hawthorne was warmly welcomed, long best known efforts has led to the mention of
before the populace had discovered his merits. prose or verse by some other hand which it re-
Lowell, before his witty characterization of Poe sembles. In view of the possible inference, we
in the “Fable for Critics," was defended against may now ask, Was Longfellow, then, with his
an attack of Blackwood as “ one of the noblest great reputation and indisputable hold upon
of our poets." Bayard Taylor, Margaret Ful our affections, not an original poet? It must
ler, and Mrs. Osgood are hailed as accessions be acknowledged at the outset that few poets
to letters. But Emerson, Carlyle, and the tran of his standing have profited more openly by
scendentalists generally, were beyond the ro- examples that suited their tastes and purposes.
mancer's sympathetic reach. In reading the
In reading the The evidence of this is seen not merely in three
long list of good, bad, and indifferent authors or four, but in a great number, of his produc-
treated, one's chief wonder is not that the critic tions." To quote once more from Mr. Gosse:
was ferocious, as he occasionally was, but that “ Originality and greatness are precisely the
he found so much to commend in what time qualities Longfellow lacks.” It
It appears from
has adjudged a wilderness of mediocrity. To this collation of passages that the three critics,
the women poets of America, in particular, he differing as they do in emphasis, have in mind
was uniformly kind, not blind. He was so far one and the same fact.
influenced by the “ Edinburgh Review
What are the grounds on which this unique
hold that the merits of a literary work might writer, now enjoying a renascence of his fame,
be left to speak for themselves, but that the may rest a claim to genius? We recognize
cause of good writing would be best sustained with him that “perseverence is one thing,
by a rigorous exposure of defects, with little genius quite another.” But to define genius is
regard to the feelings of the author. No fair a desperate task. Still, among its trusty marks
minded man, reading the whole of Poe's criti may be named intensity, a junction at some
cism, can doubt that he had at heart the dig- point with the infinite, and permanence of
nity and permanence of American letters. His power. These three qualities are revealed in
defects were defects of temperament.
the work of Poe. Into his best writing he
The most prominent attack made by Poe as poured the whole of his life, containing springs
critic was upon Longfellow, whom he indi of feebleness as well as of might, which rose
rectly accused of plagiarism. With his wor from sources beyond his contriving. Such as
ship of originality, he had a mania for expos it was, his inmost and hottest soul was concen-
ing what he deemed imitation, and it must be trated upon the work of his hand. His thought
allowed that, although his parallels are not joined too with the infinite and the immortal.
always convincing, he rarely makes a charge Although pausing long at the brink of the
without adducing his evidence. In the case grave, and noting too carefully the repulsive
of Longfellow, the discussion was lengthened details of worm and shroud, it welcomed the
through a well-meant defence by one of the life that is in death — the restful escape from
friends of the gentle Cambridge poet. Poe " the fever called Living.'
The present
really admired Longfellow's genius, praised his publication is testimony that Poe's hold upon
artistic skill and ideality, and ranked him, as men is unweakened. Wrapped within those
has been said, at the head of American poets. imaginative legends lies the touch that still
In his article on the drama, Poe says: moves, if but to shudder. Here is a man whose
“ Throughout · The Spanish Student,' as well swelling ambition strove to do infinite things
as throughout the other compositions of its au upon a finite stage. Let us accept him as a
thor, there runs a very obvious vein of imita- child of genius, and enshrine him forever as an
tion. We are perpetually reminded of some eminent figure in the literature of our nation.
thing we have seen before—some old acquaint-
D. L. MAULSBY.
6


142
[March 1,
THE DIAL
der the German may be he is wonderfully
ART IN PRIMITIVE GREECE.*
thorough and accurate; and that the easy style
The two volumes on the Art of Primitive of the Frenchman argues a superficial view
Greece are the beginning of the end of what of questionable facts. However well-founded
must be considered the most complete and that idea may be as regards theology and phil-
thorough history of ancient art ever written. osophy, it is not well-founded as regards science,
Many years ago Georges Perrot (aided by letters, archæology, and art. In taste, judg.
Charles Chipiez) began the monumental task ment, accuracy, and perspicacity, the French-
of gathering up and sifting all the material of man is to be trusted; and these books by
ancient art and putting it together in sequen-Georges Perrot are warrant for saying so. They
tial and chronological form. It was in 1882 are the most modern, but not the first, instance
that the first volumes, treating of Egyptian art, of French scholarship. We shall wait a long
appeared ; and since then we have followed M. time before any German or Italian or English-
Perrot, trusting to his knowledge, sagacity, man equals them.
and judgment, through the arts of the Chal Nevertheless, the reading of these last vol-
dæans, Assyrians, Persians, and all the coast umes on Mycenian art causes a shade of dis-
people of Asia Minor. At last he has brought appointment. When a writer would do some-
us to Greece — his objective point from the thing “ very fine,” he is likely to overshoot the
start. For he told us in his first book that mark; and M. Perrot evidently intended his
“ beyond the obelisks and pyramids of Egypt, treatment of Greek art to be convincing to the
beyond the towers of Chaldæa and the domes last degree. He begins and ends with a theory,
of Nineveh, the lofty colonnades of Persepolis, and one wonders at times whether he is not
the fortresses and rock-cut tombs of Phrygia straining facts to make them square with the
and Lycia, beyond the huge ramparts of the theory. In brief, notwithstanding great cau-
cities of Syria, we shall never cease to perceive tion and a putting of all the pros and cons, M.
on the horizon the sacred rock of the Athenian Perrot believes with Schliemann in Troy and
Acropolis.” Greece, to M. Perrot, furnished Mycenæ, in the ancestors of the Greeks start-
the climax of all ancient art; but it must not ing there 2000 years B.C., in the growth of
be inferred that the preceding volumes on Greek art from this Mycenian art; he believes
Egyptian and Oriental art are merely introduc- in the time-honored and somewhat fallacious
tory to this climax. On the contrary, each theory of evolution. It cannot be said that his
volume is in itself a complete statement of its theory is impossible or even improbable. In-
subject — an exhaustive array of all the facts deed, it is made quite plausible; and yet one
and a careful considering of all the theories. may question whether it is the archæologist’s or
The series begins with the beginning in historian's business to theorize to such an extent.
Egypt, and is designed to end with the Roman Groping in the dark of the past, perhaps the
art of Marcus Aurelius. The complete work
best that one could do would be to emphasize
is to cover fifteen or sixteen volumes. Twelve the facts so that they may be used as guide-
of them are now published, and, judging from posts hereafter. These hypotheses may be only
these, the statement that they form the best card-houses to be knocked over. The mound
history of ancient art ever written is not a rash upon which Troy is supposed to have rested
No historian of art has ever covered so contains three strata, each one reflective of a
much ground in so scholarly a manner as Georges different stage of civilization. From that we
Perrot. Winckelmann, Schnaase, Woltmann have the theory that the stone-age man of the
and Woermann, Reber, never had adequate first stratum was the lineal ancestor of the
knowledge to start with, never had breadth of bronze-age Trojan of the third stratum. Let
view to carry with, never had æsthetic taste to us see how it might have been. The city of
judge with. M. Perrot possesses all of these St. Louis is destroyed by earthquake, buried,
qualities, and — what must be somewhat hu- forgotten. Two thousand years hence it is dug
miliating to those who hug the idea that only up by archæologists. They find three strata,
Germany can produce historians – he is a
he is a showing remains of three different peoples.
Frenchman. It seems to be thought in some They first dig out the remains of a thirteen-
quarters that however clumsy and dull a plod-story building, then a log hut, and under all
they find mound-builders' pottery. Ergo, the
* HISTORY OF ART IN PRIMITIVE GREECE: MYCENIAN
Art. From the French of Georges Perrot and Charles Chip-
present people of St. Louis must have evolved
ez. In two volunues. New York: A. C. Armstrong & Son. from their ancestors the Mound Builders !
one.


1895.]
143
THE DIAL
M. Perrot, of course, draws no such absurd | East. At the same time he thinks that “ until
conclusion ; but one feels at times as though proof is shown to the contrary, we are bound
he had not given enough weight to the possi- to recognize in the folk who fashioned them
bilities of invading and conquering hosts, and [stone implements found in Greece] the direct
of the Greek people being formed not from ancestors of the Greeks of history.' In other
any one race but from many races mingled. words, Greece had its stone age, and stumbled
The Ægean swarmed with all sorts of adven- up through ages of bronze and iron to Periclean
turers in Mycenian days. Tribes came and splendor, notwithstanding the forefathers of the
went; settlements were made, conquered, and race came from the East. Perhaps so; but it
re-made ; and who were the ancestors of the
is not yet proven.
Greeks, we do not yet know. There is no cor Once out of the land of speculation and evo-
roborative evidence that the buildings, orna lution, and describing art-remains before him,
ments, vases, and other remains that have been M. Perrot becomes an archæologist again ; and
found at Troy and elsewhere, are Greek, except his accounts of Troy, Tiryns, and Mycenæ are
in some passages from the epic of Homer as intelligent and painstaking as possible. He
record itself to be proven. There is not a line thinks the evidence is for Hissarlik being the
or scratch of writing, on clay or wall or stone, ancient site of Troy; and that the tombs at
to indicate a Greek people. The only evidence Mycenæ are those described by Pausanias. The
lies in the remains themselves. It is true, these domed tombs of Attica and at Orchomenos,
differ from all relics we now know of as being the wall construction of the Athenian Acrop-
found on the shores of the eastern Mediterra-olis, the remains found on the Greek islands,
nean ; yet they have an affinity with oriental are all brought in to prove the prevalence of
art that suggests the possibility of their pro- primitive modes of construction during the My-
duction by a now-forgotten race that was not cenian civilization. The chapters on the gen-
Greek at all. Again, the Mycenian pottery eral characteristics of Mycenian architecture,
might have been only a commercial ware materials, gates, columns, mouldings, are ex-
hawked about the Mediterranean by traders. cellent; and here M. Perrot's collaborator, M.
It is found elsewhere than at Troy and My-Charles Chipiez, comes in with restorations of
cenæ ; and when the diggings in Phænicia equal the tombs and walls most ingeniously wrought
those at Mycenæ, it may be found in as large out and undoubtedly correct.
quantities. As for Schliemann and his discov In the second volume, M. Perrot decides
eries, he rendered great service to archæology against Schliemann's Homeric theory of tem-
by his excavations, but his theory was formed ples and incineration as not proven; he does
before he began to dig. He started out to find not give the origin of the architectural forms,
Troy and Agamemnon's tomb, and—he found thinks the Doric column did not come from
them. Had he been seeking Aladdin's lamp Egypt but was evolved from the wooden struc-
he would have found it in the first junk-shop ture of the last Mycenian civilization, deals sen-
of the Mouski.
sibly with what is left of the sculpture, paint-
But M. Perrot is not dogmatic in his theory. ing, and industrial arts including pottery, and
These volumes are really an elaborate and ends with a chapter on the characteristics of the
learned discussion of the question ; and if, Mycenian period. Here at the last he returns
finally, the leaning is toward Schliemann's con to his theory, and finds a date for the heyday
clusions, it is not an arbitrary bias. If the value of Mycenian existence at 1500 B.c. The only
of the theory can be questioned, the manner in outside evidence that supports the date comes
which it is put forth cannot. The critical and from Egypt—a questionable record of Egypt-
historical spirit pervades the discussion, and ian commerce with the Greeks in that early pe-
the truth is sought for. Aside from this the-
Aside from this the- riod. The finding of Egyptian scarabs, sherds,
ory, there is little to question or find fault with pastes, and glasses, on the Greek islands and
in the work. The opening chapter, on the the mainland, does not confirm the record, since
country, is a close study of geography, soil, cli- they probably came from Phænicia.
mate, and all that, by a man who knows his The translation of this work cannot be
Greece almost as well as he does his Paris. praised. Mr. I. Gonino, who has succeeded
Greek genius is not accounted for except by Mr. Walter Armstrong as translator of the
saying that it cannot be accounted for, and M. series, has used the pruning knife " to slightly
Perrot accepts the Aryan theory of the Greeks abridge the text in those portions that are some-
populating Greece by land and by sea from the what tumid with padding,” and judging from


