se may be averted by the
of government are as good as anybody's, and precautions suggested by scientific knowledge,
probably a little better; their stock in trade is are the last propositions that such a man will
an infinite self-assurance, and their method the admit. And the body politic seems to fare in
method of flattery, either rank or insidious, much the same way, for your Demos is firm in
according to the particular vanities or suscep his prejudices, and distrusts above all things
tibilities of their hearers.
else the pedantry of the university professor
For many years these artful manipulators of or other variety of trained practitioner. “What
public opinion, in pursuit of their ad captan can he know about politics ?” some one said
dum policy, have sedulously labored to devel of Lowell, a few years before the death of our
op the antagonism always latent between the great American scholar; “ he never made a
masses and the men of scholarship. The pro- stump speech in his life. “ What can he know
cess is by no means peculiar to this country, about the tariff ?" says the self-confident wool-
but has probably been more successfully car grower of the authoritative writer upon eco-
ried out with us than elsewhere, in consequence nomic science; "he never raised a flock of
of the innate irreverence of the American na sheep in his life.
tional character, its unpleasant self-assertive The application of these illustrations to the
ness, and the superficiality of the educational Venezuelan controversy is obvious enough.
influences under which it has in large part been That controversy presents — leaving its ethics
shaped. A curiously mythical notion of the out of the question—two special problems, one
scholar and his function in society, as unlike of international law and one of statesmanship.
the reality as anything that could well be im- The first problem is concerned with the rela-
agined, has come currently to be held, and in tion of the Monroe Doctrine to the body of in-
perfect good faith, by a large proportion of our ternational law and usage, together with the
population. One can hardly take up an Amer- question of the legitimacy of an application of
ican newspaper without coming upon many a that Doctrine to this particular case. The sec-
covert sneer at the scholar and his modes of ond problem is concerned with the possible
thinking, upon many an expression of ill con menace to our national safety resulting from a
cealed contempt for his impracticability and slight enlargement of a small English colony
his idealism. He is spoken of as if he were in a corner of South America. Both of these
some curious sort of stuffed animal, exhib problems belong preëminently to the domain
ited in the glass case of some university or of the scholar, and upon neither of them is the
other institution of learning. That he has opinion of the “man in the street " likely to
opinions upon the subject to which he has de have any value. Now the judgment of com-
voted a lifetime of thought is, of course, a fa petent authorities upon both of these problems,
miliar fact, for he sometimes has the temerity in this country as well as in Europe, is sub-
to state them in public; but that they should stantially unanimous as far as the essential ele-
be taken seriously by the plain sensible man of ments are concerned. That judgment runs


1896.]
39
THE DIAL
counter to an opinion, or rather a sentiment, individual self-improvement and altruism; progress
that seems to have a somewhat widespread is generally expected to take the form of a change
currency among our population, a sentiment in the economic, political, and educational conditions
based mainly upon prejudices of the baser sort,
of Russia. Tolstoi is indifferent to external reforms,
and insists that character alone is essential. He
and inflamed by the pernicious zeal of time-
exhorts individual men and women to be unselfish,
serving politicians and journalists. What
brave, and truthful, and has no hope of improvement
should be the attitude of the sober-minded to-
through any other agency. Nearly all his recent
ward this division of opinion? It seems to us
works, including “Master and Man,” enforce this
that but one rational answer to such a question moral; and hence most of his readers, while admit-
is possible. The voice of a man who has made ting the literary power and charm of his latter-day
the subjects concerned the study of his life fiction, declare that Russia no longer finds in it that
time, who can bring to bear upon the problems inspiration and that aid which Tolstoi afforded it
the full weight of historical scholarship and
in the days when his doctrines enjoyed considerable
scientific method, must surely outweigh the
popularity. There is considerable interest in the
new novel which Tolstoi is understood to have
voices of many thousands of butchers and
bakers and candlestick-makers, however suc-
nearly ready for publication. It deals with the life
of Siberian convicts, and shows that moral regen-
cessfully they may ply their respective crafts.
eration is not imposssible even under the worst con-
It is only where really competent opinion is ditions, provided love in its most unselfish form is
divided, as in the case of the fierce discussion
present to guide and comfort the victims. Accord-
about acquired characteristics and heredity ing to reports in the Russian press, the heroine of
which just now divides the biologists into two the new novel is a young woman
injustly accused
opposed camps, that the layman is at all justi- of having poisoned a rich merchant with whom she
fied in taking sides, and even in such a case a
lived in illicit relations, while the hero is the foreman
of the jury which convicts the woman. This fore-
modest suspension of judgment is for him the
man falls in love with the supposed murderer, and
more fitting part. “The majority is always
follows her to Siberia. Whatever the artistic merits
wrong
is the vehement utterance of one of
of this new story may prove to be, its "moral" will
Dr. Ibsen's characters, reflecting, doubtless,
be essentially the same as that of “Master and
the view of the dramatist himself in one of his Man,” and it cannot be taken as expressing the
moods of angry individualism. Without ac present sentiments and aspirations of Russia. Tol-
cepting this as a complete induction, we may stoi is powerful, but he stands virtually alone. The
say that history shows the majority to have been progressive elements of Russia recognize his sin-
often wrong, at least, and honors the minority cerity and moral greatness, but decline to follow
that has stood for justice and right. And we
him. He is not a leader of men, and his writings
do not impel his readers to action along the lines
may add that the minority, when it really is
indicated by him.
right, and stands patiently steadfast, uearly
The younger writers of fiction, having no special
always in the end brings around to its own way
doctrine to preach, turn to actual life for their
of thinking the wrong-headed majority.
material, and find it colorless, vague, poor, unstable.
Being, most of them, extremely realistic, their novels
naturally reflect the emptiness and confusion of the
THE STAGNATION IN RUSSIAN
life they depict. The most successful of them
Mamin, Chekhoff, Korolenko, and others — still
LITERATURE.
continue to describe peasant life; but a number
The close connection between politics and letters, have abandoned that field and turned their attention
which has been a distinctive characteristic of the to the aristocratic classes and the high life of the
intellectual life of Russia, was never more strikingly capital. This departure is deemed very significant
illustrated than at the present time. The confusion, by the best Russian critics, for ever since the eman-
uncertainty, and haziness of the political situation cipation of the serfs the “ Populist " movement in
are fully reflected in the literature of the country. Russia has attracted the finest writers, and the life
The land which has produced Tourguénieff, Gogol, and labor of the people — the peasantry and the city
Dostoievsky, Saltikoff, and Tolstoi, is now without proletariat have furnished the themes for their
a single definite literary school or movement. Tol- productions. This literary movement has coincided
stoi, to be sure, lives and writes. His latest novel, and corresponded with the revolutionary Populist
“Master and Man," whose success outside of Russia movement, which sent thousands of the most cul-
has not been very decided, has proved disappointing tured and refined youths into the villages and fac-
to the progressive youth of Russia. While every-
While every- tories, to live and work with the common people for
thing Tolstoi publishes is eagerly read and widely the sake of disseminating liberal political ideas
discussed, the ideas which he represents are no longer among them and scattering the seeds of revolution.
dominant. There is little sympathy with the cult of Now, however, the revolutionary movement is prac-


40
[Jan. 16,
THE DIAL
tically dead in Russia. The
young men
and
women free advice. The monopoly of the sale of liquor,
no longer go among the people as propagandists which the government has experimentally intro-
and conspirators against the powers that be, while duced in a few provinces, appears to have worked
terrorism has been abandoned as wasteful and futile. well, and the disappearance of all private saloons
The desire of the progressive minority to be useful is regarded as a great reform by all Russian writers
to the masses is as intense as it has ever been, but except the few who claim that the nobility, rather
the methods have radically changed. Literature than the government, ought to enjoy this monopoly.
has not as yet adapted itself to these new conditions, In short, reform, though not of a political or con-
and it is at present colorless, barren, and vapid. stitutional nature, is in the air. People are in a
The high hopes of the reformers having been state of expectancy. They are hopeful, and yet skep-
dashed by the reactionary attitude of the Czar, con tical. They believe that something will be done by
stitutional and political changes, while still secretly the present government, and they are eager to lend
yearned for, have ceased to form the staple of dis a hand and cooperate in anything really conducive
cussion. But it would be an error to suppose
that to national welfare; at the same time, they fear that
no improvements at all are expected in Russia. The the reactionary spirit presiding over these reform-
present government is apparently determined to atory movements may emasculate and deflower the
demonstrate that absolutism is not incompatible most promising of the reforms.
with true progress, and a number of important re Under these circumstances the literary life can
forms seem to have been decided upon. Perhaps hardly be very vigorous. Publicists and economists
the most important task undertaken by it is univer manage to extract some comfort from the dim prog-
sal popular education. There is a veritable educa pects and possibilities of progress, but the lot of the
tional crusade in Russia at present. The Provincial novelists and story-tellers is hard indeed. The
Assemblies, the press, official and voluntary socie- present is dismal and chaotic, and they are not even
ties, all talk about the means of raising the popular sure that they are on the eve of a new era. Real-
intelligence. Thousands of new schools are pro ism has always been supreme in Russian fiction, but
posed for villages, night schools, libraries, lectures, even realism needs definite human documents and
and reading rooms are being organized in the cities, an active life full of movement, interest, and strug-
popular editions of national and foreign authors are gle. Stagnation, indefiniteness, confusion, are fatal
being undertaken, and the young men and women to it. All is talk at present in Russia; there are
of the country are turning their attention to this no types or things worthy of study and portrayal.
sphere of activity. Higher education is not neg. The Tourguénieff atmosphere has vanished; the ter-
lected. A medical college for women has been au rorist and revolutionary days are over; the enthu-
thorized by the government, and several new com siasm of the Populist propogandists has spent itself.
mercial colleges have been opened for graduates of No one knows what the future will bring. Tolstoi
female gymnasia. A warm controversy has arisen alone, as said above, unconcerned and indifferent,
in regard to the character of the proposed common with a firm faith in the saving quality of his phil-
schools. The Conservatives insist on religious train- osophy of life, is able to write and preach in the
ing and on the control of the schools by the clergy. form of semi-realistic fiction. He has his ideal,
They want none but priests as teachers, and plainly source of inspiration, and message, and he finds
intimate that secular education would prove a source sermons in stones and lessons in everything.
of the greatest danger to absolutism. Secular
VICTOR YARROS.
teachers, they say, would disseminate revolutionary
heresies and undermine the foundations of Church
and State. Moreover, mere intellectual training,
COMMUNICATION.
instruction in the “three R's,” they argue, will be
of little utility either to the masses or to the govern-
UNAUTHORIZED EDITION OF MURRAY'S
MYTHOLOGY.
ment. Honesty, loyalty, sobriety, and strong prac-
(To the Editor of THE DIAL.)
tical sense, are virtues entirely unrelated to the abil.
The literary notices of THE DIAL are so uniformly
ity to read and write, and the government ought not accurate and just that I read with some surprise, in the
to encourage education that is not spiritual, moral, issue of December 16, your mention of the new edition
Christian. On the other hand, the Liberals naturally of A. S. Murray's “ Manual of Mythology"; one might
insist on complete separation between the schools readily infer from it that the book had been carefully
and the Church, and they point to the tendencies in revised by the author. In a recent letter Mr. Murray
the civilized world at large as sustaining their view.
says: “Since the preparation of the second edition of the
The government has not interfered with this discus-
Manual, so long ago that I was but a young man then,
sion, but it is feared that it will finally take the side
I have had nothing whatever to do with the book in any
shape or form.” Moreover, the authorized publishers
of the Conservatives.
of the American edition are Messrs. Charles Scribner's
Economic and judicial reforms are also among Sons; on the conduct of the Philadelphia publisher who
the probabilities of the near future. New land has taken Mr. Murray's book without authorization, and
banks for the pesantry are planned, and in certain has had it revised without consulting him, each reader
Provincial Assemblies it is proposed to organize will pass judgment for himself.
F. W. K.
legal bureaus to which the peasants could apply for University of Michigan, Jan. 3, 1896.