144
[March 1,
THE DIAL
his own" tumidity" he has not done it well. marital infelicities, about sixty to his military
Moreover, though Mr. Gonino may understand career, and sixty to miscellaneous details largely
French he does not know how to write flexible incidental or anecdotal. Of the last chapter,
English. Such sentences as these are not in- covering the most important period of the king's
frequent : “ Nobody knows and never will career, two and one-half pages only are given
know," “ Colored stones which pleasure the to the governmental reforms for which it is fa-
eye,” “ We should doubtless have been justi- mous, while ten pages go
mous, while ten pages go to amours and details
fied to infer," “ So scanty a piece of informa of Henry's second marriage, three to personal
tion, however, cannot dispense us from devot anecdotes, one to Sully, five to his “grand de-
ing a special study,” etc. Then the pedantry sign," and three and one-half to the close of the
of “Hadriatic” and “ Achylles," the angular- king's life.
ity of “gracility” for slenderness, and the stu This lack of proportion is a serious defect,
pidity of “ When the excavator tumbled about from whatever point of view one regards Mr.
Grecian soil,” etc., which might give one to Blair's work. Yet there is enough that is mer-
understand that the excavator “ tumbled ” in itorious in it to make one wish that he had
stead of the soil. But the book is welcome, saved for a second and revised edition the typo-
and will live in spite of Mr. Gonino's English. graphical luxury and wealth of illustration with
JOHN C. VAN DYKE.
which the publishers have equipped it. The
style is straightforward, and in the main cor-
rect, barring an occasional lapse such as “ he
was said to have translated ” (p. 17), “thrown
HENRY OF NAVARRE.*
in the river” (p. 145), “ each [Mayenne and
Lorraine] claimed this honor for their sons
On one side, biography touches the novel ;
(p. 241), " to see if he could not arrange mat-
on the other, history. The interest may attach
ters” (p. 261), “I had to act marshal as re-
chiefly to the individuality of the subject and
garded the retreat ” (p. 265). A few foreign
the romance of his personal development: this
barbarisms, as “ reiter” for cavalry, “lanz-
allies the book with fiction. But if the subject knechts” for lansquenets or infantry, “ rusé,"
of the biography took strong hold of the life
“ croqued,” “gabelle," would have been better
of his time, left his mark upon social and gov omitted ; and with them "showed their hand"
ernmental institutions, the account of his career
and “squabbled.”
is naturally an intimate part of the history of
Of course, like all who depend upon a few
his age and country. Henry IV. of France de-
standard sources, Mr. Blair often closely ap-
serves the latter method of treatment. His life proaches the language of one of these without
furnishes material for more than enough cham- using quotation - marks. In some instances
bering romances, it is true ; but the last twelve
where Guizot has neglected to quote his source,
years of his life, filled with intense and benefi-
Mr. Blair has doubtless used the same author-
cent activity, are more valuable to the student ity, so that the arrangement of his matter
than all the rest, and belong to history in the
and even the language itself resemble Guizot.
best sense.
For instance, Blair, p. 25: “Montmorency paid
The biographer of Henry of Navarre must
the greatest attention to the discipline of his
depend largely on the Memoirs of Sully, and troops.” Guizot, IV., 335 : “ The same man
it is to be regretted that Mr. Blair should not
paid the greatest attention to the discipline and
have used more freely the latter part of that good condition of his troops.” Blair, p. 28 :
interesting record. Of his 300 pages, 204 are “The Bishop of Arras who was present offered
consumed before Henry becomes King of
to assist him. "Gently, my lord of Arras,'
France, 63 pages are devoted to the following said the Emperor, .. Then he turned to
nine
years, and but 32 pages to the last twelve Coligny, ': . .' He inquired after Henry II.'s
years of his life. A more detailed analysis
health, and spoke of belonging to the house of
shows 130 pages given to events and persons France through his grandmother Mary of Bur-
not essential to the understanding of Henry's gundy.”
gundy.” Guizot, IV., 250 : “ The Bishop of
career as here outlined ; and of the remainder,
Arras drew near to render him that service.
nine pages to Béarn and Henry's parentage • Gently, my lord of Arras,' said the Emperor
and birth, twenty-one pages to his amours and
[quotation identical].— And then turning
HENRY OF NAVARRE AND THE RELIGIOUS WARS. By
to Coligny he said [quotation identical].—He
Edward T. Blair. Philadelphia : J. B. Lippincott Co. inquired with an air of interest after Henry II.'s


1895.]
145
THE DIAL
66 It was
health, and boasted of belonging himself also tions constitute larger factors of the whole, and
to the house of France through his grandmother the tendency to piquancy is more pardonable.
Mary of Burgundy." Blair, p. 29:
Yet here, too, there are serious defects. Often
not long before the truce was broken, although much is taken for granted. A personage ap-
it cost Coligny, who was a man of scrupulous pears in action or reference, only to be formally
honor, a struggle to do it.” Guizot, IV., 250: introduced some pages later, or not at all. Per-
“ And it was not long before this prognostica- sonages of the same name are not distinguished
tion was verified. . . . It cost Coligny, who with enough care, and the same person is some-
was a man of scrupulous honor, a great strug- times referred to by different names without
gle to lightly break a truce he had just signed.' being identified. Thus Maximilien de Béthune,
Other instances are, Blair, pp. 25-6: Guizot, baron de Rosny, duc de Sully, first appears un-
IV., 236 ; Blair, 27 : Guizot IV., 245 ; Blair, announced on page 127 : “When Sully went
29: Guizot, IV., 253; Blair, 31: Guizot, IV., to Henry III. to conclude an alliance between
260; Blair, 32: Guizot, IV., 261 ; Blair, 97: him and the King of Navarre ”; while the next
Guizot, IV., 392 ; Blair, 103: Guizot, IV., reference to him is on page 143: “Even grave
368 and 369. Perhaps the free use of sources, puritans like Rosny, afterwards Duke of Sully.”
even in the absence of quotation-marks, should This is not calculated to enlighten us, but the
be understood as a matter of course in such contrary; for as he was only afterwards Duke
works as this.
of Sully,” how could the Sully of the previous
An author has a right to be judged from his reference be the same? Throughout, the great
own point of view. Mr. Blair tells us that he minister is called, now Rosny, now Sully, now
was moved to undertake the biography of Henry Rosny afterwards Duke of Sully.” So also
of Navarre by a two-years residence in Béarn, with the Duke of Anjou, who is three different
together with the consideration that there was
personages in the pages of the book, and, even
so little accessible in English on the subject, when Henry III. is meant, is not identified,
and that he has been guided only by the desire especially on page 122, where he is referred to
to treat impartially what has been much dis as King of Poland, and in the next breath as
torted by partisans. However, there is consid- Anjou, without any hint of how Anjou came
erable accessible in English-
as Sully's Mem to be king of Poland. Similar is the allusion
oirs, Guizot, Duruy, Kitchin, Baird's "Rise of to the “ Seize," p. 214. Perhaps no precau-
the Huguenots,” etc.; and a scholarly work sum tions could prevent some confusion in the case
marizing what these and more original author of the numerous representatives of the Guise
ities furnish on the life of Henry IV. is what family ; but here, as elsewhere, a freer use of
is really needed. But Mr. Blair's " Henry of baptismal names in connection with the title
Navarre lays no claim to scholarship. It cites would have helped matters.
no sources, it has not a single reference to au Mr. Blair has been impressed with the dif-
thorities, it does not even make acknowledg- ficulty of giving an unprejudiced view of the
ment of indebtedness to the writers from whom massacre of St. Bartholomew, and he has an
the author has evidently drawn. Dates are not, evident desire to be fair. His epitome of the
indeed, an infallible mark of erudition, and we origin of the dreadful affair as “the accidental
could dispense with a portion of them in many result of a conspiracy directed against the ad-
excellent works, but it is a bold innovation to miral, rather than an organized effort to exter-
omit them altogether. There are but three in minate the Protestants” (p. 112), is undoubt-
this record of fifty years where events often lap edly correct of the situation preceding the first
and the narrator has occasion to reach ahead or attempt on Coligny's life, but after that a
turn back several years. Even in a popular greater guilt was assumed by Catherine and
work, such as this is intended to be —"a brief her sons. However little they may have fore-
description of one of the most interesting char seen or intended the ultimate results, the bur-
acters and periods in French history," den of infamy remaining upon them is great
moderate use of at least marginal dates, and enough to justify the perpetual execrations
short list of standard authorities, would have of mankind.
of mankind. It would be interesting to know
been decidedly helpful.
where Mr. Blair finds the evidence that “ Prot-
Looked at as a popular narrative which pre estant historians have agreed to pillory her
sumes some knowledge of the period, Mr. Blair's [Catherine] for the benefit of posterity” (p.
work takes on a more favorable aspect. The 39). It may be true that a certain class of
elegant typography and the numerous illustra- | Sunday-School library books overdraw her
a


146
[March 1
THE DIAL
guilt; but is there a standard historian who doubtless receive a recognition which has thus
does not present the same view as Mr. Blair ? | far been denied them. What has been done
Guizot, Duruy, Kitchin, Baird, Steven, as for Emily Dickinson will assuredly be done for
well as the contemporaries Henry III. and Sal- him, and the result is no more doubtful in his
viati, the papal nuncio, are in general accord case than it has proved in hers.
with Mr. Blair. It does not seem that his Miss Dickinson's letters make an admirable
charge of a conspiracy to blacken Catherine's complement to her poems.
In her early years
character is justified. Aspersions like this, and she was a copious correspondent, and during
that on page 85, “ Protestant historians pre her school-days she had a great reputation as a
tend to see in all this a deep-laid scheme to de writer of long, and, as we can readily surmise,
lude the Huguenots into a sense of security,” singularly original compositions. The change
ought to be supported by evidence.
in her epistolary style, with her growth in years
There is enough of value in Mr. Blair's work and experience, is worthy of notice. The dif-
to make one regret profoundly that he should fuse and minute letter-writing becomes con-
not have deliberated longer, and received more densed to a remarkable degree, epigrammatic,
criticism, before printing in such sumptuous and mystical. Her correspondents were many,
form. As in the case of the text, so with the and include such names as Dr. Holland, Sam-
fifty or more half-tone prints and photogravures uel Bowles, Helen Hunt Jackson, and, of
accompanying it: most readers would be grat course, Mrs. Todd, the devoted editor of these
ified to know the source and the artist of the “ Letters,” and her guide and mentor, Colonel
originals.
W. H. CARRUTH. Higginson.
Not quite able to avail herself of the wider
scope which the New England revolt was dis-
closing to her, and incapable of satisfaction
with the creeds and moods in which she had
A NEW ENGLAND NUN.*
been brought up, Emily Dickinson retired into
The conscience of New England a half cen herself, and found solace and serenity in her
tury ago demanded much of its votaries and vivid apprehensions of the truth, and the man-
adherents. The limitations which it set about ifestations of that truth in Nature, which be-
human intelligence and activity were many and came to her a symbol easily read and trans-
certain. Its intense assurance of its own com parent to the meaning which it contained. Her
pleteness and rectitude had its incommodities correspondence is replete with a gay and deli-
as well as its insights and rewards. To those cate humor ; the recluse was full of wit and of
who could acquiesce in its demands, it opened gentle happiness with her friends. Perhaps
avenues to spiritual heights whence the out she did not take herself and her abandonment
look was large and superb, though the air might of the world with too much seriousness; prob-
be somewhat thin for the health of daily life. ably she saw something of its humorous aspect,
At last, however, the burdens it imposed be and would gladly enough have had the strength
came too severe for a generation alive to much to share the generous life outside ; the effort,
that was outside of its enclosed space, and the doubtless, was too great, and the sympathetic
revolt began.
appreciation not sufficiently vigorous and in-
It seems that valuable literatures usually be sistent. The letters are free from that strain
gin with such revolts, and the stronger spirits, of morbidness which we sometimes find in her
after considerable effort and some suffering, poems, especially in those dealing with the
throw off the fetters no longer endurable, and subject of death and its dark accompaniments.
rejoice in the larger freedom which they have Here we have such exquisite passages as this :
won. There are always, however, sensitive souls « The bed on which he came was enclosed in a large
who feel that they must break with the tradi casket, shut entirely, and covered from head to foot
tions, but cannot find themselves wholly at
with the sweetest flowers. He went to sleep from the
home in the new and strange. Among the lat-
village church. Crowds came to tell him good night,
choirs sang to him, pastors told how brave he was
ter must be counted such writers as Emily early-soldier heart. And the family lowered their heads,
Dickinson, as well as the Concord recluse, as the reeds the wind shakes."
William Ellery Channing, whose poems, when As the introspective habit grew upon her,
again and properly presented to the world, will every incident of a life simple and unvarying
LETTERS OF EMILY DICKINSON. Edited by Mabel Loomis
in the extreme became touched with an illu-
Todd. Boston: Roberts Brothers.
mination that her thoughts and mood poured


1895.]
147
THE DIAL
66
forth. " A letter," she says, " always feels to indicate how deeply she felt the need and how
me like immortality, because it is the mind warmly she would have welcomed the possibil-
alone without corporeal friend.” A burst of ity of closer relations with her fellows. The
severe weather in the spring gives rise to this : nun and the saint make a figure delicate and
“ The apple blossoms were slightly disheart- unique ; but the poet with something real to
ened, yesterday, by a snow-storm, but the birds say to mankind deserves our larger apprecia-
encouraged them all that they could—and how tion.
Louis J. BLOCK.
fortunate that the little ones had come to cheer
their damask brethren.” Here is a letter entire:
“ The little package of Ceylon arrived in fragrant
safety, and Caliban's clust'ring filberds' were not so STUDIES IN MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT.*
luscious nor so brown. Honey in March is blissful as
inopportune, and to caress the bee a severe temptation,
One of the most exceedingly live “questions of
but was not temptation the first zest? We shall seek
the day "—the pressing and often distressing prob-
to be frugal with our sweet possessions, though their en-
lem of municipal government
is treated in some
ticingness quite leads us astray, and shall endow Austin of its more salient phrases in four interesting books
[Emily Dickinson's brother], as we often do, after a of recent publication. The city is the form which
parched day. For how much we thank you. Dear ar-
society is inceasingly assuming. The rural mode
rears of tenderness we can never repay till the will's
of life, once so controlling of all social facts, is
great ores are finally sifted; but bullion is better than
more and more sinking to a secondary place. When
minted things, for it has no alloy. Thinking of you with
fresher love, as the Bible boyishly says, · New every
the war of the American Revolution ended, only about
morning and fresh every evening.
three per cent of our people lived in what might be
called cities ; and the metropolis, Philadelphia, was
The unexpected abounds in these letters, as
a town of only some forty thousand inhabitants.
the reader of the poems
will anticipate.
6. To
In fact, in the modern sense America had no cities
make even Heaven more heavenly is within the at that time. The great bulk of the people lived
aim of us all.” “I shall bring you a handful in little villages or on solitary farms. To-day nearly
of Lotus next, but do not tell the Nile.” “Not a third of the population of the United States is
what the stars have done, but what they are to found in cities of over eight thousand inhabitants,
do, is what detains the sky.” Changelessness
and ten per cent live in the four cities of New York,
is Nature's change." She lavishes her verse
Chicago, Brooklyn, and Philadelphia. And the rela-
upon her correspondents.
tive preponderance of the cities is steadily increas-
ing. In Europe this proportion is yet more striking.
“Take all away from me
But leave me ecstasy,
To-day about three-fourths of the people of Scot-
And I am richer then
land are townspeople, as against one-fourth at the
Than all my fellow-men.
opening of the present century. In England one-
Is it becoming me
third of the whole population is in towns of over one
To dwell so wealthily,
hundred thousand inhabitants, and nearly another
When at my very door
Are those possessing more,
third in towns of from ten thousand to one hundred
In boundless poverty?”
thousand. In France, the town population is about
Mrs. Todd says: “It is impossible to con-
a third; in Germany, fully two-fifths. And in all
ceive that any sense of personal isolation, or
these countries as well as in every other European
state, the population of towns and cities is increas-
real loneliness of spirit, because of the absence
ing much more rapidly than is that of the rural
of humanity from her daily life, could have op-
districts.
pressed a nature so richly endowed.” And
These simple facts are exceedingly significant.
again : “ Emily Dickinson's method of living They show that the modern form of life is distinc-
was so simple and natural an outcome of her tively urban. And they at once explain why it is
increasingly shy nature, a development so per that the important questions relating to the admin-
fectly in the line of her whole constitution, that
istration of cities have only very recently emerged
no far-away and dramatic explanation of her into the public consciousness. But we in the United
quiet life is necessary to those who are capable
States have suddenly found that we are confronted
of apprehending her.” Notwithstanding the
in the management of municipal affairs with diffi-
authoritative source from which this statement *MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT IN GREAT BRITAIN. By Al-
bert Shaw. New York: The Century Co.
comes, many readers will hold a different opin-
CITY GOVERNMENT IN THE UNITED STATES. By Alfred
ion. No doubt the adjustment of Emily Dick-
R. Conkling. New York: D. Appleton & Co.
inson to her environment grew in difficulty, and, OUR FIGHT WITH TAMMANY. By Rev. Charles H. Park-
as often happens in such cases, the effective
hurst, D.D. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons.
THE Boss. An essay upon the art of governing American
help was not at hand. The extent of her cor-
cities. By Henry Champernowne., New York: George H.
respondence, and the character of much of it, Richmond & Co.


148
[March 1,
THE DIAL
culties which threaten our prosperity, our comfort, fee. The average number of bathers is fifteen
our safety, and our dignity, far more than is the hundred a day, and the results to the public health
case with any matters of national policy. The pub- and comfort can easily be conjectured. Public
lic debt of the United States in 1894 was $12.57 wash - houses enable a woman for two pence an
per capita. The public debt of the city of New hour to use the latest and most effective appliances,
York at the same time was about $70 per capita. and within that time easily to complete a family
In the palmiest days of the spoils system in the civil washing. The gas supply and the water supply both
service of the United States, the worst condition of belong to the city. The price of gas has been grad-
things was purity itself in comparison with the rot- ually reduced from $1.14, the price charged prior to
tenness of New York under Tweed or Croker. For the transfer to the city, to the present rate of sixty
these and many other reasons, it is getting to be a cents per thousand feet. And at the same time the
matter of very great importance that the various works have been extended and improved, and an
questions involved in the social problem which we ample sinking-fund provided which will pay off the
call the city should be clearly understood.
debt incurred in the purchase when it falls due.
Dr. Albert Shaw has given us an exhaustive study
The street railways are owned and operated by the
of British municipalities. He sketches their devel- city. Originally, the city built the lines and leased
opment, especially in recent times, analyzes the
their use to a private company for a series of years,
methods and principles of the municipal code, and
on terms exceedingly favorable to the public. When
then exhibits the working of these methods by de-
the lease expired, in 1894, the city decided there-
tailed accounts of typical cities -- Glasgow, Man after to operate the lines on its own account. It has
chester, Birmingham, London. There is a valuable been able, in doing this, to provide a rate of fares
closing chapter on metropolitan tasks and problems,
of one cent
per
half-mile in the crowded part of the
and the appendix contains the English municipal city, with longer runs for two cents ; and at the
code, with some other interesting material. The same time to reduce materially the hours of em-
work is done very thoroughly, and the subject is ployees. These and other public undertakings in
treated with that breadth of view and fulness of Glasgow Mr. Shaw thinks are managed with great
knowledge which we have learned to expect from
economy and efficiency.
this writer.
The first question, perhaps, which occurs to an
In studying these British cities, one is struck with American is: Cannot the same things be done here?
two things: the number of services undertaken by
But the answer will suggest itself quite as promptly:
the municipal authorities, and the business-like effi No, it is utterly out of the question. To enlarge
ciency with which the public business is transacted.
the services of our American municipality—to take
The former is quite socialistic, the latter is decid on the gas supply, to run the street-car system as
edly un-American. It has been said that the test the property of the city — would merely mean so
of the value of any system of city government is many more "jobs” for political adventurers. We
what it does for the people, how well it is done, and
are sufficiently familiar now with a police force
what it costs. Tried by these standards, the gov-
which is run for the benefit of ward heelers and
ernment of Glasgow, for instance, shows some strik- | thugs. Imagine Tammany methods applied to the
ing contrasts with conditions sufficiently familiar selection of street-car conductors ! Imagine “fine
here. That city has undertaken some services which work” at the primaries rewarded with a place as
we either leave undone or relegate to private enter-
motorman on a grip-car! In short, the question
prise. A sanitary wash-house cleanses and disin whether it is or is not good policy for the commun-
fects clothing, carpets, and the like, from any dwellity to undertake further duties for the general wel-
ing in which a case of contagious disease occurs.
fare, is simply not a question at all under existing
And while any such dwelling is undergoing disin-conditions. It is a waste of time to discuss it.
fection, a poor family may have quarters in a public When we have learned how to get our present mu-
lodging-house provided for that purpose. The city nicipal machinery out of the hands of the corrupt
“pest-house" in our country is usually a loathsome gang who have so deeply disgraced the American
place, and people are quite apt to conceal contagious name in every one of our leading cities, then, and
cases in order to save the patient from the horrors,
not until then, will be time to think of other uses
real or imagined, of the hospital. Glasgow, in lieu for the machinery.
of a pest-house, has an estate of thirty acres, in Another striking contrast which Mr. Shaw's pages
which a series of pleasant cottages afford the great- suggest is the relative economy and efficiency of the
est comfort for both patients and nurses.
English system as compared with the enormous
commodations are so pleasant, and so far beyond waste and poor results in America. Is republican-
what could be had at home, that instead of hiding ism a failure? Are Americans lacking in political
a case of contagion the friends are eager to give no- ability? Has the greed for wealth absorbed our
tice of it. And this way of doing things turns out public spirit? We shall hardly answer these ques-
to be good policy. Epidemics in Glasgow are easily tions in the affirmative. The triumphs of the repub-
kept under control. The city also provides com lic in securing and maintaining public order have
modious public baths, which charge a nominal been great for us to admit that the nation which
The ac-


1895.]
149
THE DIAL
ex-
created the Federal Constitution, which has been vested with the supreme command, is much more
made stronger by rebellion and richer in spite of the likely to succeed than several good officers with co-
vast destruction of property caused by war and eman ordinate authority. Everybody's business is no-
cipation, is not able to grapple with almost any diffi-body's business. Two heads may be better than
culties. Democracy, we have learned, sometimes one for deliberation; they are much worse than one
is very sluggish at getting an idea into its head; for action. English democracy is at just about the
but when the idea once gets there it never gets out. point we had reached a hundred years ago.
Wait
We shall get the municipal idea in time.
until in England the slums vote and “the machine”
The form of government of British cities is rad-
becomes a power.
Committees, councils, and om-
ically different from that to which the present ten- nipotent parliaments will be less in favor then. Of
dency in this country is giving shape. In Great course, municipal reform cannot be secured by tink-
Britain the mayor is little more than a figure-head.ering with charters. The personal equation can
All power is wielded by an elective council. Here, never be disregarded. The main question must al-
experience leads us to place no experience whatever ways be, how to secure for the public service men
in a city council, but to vest enormous power, to of high character. But that is hopeless, for any
gether with full responsibility, in the mayor. Cur- length of time while the spoils system is allowed to
iously enough, our democracy is leading to a consti remain, while it is possible for an irresponsible
tutional Cæsarism in city affairs. Mr. Shaw thinks many-headed body like a city council to bestow
that we might with profit adopt the European franchises and contracts, and while membership in
method. Perhaps so. But it would be squarely such a body consumes a large amount of time.
against the current of our political experience and There should be two classes of city officials
our political thinking.
perts, who give their whole time to their public du-
We set out a hundred years ago with a buoyant ties, who have safe tenure and are well paid ; and
belief in the entire sufficiency of a representative overseers, who are periodically elected, have no sal-
legislature. We had been able to rid ourselves of ary, are not obliged to take much time from their
a king, and of his detestable myrmidons, the col business, who can advise and can determine only
onial governors. We were free. And with our general matters of policy.
Congress and our legislature, we expected to be
We have but scant space left for the other books
happy. But the student of American institutions is
confronted with no more obtrusive fact than the steady Government in the United States” is a very con-
in our group. Mr. Conkling's volume on “City
growth of distrust in our legislative bodies. Power
venient manual of the structure of American city
after power has been shorn from them. It has
been learned that they are repositories of neither
governments. He analyzes the functions of a mu-
wisdom por integrity. And the people have learned, nicipality, and shows how our principal cities deal
after all, to depend on the executive for protection. nothing better can be found. A comparison of the
with them. For a condensed view of these methods,
Accordingly the governors of our states have been
more and more entrusted with checks on the legis- in the pages of these two books.
British and American systems can readily be made
lative branch. And in like manner the common
councils of our cities have had their functions in Dr. Parkhurst's story of the recent fight with
large part transferred to the mayor. In Philadel- Tammany is a discouraging thing - not because it
phia, in Brooklyn, in New York, responsibility has is not the record of success, but because it shows
been centred in the executive. And now the same too plainly how completely the people allow their
thing, already largely embodied in the general stat affairs to fall into the hands of scoundrels. It is a
ute of Illinois, is proposed to be carried to its log- quarter of a century since the Tweed gang was
ical end in Chicago. If the bill of the Civic Fed driven from New York. How long will it be be-
eration becomes law, the common council will be fore the Parkhurst crusade will have to be re-
come an innocuous body.
peated? Is the party “boss” the vital feature of
The reason for this peculiar tendency in our our public life? So Mr. Champernowne, in his
American democracy is plain enough. For corrupt trenchant essay on “The Boss,” implies. The work
or incompetent action by the city council, it is im- is a satire, in the manner of Machiavelli's “ Prince"
practicable to decide whom to hold accountable. —very crisp and droll. And there can be no man-
One might as well try to tip over a sand hill with ner of doubt that it is the perfect organization and
a pistol bullet. But if the mayor has the power to ready obedience of Tammany Hall that made Tweed
make things right, and things are wrong, everybody and Croker so potent for evil. But perhaps we can
knows who is at fault.
learn something from Tammany. Definite and
There is another ground for considering the permanent organization for honest municipal pur-
American plan as, on the whole, better than the poses, quite irrespective of high tariff or free silver,
English. City government is mainly administrative may do as much to secure a real reform as it has
business, and for administration, a single head is done to fill the pockets of blackmailers and swind-
much better than many heads. It is just as in the ling contractors.
management of an army. One poor general, in-
HARRY PRATT JUDsox.