1896.]
41
THE DIAE PA SE
theory-forming and :fact-straining in modern
The New Books.
historical writingi.that 2. plain common-sense
statement is refreshing.
THE LIFE AND TIMES OF CORREGGIO.*
The facts of Correggio's early life are practic-
It has always seemed somewhat odd that a
ally unknown, and this accounts for the isolated
genius” theory advanced by various writers.
painter of Correggio's genius should have lived
The absence of record was to them evidence
and worked in the centre of Italy, in the bright- enough that Correggio had neither teachers
est period of the Renaissance, without creating
notice for himself or his art, outside of his local like a fountain in the desert, by virtue of in-
nor education, and that he sprang up suddenly,
province, until long after his death. No con-
herent force. Neither the tale of his childish
temporary writer mentioned him ; Ariosto over-
any
looked him ; Vasari could get little exact data ignorance nor that of his great learning has
basis in historic statement. He wrote a good
about him, and had to write the first life of
hand and painted magnificent pictures : that is
him from hearsay. In 1552 Landi said of
him that he was “a painter nobly formed by | is fair to suppose, however, that he could have
positively all we know about his learning. It
nature herself rather than by any master," and
done neither without some cultivated intelli-
Titian at Parma with Charles V. praised his
Cathedral frescoes ; but the man's life was still
gence. He probably received the education of
the youths of his time. His native town and
unknown. Baldinucci added nothing to the
Vasari biography but eulogy, and it was not province were quite as awake to the intelligence
and learning of the Renaissance as other Ital-
until the eighteenth century that Tiraboschi
ian towns and provinces; there was building,
published documentary evidence about the
painter and tried to get at the facts of his carving, and painting there as elsewhere in
life. In our century much has been written
Italy, and the young Correggio was probably
about him: Pungileoni published new docu- just as susceptible to the spirit of the age in the
Emilia as the young Raphael in Umbria.
ments, Meyer sifted all the old material into
Correggio was born in 1494, of respectable
new form, Morelli straightened out the attribu-
but not rich or noble parents. His first mas-
tion of his pictures ; and now the director of
ter in painting was doubtless some local artist,
the Parma gallery, Dr. Corradi Ricci, comes
forward with more new documents in a large ceschi; but this is not positively known. There
like his uncle, or Antonio Bartolotti degli An-
handsomely-illustrated folio which finally sums
is no record of his apprenticeship in art, save
up all the recorded life of the painter.
what shows in his early works.
These are
Students of history will take up Dr. Ricci's
reminiscent of Ferrara and Bologna, but it can-
book with eagerness, and they may put it down
not be inferred that he was a pupil of Fran.
with some shade of disappointment. It doubt-
less contains all there is to be known about Costa. His first important picture, painted
cesco Bianchi-Ferrari, or of Francia, or of
Correggio, but the gist of it was already known.
when he was twenty, was the “ Madonna of St.
And those “new documents to which the Francis,” now in the Dresden gallery. In it
writer has had access, and which were to throw
new light upon the painter, are neither very known artists. Mantegna's “ Madonna of Vic-
one meets with many resemblances to well-
important nor very illuminating. Dr. Ricci
tory,” now in the Louvre, seems to have been
has written a sound critical and historical ac-
studied by the young painter. The pose of the
count of Correggio — the best yet published
St. Francis Madonna, the outstretched hand,
but it revolutionizes no old theories and estab-
the black-and-white of the pedestal, the drapery,
lishes no new point of view. It collects, cor-
the foreshortening, the children, all indicate a
rects, amends, and in that way doubtless gets study of the great Paduan. Yet Mantegna died
at the truth of matters; for the writer seems to
have no conception of Correggio that requires could not have been the latter's master. The
when Correggio was twelve years of age; he
a distortion of probability. He gives the facts
as they are known, and his inferences from them Mantegna's work. And other influences were
young Correggio was merely influenced by
are neither far-fetched nor illogical. For this
his readers will thank him. There is so much evidently upon him at the same time. The St.
Francis and the St. Catherine in the Dresden
* ANTONIO ALLEGRI DA CORREGGIO. His Life, his picture are strong reminders of Francia, and,
Friends, and his Times. By Corrado Ricci. Translated from
the Italian, by Florence Simmonds. New York: Imported though Dr. Ricci will not admit it, the picture
by Charles Scribner's Sons.
shows the influence of Leonardo da Vinci. The


42
STAR THE DIAL
[Jan. 16,
figure of John at the right belongs.to the Lom donna della Cesta," and the Descent from the
bard school of Leopardo. : Thọ: Madonna's Cross.” In 1523 he began painting the fres-
smile, the heavy eyelids, the oval face, the con coes of the Parma Cathedral, and these occu-
tours, the light-and-shade, are all borrowed pied him until his death. He completed the
from the same source; and that foreshortened great fresco in the cupola, and it seemed to
hand and arm may be seen in the “ Madonna receive almost instant recognition from his
of the Rocks” in the Louvre, as well as in townspeople. Vasari was the first outsider to
Mantegna’s “ Madonna of Victory.” The Lom write about it, Correggio's immediate pupils
bard tinge is again noticeable in Correggio's (and after them the Carracci) copied it, Titian
Bolognini Madonna" at Milan, and in other praised it, and still Correggio was only a
early works. There is no record that Correg- local celebrity. For all Titian's praise, Venice
gio ever was in Milan or ever saw Leonardo. did not know him ; for all Vasari's words, Flor-
It is highly probable, however, that he had seen ence did not know him. Barocci, the later
and studied some Lombard pictures ; for dur- Bolognese, the Venetian Tiepolo, helped them-
ing his youth Parma was at one time subject selves to the Parmese frescoes ; but it was not
to Milan, and Milanese painters had been there until the eighteenth century that Correggio
- yes, Leonardo himself for a brief visit. really came to be ranked among the very great
The study of Correggio's masters and early masters of Italy.
influences ends where it begins, in conjecture.
Between 1524 and 1530, his large altar-
Like most young painters, he probably swung pieces — the three large ones at Dresden, the
here and there until he found his own mind “St. Jerome," and the “Madonna della Sco-
and path. He was not a life-long assimilator della" at Parma—were painted. His technique
like Raphael, but a man of peculiar individ at this time was so perfect that he could thor-
uality, who always remained Emilian in art, oughly express his meaning, and all his joyous-
though at first swayed by the great men of the ness and delight in physical life were poured out
times. It was natural that he should admire regardless of his religious subjects. Grace,
Leonardo, Francia, Costa, Dosso, and Man- charm, movement, rhythm of line and color,
tegna ; and that he followed the last-named in light-and-shade, all blended with splendid hand-
his frescoes for the Convent of S. Paolo at ling to make great art. Correggio was at his
Parma, there can be little doubt. These fres- height. His mythological pieces were done in
coes were done in 1518, and Correggio was at the last years of his life, with the exception of
that time living in Parma. In 1519 he re the “ Antiope" and the “ Education of Cupid.”
turned for a year to his native town of Correg- Those years were destined to be few. His wife
gio, and then came back to Parma to do the died in 1528, and after 1530 there is no trace
frescoes of S. Giovanni Evangelista, at the re of him at Parma. He was evidently at his na-
quest of the Benedictines. The fresco in the tive town of Correggio, a few miles away, where
dome of this church marks something of a de he died March 5, 1534, aged forty years.
parture not only in Correggio's life but in Ital. There is no reason whatever to suppose that he
ian art. It had been the practice in the com died in poverty and neglect, as was formerly
position of large spaces to cut up the area into stated. In fact this latest biography makes it
squares, triangles, and architectural niches, clear that he died wealthy and respected.
and to fill these with separate pictures; but Cor Where his ashes repose, no one knows. They
reggio invented a composition of colossal pro have his alleged body at Correggio, and his
portions, and threw the whole dome into one alleged skull is in the Academy at Modena ;
picture, showing Christ ascending in the cen but both relics are bogus — the skull being that
tre of the dome with the apostles and angels of an old woman instead of a young man.
below him in a vast circle. And here in this These outline facts are about all that is
fresco the grace of Correggio is as nothing to his known of Correggio the man. Correggio the
strength. The figures of the apostles are almost painter has been well and thoroughly studied
like Michael Angelo's, so powerful are they in in his works, and though Dr. Ricci's estimate
line and form, while that charm and sweetness of his genius and style is very good, it is not a
so characteristic of his later altar-pieces are novel estimate. Correggio was a painter of
hardly noticeable.
striking individuality, but his isolation from
It was in 1520 that Correggio's marriage the leaders of the Renaissance did not neces-
took place, and about this time that he painted sarily produce his individuality; he was simple,
the “Marriage of St. Catharine,” the “Ma. almost child-like, in his thought, having little


1896.]
43
THE DIAL
care for the religious, the classic, or the intel-
LESSONS IN MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT.*
lectual; but his alleged lack of education did
not necessarily produce his simplicity. It was
Mr. Albert Shaw's valuable book on “Mu-
a part of his nature to regard all things for nicipal Government in Great Britain
pre-
what they looked rather than for what they pared us for a thorough piece of work in his
meant, and to see all things as form and color handling of Continental European cities ; and
rather than as symbols of ideas. Nothing could in this expectation we are not disappointed.
have greatly changed that point of view. In His solid volume of five hundred pages is clear
a way, he was material and sensuous, given to and systematic in treatment and is packed with
form and color for their own sake, and to
information. Porter's “Human Intellect" was
human beings for their humanity's sake. The said by a student of philosophy to be a book
problems of good and evil, of sin, death, and calculated to give one a headache at thought
the hereafter, never concerned him. To live of the author's vast reading implied in it. Mr.
and be glad in the sunlight, to be simple, frank,
Shaw's work in like manner is obviously the
natural, and graceful, apparently made up
his essence of countless reports and other inter-
sum of existence in art. He would have no minable documents. But it is the essence. And
solemnity, no austerity, no great intellectuality. it is illumined by a painstaking and loving
Nothing tragic or mournful or pathetic inter study of this most modern of subjects in polit-
ested him. He was in love with physical life, ical science.
and he told his love with all the sentiment of a The nine chapters form really a discussion
lover. That he sometimes nearly precipitated
of five related topics. The first two chapters
sentiment into sentimentality, is true.
He - nearly half the book are devoted to Paris
barely escaped it, and his followers were lost and the French municipal system in general.
in it. It was the imitation of Correggio that
This is taken as the type with which other sys-
produced the insipidities of painters like Carlo tems are to be compared. Municipal institu-
Dolci and Sassoferato.
tions in France were powerfully affected by the
That Correggio, technically, should have French Revolution, and early reached an ad-
been so perfect, living as he did shut off from vanced development. The results have been
Florence and Venice, is more remarkable than very interesting and instructive, and it is
his peculiar mental attitude, since craftsman- largely from them that the impulse has been
ship is seldom well-taught if self-taught. Yet given to the rest of the continent. The third
Correggio was somehow extremely well taught. and fourth chapters relate to Belgium and Hol-
His composition was occasionally involved and land, Spain, and Italy. The next three cover
bewildering, but his drawing was nearly fault the subject in Germany, and the last two in
less and his movement excellent. His light Austria and Hungary. Russian and Scandi-
and-shade has never been surpassed by any
navian cities are not considered.
painter, ancient or modern, his color was rich The comprehensive nature of the work will
and harmonious, his atmosphere omnipresent be seen by a mere enumeration of the topics
and enveloping, his brush-work sure and treated in discussing France. The author
spirited. Indeed, it was the technique of his speaks of public order, streets, paving, light,
art, rather than the spirit of it, that first drew transit, water, drainage, sanitation, bridges,
the attention of painters to his work, and they schools, libraries, savings banks, and pawn-
made it known to the world.
shops. He also analyzes the structure and work-
Dr. Ricci has written a book that is the ing of government by which all these services
better for coming from a candid mind and
are administered. Some of the distinctive facts
careful student. He has told us all there is to in the study of Paris are worthy of notice.
tell about Correggio, and that, too, in a concise One of them, and one that has an important
and readable style. He might have followed bearing on the great development of that city,
ancient fables and made a more bulky biogra- is the fact that Paris is the national capital.
phy, but it is matter for rejoicing that he has Hence the general government has a close re-
not done so. He has adhered to the records, lation to its civic life, as is the case, indeed,
and if he has found few new data about Cor- with the capital cities of most nations. Our
reggio it is all the more to his credit that he own city of Washington is governed directly
resisted the modern tendency to create hypo- under the Congress of the United States, with
theses and postulate them as proven fact.
* MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT IN CONTINENTAL EUROPE. By
JOHN C. VAN DYKE.
Albert Shaw. New York: The Century Co.
16


44
(Jan. 16,
THE DIAL
little or no home-rule. The Paris police is man us, entirely wanting. He finds city administra-
aged by a department of the national adminis tion a profession — the German cities calling a
tration. But that is also the system in Lon mayor from some other city, just as one of our
don. And the recollection of the Commune of universities would call a president. He finds
1871, to say nothing of previous insurrections, corporate privileges dealt with primarily for
will make France hesitate long before entrust the benefit of the municipality, and so most
ing the preservation of public order in Paris carefully hedged about with restrictions. He
to local control. In the management of na finds better paving, better sanitation, better
tural monopolies, such as gas and street tran care for education, better municipal bookkeep-
sit, the city follows methods which should make ing, than in American cities.
Americans begin thinking. No perpetual, or The Germania of Tacitus has been thought
virtually perpetual, franchises are granted. All by some to have been a political tract, intended
are subject to careful conditions, which include to show what Rome ought to be by painting
adequate compensation to the public treasury, some other country as possessing the virtues
specified services and prices, constant govern- which Rome lacked.
which Rome lacked. One is almost tempted
mental supervision and control, and ultimate to consider Mr. Shaw's optimistic picture of
reversion of plants to public ownership. In European cities as made on a similar plan.
many cases these services are owned and ad Nearly everything he depicts is something which
ministered directly by the city. Public edu we do in exactly the opposite way, and with
cation, especially in technical lines, is exceed just the opposite results. To be sure, we have
ingly elaborate. There is no newspaper war
great difficulties. Our cities grow very rapidly.
on “ fads” in Paris.
It is recognized that But those of Germany, since 1871, have grown
taste, knowledge, and manual skill return their at the same rate. We have universal suffrage.
cost many fold. Accordingly, the most careful But so has France. We have, it is true, a more
instruction is given in all forms of hand-work heterogeneous population than European cities;
and in the fine arts. Manual training in the but that is not enough to account for our short-
use of tools for boys, in needlework and the do- comings. And Americans cannot do better
mestic arts for girls, in music and drawing for than to make themselves thoroughly familiar
all, is given special attention. At the same time with Mr. Shaw's vivid exposition of how city
there are distinct trade-schools of many kinds, government ought to be conducted, as seen in
and high-schools of science, literature, classics, Europe. Almost
any American city will show
and engineering
more or less plainly how it ought not to be done.
The German system of local government is
HARRY PRATT JUDSON.
not radically different from the French. In
each the fundamental part is the council. This
is chosen by the people, and in turn selects the
administrative staff. Of course Paris is an
A GREATER BLACKSTONE.*
exception, as in that city the civic administra-
tion is in the hands of the national government.
Admiration and gratitude are the mental
states that rise into consciousness when one
And on the other hand, in Germany munici-
inquires of himself what impressions have been
pal suffrage, unlike the French and American
systems, is usually limited to those possessed
made by perusal of the marvellous and monu-
mental work on the sources of English law,
of some amount of property. The three-class
“ The History of English Law before the Time
system of Prussia, for instance, is simply this :
Those who pay taxes on large amounts of prop-
of Edward I.” Seldom are analysis and criti-
cism asked for on the results of investigations
erty, amounting to one-third the whole, form
whose penetration and accuracy are vouched for
the first class; those who pay on the next third
by so distinguished and truth-compelling names
form the second class; the remainder of the
as those of Sir Frederick Pollock and Profes-
tax-payers form the third class. Each class
sor Maitland : the one, professor of jurispru-
elects a third of the city council. Obviously,
dence at Oxford ; the other, professor of the
the number of voters in the third class greatly
laws of England at Cambridge. Yet even with-
outnumbers those in both the others combined.
In all the continental cities, Mr. Shaw finds
out the generous avowal by the senior author,
efficiency, economy, and trained intelligence
*THE HISTORY OF ENGLISH LAW BEFORE THE TIME OF
EDWARD I. By Sir Frederick Pollock, Bart., and Frederic
characterizing municipal administration. He
William Maitland. Two volumes. Boston: Little, Brown,
finds the ward politics, which is so familiar to & Co.


1896.]
45
THE DIAL
6
in a brief prefatory remark, one would soon dis of the treatise, under the head of Ownership
cover that these stately volumes bear through and Possession, in the discussion of seisin and
out the distinguishing characteristics of the writs of entry. As an illustration of the felici-
learning and genius of the Downing Professor tous manner in which these archaic subjects are
of Laws at Cambridge. And those who know handled it may suffice to cite the following pas-
Professor Maitland's work in other publica- sage in regard to the transition from assize to
tions will be glad that it is so, for they must jury:
all have long since recognized that for a most “In a little time we have these four and only theso
happy ability to combine the functions of inves four petty assizes. Only in these four instances does
tigation and interpretation, he is without a peer
the writ, which is the first step in the procedure, the
in the field of political science. His painstak-
original writ, direct the empanelling of an inquest. Trial
by jury, in the narrowest sense of that term, trial by jury
ing and patient examination of original mate as distinct from trial by an assize, slowly creeps in by
rial, his dextrous insight, his calm and undog another route. The principle from which it starts is
matic judgment, may be found in other men ;
simply this, that if in any action the litigants by their
his logical marshalling of the vast array of
pleadings come to an issue of fact, they may agree to
be bound by the verdict of a jury and will be bound
facts, in others; and his lucid and fascinating
accordingly. In course of time the judges will in effect
manner and language, in others again ; but it drive litigants into such agreements by saying You
is a rare combination which brings all these must accept your opponent's offer of a jury or you will
together in one man, and which has made Pro lose your cause '; but in theory the jury only comes in
fessor Maitland the master in his field. All
after both parties have consented to accept its verdict.
An assize, other than a grand assize, is summoned by
these characteristics of his former work appear the original writ: it is summoned at the same time that
again in these his latest volumes, and prompt the defendant is summoned and before his story has
the reader to the wish, with which he leaves been heard; a jury is not summoned until the litigants
them, that this great scholar may live to give
in their pleadings have agreed to take the testimony of
"the country'about some matter of fact. In course of
the world the history of later English law.
time the jury, which has its roots in the fertile ground
The first two hundred pages of the work are of consent, will grow at the expense of the assize, which
devoted to a general sketch of the law for the has sprung from the stony soil of ordinance; even an
period prior to 1272, under the headings Anglo- (vertitur in juratam) by the consent of the parties; but
assisa when summoned will often be turned into a jury
Saxon Law, Norman Law, the Age of Glan-
still trial by jury, if we use this term in a large sense,
vill, the Age of Bracton, and Roman and Canon
and neglect some technical details, is introduced by the
Law. Eleven hundred pages more discuss the ordinances of Henry II. as part of the usual machinery
Doctrines of English Law in the Early Middle
of civil justice."
Ages, under the headings, Tenure, Sorts and In the chapter on Bracton the growth of the
Conditions of Men, Jurisdiction and the Com- system of royal courts is treated in the same
munities of the Land, Ownership and Posses- suggestive manner, and one sees, as from a
sion, Contract, Inheritance, Family Law, Crime bird's-eye view, the branching off from the
and Tort, and Procedure. This mere list of Curia Regis of Exchequer, Common Pleas,
capital headings will show how admirably the King's Bench, Chancery, Parliament, and Privy
whole subject is conceived of for presentation. Council. Only in the matter of the earliest dis-
The chapter on the age of Glanvill is rich in tinction between Common Pleas and King's
suggestion. Nowhere else is so clearly traced Bench is there failure to put it quite as clearly
the growth of the jury system, from its sources as Mr. Pike did six months earlier in his “Con-
in the Frankish inquisition, through the assizes stitutional History of the House of Lords."
of the reign of Henry II. No student who has The chapter on the canon law is very brief, but
painfully tried to work out these assizes in the sheds much light. The influence of Roman law
pages of Stubbs but will be thankful for this is shown to be partly by way of repulsion,
simple exposition of the whole matter. It is, partly by way of attraction. English lawyers
however, unfortunate that while the text is were moved, not only to bring their own law
without flaw in its distinction of the great pro abreast of the foreign rival by recourse to its
prietary assize — the Grand assize — from the native forces of progress, but also by imitation
four possessory or petty assizes, the index fails and incorporation of the stranger. Stress is
one completely. There is no entry whatever laid
upon
the accident of a divergence of En-
under the title Proprietary Actions, although glish and continental law from one another, as
reference should certainly be made to I. 126 the one shook off the Roman influences which
128, 333, II. 62-79, 136, 140. The same dis the other accepted.
tinction is worked out in the doctrinal portion The book abounds in new view-points for
ad