150
[March 1,
THE DIAL
Yea, and in later times, when Liberty,
RECENT ENGLISH POETRY.*
Her crowned and crosiered enemies combating,
Stood proudlier 'stablished by a false King's fall,
The opening piece in Mr. Watson's “Odes and
Mighty from Milton's pen and Cromwell's sword,
Other Poems” is a personal tribute to Mr. R. H. Terribly beauteous, passionately just,
Hutton, and ends with this stanza :
Seared with hell's hate, and in her scars divine,"
“And not uncrowned with honours ran
or to the page that contains this impressive warn-
My days, and not without a boast shall end !
ing for those who would bring about, through vio-
For I was Shakespeare's countryman;
And wert thou not my friend ?"
lence, a new and fairer birth of things :
“A moment's fantasy, the vision came
“ The Spectator” has subsequently expressed its
Of Europe dipped in fiery death, and so
editorial opinion that Mr. Watson is the greatest
Mounting reborn, with vestal limbs aglow,
of English poets now living. This bit of log-roll Splendid and fragrant from her bath of flame.
It fleeted : and a phantom without name,
ing offers a very neat illustration of a familiar pas-
Sightless, dismembered, terrible, said : 'Lo,
sage in the Book of Koheleth (XI., 1). If it were
I am that ravished Europe men shall know
not for this and other similarly preposterous opin After the morn of blood and night of shame.'”
ions of the poet's ill-advised admirers, the critic
might be spared the unpleasant task of pointing is so exquisite a piece of mechanical workmanship
It would be difficult to quarrel with a book that
out the defects of Mr. Watson's verse, and be con-
as Mr. Gosse's new volume, and the contents give
tent with dwelling upon its many admirable quali-
no occasion for such a mishap. Mr. Gosse is, like
ties. But the fact that any considerable number of
Mr. Watson, only a minor poet, but his talent is as
persons are capable of speaking and writing with
evident as its nurture has been delicate. Starting
“ The Spectator's" utter lack of the sense of per-
spective, the fact that Mr. Watson has been seri-
upon his poetical path as an imitator of Mr. Swin-
burne, he has gradually found a voice for himself,
ously put forward as a possible successor to the
and the transition from “On Viol and Flute" to
laurel-wreath of Tennyson, although such men as
“In Russet and Silver” has been a passage from
Mr. Swinburne and Mr. William Morris are still
crudity to mellowness, from exuberance to restraint.
alive, compels a very pointed direction of the atten-
“Life, that, when youth was hot and bold,
tion to his shortcomings — first of all, to the intol-
Leaped up in scarlet and in gold,
erable self-consciousness that pervades a large part
Now walks, by graver hopes possessed,
of his verse, then to the trivial and commonplace char-
In russet and in silver dressed."
acter of much of his material, to the frequent met There is a slight element of pose in the affectation
rical blemishes, and to the elephantine gambolling of advancing years so frequently recurrent in this
which he sometimes mistakes for playfulness. All
sheaf of songs — for the author is not so very aged,
of these matters are illustrated in the volume before
after all — and the nunc dimittis strain does not fit
us; the self-consciousness in a dozen places, the
very well with the abundant vitality we know him
triviality in almost as many, the rhythmical stum-
still to possess.
But assuming, for the nonce, the
bling in such a hexameter as
standpoint which we cannot help thinking to have
“For had I not dwelt where Nature but prattled familiar
been unduly anticipated, we must say that Mr. Gosse
language,"
sings with exceptional grace of the moods and mem-
and the ungraceful capering in "A Study in Con-
ories of old age.
trasts.” Having reluctantly said this much of Mr.
* In youth our fiery lips were fed
Watson's failures, we turn with the more pleasure
With fruit in lavish waste;
to the pages in which he appears as his nobler and
We watch it now hung o'er our head, -
better self, to the pages in which patriotism in-
at length can taste.
spires this fine invocation to the Power that shapes
The boisterous pleasures of the boy
the destinies of empires :
Their own deep rapture steal ;
I ask no longer to enjoy,
“Purge and renew this England, once so fair,
But ah! to muse and feel."
When Arthur's Knights were armed with nobleness,
Or Alfred's wisdom poised the sacred scales ;
Such charming discourse de senectute might be mul-
* ODES AND OTHER POEMS. By William Watson. New
tiplied indefinitely from these pages, but we must
York: Macmillan & Co.
turn to the more objective aspects of the volume.
IN RUSSET AND SILVER. By Edmund Gosse. Chicago: Sympathy for others, particularly for those “in dis-
Stone & Kimball.
grace with fortune and men's eyes," is always a mark
BALLADS AND SONGs. By John Davidson. Boston: Cope of the true poet, and we find it in plentiful measure
land & Day.
here. How deep is this note in such a poem as
A BOOK OF Song. By Julian Sturgis. New York : Long-
“Neurasthænia,” with its compassionate sense of
mans, Green, & Co.
WINDFALL AND WATERDRIFT. By Auberon Herbert. New
the way in which some hapless lives are warped
York: G. P. Putnam's Sons.
from the very hour of birth.
SONGS FROM DREAMLAND. By May Kendall. New York: “Curs d from the cradle and awry they come,
Longmans, Green, & Co.
Masking their torment from a world at ease;
THE CROSS OF SORROW. A Tragedy in Five Acts. By On eyes of dark entreaty, vague and dumb,
William Akerman. New York: Macmillan & Co.
They bear the stigma of their souls' disease.
And, now,


1895.]
151
THE DIAL
“Bewildered by the shadowy ban of birth,
Masque of Painters,” performed in 1885, and richly
They learn that they are not as others are,
deserving of preservation in this collection.
Till some go mad, and some sink, prone to earth,
And some push stumbling on without a star;
Mr. John Davidson's “Ballads and Songs," with
"And some, of sterner mould, set hard their hearts,
their daring originality and their turbulent energy,
To act the dreadful comedy of life,
present the greatest possible contrast to the finished
And wearily grow perfect in their parts ;-
and academic verse of Mr. Gosse. Of the half-
But all are wretched and their years are strife.” dozen ballads grouped together in the forefront of
the volume it is impossible to give any adequate
The figures of the flaming torch handed on from
runner to runner, and of the sacred flame kept notion by means of extracts. They are novel in
alight by successive ministrants, have always been conception, and their imagery is as striking as any
favorite symbols with the poets who have sought to
that even Mr. Kipling has conceived. We are not
sing of the sacredness of their art. Mr. Gosse's quite sure that we understand them, but of their
“Alere Flammam ”is the latest of a long line of lyrics
curious and unexpected impressiveness there can be
upon these themes, and by no means the least beau-
no doubt. We must for the present be content to
tiful. We quote the last two of the four stanzas:
represent the author by a poem more nearly con-
ventional than the intensely dramatic ballads, yet a
“Ah! so, untouched by windy roar
poem that bears no less the sign and seal of his
Of public issues loud and long,
The Poet holds the sacred door,
marked individuality. It is a set of three stanzas
And guards the glowing coal of song ;
on “London.”
Not his to grasp at praise or blame,
“Athwart the sky a lowly sigh
Red gold, or crown beneath the sun,
From west to east the sweet wind carried ;
His only pride to tend the flame
The sun stood still on Primrose Hill;
That Homer and that Virgil won,
His light in all the city tarried :
Retain the rite, preserve the act,
The clouds on viewless columns bloomed
And pass the worship on intact.
Like smouldering lilies unconsumed.
“Before the sbrine at last he falls;
“Oh sweetheart, see! how shadowy,
The crowd rush in, a chattering band;
Of some occult magician's rearing
But, ere he fades in death, he calls
Or swung in space of heaven's grace
Another priest to ward the brand ;
Dissolving, dimly reappearing,
He, with a gesture of disdain,
Afloat upon ethereal tides
Flings back the ringing brazen gate,
St. Paul's above the city rides !
Reproves, repressing, the profane,
And feeds the flame in primal state ;
A rumour broke through the thin smoke
Content to toil and fade in turn
Enwreathing abbey, tower, and palace,
If still the sacred embers burn."
The parks, the squares, the thoroughfares,
The million-peopled lanes and alleys,
The section of “Memorial Verses" offers some of
An ever-muttering prisoned storm,
The heart of London beating warm."
the best recent examples of this class of work. “In
Poet's Corner,” for example, gives us this tribute to It would be both interesting and instructive to com-
Tennyson :
pare these verses with those upon the same theme
“Thanks for the music that through thirty years
recently given us by Mr. Le Gallienne and Mr. W.
Quicken'd my pulse to tears,
E. Henley.
The eye that colour'd nature, the wise hand,
“A Book of Song," by Mr. Julian Sturgis, in-
The brain that nobly plann'd;
Thanks for the anguish of the perfect phrase,
cludes verses of many years, written rather for per-
Tingling the blood ablaze!
sonal satisfaction than in view of public applause.
Organ of God, with multitudinous swell
But their quality is so good, in spite of their unpre-
Of various tone, farewell!”
tentiousness, that we are not willing to accept, with-
Even more beautiful are the tributes to Rossetti, out a word of commendation, the author's invita-
Banville, and Leconte de Lisle. As for “ Beatrice,” tion to remark that all alike are childish, and so
it is a gem of purest ray serene.
pass on to a more worthy prey.” “Whence?” is a
Thro' Dante's hands, in dreamy vigil clasp'd
good example of Mr. Sturgis's work.
A pale green bud shot skyward from the sod;
“Will he come to us out of the West
He bowed and sighed; then laid the prize he grasp'd,
With hair all blowing free?
A folded lily, at the feet of God.
Will he come, the last and best,
Over the flowing sea,
* There she has slowly open'd, age by age,
Prophet of days to be ?
And grown a star to light Man's heart to heaven;
Her perfunie his divinest heritage,
“Aye, he will come; the unseen choir
Her love the noblest gift God's self hath given.”
Attend his steps with song,
And on his breast a deep-toned lyre,
A volume of such high average excellence as this
And on his lips a word like fire
To burn the ancient wrong.
tempts to quotation, but space fails for more than
has been given. We must, however, mention the
“Bay-crowned and goodlier than a king,
translations from the Swedish of Rosenhare, Wex-
With voice both strong and sweet
The song of freedom he will sing,
ionius, and Stagnelius, and from the Dutch of
And I from out the crowd shall fling
Hooft and Vondel. The volume closes with “ The
My rose-wreath at his feet."
17


152
[March 1,
THE DIAL
We wish, indeed, that Mr. Sturgis had been less poet should be more concerned to find and work in
exclusive in selecting the pieces for this volume. his own element than to accept the trammels of
We are sure that some of the songs from his under some other merely because that other element hap-
graduate days, “ of a complexion sad as night,” pens to be in vogue.
would have been equally acceptable with these now
Miss May Kendall is one of the most charming
given, " for in those singing days of the reed voice
'twixt man and boy the subtlest, saddest pleasure
among contemporary writers of light verse; and her
new volume, while possibly not quite equal in exe-
may be drawn from converse now and then with
cution to her “Dreams to Sell,” is full of pleasing
our good comrade Melancholy. Together we take
the road, and in these mornings of our wayfaring ample of her delicate touch.
and pathetic fancies. “A Fossil” offers a good ex-
a face once seen in the passing crowd, or the mere
amorous air of fleeting Spring, may set us throbbing
“He had his Thirty-nine Articles,
And his Nicene Creed,
with a song of love."
And his Athanasian. Nothing else
An unpretentious and exquisite talent, not unlike
He appeared to need.
that of the author just named, is displayed by Mr.
He looked like a walking dogma, pent
Neath a shovel brim;
Auberon Herbert in his “ Windfall and Water-
If he never knew what the dogma meant,
drift.” Here are nearly two hundred lyrics — few
'Twas small blame to him.
of them exceeding eight lines—all marked by refine-
“He did not hazard a single guess,
ment and delicate susceptibility. For example:
That might lead to twain,
“The sea is at rest -- for the storms are o'er-
Whose answers never would coalesce
Just touched with the hand of night;
In a peaceful brain !
And a line of shadow creeps to the shore,
He seemed pure fossil : yet I protest
Then flashes in silver light,-
That across the aisle
I one day saw him of life possessed
“Like a note that stoops in its flight, and droops,
For a little while !
And clings for a while to the ground,
Then trembles, and wakes from its trance, and breaks
“And streams in the desert,' sang the choir.
Into passion and glory of sound.”
What a strange surmise
Just then awoke, like a smouldering fire,
It is a welcome surprise to find a poet in the apos-
In his weary eyes !
tle of voluntary taxation.
That never came from the Nicene Creed -
'Twas a dream, I know,
We will close these notes upon a six months'
Of some fair day when he lived indeed,
sheaf of English poetry with a word for Mr. Will-
In the long ago!”
iam Akerman's blank-verse tragedy, “ The Cross
of Sorrow." This poem is a dramatization, after
There is a suggestion of the whimsical in the piece
the Elizabethan model, of “ Le Mariage de Ven- just quoted, although the main purport is serious
geance” in Le Sage's “Gil Blas." The author has enough. And the whimsical is the element in which
caught no little of the Elizabethan trick of diction,
Miss Kendall does her most characteristic work, as
as the following passage, one of the best in the play, might be amply illustrated, had we the needed space.
will show:
“ The Fatal Advertisements,” for example, is as de-
“There are men still live whose lives are like the light
licious a bit of semi-scientific whimsicality as is often
That flashes from the topmost lighthouse tower,
seen. And the scientific doctrine of the dissipation
And comes the sea of sorrow up in arms
of energy is very neatly set forth in “ Ether Insatia-
It cannot shake the rock, their soul's foundation.
ble," of which poem we may reproduce two out of
With calm eyes looking out into the night,
four stanzas :
Watching the world's wild tempest whistling by,
They light the lamp that hails the mariner
“There is not a hushed malediction,
Who, struggling on with his disabled barque
There is not a smile or a sigh,
Through mist and tempest findeth a new-born hope,
But aids in dispersing, by friction,
And steers his fragile vessel home again
The cosmical heat in the sky;
Into a place of safety. Lonely the heights
And whether a star falls, or whether
That make their dwelling, yet their solitude
A heart breaks - for stars and for men
Is mightier than the state that hems about
Their labour is all for the ether
The palaces of kings and emperors ;
That renders back nothing again.
And when the crack of doom falls out of Heaven,
When the last tempest overtopples them,
“And we, howsoever we hated
The world weeps tears of immortal sorrow
And feared, or made love, or believed,
For the light that shines no more !”
For all the opinions we stated,
The woes and the wars we achieved,
The structure of Mr. Akerman's drama was made
We, too, shall lie idle together,
for him, so to speak, by Le Sage, but considerable
In very uncritical case -
And no one will win — but the ether,
skill is displayed in the arrangement of scenes, and
That fills circumambient space!”
the work is one to read with pleasure. The Neo-
Elizabethan drama is not a form of composition That the writer can, if she chooses, be entirely se-
likely in our time to attract many readers, but, as rious, is witnessed by the group of graceful pieces
the author observes, “ the fashion of to-day is not that close the volume, and one of which, “Forgive-
necessarily the fashion of to-morrow," and every ness,” shall close our selections.
29