46
[Jan. 16,
THE DIAL
old ideas. Thus, the failure to discover the lies in the absence of any dogmatism, and in
judicial trial by battle in Saxon England, as in the continual presentation of the variety and
other Germanic countries, is accounted for by irregularity of mediæval life. Here are no
the persistence of extra-judicial fighting. Only beautifully symmetrical theories to maintain,
in those lands where a central power was strong but only a careful collocation of an immense
enough to forbid the latter could the judicial body of facts, and an attempt to discern in
duel have place, “thus combining the physical them the lines of movement toward the England
joy of battle with the intellectual luxury of of to-day. The work has been grandly done,
strictly formal procedure." Scutage, which once for all, we surmise, as to the substance of
many think of as introduced in 1159, is probit, although new discoveries may alter details of
ably of much earlier date, and even under Ed- the picture. The whole work is a great credit
ward I. the tenant-in-chief who failed to attend to the publishing houses that put it forth. Our
would be rated, after the campaign ended, in only criticism is on the inadequate index, of
a levy which included, not only the traditional which we have already spoken. Additional
scutage, but a heavy fine. It seems clear omissions noted are Droitural Actions, II.,
that the tenant-in-chief's duty of providing an 379; and as citations under topics already en.
armed force is not commuted into a duty of tered, Barns' Part, II., 375; Bastard, II., 373–
paying scutage.” So, again, in the chapter on 376 ; Possessory Actions, II., 378. The refer-
Tenure, it is shown in regard to alienation that ences for Bond should be to Volume II.
we must start not from the absolute inaliena-
JOHN J. HALSEY.
bility of the fief,'nor from the absolute alien-
ability of the fee simple,' but from ... an
indeterminate right of the lord to prevent alien-
ations which would seriously impair his inter-
THE STORY OF THE “ALABAMA.”*
ests.” The Gordian knot that has been tan A surviving officer of the Confederate crui-
gled out of free men holding by unfree tenure ser “ Alabama," Lieutenant Arthur Sinclair,
is thus resolved, while we wonder that it was has prepared, chiefly from his own recollec-
not done long ago.
tions, an account of the career of that famous
“The tenure is unfree, not because the tenant · holds vessel, and this is now published in a substan-
at the will of the lord' in the sense of being removable tial illustrated volume of some three hundred
at a moment's notice, but because his services, though and fifty pages. It is essentially a personal
in many respects minutely defined by custom, cannot be
altogether defined without constant reference to the
narrative, readable though not literate in style,
lord's will. . . . The man wbo on going to bed knows good-tempered though one-sided; yet, with its
that he must spend the morrow in working for his lord, many faults, a distinct contribution to the per-
and does not know to what kind of work he may be put,
manent literature of the Civil War. For it is
though he may be legally a free man, free to fling up
his tenement and go away, is in fact for the time being the statement of an eye-witness of and active
bound by his tenure to live the same life that is led by participant in some of the more stirring and
the great mass of unfree men; custom sets many limits memorable sea episodes of that eventful period.
to his labours, custom sets many limits to theirs; the idea
It is, of course, hardly to be expected that a
of abandoning his home never enters his head; the lord's
will plays a large part in shaping his life.”
strictly impartial statement of the Alabama's”
character and position, or of her adventures
One finds in the discussion of the County, as and achievements, should come from one of her
is expected, a fuller presentation of the view
own officers.
of the suitors in the county court, first brought believed in the vessel and in her mission; and
Lieutenant Sinclair naturally
forward by Mr. Maitland in Volume III. of
that is enough for the purposes of his narra-
the “ English Historical Review.” This is, in tive. It is told with an attractive frankness,
brief, that attendance at court was a burden,
and apparently with a desire to write fairly and
and not a privilege, and that it fell, not on free-
truthfully as to disputed points. These, how-
holders as such, but upon certain units of land,
ever, appear but incidentally; the chief por-
by no means equal in area. When this appor-
tions of the work are given to an account of
tiopment was made he does not pretend to say, the vessel's career and to descriptions of life on
although in the review article he guessed at the
board.
reign of Henry I., but he maintains his main
The “ Alabama” began her work of destruc-
thesis with force.
* Two YEARS ON THE ALABAMA. By Arthur Sinclair,
So vast an achievement can be only touched
Lieutenant in the Confederate Navy. With portraits and
in a review. The charm of the whole work illustrations. Boston: Lee & Shepard.


1896.]
47
THE DIAL
tion in the summer of 1862. The Confederate were released on ransom-bond, and those of the
cruisers had already, in their raids in the North United States were plundered and burnt. There
Atlantic, demonstrated their capacity for mis were fifty-seven of the latter, for which Great
chief to the commerce of the United States, Britain paid, according to the terms of the
Geneva award, $6,750,000.
formidable vessels and extend the field of their The author gives some very interesting pic-
operation. In pursuance of this plan, secret tures of life on shipboard, which decidedly
agents of the Confederate government, acting lacked the monotony of the ordinary humdrum
as private purchasers, negotiated with the sea-life. The seamen all had double pay
and
Lairds of Liverpool for the vessel which was a double allowance of daily grog, and seem to
first known as the “ 290” and soon became the have been on the whole a hearty and efficient
“ Alabama.” She made her trial trip and es lot of fellows. Some good anecdotes are told
cape from the Mersey barely in time to avoid of Semmes, the commander, who was usually
detention, the agents of the United States hav- referred to by the under officers as “Old Bees-
ing obtained evidence of her true character and wax"— an appellation probably bestowed on
laid the same before the British government. account of his tenacity in holding fast to a
Sailing as a simple despatch boat, under the chase. He had, it seems, a sardonic sort of
British flag and an English master, she soon humor, which often showed itself in a rather
reached her rendezvous at the Azores, where rough " guying” of the captured Yankee skip-
she was transferred to the command of Captain pers who had vainly tried to outsail him. All
Semmes and his officers, and received her ar the officers were, it appears, exceptionally fine
mament and stores. The question of a crew and amiable men -- as mild-mannered, in fact,
became a pressing one, as the men on board " as ever scuttled ship.” It was the custom,
had been shipped simply for a trip to the Azores, on sighting a Yankee merchantman, to ap-
and were ignorant of the true character and proach under cover of the United States or
purposes of the vessel. The test of their read- English colors. If the prey became suspicious
iness to enlist under the new flag was soon made. and attempted to escape, a blank shot, or, that
Our author thus describes the scene :
failing, a solid one, usually brought her to. She
“ The officers are all in full uniform of an attractive was boarded, night or day, in all weathers; the
shade of gray, with a redundancy of gold lace shock crew and available stores, and always the chro-
ingly inappropriate to marine traditions. . .
The men
are mustered aft to call' of boatswain, and Semmes,
nometer and flag, were brought off ; and then
mounting a gun-carriage, reads his commission from the
the vessel was fired. If near land, the captured
President of the Confederate States as commander. crews were put ashore. Lieutenant Sinclair
... The stops 'to the balliards at the peak and main takes some little credit to the “ Alabama” for
mast head are broken, and the flag and pennant of the materially increasing in this
materially increasing in this way the population
young nation float to the breeze. . . . Our Captain ad-
dresses the men in a few curt but eloquent and persua-
of the Azores. It often happened, however, that
sive words, making known the character of the vessel and
the cruiser found it necessary to play the host
the purpose of the cruise. The paymaster has brought to so many involuntary guests that she became
amidships his shipping list, and, like the rest of us, uncomfortably crowded, and the opportunity
awaits the result of our gallant commander's speech.
But the suspense is easing. One by one the groups dis-
to strike a bargain with some foreign ship to
solve, and Jack, hat in hand, presents himself at the
take them off was a welcome one. The strange
capstan and signs the articles, till eighty-five men have crews slept on the open deck, but were pro-
been secured.”
tected by awnings from sun and rain ; the au-
Thus began the memorable two-years cruise thor says they were invariably well treated,
of the “ Alabama," during which she sailed their officers being accommodated as far as pos-
75,000 miles and visited almost every quarter sible at the officers' mess of the “ Alabama.”
of the globe - the West Indies, Gulf of Mex- Not infrequently the pleasing prospect of double
ico, Brazil, Cape of Good Hope, China Seas, wages and grog twice a day tempted the pris-
Ceylon, Cape Town, and the English Channel, oners into the “ Alabama's " service. As for
shifting rapidly from place to place so as to the chronometers, they accumulated so rapidly
do the utmost damage and inspire the utmost that Lieutenant Sinclair soon had to give up
terror by the unexpectedness of her attacks his daily task of winding them.
upon our merchant ships. She overhauled and The justification offered for the “ Alabama
examined several hundred vessels ; those be- is, of course, that by damaging and threatening
longing to neutrals received an apology and Northern commerce she drew off the United
went on their way, those having neutral cargo States war vessels from their work of block-


48
[Jan. 16,
THE DIAL
9
ading Southern ports, and thus materially aided sarge," under command of Captain Winslow,
the prospects of the Confederacy. She was entered the harbor. Immediately on the arrival
often pursued by United States cruisers, but of the “Kearsarge" Commander Semmes for-
usually evaded them, sometimes running into warded to Winslow, through the United States
neutral ports and escaping by her superior Consul, a challenge to fight the “ Alabama”
speed. She was a very swift vessel, having outside the harbor and beyond the limit of
both steam and sail power. Her armament French waters. The news was flashed over
was considered a powerful one, and our author cables and wires, and on Sunday, the 11th,
is evidently proud of her fighting qualities. Cherbourg was filled to overflowing with sight-
“She was a fighting ship,” he says,
66 and under seers, while throughout the world people awaited
no circumstances, within reasonable odds, con eagerly the result of the naval duel.
templated avoiding battle." Yet the truth is “Our ship, as she steams off shore for her antagonist,
that the only real fight in which she engaged bull down in the distance and waiting for us, presents a
was the one in which she was sent to the bottom.
brave appearance. The decks and brass-work shine in
A similar fate had been visited by her, it is true,
the bright morning sunlight, from recent holystoning
and polishing The crew are all in muster uniform, as
upon the United States gunboat “Hatteras though awaiting Sunday inspection. They are ordered
the year before in the Gulf of Mexico; but to lie down at their quarters for rest, while we approach
this affair can hardly be classed as a fight.
the enemy. A beautiful sight — the divisions stripped
The “ Alabama " lured the - Hatteras" to her
to the waist, and with bare arms and breasts looking
the athletes they are. The decks have been sanded
side in the night, while purporting to be, and down, tubs of water placed along the spar-deck, and all
announcing herself to be, a British ship; and is ready for the fray. The pipe of the boatswain and
suddenly, while the small boats of the - Hat mates at length summons all hands aft; and Semmes,
teras were being lowered to come on board
mounting a gun-carriage, delivers a stirring address."
the " Alabama,” the latter opened her broad. The two vessels steamed some eight miles off
side in the darkness, sinking the gunboat in shore, and, approaching within a mile of each
thirteen minutes. The entire career of the other, the “ Alabama" delivered a broadside
“ Alabama” was, in fact, that of a sea-rover
from her starboard batteries. The battle was
rather than a battle-ship, and her commander's carried on with the contestants circling round
fame as a sea-fighter must rest upon the one
a common centre. A hundred-pound percus.
engagement in which he was defeated.
sion shell was early lodged in the " Kearsarge'
Lieutenant Sinclair's descriptions of the two
near her screw, but failed to explode. Soon
affairs referred to are worth quoting, as being after the vessels closed to point-blank range
the report of an eye-witness. The first relates
to the sinking of the “ Hatteras."
water line. Seeing that his ship was sinking,
Semmes struck his flag. The officers and crew
“It is dark, the enemy being but indistinctly seen.
: . The enemy bas now come up. She hails us: What
were picked up by the “ Kearsarge” and by
ship is that?' • This is her Britannic Majesty's steamer the English yacht “ Deerhound," as the “ Ala-
in bama” settled under water.
hand, keeping the guns trained on her, and awaiting the
“ The • Alabama's' final plunge was a remarkable
command to fire. The two vessels are so near that con-
freak, as witnessed by the writer about one hundred
versation in ordinary tones can be easily heard from one yards off. She shot up out of the water bow first, and
to the other. For a time the · Hatteras ' people seem
descended on the same line, carrying away with her
to be consulting. Finally they hailed again: If you
plunge two of her masts, and making a whirlpool of
please, I 'll send a boat on board of you,' to which our considerable size and strength.”
executive officer replied, . Certainly, we shall be pleased
to receive your boat.' When the boat is about half-way
Two of the author's best chapters are given
between the two vessels, the signal is given, and sky and to the incidents of this memorable sea-fight,
water are lighted up by our broadside . About six and will not be overlooked by the reader of
broadsides were fired by us. The enemy replied irregu this interesting volume. The illustrations in-
larly. Then she fired a lee gun, and we heard the quick,
sharp hail of surrender, accompanied by the request that
clude pictures of the “ Alabama” and “ Kear-
our boats be sent to her immediately, as she was sinking.
sarge,” and portraits of Semmes and his offi-
The whole thing had passed so quickly that it seemed to
That of the famous commander, taken
us like a dream."
the day after the Cherbourg fight, shows a
In June, 1864, the “ Alabama” put in at striking face, thin, careworn, but bold and
the harbor of Cherbourg, France. The ship crafty, almost sinister, in expression. The
was to undergo repairs, and officers and men appendix contains biographical sketches of all
were to have a leave of absence. Three days the officers, and a general muster-roll of the
later, the United States war steamer “Kear. | ship’s crew. CHARLES H. PALMER.
cers.


1896.]
49
THE DIAL
revival.
an op
the fact that it saved France from anarchy, from a
BRIEFS ON NEW BOOKS.
relapse into the fatal gripe of the old order, perhaps
from the fate of Poland. Louis XVI. was the real
The literature of the “
More of the
Napoleonic
Napoleonic revival” seems destined to show us
martyr of the Ancien Régime. With mistakes and
the Emperor from every conceivable
weaknesses enough, he had no crimes to expiate save
those of his predecessors.
standpoint, ere the movement completes its course.
His career has been discussed by historians, moral-
The Anglomania which has so long
ists, and military critics; and his portrait has been
An olive-branch
disquieted patriotic souls in this coun-
from England.
drawn, or redrawn, by memoirists of every shade
try has at last fairly given way be-
and variety of opinion and bias, from the hero fore the tidal wave of Anglophobia evoked by the
worshippers down to the malignant Barras. In Con “sturdy Americanism” of a recent state paper.
stant's account of “The Private Life of Napoleon ” Despite this widespread change in the national sen-
(Scribner), we are permitted to see the great man timent, however, there seems to be a class of our
through the eyes of his valet de chambre
countrymen who still perversely decline to recog-
portunity that will be eagerly grasped by the large nize hostility to England as a test of patriotism, and
class of American readers whose biographical crav who even doubt the wisdom of injecting into our
ings and standards are reflected in the newspapers. foreign policy an infusion of the temper of Donny-
We do not mean to impliedly underrate the uses brook Fair. To such peace-loving souls the little
and merits of Constant's book, or of the class of olive-branch wafted to us over the troubled waters
books to which it belongs. Constant contributes to in the shape of a book on America by that genial
our knowledge of his master very much as men like Briton, Dean Hole, should prove a welcome and
Pepys and Boswell and the virtuoso of Strawberry timely token. The book is the outcome of the au-
Hill contribute to our knowledge of their times ; thor's recent lecturing tour in the States in aid of
and the hardiest wiseacre will scarcely impeach the the fund for the restoration of Rochester Cathedral;
historical services of that immortal trio of gossips. and we are glad to learn that the pecuniary result
Constant's book is a rich repository of the sort of of the mission was the reverse of disappointing.
information that helps us to see the Emperor as his Replying to his English critics who had questioned
daily associates saw him. The author was for four the propriety of “sending round the hat” in Amer-
teen consecutive years, from the opening of the ica for an object that should be regarded as a “na-
Marengo campaign to the departure from Fontaine- tional duty” at home, the Dean concludes pretty
bleau, in constant attendance upon
his master,
forcibly : “We had done what we could (at home),
inseparable from him as his shadow "'; and the por and I saw no signs of national duty' coming for-
trait he draws is vivid, human, and incontestably ward to complete our unfinished work. .
accurate. The vogue of these Memoirs when they ferring to spend the surplus of five hundred pounds
first appeared, in 1830, was very great; and the which I brought home upon the cathedral, rather
recent reprint in France has been favorably re than in appropriating it to myself, I fail to appre-
ceived. The present translation, admirably done hend that I have acted • hardly in consonance with
by Elizabeth Gilbert Martin, and published in four the dignity of the nation and of the national church.'
shapely volumes by Messrs. Scribner's Sons, is, we The Dean writes in his usual chatty, facetious vein,
believe, the first English version; and the reader skimming lightly over a variety of subjects : our
will find it decidedly one of the most entertaining clubs, hotels, railways, theatres, churches, horticul-
and graphic of Napoleonic works. Constant brings ture, our cities and their various forms and degrees
us perhaps nearer to Bonaparte the man than
any of misgovernment, etc., treating us and our ways
other memoirist of the period has done. A readable with unfailing good-humor-save, indeed, when he
introduction is furnished by M. Imbert de Saint comes to consider our newspapers. “All who love
Amand, who, as usual, is quite unable to deny him America,” he says, “must protest against these de-
self a passing allusion to his “ Martyr Queen,” as gradations. . . . There is no excuse for the piling
he is pleased to style her. Marie Antoinette's suf up of the agony, for the proclamations in huge and
ferings in the Temple, her high bearing in adver hideous type of the most abominable crimes, for a
sity, and the stoicism with which she met her fate, procession of bad men and bad women on the front
have blinded romantic and chivalrous minds to the of the stage, as though these actors were of all the
ugly fact that this “ Martyr Queen” was the centre most important, and as though this rogues' march'
of the vile court ring whose sins previous to the down the hill to perdition were much more inter-
Revolution, and whose selfish and insensate policy esting to the public than the march of intellect, the
during the Revolution, are as fairly chargeable with progress of industry, the advancements of science,
the excesses of the Terror as the fanaticism and the ascents of religion and of truth.” That the
blind devotion of the Terrorists themselves. The Dean's book will be widely read in this country goes
world has so long been accustomed to hold up
without saying, and it will repay reading - if only
hands in execration of the political cruelties and for the novel pleasure of seeing ourselves fairly,
drastic expedients of that intrepid band of patriots, and for the most part gratifyingly, reflected in a
that it has well-nigh lost sight of its services - of mirror held up to us by an English hand.
as
In pre-
its


50
[Jan. 16,
THE DIAL
Polish countess.
never
A journal — especially if it be a wo-
The journal of a
man's - is usually an artificial and
often a morbid piece of writing.
Such is not the character, however, of "The Jour-
nal of Countess Françoise Krasinska,” just trans-
lated from the Polish by Kasimir Driekonska, and
published by Messrs. A. C. McClurg & Co. This
Polish Countess the great-grandmother of Victor
Emmanuel — is the most artless and unsophisticated
of creatures. Beginning her journal at sixteen and
keeping it up for two years, she discourses of her-
self and of things about her with the utmost free-
dom from bias. She
says
that she has heard more
than once that she is pretty, and adds: “Some-
times, looking in the mirror, I think so myself.”
There are four daughters in the household, and all,
when they reach the age of sixteen, are taught to
add to their daily prayers the request for a “good
husband -a very natural supplication, they think,
since the husband must take the place of the pa-
rents, and it is “very right to ask God that he shall
be good.” Not until she is sixteen does this eight-
eenth-century young woman ever have any money
to spend, or ever receive a letter through the post-
office addressed directly to herself. The latter
event makes the day “forever memo
morable," and
the letter and its envelope are preserved as an
“ eternal souvenir.” When she is about eighteen,
the Countess meets Duke Charles, favorite son of
the King of Poland. It is a case of love at first
sight on both sides; and the Countess having no
reserves from her journal, we get a very pretty
story of the wooing and wedding. The last words
of the journal are: “I am sure of my husband's
faith and love." Alas, that this confidence should
have been so shaken by years of inconstancy !
Continual sorrows took away her strength and her
wish to write any more; after a time, however, the
old affection returned, and the lady's life ended,
not in the splendor once dreamed of, but in a happy
home. Both the King and Queen of Italy are the
great-great-grandchildren of Françoise Krasinska.
66
the author witnessed the pulling down of the Ven-
dôme Column—one of the many insensate perform-
ances of the latter-day Sans Culottes. The first
attempt had failed, the great structure steadily
resisting the strain of rope and windlass. But after
an hour's delay, says the author, “I had become
conscious, after a particularly savage jerk on the
ropes, that the line between the chimney and the
statue was no longer exactly straight. Slowly
very slowly — the statue swerved past the chimney;
slowly the great column bowed towards me
did anyone receive so superb a salutation; slowly
it descended, so slowly that it almost seemed to hesi-
tate: in a great haze of spurting dust it fell. ...
With a wild rush and frantic shouts, the people
dashed past the sentries into the Place Vendôme,
leaped upon the dislocated fragments, and howled
coarse insults at them.” Allowing for a rather pro-
nounced tendency to overcolor in his more dramatic
passages, we think Mr. Adolphus (who was evi-
dently at Paris as a press correspondent) may be ac-
cepted as a trustworthy narrator. An amusing chap-
ter is devoted to Mr. Worth, and another to General
Boulanger.
Whoever buys
A remarkable
Macaire, a Melo-
performance dramatic Farce" (Stone & Kimball)
of genius.
because it is by Robert Louis Steven-
son and William Ernest Henley, will be apt to won-
der a little, after he has read it, how those distin-
guished men of letters happened to bring it to pass.
The work may perhaps have had peculiar antece-
dents : it may have been written for the stage and
been refused; it may possibly have been written for
a wager; it may have been written for the “Chap-
Book,” in which we believe it has appeared ; it may
even have been written only for fun. These mat-
ters, however, are not before the general reading
public (curiously enough, too, in these days of the
omniscient literary gossip), and the average reader
will take the book for whatever he finds between its
covers. Thus regarded, without adventitious props,
“ Macaire ” is a remarkable performance of genius.
In a book written in collaboration, there is usually
some curiosity as to what was written by which. In
this case we note a comparison that came out of one
of Mr. Henley's poems, and a curiously un-English
use of the word "one” which was kindly lent by
Mr. Attwater of “ Ebb Tide" fame; otherwise it is
hard to say which author was most responsible. If
Mr. Gilbert had never written, it would probably
have been different. The traditional Macaire is
certainly a character with opportunities; it would
seem on the face of things that Stevenson at least
might have incarnated him once more, might have
given us a new reading of the character, might have
put in a form to be remembered that vague con-
ception of intellect, effrontery, and un-morality.
But it was not to be ; and all that can now be done
by the reader - if he be, as we are, a lover of Ste-
venson and an admirer of Henley – is to drop the
book silently into the river of oblivion, trusting that
no Astolpho will ever find it necessary to rescue it.
Paris.
Mr. F. Adolphus's “Memories of
Memories of
Paris ” (Holt), is an exceedingly
readable book. In the opening chap-
ter the writer describes the Paris of forty years
ago, before the Haussmann reconstruction ; and he
passes thence to a recital of his recollections of the
city under the Empire, and during and immedi-
ately after the siege by the Germans. The entry
of the latter is graphically described, as are the
later scenes incident to the rise and fall of the
Commune — this chapter making one realize how
perfectly capable modern Paris is of repeating,
under due conditions, the revolutionary excesses of
a century ago. The Communards of 1871 were,
in capacity for evil and the brute instinct of de-
structiveness, plainly no whit behind the ferocious
rabble by means of which the Jacobin extremists
swayed, saved, and dishonored the great Revolu-
tion. Among other dramatic episodes of the time,