1895.]
153
THE DIAL
"Life is not utterly amiss.
'Twould be ungracious to despair,
I fancy, on a day like this,
In such a free, soft air,
One ceases to climb fast. Ah well!
There's a spring day before, my dear-
I'll show you where the asphodel
Grew on the moor last year.
"We bear no proud victorious sheaf,
We have no · Harvest Home' to raise –
And yet perhaps a withered leaf
May sometimes give God praise,
As through its failing being run
Old thrills of earth and wind and rain,
Before it passes to be one
With wind and earth again.
“And yet, not utterly in vain
We bore the burden and the heat,
We shared the sacrament of pain
Altar where all men meet!
And now awhile have peace, nor grieve,
Here in the moorland's joyous breath —
Until our erring souls receive
The sacrament of Death!"
WILLIAM MORTON PAYNE.
the Colonial
Cavalier.
BRIEFS ON NEW BOOKS.
selves feel that “Aut Cæsar, aut Nihil” and “A
Curious Contention" contain many words of wis-
dom; but, being masculine, we may be prejudiced.
“In the Dozy Hours," despite its misleading title,
seems to indicate a real accession to the saving
remnant which still maintains the good cause against
the armies of folly. It is a pleasure to add that,
beside the contributions above noted, there is much
in the volume which will probably serve no good
purpose whatever, except that of giving enjoyment.
Also there are some interesting details about Agrip-
pina's Kitten, whose name is Nero.
Side glimpses of
Along with the current of books on
the Colonial Puritan, comes a timely
one by Miss Maud Wilder Goodwin
on “The Colonial Cavalier” (Lovell, Coryell, &
Co.). More picturesque, if less exemplary, than
his mortified brethren to the north of him, and an
element of weight and permanence in the compo-
sition of Anglo-American character, the “Cava-
lier” deserves serious and honest portrayal; and
such, within the modest scope and space-limits of
her little book, the author has tried to give him.
She has scanned the authorities with care, and with
a commendable view of digesting her gleanings
therefrom into a literary product of her own; hence
her book is no mere work of scissors and paste-pot.
Miss Goodwin has not drawn her hero from his
too-florid image in the glass of Southern tradition
— as a fancied fine gentleman all lace and ruffles,
powder and sword-knot, who drank, swaggered, and
gambled, and comported himself generally on his
James River " estate” and at Williamsburg much
as his prototype had done at Whitehall and St
James's. There was undoubtedly in the horse jock-
eying, rough-riding, free-handed Virginia tobacco-
farmer, or squirelet, with his fine manners and his
Tory traditions, some touch of the qualities with
which the imagination of his descendants has gilded
him. His abundant leisure, procured him by the
abundant toil of his sable “ retainers," allowed him
to cultivate graces to which the rugged and labo-
rious New Englander was long perforce a stranger.
But there was a hint of pinchbeck about it all.
Says John Randolph: “Nowhere could be found a
school of more genial and simple courtesy than that
which produced the great men and women of Vir-
ginia, but it had its dangers and affectations; it
was often provincial and sometimes absurd.” To
our notion, Virginia “chivalry” never shone so
genuinely as in the dark days when the stress of
the Civil War had stripped away its tinsel. Rising
with his reverses, the “Cavalier” showed himself
a true cavalier. Take, for example, worthy, im-
poverished Colonel Dabney, who, learning (from
some strange source) that General Sherman pro-
posed to “bring every Southern woman to the wash-
tub,” gallantly responded: “He shall never bring
my daughters to the wash-tub; I will do the wash-
ing myself!” — and for two years he suited action
to word, scrubbing and mangling, starching and
The judicious reader of Miss Rep-
Miss Repplier's
latest collection.
plier's “In the Dozy Hours" (Hough-
ton, Mifflin & Co.) will, we believe,
be just a little disappointed, and that on the whole
very pleasantly. Her latest volume of essays does
not lack the cleverness and distinction which marked
Essays in Idleness,” for instance, but there is one
thing about this book which was not so obvious in
that. Some may, perhaps, regret that Miss Rep-
plier thinks fit to give her work a practical turn.
It would certainly be rather sad if this pleasing
essayist should ever, by any chance, lose herself in
the turbulent chaos of nowaday life, so far as to
try to settle burning questions and timely problems,
or to handle current topics or present phases of
thought. These are good things for some people to
write about, but probably Miss Repplier does well
to give them a wide berth. Still, it is a pity to re-
main entirely apart from what really interests a
good many people, and it is with great pleasure,
therefore, that we perceive in this book not a little
good common-sense on some matters of contem-
porary moment which are too often engrossed by
persons somewhat lacking in that excellent quality.
The touch is light, of course, and there is not a lit-
tle humor;
but there is good sense at bottom. There
are many worthy people at the present day who
might gain great advantage from a perusal of this
work. The essay on “ Lectures” would be a good
preface to every University Extension course. That
on “Opinions” should lie within easy reach of those
misguided multitudes that read the newspapers for
anything but news. “Pastels” might well be learned
by heart (it is short) by very many members of
literary societies, provided they could apply it to
other matters, germane to the subject. We our-
66


154
[March 1,
THE DIAL
ironing, to the wonder of Fauquier County. Clio, tains some good talk about Hunt, Shelley, Keats,
in celebrating the sons of the Old Dominion, Procter, and their circle; the second, on Edinburgh,
should not pass over Colonel Dabney. Miss Good introduces Scott, Ramsay, “ Kit North,” Dr. John
win's book is well written, and with some humor; Brown, De Quincey, and other cultivators of liter-
and it liberally fulfils the author's promise to “open ature on a little oatmeal and much glenlivat, in
a side-door, through which we may, perchance, gain Edina's palmy days; the third paper, “ From Mil-
a sense of fire-side intimacy with “The Colonial ton to Thackeray,” is a medley of literary chat and
Cavalier.'"
anecdote, much in the vein of Thackeray's gifted
daughter, Mrs. Ritchie. A prime favorite with the
Conversations on
Sir Edward Strachey’s “Talk at a
writer was Leigh Hunt, whom she knew personally,
Literature and Country House” (Houghton, Mifflin
and whose library, containing some precious speci-
other matters. & Co.) holds rather a pleasant place
mens, finally came into Mr. Fields's possession. Mrs.
among the Dialogues which are now somewhat the
Fields tells many pleasant stories of Hunt, which
fashion. Mr. James's dialogues are clever, of course,
serve to offset some not pleasant ones of him afloat.
but have found it wearisome to be always guess-
some
A charming touch is that as to his love of flowers
ing at the topic under discussion. Vernon Lee’s are
full of quickening thought, but the portentously long his cell with a trellis of painted roses, and had plants
- how in his prison days he papered the walls of
sentences are a sore trial now and then. Oscar
set in the dismal windows like “Tim Linkinwa-
Wilde's are delightful, but one can't go on reading
ter's” famous mignonette. Among Mr. Fields’s.
them forever, even though they be preposterous.
treasures was a copy of “Don Juan ” that Byron
The conversations between Foster and the Squire
himself once corrected and sent to Murray to be
make a refreshing patch of neutral tint in all this
used in reprinting the poem. On a fly-leaf stands
brilliancy and pyrotechnic. Not at all modern are
the following sarcastic note to the printer, penned
these talks ; in fact, their charm lies largely in their
by his lordship: “... The Authour repeats (as
being old-fashioned. An old English country house
with pictures and traditions, and an old English cause) are full of errours.
before) that the former impressions (from whatever
And he further adds
country Squire with curious and cultivated interests,
that he doth kindly trust with all due deference
and a person named Foster who asks a great many
to those superior persons—the publisher and printer
questions, out of these materials Sir Edward Strachey
—that they will in future-less misspell-misplace
has made his dialogues, some of which, at least, are
--mistake-and mis-everything, the humbled MSS.
already known to American readers through “ The
of their humble servant.” This and other interest-
Atlantic Monthly.” The dialogue is a fascinating ing notes and letters are given in fac-simile in the
form; it has great dangers, but it offers many op-
present volume. There are also a number of well-
portunities. Local color and character, these give
executed portraits and other illustrations, complet-
an interest, an atmosphere, to the Squire's little crit- ing and enriching the ensemble of a very attractive
ical disquisitions on widely differing subjects, from
book.
the Cuneiform Inscriptions down to English Politics,
from Sa'di and Hafiz down to Tennyson and Mau-
“The Yellow Book" always contains
rice; not exciting nor yet brilliant, not up to date in
One year of the such a variety of things that it would
some respects, but interesting in many ways, and,
go
hard were there not a few of con-
on the whole, very good reading. A little conven siderable merit among them all. Indeed, one can
tional are they, one may urge, as dialogues. Foster hardly look over the contents of one of these star-
is too much like the Question in a scientific quiz- ing octavos, without a dim sense of wonder that the
book. But then, that is rather the way that one editors should have unearthed so many acceptable
talks to old gentlemen like the Squire. The object is writers and artists hitherto unknown to the public,
to get them to talk back; so one asks questions. for familiar names are by no means the rule. The
We should most of us be lucky if our questions were October issue, which is the third of the series, im-
always answered with as much good sense and fine presses us as not quite equal to the preceding two,
taste as were Foster's.
although there are some striking features. Of the
art, Mr. Philip Broughton's " Mantegna” is by far
Very pleasant reading, and delight the best example.
the best example. Mr. Beardsley's imagination
"Shelf of ful to the eye withal, is the fine vol riots as before, but one quickly wearies of his gro-
Old Books."
ume by Mrs. James T. Fields en tesque drawings. The poetry is “ below par,” the
titled “ A Shelf of Old Books” (Scribner). The only really fine thing being “The Ballad of a Nun,"
books in point are certain notable volumes that came by Mr. John Davidson. We may say a word for
into the possession of Mr. Fields from time to time Mr. Morton Fullerton's strong sonnet on “ George
by gift or purchase. Each of these volumes, or Meredith,” without accepting that perverse novelist
groups of volumes, has for Mrs. Fields its special as Shakespeare's only rival “in our English tongue.”
memories and associations, touching either author The most conspicuous piece of prose is Mr. Hubert
or giver; and these furnish the motif and ground Crackanthorpe's " A Study in Sentimentality," and
work of the three papers that form the contents of the best is - The Headswoman,” by Mr. Kenneth
her book. The first paper, on Leigh Hunt, con Grahame. Mr. Henry Harland contributes a pa-
“ Yellow Book."
Mrs. Fields's


1895.]
155
THE DIAL
as
thetic story which ranks with his most finished work. noble ascetic visage. Mr. King's introduction is
The January “Yellow Book," completing the first mainly biographical, and recapitulates with marked
year of the periodical, also has a pretty sketch by sympathy the leading facts of that devoted life.
Mr. Grahame, and a story by Mr. Harland. “Wlad The essays comprise “Interest and Principles
islaw's Advent,” by Mrs. Ménie Muriel Dowie (1836), “ Faith and the Future” (1835), “ The Pa-
Norman, is one of the more striking things in this triots and the Clergy” (1835), the Programme “ To
volume. Two serious essays one by Mr. James the Italians and the “ Thoughts on the French
Ashcroft Noble on Alexander Smith, and one by Revolution of 1789" from “Roma del Popolo”
Mr. Norman Hapgood on “Stendhal” — claim at (1871), “The Question of the Exiles” from “ La
tention, and deserve it. The poetry includes pieces Jeune Suisse" (1836), and a beautiful “Unpub-
by Mrs. Tomson, Dr. Richard Garnett, and Mr. lished Letter” of consolation, addressed by Mazzini
Davidson. The art is not particularly artistic, and to a father sorrowing for the loss of his only son.
we have been most interested in two 66 Bodley Let it not be thought that these essays are of local
Heads,” being portraits of Mr. LeGallienne and Mr. and temporary interest only. They are far more
Davidson. Messrs. Copeland & Day are the Amer than that, as are nearly all of the writings of their
ican publishers.
author. As long as noble ideals of patriotism, or
“The Gospel of Buddha according ished among men, the message of that great soul
of conduct in the other aspects of life, shall be cher-
Two popular
erpositions of to Old Records” is the title of a
Buddhism.
will have both meaning and force. As the name of
compilation made by Dr. Paul Carus,
the historical Mazzini recedes farther and farther
and issued by the Open Court Publishing Co. It
into the past, his fame grows brighter and brighter.
is a selection from the Buddhist scriptures, taken In the words of his most eloquent panegyrist:
from the best English translations, and so arranged
“Life and the clouds are vanished : hate and fear
as to exhibit the life and teachings of Buddha in
Have had their span
systematic and consecutive presentation. The ed Of time to hurt, and are not: he is here,
itor tells us that he has treated his material much
The sunlike man.
“the author of the Fourth Gospel used the ac It is with real gratitude that we welcome a volume
counts of the life of Jesus of Nazareth.” In a few that cannot fail to widen the circle of those to whom
chapters, the editor appears as author; but he as Mazzini's message makes its appeal.
sures us that these original chapters "contain noth-
ing but ideas for which prototypes can be found
“ Blank Verse," by John Addington
J. A. Symonds
somewhere among the traditions of Buddhism, and
Symonds (imported by Charles Scrib-
have been added as elucidations of its main princi-
ner's Sons), is a reprint of three
ples.” The distinctive features of this book are the essays which have been already published as an ap-
way in which the material has been arranged, and pendix to a previous work. It is excellent to have
the valuable - Table of Reference," which refers us them in a volume by themselves, for though rather
to the sources of the text, and also supplies us with slight, and by no means digested into a single treat-
parallelisms from the Christian Scriptures. Dr. ise, they have in them a good deal that is very use-
Carus has done in prose very much what was done ful to the student of the technique of poetry. The
by Sir Edwin Arnold in the verse of his “ Light of first essay is general in character, the second is a
Asia." These popular expositions have their place review of English blank verse from Surrey to Ten-
and their value, and it is the part of pedantry to scorn nyson, and the third is on Milton's blank verse.
them or to refuse them a hearing.–We note at the The study is chiefly of Rhythm ; and here, though
same time the appearance of “A Buddhist Cate we nowhere have a full and accurate statement of
chism” (Putnam), “compiled from the holy writ- the principles at bottom, we do get a good deal
ings of the Southern Buddhists, with explanatory which suggests the right idea—the necessity of sub-
notes for the use of Europeans.” Mr. Subadra ordinating the mere prosody to a consideration of
Bhikshu is the author of this little book, which was the meaning which Professor Corson worked out
first written in German, “in the year 2438 after the 80 successfully in the treatment of blank verse in
Nirvana of the Tathagato," and now appears in an his “ Primer of English Verse.” Mr. Symonds's re-
English version. The catechetical form is employed marks on Quantity and Rhythm (p. 10), and on
throughout the book, and the exposition of doctrine Quantity in Latin and English (p. 4), are good. When
is made both intelligible and attractive.
he says of “Hyperion” that the decasyllabic beat
maintains an uninterrupted undercurrent of regu-
Selected
A recent volume with the familiar lar pulsation” (p. 64), he gets closest to the basis
essays by
Dent imprint contains a selection of of future studies in blank verse. The present stu-
Mazzini.
“Essays by Joseph Mazzini” (Mac dent of poetic art has the advantage of Mr. Sy-
millan), translated by Mr. Thomas Okey, and pro- monds, in recent work on the psychic effects of
vided with an introduction by Mr. Bolton King. A rhythm in general. But Mr. Symonds's book, though
photogravure portrait of Mazzini faces the title-page written some time ago, has much that seems to show
of the book — a good portrait, the saintlike charac that he had divined, as it were, a good deal as to
ter of the prophet of Italian unity reflected from the the nature of rhythm in poetry.
on blank verse.


156
[March 1,
THE DIAL
In “The History of the English Lan The late W. Robertson Smith's “ Lectures on the Re-
A new history
of the English guage” (Macmillan ), Professor Ol- ligion of the Semites ” (Macmillan) were delivered at
language. iver Farrar Emerson has produced
Aberdeen in three successive courses, from 1888 to
a book that admirably serves the twofold purpose
1891, by invitation of the Burnett Fund trustees. Only
claimed for it in the preface as being designed
the first of the three series was published, as the failing
health of the author checked his activities. This first
for college classes and for teachers of English.'
series, having for a sub-title “ The Fundamental Insti-
The treatment throughout is wholly scientific, and
tutions," appeared in 1889. A new edition of these lec-
the best and latest authorities have been carefully tures now appears, edited by a friend to whom the au-
consulted. What immediately attracts attention is thor entrusted the task, and whom he supplied with a
the comparatively large space devoted to phonet manuscript volume of additional materials for incorpor-
ics,- for which, however, few readers will prob ation within the work. The new edition thus differs
ably quarrel with the author. The stand taken on materially from the earlier one, and represents, in all es-
the question of the influence of the Norman Con-
sential respects, the ripened and final opinions of the great
quest on the language differs considerably from the
scholar whose loss we mourned a few months ago. It
is much to be hoped that arrangements may be made
popular conception, regarding it as incidental rather
for publication of the two other series of lectures.
than revolutionary. In this discussion, as in sev-
“ Commitment, Detention, Care, and Treatment of
eral others of an historical character, admirable use
the Insane ” and “Care and Training of the Feeble-
is made of the results obtained by Stubbs and Free Minded” are the titles of two collections of papers
man. The statement, in paragraph 30, that "this bound in one volume, and bearing the imprint of the
twofold declension [of the adjective] has been lost Johns Hopkins Press. Both collections are reports of
in the later development of the English, as in the proceedings at the Congress of Charities, Correction,
other Teutonic tongues except High German,” is and Philanthropy, held at Chicago in 1893. The former
too broad, as the same distinction is still kept up in
report has been edited by Drs. G. Alder Blumer and H.
the modern Scandinavian languages. An ingenious
B. Richardson, and the latter by Dr. George H. Knight.
and useful feature of the index is the distinguishing raphy" (Macmillan) extends from Nichols to O'Dugan.
Volume XLI. of the “ Dictionary of National Biog-
between subjects and words used as examples, by
The latter worthy, whose Christian name was John, was
the use of capitals and small letters respectively.
an Irish poet of the fourteenth century, and seems to
have left a numerous literary posterity. Daniel O'Con-
The second series of Mr. James's
Mr. James
nell gets the longest biography in the present volume,
Theatricals' (Harper) contains
as dramatist.
and Titus Oates comes next. The volume is rich in
two plays not very unlike those in memoirs of the families of Nichols, Norris, North,
the first series, which was noticed in THE DIAL for O'Brien, O'Connor, and O'Donnell, and has, on the
Sept. 1. These are rather the more interesting on whole, a marked Celtic flavor.
the whole, although it appears that, like their pre In “The World's Largest Libraries” (Young), a col-
decessors, they were written for performances which lege commencement address delivered last June, General
never came off. One is tempted to wonder whether,
James Grant Wilson tells us how, during a recent Eu-
if they had been given in public, they would have
ropean sojourn, he made a point of examining many
famous collections of books, and saw, in the course of
met with as striking success as that attending the
his wanderings, no less than thirty-five millions of vol-
production of Mr. James's recent play at the thea-
umes, not to mention manuscripts, pamphlets, and
tre of his patron saint.
The volume is made more
prints. He appears to have been duly enthusiastic over
interesting by a few pages of comment. This is
the special treasures put before his eyes by various con-
really quite amusing, especially Mr. James's char tinental librarians whom he visited, and has thrown to-
acterization of himself as “the perverted man of gether in his lecture an extremely readable collection of
letters freshly trying his hand at an art [in] which facts and fancies pertaining to the world of the biblio-
... he has if possible even more to unlearn than grapher.
to learn.” It is rather mean to be sniffy about any-
The “Temple” Shakespeare (Macmillan) rounds out
thing by Mr. James, but one gets a bit irritated that
the series of the comedies with “A Winter's Tale,"
when he can write such captivating things he should
which has for frontispiece an etching of the kitchen in
the Stratford house where the poet was born, suggest-
write such stupid ones.
ing that here he may himself have listened with open-
eyed wonder to many a winter's tale during the years
of childhood. At the same time, the series of the his-
BRIEFER MENTION.
tories begins with “ King John,” the etching in this vol-
ume being of the king's tomb in the cathedral of Rouen.
Volumes III., IV., and V. of Thiers's “ History of Mr. T. M. Clark's “ Architect, Owner, and Builder
the French Revolution” (Lippincott), in Mr. Frederick before the Law” (Macmillan) is “a summary of Amer-
Shoberl's translation, are now published, and complete ican and English decisions on the principal questions
what is likely to remain the standard library edition of relating to building, and the employment of architects.”
this work, as far as English readers are concerned. The It includes hundreds of references to leading cases, as
fifth volume is provided with a good index, and the en well as a great many practical suggestions about the
tire work is illustrated with more than forty fine steel drawing of building contracts. The book is one that
engravings. We congratulate the publishers on their must find its way into every law library, and that all
enterprise in producing this work, and the companion persons engaged in building even a single house will
work on the Consulate and Empire.
find it advis: to own.
-
1


1895.]
157
THE DIAL
prison at Widah; or we may import Australian lady-
NEW YORK TOPICS.
bugs to prey on these black scales of literature.
New York, February 25, 1895.
Magazines devoted entirely to literary news and ap-
Mr. Henry Rutgers Marshall, one of the most prom-
preciations are on the increase, also, as witness the
ising of our rising group of architects, will shortly pub-
American edition of “The Bookman.” I remember tell-
lish, through Messrs. Macmillan & Co., his second vol-
ing one of our up-to-date New York girls a few years
ume, “ Æsthetic Principles.” The studies which led ago that we already had the “ Book Buyer," the “Book
up to the publication of his first book, "Pain, Pleasure,
Lore," the “ Book News,” the “ Book Worm," and the
and Æsthetics,” were originally undertaken with the
“ Book Chat,” and that now it was proposed to publish
desire of seeing how far the science of æsthetics and the
the “Book Mart.” Quick as a flash came the reply:
philosophy of art would avail as helps in the author's
“ How about the book-martyrs ?” I am afraid this was
practice of his profession. But even then, Mr. Marshall
a reasonable question; but enough of these papers have
thought he might at some time place the results of his
suspended to make room for the new “Bookman."
studies in such form that they could be readily understood Speaking of literary journals reminds me that Mr.
by the average worker in æsthetic subjects. This notion Wheeler, of the “Literary Digest,” has associated with
was confirmed by the encouraging appreciation of “ Pain, himself Mr. John H. Boner, the Southern poet, as co-
Pleasure, and Ästhetics” by the best thinkers in such
editor of that able paper.
matters in this conntry and England; and when Mr.
The Grolier Club' is following its book-binding ex-
Marshall was invited to deliver a course of lectures at
hibit with a collection of engraved portraits of woman
Columbia College he decided to write the new book.
writers. About one hundred and twenty-five are to be
“ Æsthetic Principles” comprises most of what he said
represented, from Sappho to George Eliot. In some
in his lectures and a good deal more besides. The au-
cases a number of portraits are given, representing the
thor greatly hopes that it may be found understandable
subject at various ages, nine likenesses of Hannah More
and helpful by his fellow-craftsmen among painters,
being shown. There will be a “ladies' day,” when Mrs.
sculptors, architects, musicians, and literary workers in
Elizabeth W. Champney will deliver an address. This
general. It may be considered as introductory to his
exhibition will be succeeded by a complete collection of
former book, but it is also a digest, in more popular
the engravings of Mr. Asher B. Durand, from his appren-
form, of the æsthetic principles therein discussed. An
ticeship to an engraver, in 1812, until he abandoned en-
especially important feature is the discussion of the very graving for painting, in 1831.
great negative value of the teachings of the science of
It is rumored that still another book club is to be es-
æsthetics. The author hopes that the chapter on “neg-
tablished, this time in Buffalo by Mr. Irving Browne
ative principles" will explode many a fallacy of practice
and other members of the Grolier. This will be in ad-
and criticism, giving at the same time the truly valuable
dition to the Philobiblon of Philadelphia, the Rowfant
negative principles to take their place.
of Cleveland, and the Caxton of Chicago. The most
It is a long time since the youthful “ Pneraphs" estab-
important announcement of the week in the way of new
lished their organ, “ The Germ,” which was to revolu-
clubs, however, is the organization of “The Society of
tionize the world of letters and art; but whatever the
Iconophiles of New York,” composed of ten gentlemen
projectors of “ The Germ” accomplished in other ways,
interested in engraving and in the preservation of accu-
that periodical was soon “ done for.” It is really quite
rate reproductions of historic houses. Mr. William L.
an appreciable time since the London Century Guild
Andrews is the first president; Mr. Robert Hoe Law-
established “ The Hobby Horse," which is still Aourish rence is secretary and treasurer; and Messrs. Avery,
ing, having pulled through many a tight place. In the
Bierstadt, Chew, Foote, Holden, and Lefferts are among
wake of “The Hobby Horse” have followed « The
the members. Mr. E. D. French, who has gained wide
Knight Errant” of Boston and “ The Contributor" of reputation for the designing of book-plates, has been
Chicago. These three periodicals are, of course,
the appointed engraver to the society. The first engraving
progenitors of “ The Yellow Book,” “The Chap-Book,"
published will be a view of old St. Paul's Church in
and, more recently, “ The Bibelot” and “The Paper-
New York. It will be followed by views of the Bowl.
Knife." Still another esoteric magazine is projected,
ing Green and Fraunces Tavern. Fifty copies of each
“ The Chameleon,” at Oxford, which probably takes its
of the first ten engravings will be for sale, and may be
name from Theodore Tilton's new book of poems, “Cham-
obtained of Mr. James O. Wright, No. 6 East 42d st.
eleon's Dish,” lately published at the Oxford Press.
Professor H. H. Boyesen has finally completed the
With all these should be named Elbert Hubbard's “ Lit-
“ Essays on Scandinavian Literature," on which he has
tle Journeys to the Homes of Good Men and Great,”
been engaged for several years, and they will be pub-
brought out each month by Messrs. G. P. Putnam's
lished by the Messrs. Scribner early in March. Chap-
Sons. Musing on the multiplication of these titbits of
ters will be devoted to Björnson, Jonas Lie, Alexander
literature, one is led to wonder where the thing will
Kielland, Hans Christian Andersen, Georg Brandes,
end. No publishing firm is now so small that it may
Esaias Tegnér, and others; as well as a chapter on the
not have its monthly or quarterly magazinelet. All
minor Danish authors. Professor Boyesen has had a
sorts of little books are coming out, too, by minor, or
personal acquaintance with many of these writers. The
minute, authors, which can be taken with a tiny sand-
announcement of a novel by Andrew Lang, “ A Monk
wich and a cup of tea. In fact, we are witnessing what
of Fife," dealing with the life and times of Joan of
may be called the Afternoon Tea Movement in English
Arc, in view of the Harper novel on the same subject,
and American literature. As for the precious wicked
raises an interesting question of literary priority. Who
ones, they are mostly harmless enough, as Mr. Robert
thought of it first, and who began it first? I learn that
Bridges (Americanus) intimates in this week's “ Life.”
“Coffee and Repartee,” by Mr. John Kendrick Bangs,
When they become too nasty, they can be served in the
has reached a sale of thirty thousand copies. The first
same fashion as the one-eyed elder brother of the Sul-
edition of the sequel, “ The Idiot,” will number seven
tan of Morocco, who has just been walled up in his
thousand, five hundred.
ARTHUR STEDMAN.