1896.]
51
THE DIAL
international law.
Good usage
>
ume
on
“A Manual of Public International | Béranger, or Scott, gives us, as a rule, the conven-
A manual of
Law” (Macmillan), by Thomas Al tional judgments that have been accumulating for
fred Walker, Lecturer at Cambridge, years; whereas Bagehot always "says something of
England, is designed as an introductory text-book his own.” And, even if we dissent from this some-
“ for the use of students commencing to read Pub- thing, it somehow sets us to thinking along new
lic International Law.” Its simple plan is the pre lines, and we are glad that Bagehot said it. Mr.
sentation of the rules that have been established by Hutton, in editing this series of volumes, has made
the agreement of modern nations, in the form of considerable use of the notes prepared by Mr. For-
propositions, tersely stated, eighty-six in number. rest Morgan for the edition of Bagehot published
For example, No. 41 is : “ The final touchstone dis a few years ago by the Travellers’ Insurance Com-
tinguishing belligerent from neutral, is willing sub pany, of Hartford. That edition contained, also,
jection to belligerent or to neutral control.” No. the longer works, which the present one does not;
60 is : “It is the duty of a neutral ruler to refuse but, on the other hand, Mr. Hutton has added a
the right of passage across his territory to belliger- number of papers that Mr. Morgan failed to include.
ent troops." Each proposition is illustrated by com-
mentary, at greater or less length, generally based
Mr. Gilbert M. Tucker's modest vol.
on and illustrating one or more historical incidents,
“Our Common Speech
and authority.
nearly all of which are of great interest. Mr.
(Dodd, Mead & Co.) is a collection
Walker's novel plan of teaching this frequently dry of six good but disconnected essays on matters of
subject will no doubt be well received. His style is linguistic interest; and is not so much a handbook
far from dry, and his book is agreeably readable. to be consulted at need as a book to be read and
He adheres to the term “law” as applied to interna enjoyed. The book is more in the line of Trench
tional usages, though agreeing that they “ lack alike and R. G. White than of Sievers and Sweet; but
determinate lawgiver, determinate sanction, and de-
this does not prevent its being a scholarly, albeit
terminate enforcing court," because each nation popular, piece of work. Mr. Tucker's interest is in
adopting those usages treats them as law, and fur-
present usage and past meanings. Although he
nishes them a sanction by voluntarily observing gives no indication of great breadth of reading, he
them. Very many of the precedents cited by Mr. is well equipped as far as familiarity with the dic-
Walker as authorities are drawn from the interna tionaries is concerned, and he realizes perfectly just
tional complications in which the United States has what he can do best. His two papers on Diction-
participated ; and references to American decisions
aries are very convenient: the first gathers a good
and American commentaries are frequent — Story deal about the old dictionaries which is new, doubt-
being styled “the great American judge.” Indeed, less, even to many students ; while his remarks on
the pages of this English commentator bear abund-
later dictionaries are eminently sensible. Start-
ant testimony to the great part which our republic ing from this lexicographical standpoint, we have
has played in modifying former international usages
the first essay in the book on the necessity of using
and aiding to establish the progressive modern rules; words exactly and correctly, and the last on Amer-
for we have taken the lead in many instances in icanisms (chiefly on the subject of Briticisms), with
the work of introducing them.
a good bibliography. These four essays have some-
Miscellaneous
thing of an enduring interest, and will probably be
Messrs. Longmans, Green, & Co.
writings of
a stimulant and a guide to just the readers they are
have done readers a great - a very intended for. More entertaining than important is
Walter Bagehot. great - service in republishing the
miscellaneous writings of Walter Bagehot. Five
the essay on "Degraded Words": those familiar
with the principle in question will be interested in
volumes of their neat and inexpensive “Silver Li-
Mr. Tucker's collection of examples; those who have
brary are devoted to this purpose, and include all
of Bagehot that the general reader wants, aside
never thought of change of meanings in language
from the English Constitution" and Physics and
will probably fail rightly to estimate its import.
Politics,” both of which works are easily procurable.
Lastly, the paper on the English of the Revised
Three volumes of literary studies, one of biograph fragmentary, and, on the whole, ephemeral. The
Version, although its points are well taken, is rather
ical studies, and one of economic studies, make up
the set. There is a portrait of the author, and a
book is easily and pleasantly written, and will prob-
ably be enjoyed by the student and the more general
sympathetic memoir by his friend, Mr. R. H. Hatton.
reader.
Bagehot was not always right, but he never failed
to be interesting. In one of his essays, contrasting The antiquities
Mr. Laurence Hutton, well known to
Shakespeare with Milton, he says: “ The latter, of Sports and readers of “Harper's Magazine,” is
who was still by temperament, and a schoolmaster
prepared to affirm that the facts set
by trade, selects a beautiful object, puts it straight down in “Other Times and Other Seasons" (Har-
out before him and his readers, and accumulates per) have “never hitherto been gathered together in
upon it all the learned imagery of a thousand years ; any single volume.” This may or may not be the
Shakespeare glances at it, and says something of his case: more important is it that, such as they are,
own." So the average critic, writing of Shelley, or these little collections of information about football,
Festivals.


52
[Jan. 16,
THE DIAL
golf, tobacco, St. Valentine's day, and so forth, are
BRIEFER MENTION.
just the things to interest and please many people.
Bits of antiquarian lore, out-of-the-way quotations
Professor H. Graetz's “ History of the Jews,” issued
from good literature, reminiscence of old-time cus by the Jewish Publication Society of America, has been
toms,— all this, and much else, makes very pleasant brought down to the present time by publication of a
reading, and admirably serves the purpose
for which fifth volume, which covers the period from the Chmiel-
the volume was intended. Mr. Hutton is a large nicki persecution in Poland (1648) to the year 1870.
reader, even of books which seem stupid to the
The work is not, however, completed, for a supplemen-
world at large; and everyone knows his cleverness tary volume is promised, to include a memoir of the
at getting something out of almost anything. In
author, a chronological analysis of Jewish history, an
index to the entire work, and a series of maps. The
the present case he has pored over many rare vol-
Society also offers a prize of one thousand dollars for a
umes and gathered much recondite learning; he
story upon a Jewish subject suited to young readers.
also deals genially with the “ Badminton Library,” From twenty thousand to thirty thousand words is the
as even with the “Century Dictionary." His bits stipulated length, and particulars of the competition
of information, both quaint and commonplace, are may be had from Miss Henrietta Szold, 708 West Lom-
displayed and arranged with a bland humor quite in bard street, Baltimore.
keeping with the picture of himself that forms the In his account of « The Minute Man on the Frontier"
frontispiece of this pretty little book.
(Crowell), the Rev. William G. Puddefoot recounts his
experiences as a frontier missionary in the Western
“Charm and Courtesy in Letter States. The author writes in a “breezy," off-band way,
An unconventional
letter-writer.
Writing” (Dodd, Mead & Co.) is a and his book will doubtless prove entertaining to readers
pleasant and useful volume,-pleas- interested in the various phases of Western frontier life.
ant to those whose letters are by nature charming It contains a number of interesting photographic plates;
and courteous, and useful to those who hitherto have
and there is a frontispiece portrait of Mr. Puddefoot,
had little thought of either courtesy or charm when
with his signature in fac simile.
they had occasion to communicate with others by
“ The Warwick Library of English Literature” (im-
the medium of the public post. Of the latter class
ported by Scribner) is a new series of books, under the
there are almost too many in the present era of
editorship of Professor C. H. Herford, each of which
is to “deal with the development in English literature
printed letter-heads and postal cards, and if one
of some special literary form, which will be illustrated
could be certain they were amenable to kind treat-
by a series of representative specimens, slightly anno-
ment it would be wise to do one's best to help cir tated, and preceded by a critical analytical introduc-
culate Miss Callaway's book. Whether or not it tion.” The first volume of this series, with an intro-
succeeds in softening the manners of those who duction by Mr. Edmund K. Chambers, is devoted to
might be helped by it, the book is pleasant reading, “English Pastorals,” from the sixteenth to the eight-
especially for those who have no pressing need of it.
eenth century, and has just been published. Volumes
It is easily written, with a slight conventionality of
to follow will deal with such subjects as “ Literary Crit-
sentiment, and a semblance of method (as wine-jelly Essays,” and “ English Masques.” The several vol-
icism," « Letter-Writers," « Tales in Verse," “ English
is sometimes moulded into the form of a verte-
umes are in the hands of competent scholars, who may
brate), but not enough to do any harm. The au-
be trusted to carry out acceptably the excellent idea of
thor has extracted many good letters from episto which the series is an embodiment.
lary literature, and shows a pleasant appreciation of A translation of Dr. Lassar-Cohn's " Laboratory Man-
them, which, it is to be hoped, she will convey to ual of Organic Chemistry,” made by Dr. Alexander
many readers.
Smith (Macmillan), provides American students with
An unusually bright and suggestive
an extremely useful “Compendium of the methods ac-
Suhouettes
sheaf of silhouettes of foreign travel
tually used in the laboratory in the prosecution of organic
of travel.
is Mr. W. D. McCrackan's pretty
work.” What variations from the original have been
embodied in this version have received the sanction of
booklet, “ Little Idyls of the Big World” (Joseph the author, and may be considered improvements upon
Knight Co.). Mr. McCrackan is the author of
the German text. We have also received a treatise on
several serious historical books; and his “ Idyls,” “The Fatty Compounds” (Longmans), by Mr. R. Lloyd
with not a little of sparkle and lightness of touch, Whiteley; and a little book on “ Practical Proofs of
show a vein of thought and sentiment that lifts them Chemical Laws” (Longmans), by Mr. Vaughan Cornish.
considerably above the common run of travel pic The “Cid” of Corneille, edited by Professor F. M.
tures. A few of the titles are: “ Pontifex Maxi. Warren, is the latest addition to Heath's Modern Lan-
mus.” “ A Riot in Rome,” “ A Woman of Paris,” guage Series. Messrs. Ginn & Co. lish, in their
“A Sunday in Vienna," “ The Sultan's Prayer," series of modern language texts, “ Les Précieuses Rid-
“At the Maneuvres,” “Self-Government,” etc.,-
icules" of Molière, edited by Mr. M. W. Davis; and a
the last-named paper giving a graphic account of
volume of sketches of travel, called “ Places and Peo-
the meeting of the inhabitants of a Swiss canton to
ple," edited by Dr. Jules Luquiens. The latter is an
old book, with new numbers added, seven chapters in
vote on the adoption of a new constitution. There
all, from such writers as Dumas, Scherer, “Loti," and
are several illustrations, including a photographic Taine. “En Wagon” and “C'Etait Gertrude,” two
plate of Bastien Le Page's beautiful portrait of little parlor comedies by M. Verconsin, are edited by
Jeanne D'Arc.
M. Baptiste Méras for Messrs. Henry Holt & Co.