158
[March 1,
THE DIAL
cess.
The collection includes examples of the work of many
A WINTER DREAM OF SUMMER.
of the most famous binders, at home and abroad, and
it will doubtless receive due attention and admiration
Mother of Poesy, dear Idleness!
from book-lovers.
To-day I'm thine in this cool nook of earth;
The long-heralded American edition of the London
The hills all green around us at their birth,
“ Bookman," published by Messrs. Dodd, Mead & Co.,
And goodly fields, and trees in summer dress.
has at last sent forth its first number. It proves to be
Oh, come and greet me with thine old caress,
Come and receive me to thy house and hearth,
a magazine of some seventy pages, illustrated, contain-
Bring all thy music, waken all thy mirth,
ing reviews, miscellaneous essays on literary subjects,
Pour round me all thy dreams that soothe and bless!
much gossip of a rather trivial sort, and useful tabula-
tions of book sales and current publications. The mag-
Not minutes, but long dreamful hours are thine, azine is attractively printed, and we wish it every suc-
And time for life to ripen on the bough
Her royal fruitage, love, and thought, and soul; Dr. Richard Garnett, in “ The Speaker” of London,
And these are they that pour the mellow wine pays the following poetical tribute to the four recent
Of song, with light to clear the careworn brow, dead among English authors-Symonds, Pater, Hamer-
Song, richest draught that sparkles in life's bowl. ton, and Stevenson:
0. C. AURINGER. Child of the great Rebirth, who most of men
Didst steep in Italy the English soul :
Thou, Phidias of discourse, who couldst control
Speech to Form's purity by shaping pen :
Thou who all Art didst learn to teach again :
LITERARY NOTES.
And thou whose Art was Nature -- from the scroll
Of Life how swiftly blotted ! golden toll
Auguste Vacquerie died at Paris on the nineteenth
Cast to the oarsman of the Stygian fen!
of February
Of you who had not said, “Behold in these
Messrs. Stone & Kimball will publish “St. Ives,” The strenuous growth Time mellows to endure,
Stevenson’s posthumous novel.
More rich, more fair for annual season found!”
The February number of “ The Bibelot" is devoted O dupes and scoffs of empty auguries !
to selections from Mr. John Payne's translation of Villon.
Still flourishes the weed, the tree mature
With stem and bough and fruitage loads the ground.
Mr. Sidney Colvin asks for such of Robert Louis
Stevenson's letters as their owners may be willing to
As indicated in the last issue of The DIAL, the ob-
submit for publication.
jection to the Covert Copyright Bill rests in its form
The English department of Yale is about to produce
and not in the principle involved. The proposed amend-
Ben Jonson's “Silent Woman," with a carefully studied ment, as it passed the Committee on Patents, tended to
Elizabethan stage-setting.
make damages nominal in both literary and artistic in-
Reginald Stuart Poole, born in London in 1832, died fringements, whereas the intention originally was to
at Kensington on the eighth of February. Archeology prevent excessive damages in the case of art and pho-
and numismatics were the subjects of his best-known
tography alone. Last week Thursday a meeting of
books.
representatives of the Publishers' and Authors' Copy-
The Authors' Guild will have an Authors' Reading right Leagues, and a committee from the American
in New York on the evening of April 20. Mr. M. D.
Newspaper Publishers' Association, was held in New
Conway has agreed to represent the Guild unofficially
York. Messrs. J. Henry Harper, George Haven Put-
in England
nam, Edmund C. Stedman, and Robert Underwood
“ In Stevenson's Land,” by Miss Marie Fraser, an-
Johnson were present, together with Mr. William C.
Bryant of the Brooklyn “Times,” Mr. H. F. Gunnison
nounced by Messrs. Macmillan & Co., is certainly
of the Brooklyn “Eagle," and Mr. C. W. Knapp of the
timely, and its subject possesses, in addition, indepen-
St. Louis “ Republic." A revised draft of the Covert
dent interest.
amendment was drawn up, relating to art works and
A search has recently been made in Italy for the
photographs alone, and fixing penalties for infringe-
tomb of Vittoria Colonna, and her remains have been
ment in such cases at from one hundred to ten thous-
positively identified, with those of her husband, in a and dollars. It is hoped that this draft may be substi-
church at Naples.
tuted without difficulty when the Covert bill comes up
It is announced that there will be this year no Turn in Congress.
bull lectures on poetry at the Johns Hopkins University, The presentation of the “Edipus Rex" of Sophocles,
but that Dr. George A. Smith, of Glasgow, has been
at Beloit College, on the 22d of February, was an event
engaged for a course on Hebrew poetry in 1896.
in the history of both the town and the college. All
The Tsar of Russia has ordered the appointment of the details were under the immediate charge of Profes-
a commission to found, in memory of the late Alexander, sor Theodore L. Wright, and the result reflected much
an institution where a home will be provided for dis credit upon him and his colaborers. The tragedy was
abled authors, artists, and actors. It was only a few rendered into English verse by the class of 1897, as a
weeks ago that he gave out of his privy purse the sum part of their term's work in the Greek drama; the
of 50,000 rubles for the purpose of providing pensions classic forms of stilted expression were avoided, and
for authors.
modern dignified English phrase was employed. Other
The lately organized Caxton Club of Chicago has presentations, in the original, with elaborate setting,
made a good beginning in providing for what promises have been given; but it is doubtful if the true spirit of
to be a very interesting exhibition of fine book bind the “Edipus" has ever been as well presented in
ings, to be held at the Art Institute, opening March 4. America, in interpretation, translation, or faithfulness


1895.]
159
THE DIAL
LIST OF NEW BOOKS.
[The following list, containing 50 titles, includes books re-
ceived by THE DIAL since its last issue.]
of costume. The stage was nearly square, and was oc-
cupied on the same level by both actors and chorus, ac-
cording to the later conception of the ancient setting;
the scenery represented a palace in a forest near Thebes,
and the costumes were all especially designed from the
drapery on the figures seen on ancient Greek vases.
The role of “ (Edipus” was taken by Mr. C. W. Wood
of the Senior class, whose interpretation, particularly in
the frenzied passages at the climax of the tragedy,
was thought by many to be comparable to Salvini's
“Othello.” The part of “ Jocasta” was played with
great credit by Mr. Loomis, as was that of Creon" by
Mr. Rose. The chorus of bearded Thebans, with Mr.
Atkinson as Choragos, was especially strong; and their
rythmic and strange dances, to the flute music especially
prepared by Professor Allen, brought visible relief to
the intense strain of the audience. The play was largely
attended, not only by Beloit people, but by visitors from
Chicago and other neighboring cities.
GENERAL LITERATURE,
A History of the Novel Previous to the 17th Century. By
F. M. Warren. 12mo, pp. 361, gilt top. Henry Holt &
Co. $1.75.
Literature of the Georgian Era. By William Minto. Ed-
ited, with introduction, by William Knight, LL.D. 12mo,
pp. 365. Harper & Bros. $1.50.
Latin Poetry. Lectures delivered in 1893 on the Percy Turn-
bull Memorial Foundation in the Johns Hopkins Univer-
sity. By R. Y. Tyrrell. 12mo, pp. 323, gilt top. Hough-
ton, Miffin & Co. $1.50.
Five Lectures on Shakespeare. By Bernhard Ten Brink;
trans. by Julia Franklin. 16mo, pp. 250, gilt top. Henry
Holt & Co. $1.25.
Old Pictures of Life. By David Swing ; with an Introduc-
tion by Franklin H. Head. 2 vols., 16mo, gilt tops, uncut
edges. Stone & Kimball. $2.
Summer Studies of Birds and Books. By W. Warde
Fowler, author of " A Year with the Birds.'
12mo, pp.
288, uncut. Macmillan & Co. $1.75.
Good Reading about Many Books, Mostly
Illus., 16mo, pp. 265, uncut. London: T. Fisher Unwin.
by their Authors:
The First Century of German Printing in America, 1728-
1830. By Oswald Seidensticker. 8vo, pp. 254, paper.
Philadelphia : Schaefer & Koradi. $1.20.
Germanic Studies. I., Der Conjunkti bei Hartmann von
Aue, von Starr Willard Cutting. 8vo, pp. 53, paper.
University of Chicago Press.
Spenser's Faerie Queene: Book I., Cantos IX. to XII.
Edited by Thomas J. Wise. Illus. by Walter Crane, 4to,
pp. 160 to 250, uncut. Macmillan & Co. 83.
The Diary of Samuel Pepys. With Lord Braybrooke's
Notes. Edited, with additions, by Henry B. Wheatley,
F.S.A. Vol. V., 12mo, pp. 424. Macmillan & Co. $1.50.
TOPICS IN LEADING PERIODICALS.
March, 1895 (First List).
Am. Academy at Rome, An. Royal Cortissoz. Harper.
Art in Primitive Greece. John C. Van Dyke. Dial.
Artists, Compensation of. W. C. Lawton. Lippincott.
Bancroft Historical Collection, The. J.J.Peatfield. Overland.
Bedding-Plants. Samuel Parsons, Jr. Scribner.
Burns, The Religion of. Walter Walsh. Poet-Lore.
Carriès, Jean. Emile Hovelaque. Century.
Charlotte Brontë's Place in Literature. Fred. Harrison. Forum
Christianity and English Wealth. D.H.Wheeler. Chautauquan
Coöperative Production, The Ethics of. J.M.Ludlow. Atlantic.
Cruiser, The Trial Trip of a. W. F. Sicard. Harper.
Diphtheria Anti-Toxine, Production of. W:H.Park. McClure.
Diphtheria, Anti-Toxine Treatment of. L. E. Holt. Forum.
Diphtheria, New Treatment of. H. M. Biggs. McClure.
Education, The Direction of. N. S. Shaler. Atlantic,
Electric Locomotives on Steam Roads. Lippincott.
Foreign Policy, Oar. Henry Cabot Lodge. Forum,
Fox-Hunting in the U.S. C. W. Whitney. Harper.
Furs in Russia. Isabel F. Hapgood. Lippincott.
Good Roads in California. Roy Stone. Overland.
Gustavus Adolphus. Max Lenz. Chautauquan.
Helmholtz, Hermann von, T. C. Martin. Century.
Henry of Navarre. W. H. Carruth. Dial.
Heredity. St. George Mivart. Harper.
Horse-Market, The. H. C. Merwin. Century.
Immigration and Naturalization. H. Sidney Everett. Atlantic.
Income-Tax, The. E, R. A. Seligman. Forum.
Jerusalem, Literary Landmarks of. Laurence Hutton. Harper
Lord's Day, The. Wm. E. Gladstone. McClure.
Municipal Government, Studies in. Harry P. Judson. Dial.
New York Common Schools, The, S. H. Olin. Harper.
Nun, A New England. Louis J. Block. Dial.
Ocean Flyer, An. McClure.
Orchestral Conducting. William F. Apthorp. Scribner.
Orissa, The Holy Land of India. Magazine of Art.
Poe, The Renascence of. D. L. Maulsby. Dial.
Poetry as Criticism of Literature. Dial.
Poetry, Recent English. William Morton Payne. Dial.
Queen Victoria and Her Children. S.P.Cadman. Chautauquan.
Reconstruction, At the Close of. E. Benj. Andrews. Scribner.
Schreyer, Adolphe. Prince Karageorgevitch. Mag. of Art.
Tempests, The Laws of. Alfred Angot. Chautauquan.
Theatres, The Architecture of. G. Redon. Mag. of Art.
Thoreau's Poems of Nature. F. B. Sanborn. Scribner.
Village-Improvement Societies. B. G. Northrop. Forum.
Whitman and Emerson, The Friendship of. Poet-Lore.
Whitney, William Dwight. Charles R. Lanman. Atlantic.
Ysaye, Eugéne. H. E. Krehbiel. Century.
HISTORY.
History of the People of Israel, from the Rule of the Per-
sians to that of the Greeks. By Ernest Renan. 8vo, pp.
354. Roberts Bros. $2.50.
The Making of the England of Elizabeth. By Allen B.
Hinds, B. A. 12mo, uncut, pp. 152. Macinillan & Co.
90 cts.
Old South Leaflets, Numbers 48 to 55. Reprints of docu-
ments relating to early New England History. Old South
Studies, each, pamphlet, 5 cts.
BIOGRAPHY.
Military Career of Napoleon the Great: Authentic An-
ecdotes of the Battlefield. By Montgomery B. Gibbs.
Illus., 12mo, pp. 514, gilt top. The Werner Co. $1.25.
Three Men of Letters. By Moses Coit Tyler. 12mo, gilt
top, uncut, pp. 200. G. P. Putnam's Sons. $1.25.
POETRY.
The Inevitable, and Other Poems. By Sarah Knowles Bol-
ton. With portrait, 16mo, pp. 100, gilt top, rough edges.
T. Y. Crowell & Co. $1.
Wild-Flower Sonnets. By Emily Shaw Forman. Illus.,
16mo, gilt top, pp. 35. Joseph Knight Co. Boxed, $1.
Philoctetes, and Other Poems and Sonnets. By J. E. Ne-
smith. 18mo, pp. 111, gilt top. The Riverside Press.
FICTION.
Beyond the Dreams of Avarice. By Walter Besant. Illus.,
12mo, pp. 337. Harper & Bros. $1.50.
The Phantoms of the Foot-Bridge, and Other Stories. By
Charles Egbert Craddock. Illus., 16mo, pp. 353. Har-
per & Bros. $1.50.
Stories of the Foot-Hills. By Margaret Collier Graham.
12mo, pp. 262. Houghton, Mifflin & Co. $1.25.
Hippolyte and Golden-beak:Two Stories. By George Bas-
sett. Illus., 16mo, pp. 227. Harper & Bros. $1.25.
Men Born Equal. By Harry Perry Robinson. 12mo, pp.
373. Harper & Bros. $1.25.
A Farm-House Cobweb. By Emory J. Haynes. 12mo,
pp. 261. Harper & Bros. $1.25.