1896.)
53
THE DIAL
guage Association, the Conference determined to re-
LITERARY NOTES.
solve itself into the “ Central Division” of that Asso-
“ The Critic" of New York celebrates its fifteenth
ciation. This division will maintain its own organization,
birthday with its issue of January 18. We heartily
and meet at least twice in three years, with the expec-
tation that the National Association will meet the third
congratulate our younger contemporary on its years
and honors.
year at some point in the Central District, when there
Colonel Thomas W. Knox, the well-known traveller
will be a joint session. Publication will be controlled
by a joint committee from the two societies, and one
and writer of books for boys, died on the 6th of Jan-
uary at his rooms in the New York Lotus Club, at the
membership fee gives to members of the Central Divis-
age of sixty.
ion the right of membership in the Association. The
latter organization has decided to meet at Cleveland
Henrik Jæger, who wrote the best biography of Dr.
next year. The officers of the Central Division for the
Ibsen thus far published, and was afterwards engaged | ensuing year are: Prof. W. H. Carruth, University of
in the preparation of a history of Norwegian literature, Kansas, President; Prof. C. A. Smith, University of
died last month in Christiana, at the age of fifty-one. Louisiana, Prof. E. T. Owen, University of Wisconsin,
The friends of Mr. Edward J. McPhelim, one of the and Prof. G. T. Hench, University of Michigan, Vice-
best literary and dramatic critics ever connected with Presidents; Prof. H. Schmidt-Wartenberg, University
journalism in Chicago, will be grieved to learn of the of Chicago, Secretary.
violent attack of insanity that befell him on the seventh
Of the appointment of Mr. Alfred Austin as succes-
of this month, while a visitor in New York.
sor to the line of English poets laureate, perhaps the
Messrs. Way & Williams have received from Mr. best that can be said is that there have been worse ones.
Morris's “Kelmscott Press” their artistic edition of It is the contrast between him and those whom he im-
Rossetti's “Hand and Soul.” Only 541 copies were mediately follows, that makes the appointment so unac-
printed for both England and America; and a good ceptable to the public and inauspicious to him; for in
portion of them were sold in advance of publication. the brilliancy of the two great names that have given
Volume XLV. of the “ Dictionary of National Biog-
the title its chief glory, it will be hard for Mr. Austin's
raphy" (Macmillan) extends from Pereira to Pockrich. light to show more than a doubtful glimmer. The
It includes noteworthy studies of the two Pitts, but new laureate is already sixty years of age. He took
little else of marked interest. The P's do not seem to his degree at the University of London in 1853, and
have included as many great Englishmen as the other
began life as a barrister, but soon turned to literary
letters of the alphabet.
and journalistic work. For many years he has been
The many friends of the late Eugene Field will be
one of the best-known “ leader writers” in London, and
glad to learn of the new and uniform edition of his com-
for ten years edited “ The National Review." He is a
plete works, announced by Messrs. Charles Scribner's
Roman Catholic in religion and a Conservative in poli-
Sons. It will be in ten volumes, each with a photogra-
tics. His first poem, " Randolph," was published when
vure frontispiece. Besides the regular edition, there
he was in his nineteenth year. He has been a prolific
will be a special numbered edition of a hundred sets,
writer, his collected works in verse, published by Messrs.
printed on Japan paper.
Macmillan & Co., filling six volumes. His latest vol-
ume, “ In Veronica's Garden," has appeared since the
It is stated that the “ American Men of Letters " se-
new year; and from it, as a favorable example of his
ries is to be extended in the near future to include vol-
lyric power, and as particularly pertinent at the present
umes upon Bayard Taylor and Hawthorne, the former
time, we give an extract which re-echoes in no unworthy
by Mr. A. H. Smyth, the latter by Mr. G. E. Wood-
strain the old song of peace and good-will:
berry. Hawthorne, it will be remembered, is the one
American included in the “ English Men of Letters"
“But not alone for those who still
series, edited by Mr. John Morley.
Within the Mother-Land abide,
We deck the porch, we dress the sill,
The first annual meeting of the Central Modern Lan-
And Aling the portals open wide.
guage Conference was held in the Lecture Hall of the
University of Chicago, on the 30th of December and
“But unto all of British blood-
the two days following. As the aims of this Confer-
Whether they cling to Egbert's Throne,
ence have already been set forth in THE DIAL, it will
Or, far beyond the Western flood,
Have reared a Sceptre of their own,
suffice to remind our readers that the increasing interest
in modern languages in the West and Southwest seemed
"And, half-regretful, yearn to win
to make such a Conference desirable. The success of
Their way back home, and fondly claim
this first meeting proved the correctness of that belief.
The rightful share of kith and kin
There were present teachers and professors from most
In Alfred's glory, Shakespeare's fame,
of the Western States, representing the Universities
“We pile the logs, we troll the stave,
of Chicago, Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, Louisiana,
We waft the tidings wide and far,
the Northwestern University, Washington University,
And speed the wish, on wind and wave,
and many other institutions. A programme of twenty-
To Southern Cross and Northern Star.
three numbers, including papers on literary and linguis-
“Yes! Peace on earth, Atlantic strand I
tic topics in German, English, and French was listened
Peace and good-will, Pacific shore !
to by an audience of from sixty to one hundred and
Across the waters stretch your hand,
fifty persons, mostly specialists. Such discussion as the
And be our brothers more and more!
brief time permitted followed the papers; and further
“Blood of our blood, in every clime !
measures of importance with regard to the future of the
Race of our race, by every sea!
organization were taken. Propositions for coöperation
To you we sing the Christmas rhyme,
having been received from the American Modern Lan-
For you we light the Christmas-tree."


54
[Jan. 16,
THE DIAL
Sketches from Concord and Appledore. By Frank Pres-
ton Stearns, author of “Real and Ideal in Literature."
Illus., 12mo, gilt top, uncut, pp. 276. G. P. Putnam's
Sons. $2.
Old South Leaflets, Vols. I. and II. Each 12mo. Boston:
Directors of the Old South Work. Per vol., $1.50.
The Aims of Literary Study. By Hiram Corson, LL.D.
32mo, pp. 153. Macmillan's“ Miniature Series." 25 cts.
TOPICS IN LEADING PERIODICALS.
January, 1896 (Second List).
* Alabama," Story of the. C. H. Palmer. Dial (Jan. 16).
American English, Study of. George Hempl. Chautauquan.
Blackstone, A Greater. John J. Halsey. Dial (Jan. 16).
Booth, Catharine. Sarah K. Bolton, Chautauquan.
Central America. Audley Gosling. North American,
Correggio. John C. Van Dyke. Dial (Jan. 16).
Eastern Crisis, The. Karl Blind. North American.
Electric Motor, Evolution of a. E. B. Rosa. Chautauquan.
Helium. C. A. Young. Popular Science.
Husbands. Marion Harland and others. North American.
Jews of New York. J. A. Riis. Review of Reviews,
Korea. William Elliot Griffis. Chautauquan.
Legislation, Money in. Sidney Sherwood. Chautauquan.
Lineage, Ancient. Edward Harlow. Cosmopolitan.
Medicine, New Outlooks in. T. M. Prudden. Pop. Science.
Menzel, Adolph, Illustrator. V. Gribayédoff. Rev. of Rev.
Mexican Revolutions, Philosophy of the North American.
Missions, Foreign. Judson Smith. North American.
Municipal Government. H. P. Judson. Dial (Jan. 16).
Naval Warfare, Modern. Admiral S. B. Luce. No. American.
Orange Industry, The. J. F. Richmond. Chautauquan.
Photography, Amateur. W. S. Harwood. Cosmopolitan.
Politics, Intelligence in. Dial (Jan. 16),
Prison Congress, The Fifth International. Popular Science.
Profit-Sharing. Frederic G. Mather. Popular Science.
Russian Literature, Modern. Victor Yarros. Dial (Jan. 16).
Sculpture and Sculptors. Lorado Taft. Chautauquan.
Smithsonian Institution, The. H. C. Bolton. Pop. Science.
So. Carolina's New Constitution. Albert Shaw. Rev. of Rev.
Submarine Boats. W. A. Dobson. Cosmopolitan,
Sultan of Turkey, The. W. T. Stead. Review of Reviews.
Temperance, Scientific. David S. Jordan. Popular Science.
NEW EDITIONS OF STANDARD LITERATURE.
“ Thistle" Edition of Stevenson's Works. New vols.:
The Wrong Box and The Ebb Tide, and Ballads and
Other Poems. Each with frontispiece, 8vo, gilt top, un-
cut. Chas. Scribner's Sons. Per vol., $2.
Defoe's Works. Edited by George A. Aitken. Concluding
vols.: Due Preparations for the Plague, and The King of
Pirates. Each illus., 16mo, gilt top, uncut. Macmillan
& Co. Per vol., $1.
Spenser's Faerie Queene. Edited by Thomas J. Wise ;
illas. by Walter Crane. Part X. (Book IV., Cantos
I.-IV.); 4to, uncut. Macmillan & Co. $3.
Reynard the Fox. Edited, with Introduction and Notes, by
Joseph Jacobs ; illus. by W. Frank Calderon. 12mo, gilt
edges, pp. 260.' Macmillan's “Cranford Series." $2.
Rights of Man. By Thomas Paine; edited, with Introduc-
tion and Notes, by Moncure Daniel Conway. With por-
trait, 8vo, pp. 132. G. P. Putnam's Sons. $1.
Yeast: A Problem. By Charles Kingsley. Pocket edition;
18mo, pp. 278. Macmillan & Co. 75 cts.
LIST OF NEW BOOKS.
[The following list, containing 71 titles, includes books
received by THE DIAL since its last issue.]
HISTORY.
The History of the Foreign Policy of Great Britain. By
Montagu Burrows. 8vo, uncut, pp. 372. G. P. Putnam's
Sons. $3.
History of the Jews. By Professor H. Graetz. Vol. V.,
1648-1870, C. E. 8vo, pp. 766. Jewish Publication So
ciety of America. $3.
The Book of the Fair. By Hubert Howe Bancroft. Con-
cluding parts, 23, 24, 25; each illus., large 4to. Chicago :
The Bancroft Co. Per part, $1.
Rural Changes in England in the Sixteenth Century, as
Reflected in Contemporary Literature. By Edward' P.
Cheyney, A.M. 8vo, pp. 114. Ginn & Co. $1.
Outlines of Church History. By Rudolf Sohm ; trans. by
May Sinclair; with preface by Prof. H. M. Gwatkin,
M.Ă. 12mo, pp. 254. Macmillan & Co. $1.10.
Government and Religion of the Virginia Indians. By
Samuel R. Hendren, Ph.D. 8vo, uncut, pp. 63. Johns
Hopkins University Studies. 50 cts.
BIOGRAPHY.
Dictionary of National Biography. Edited by Sidney Lee.
Vol. XLV., Pereira - Pockrich. Large 8vo, gilt top, un-
cut, pp. 457. Macmillan & Co. $3.75.
POETRY.
Fringilla; or, Tales in Verse. By Richard Doddridge Black-
more, M.A.; illus. by Will H. Bradley. 8vo, gilt top,
pp. 127. Cleveland, O.: The Burrows Bros. Co. $3.50.
A Child's Garden of Verses. By Robert Louis Stevenson.
Illus., 12mo, gilt top, uncut, pp. 137. Chas. Scribner's
Sons. $1.50.
Behind the Arras: A Book of the Unseen. By Bliss Car
man. Illus., 16mo, uncut, pp. 102. Lamson, Wolffe &
Co. $1.50.
Poems. By Alice Meynell. 16mo, uncut, pp. 72. Cope-
land & Day. $1.25.
Love and Laughter: A Legacy of Rhyme. By James G.
Burnett. With portrait, 12mo, gilt top, uncut, pp. 161.
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56
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THE DIAL
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THE DIAL
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THE DIAL (founded in 1880) is published on the 1st and 16th of
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THE DIAL, 315 Wabash Ave., Chicago.
No. 231.
FEBRUARY 1, 1896.
Vol. XX.
CONTENTS.
THE YOUNG PERSON
PAGE
61
TO WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, DRAMATIST.
(Sonnet.) F. W. Gunsaulus .
63
.
CLASSIC SLANG. R. W. Conant
63
JUSTICE TO THE JEW. E. G. J.
64
THE MEDIEVAL UNIVERSITIES. B. A. Hinsdale 67
THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF ELEC-
TRICITY. W. M. Stine .
69
THE CAVE-DWELLERS OF YUCATAN. Frederick
Starr
71
73
THE YOUNG PERSON.
It is a well-known principle of pathology that
interference with the normal activity of an or-
gan results in functional perversion. The
atrophy that follows upon the disuse of one
organ may have for a concomitant the exces-
sive development of others, with some form of
degeneration as a consequence; or the over-
stimulation of one may be accompanied by a
weakening of all the others, leading in the end
to dissolution. In either case, whether the dis-
turbing physiological factor take the shape of
a forced activity here or a suppressed activity
there, the result is some development of dis-
tinctly morbid type. Now the analogies be-
tween the organism of the individual and the
larger social organism are always instructive,
if philosophically dealt with, and the thought
of the past thirty or forty years has been par-
ticularly fruitful in applications of this method
of comparison. The whole modern science of
sociology, for example, may be described as an
expansion of this fundamental idea, and gets
its most trustworthy results from the intelligent
discussion of these analogies. It is our pur-
pose just now to apply to one aspect of literary
activity the method in question, and to ask if
it may not have some instruction for the critic
of contemporary literature.
That reverence is due to the
young is one of
the most venerable of critical maxims. It has
been knocking about in literature ever since
its embalmment in one of the satires of Ju-
venal, and perhaps for longer than that. It
has very noticeably influenced the literary pro-
duction of the present century, but it has not
always been wisely apprehended and applied.
Let us take a moment to see what has been
done with this precept in the case of the two
greatest literatures of our time the French
and the English. In both instances there has
been at work a sub-conscious instinct that has
sought to keep from the contemplation of youth-
ful minds certain parts of human life and cer-
tain phases of human emotion. But the instinct
has worked itself out in curiously different
ways. French books have become sharply dif-
ferentiated into books for the Young Person
and books for the full-grown man or woman.
English books, on the other hand, have nearly
SOME PHASES OF THE SCIENCE OF MIND.
Joseph Jastrow .
Donaldson's The Growth of the Brain.– Wundt's
Human and Animal Psychology.- Külpe's Outlines
of Psychology.-Stanley's Evolutionary Psychology
of Feeling.-Hoffman's The Beginning of Writing.
RECENT FICTION. William Morton Payne
Hardy's Jude the Obscure.- Meredith's The Amaz-
ing Marriage.-Crockett's A Galloway Herd.-Crock-
ett's The Men of the Moss-Hags.- Mrs. Steel's Red
Rowans.-Lee's John Darker.-Boothby's A Bid for
Fortune.-Hope's The Chronicles of Count Antonio.
-Lang's A Monk of Fife. — Weyman's The Red
Cockade.- Harte's Clarence.- Harte's In a Hollow
of the Hills.— Townsend's A Daughter of the Tene-
ments.- Ford's Dolly Dillenbeck. - Garland's Rose
of Dutcher's Coolly.- Crane's The Red Badge of
Courage.- Mrs. Phelps's A Singular Life. - Miss
Dougall's A Question of Faith.- Drachmann's Paul
and Virginia of a Northern Zone.- Galdós's Doña
Perfecta.
BRIEFS ON NEW BOOKS.
Imaginary portraits of Sir Thomas More and his
family.- Additional poems by R. L. Stevenson.- A
new life of the German Emperor. - Idyllists of the
Country-side. - Some literary portraits by D. G.
Mitchell.- Life and influence of John Knox.
BRIEFER MENTION
76
81
83
.
LITERARY NOTES
84
TOPICS IN LEADING PERIODICALS
86
.
.
.
LIST OF NEW BOOKS
86
.
.
.