160
[March 1, 1895.
THE DIAL
NEW VOLUMES IN THE PAPER LIBRARIES.
The Book-Bills of Narcissus. An account rendered by
Richard Le Gallienne. With frontispiece, 12mo, pp. 173, ILLINOIS CENTRAL R. R.
uncut. G. P. Putnam's Sons. $1.
The Honour of Savelli: A Romance by S. Levett Yeates.
16mo, pp. 314. D. Appleton & Co. $1.
Its “ Chicago and New Orleans Limited,” leav
The Woman Who Did. By Grant Allen. 16mo, pp. 223.
Roberts Bros. $1.
ing Chicago daily, makes direct connection at
The Adventures of Jones. By Hayden Carruth. Illus.,
18mo, pp. 123. Harper & Bros. $1.
New Orleans with trains for the
In Wild Rose Time. By Amanda M. Douglas, author of
* Larry.” 12mo, pp. 300. Lee & Shepard. $1.50.
MEXICAN
Jack o'Doon. By Maria Beale. Illus., 24mo, pp. 277, gilt
top. Henry Holt & Co. 75 cts.
GULF COAST RESORTS
A Son of Hagar. By Hall Caine, author of "The Manx-
man, Illus., 12mo, pp. 354. R. F. Fenno & Co. $1.
Of Mississippi, reaching Bay St. Louis, Pass
The Chronicles of Break o' Day. By E. Everett Howe.
12mo, pp. 342. Arena Publishing Co. $1.25.
Christian, Biloxi, and Mississippi City before
Life: A Novel. By William W. Wheeler. 12mo, pp. 287. bedtime of the day after leaving Chicago. By
Arena Publishing Co. $1.25.
Chimmie Fadden, Major Max, and Other Stories. By Ed its “ New Orleans Limited,” also, a new route
ward W. Townsend. Illus., 12mo, pp. 346, paper. Lovell, from Sioux City and Chicago to Florida has
Coryell & Co. 50 cts.
Jean Belin: The French Robinson Crusoe. From the French been inaugurated, known as
of Alfred de Bréhat. Illus., 12mo, pp. 350. Lee & Shep-
ard. $1.50.
THE HOLLY SPRINGS ROUTE
Castle Rackrent and The Absentee. By Maria Edgeworth ;
with introduction by Anne Thackeray Ritchie. Illus.,
TO FLORIDA
12mo, pp. 385. Macmillan & Co. $1.25.
Via Holly Springs, Birmingham, and Atlanta.
Lippincott's Select Novels: Gallia, by Ménie Muriel
Dowie ; 16mo, pp. 313. 50 cts.
But one change of Sleeping Car, and that on
Putnam's Hudson Library: A Woman of Impulse, by train en route. Through reservations to Jack-
Justin Huntley McCarthy ; 16mo, pp. 314. 50 cts.
Merriam's Waldorf Series: Billtry, a parody on "Trilby,"
sonrille. The Illinois Central, in connection
by Mary K. Dallas ; 16mo, pp. 153. 50 cts.
with the Southern Pacific, is also the Only True
SOCIOLOGY.- FINANCE.
Winter Route
Nihilism as It Is. Being Stepniak's Pamphlets, trans. by E.
L. Voynich, and Felix Volkhofsky's "Claims of the Rus-
TO CALIFORNIA
sian Liberals." 12mo, pp. 122. London: T. Fisher Un-
win. New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons.
Via NEW ORLEANS.
Joint-Metallism. By Anson Phelps Stokes. Third edition,
12mo, pp. 221. Putnam's “Questions of the Day." $1. Through first-class Sleeping Car reservations,
SCIENCE.
Chicago to San Francisco, in connection with
Meteorology: Weather and Methods of Forecasting, with the Southern Pacific's “ Sunset Limited,” every
description of Instruments and River Flood Predictions.
By Thomas Russell. Illus., 8vo, pp. 277. Macmillan & Tuesday night from Chicago. Through Tourist
Co. $4.
Sleeping Car from Chicago to Los Angeles every
Physiographic Processes. By John W. Powell. Illus.,
4to, paper. American Book Co. 20 cts.
Wednesday night.
THEOLOGY AND RELIGION.
Tickets and ful information can be obtained
The Foundations of Belief: Notes introductory to the of your Local Ticket Agent, or by addressing
Study of Theology. By the Rt. Hon. Arthur J. Balfour,
author of “ Philosophic Doubt.” 12mo, pp. 366. Long-
A. H. HANSON, G. P. A., Chicago, Ill.
mans, Green, & Co. $2.
Modern Missions in the East: Their Methods, Successes,
THE BOOK SHOP, CHICAGO.
and Limitations. By Edward A. Lawrence, D.D.; with
SCARCE BOOKS. BACK-NUMBER MAGAZINES. For any book on any sub-
introduction by Edward T. Eaton, D.D. 12mo, pp. 329.
ject write to The Book Shop. Catalogues free.
Harper & Bros. $1.75.
Christianity and Our Times. By R. P. Brorup. 12mo,
INTEREST TO AUTHORS AND PUBLISHERS: The
OF
skilled revision and correction of novels, biographies, short stories,
pp. 228, paper, Chicago : International Book Co. 25 cts.
plays, histories, monographs, poems; letters of unbiased criticism and
advice; the compilation and editing of standard works. Send your MS.
EDUCATION.-BOOKS FOR SCHOOLS.
to the N. Y. Bureau of Revision, the only thoroughly-equipped literary
Eciucation in Maryland. By Bernard C. Steiner, Ph.D. bureau in the country. Established 1880: unique in position and suc-
Illus., 8vo, pp. 331. Government Printing Office.
Terms by agreement. Circulars. Address
A Book of Elizabethan Lyrics. Selected and edited by Dr. TITUS M. COAN, 70 Fifth Ave., New York.
Felix E. Schelling, 12mo, pp. 327. Ginn's "Atheneum
Press Series." $1.25.
Le Tour du Monde en Quatre - Vingts Jours. By Jules
EDUCATIONAL.
Verne. Edited, with English notes, by A. H. Edgren.
16mo, pp. 173. Heath's Modern Language Texts." 35 MISS GIBBONS' SCHOOL FOR GIRLS, New York City.
No. 55 West 47th st. Mrs. SARAH H. EMERSON, Prin-
GAMES.
cipal. Reopened October 4. A few boarding pupils taken.
The Table Game: A French Game to Familiarize Pupils YOUNG LADIES' SEMINARY, Freehold, N. J.
with Objects in the Dining-room. By Hélène J. Roth. Prepares pupils for College. Broader Seminary Course.
W. R. Jenkins. In box, 75 cts.
Room for twenty-five boarders. Individual care of pupils.
Das Deutsche Litteratur Spiel. Von F. S. Zoller. 100 Pleasant family life. Fall term opened Sept. 12, 1894.
cards, in box. W. R. Jenkins. 75 cts.
Miss EUNICE D. SEWALL, Principal.
THE DIAL PRESS, CHICAGO.
cess.
cts.
1


STATE UND
051
154
v.18
KUMALASANDO
no.210
March 16, 1895
Library
Plist
THE
THE DIAL
A SEMI- MONTHLY JOURNAL OF
Literary Criticism, Discussion, and Information.
EDITED BY I Volume XVIII.
FRANCIS F. BROWNE. No. 210.
CHICAGO, MARCH 16, 1895.
10 cts, a copy.315 WABASH AVE.
Opposite Auditorium.
$2. a year.
Charles Scribner's Sons' New Books
History of the United States.
bilem of mun? The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson.
Dr. Parkhurst's Book,
OUR FIGHT WITH By E. BENJAMIN ANDREWS, D.D., LL.D., President of Brown University. With
Maps. 2 vols., crown 8vo, $4.00.
TAMMANY.
“It is admirably arranged; it gives much information not hitherto directly accessible to the
general reader; it impresses one as being fair in its representations and unprejudiced in its
By Rev. CHARLES H. PARKHURST,
judgments; it gives a wonderfully broad and satisfactory view of national growth, and it is
D.D. 12mo, $1.25.
decidedly attractive in style -- terse, pointed, emphatic, yet never tiresome."— Boston Beacon.
"There can be no doubt that Dr. Park-
“The freshest and most readable treatise of
hurst's book' will have a wide sale, not
“It must be acknowledged as a standard,
its class." - Watchman.
only because it gives the whole story of his
reliable and trustworthy."-- Boston Times.
crusade in condensed, get-at-able form, but “It is heartily to be commended, sure to “One of the best popular histories of Amer-
because every man and woman who lives delight and instruct."'-- New York Observer. ica, if not the best."-- Advance.
in a city or town where there is official
“His style is clear and concise. One reads
corruption--and where is there not ?-will
"A brief and admirably lucid history. His
read it to learn how the work of reforma-
with accumulated interest to the end." - style is crisp and energetic." Church Stand-
tion may be carried on. The book is a mon-
Christian Advocate.
ard.
ument to Dr. Parkhurst, raised by his own “Unquestionably of value. He is a man of “ A book which the advanced student will
hands."— The Chicago Tribune.
broad and judicial mind." R. H. Stoddard, find very near perfection." – Boston Saturday
“An extraordinary volume, which no in Mail and Express.
Evening Gazette.
one can afford to leave unread. It is the
history of a great period in the life of a
great city. It is also the partial autobi-
ography of a remarkable man. It is finally
a practical guide to the problem of muni-
cipal reform."- The Eraminer.
“It is the most fascinating volume that
"He gave us pleasure in a higher and finer measure than any of his contemporaries, and, for
has appeared this year, and we predict that
one, I could bear it better that they should all cease writing than that he should be gone out of
it will be read by more people than all
novels put together."-Christian Work.
our sight and hearing."- Andrew Lang, in Illustrated London News.
"It is one of the remarkable histories
of the times." - Chicago Inter-Ocean.
New UNIFORM EDITION OF THE FOLLOWING VOLUMES.
KIDNAPPED. Illustrated. $1.50.
ISLAND NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
The Life and Adventures DAVID BALFOUR. $1.50.
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162
[March 16,
THE DIAL
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1895.]
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164
[March 16,
THE DIAL
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1895.]
THE DIAL
165
MOST TIMELY BOOK OF THE YEAR.
“ Military Career of
Napoleon
the Great.'
READY THIS WEEK.
“The Text-Book of the New Reformation."
Municipal Reform Movements
IN THE UNITED STATES.
By WILLIAM HOWE TOLMAN, Ph.D., Secretary of the City
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12mo, cloth, $1.00.
Part I. The Civic Renaissance.
Part II. Municipal Reform Movements.
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Part IV. Women's Work in Municipal Reform.
Part V. The City Vigilance League ; its Origin, Growth, Object, Ad-
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By MONTGOMERY B. GIBBS.
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Crown 8vo, with 32 full-page illustrations. Nearly 600 pages.
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