62
(Feb. 1,
THE DIAL
all been written, until very lately, with the far removed from the French theory as possi-
Young Person carefully in view, and, it would ble. Taking for granted that the Young Per-
often seem, without any consideration for any son is quite as likely as anybody else to read
other class of readers. These two theories, car a book of any sort, all books (broadly speak-
ried to extremes, have been productive of the ing) have been written with his needs and lim-
most ludicrous results, exemplified, in the one itations in view, and the result has been an
case, by the school-girl editions of “ Télé emasculated literature, from which discussion
maque" which carefully substitute amitié for of certain subjects has been excluded by as ef-
amour; in the other, by such an anecdote as fective a taboo as was ever practised among
has recently gone the rounds of the newspapers, the South Sea Islanders. Newspaper cant and
revealing the fact that a popular magazine of the censorship of the circulating libraries have
wide circulation in this country does not per so narrowed the scope of nineteenth-century
mit any mention of wine to be made in its English literature that the future student of
pages. And both of these theories, even when Victorian manners and morals will have to go
kept within bounds, seem to us to have led to outside of literature to get the facts in proper
an abnormal condition of things in the litera- perspective. These remarks apply with equal
tures that have respectively practised them. force to the English literature produced upon
We all know Matthew Arnold's hard saying our own side of the Atlantic. The suppres-
about the French people — that they have de-
- that they have de- sion of natural literary activity thus indi-
voted themselves to the worship of the great cated has been correcting itself of late, and in
goddess of lubricity. This remark was never the usual violent way. Unless atrophy has
meant to be taken without qualification, as many gone so far as to prove fatal, nature usually
passages of Arnold's critical work show plainly contrives to reassert herself, and throws the
enough. It may be sufficient to instance his whole organism into disorder by so doing. The
judgment of George Sand, pronounced upon last few years have brought realism and plain-
hearing of her death. “She was the greatest speaking back into English literature, and with
spirit in our European world from the time that a vengeance. The dovecotes of hypocrisy have
Goethe departed. With all her faults and been fluttered by ominous birds of prey, and
Frenchisms, she was this.” The warmest ad the sober-minded, who have all along viewed
mirers of that woman of genius will feel that with apprehension the attempt to keep English
something more than justice is done her by this literature in a strait-jacket, have stood alter-
bit of eulogy, but they will also feel that the nately amused and aghast at the antics with
man who uttered it must have had strong which it has celebrated its newly-acquired lib-
grounds for what harsh things he at times felt erty.
bound to say about modern French literature. The problem is certainly a vexatious one.
That literature doubtless gives undue promi- The example of one nation shows us the bad
nence to one particular form of passion, and effects of ignoring the Young Person; the ex-
doubtless sins against the proprieties more fre ample of another furnishes an instructive les-
quently and more conspicuously than any lit son in the consequences of deferring to him
erature ought to do. To revert to the patho-overmuch. Unbounded license is an unques-
logical figure of our introductory paragraph, tionable evil; the cramping of ideals, on the
French literature seems, in its treatment of the other hand, leads to a reaction almost equally
relations of the sexes, to have suffered a sort of evil. Whether the one course be pursued or
fatty degeneration, and erotic pâtés de foie have the other, freedom of literary expression will
entered too largely into the daily diet of its con find its stout champions, as it has already found
sumers. It seems to us quite clear that one of them in both countries, from Molière to Mr.
the causes of this abnormal development must Swinburne. We do not want a revival of eigh-
be sought for in an unnatural separation of teenth century grossness. Mr. Gosse says, in
books for the Young Person from books for a recent critique, that with Mr. Hardy's latest
the Gallic adult. Since (in theory, at least) novel “ we have traced the full circle of pro-
the Young Person is never supposed to see the priety. A hundred and fifty years ago, Field-
books written for his elders, there is no need ing and Smollett brought up before us pictures,
of writing them virginibus puerisque, and all used expressions, described conduct, which ap-
restraint and all reticence are thrown to the peared to their immediate successors a little
winds.
more crude than general reading warranted.
The English theory, of course, has been as In Miss Burney's hands, and in Miss Austin's,


1896.)
63
THE DIAL
the morals were still further hedged about. as this should be found safe for all the interests
Scott was even more daintily reserved. We concerned ; it should result in a literature both
came at last to Dickens, where the clamorous strengthened and purified, not losing from view
passions of mankind, the coarser accidents of the needs of the Young Person, but rather ac-
life, were absolutely ignored, and the whole cording them a more rational consideration
question of population seemed reduced to the than they have had hitherto.
theory of the gooseberry bush. This was the ne
plus ultra of decency; Thackeray and George
Eliot relaxed this intensity of prudishness; TO WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, DRAMATIST.
once on the turn, the tide flowed rapidly, and
(After having read Henrik Ibsen, dramatist.)
here is Mr. Hardy ready to say any mortal
thing that Fielding said, and a great deal more
Forgive me, ample soul, in whom man's joy
Finds room for laughter, as his grief for sighs,
too.
If e'er I leave thee for an hour's emprise
Fortunately, we are not yet forced to take Where live but souls made sick with life's annoy.
“Jude the Obscure” as typical of our century I bartered Time's best coin without alloy,
and literature, although atrocious faults of
And sailed with him within an inlet's rise
taste displayed by that book do not stand alone
Where stricken ghosts, with tragic voice and guise,
Made thy world seem a dire fantastic toy.
to represent their class. And we cannot agree
with Mr. Gosse in saying that to censure such
O Ocean, take me back to thee, and fill
My sails once more with elemental breath -
outspokenness" is the duty of the moralist and With wind that haunts thy choric world-wide spell;
not the critic.” If criticism has any most im Some truth may say, “ All's well,” or “All is ill,”
perative duty, it is precisely the one so airily But on thine azure line 'twixt life and death
disclaimed by this self-constituted spokesman
The whole of truth speaks clear: “ All shall be well.”
for the craft. And there is not much pallia-
F. W. GUNSAULUS.
tion for such an offence as Mr. Hardy's in the
prefatory danger-signal which describes the
book as " a novel addressed by a man to men
CLASSIC SLANG.
and women of full age.” This is the French It is a matter of current observation and remark
theory over again, and might be used to cloak that the slang of to-day is orthodox literature to-mor-
all of the French excesses. It seems to us that
But it is not so commonplace that modern slang
the real solution of the problem presented by
can often “point with pride" to most aristocratic line-
age away back in classic Greek and Latin. Literature
the Young Person must take the form of a
repeats itself, as well as history, and everything else ;
compromise, and that a compromise is possible for they all come from the human soul, itself an eternal
that shall mean neither a loss of virility in lit- unity of variety. This bond between past and present
erature nor the
of the immature to
may be illustrated by a few examples out of many.
exposure
We moderns are not the first to find things which
corrupting influences. We need, first of all,
“make us tired," for Virgil, speaking doubtless from a
to clear our minds of cant on the subject of the rich personal experience, complains that “Juno makes
supposed ignorance of the Young Person. The earth and Heaven tired.” His description of a city
Frenchman knows perfectly well that his theory riot, in which he says "rocks fly,” is twin brother to the
does not work, and that boys and girls read the reportorial railway strike, wherein coupling-pins always
“fy."
books they are not supposed to read. The En-
Cicero might have been a Roman from Cork, when
glishman knows equally well that his theory he speaks of "a power of silver and gold”; and he is
works no better, and that boys and girls who forever “ t'rowing Cataline out” (of the city).
do not get a knowledge of life from literature
Cæsar says that Ariovistus “had taken to himself
such airs that he seemed unendurable.”
get it in other and usually worse ways. Why Our word “ business,” which is so convenient to piece
should we not admit right away that our edu out conversational poverty with more or less legitimate
cation is not as frank as it ought to be? With uses, is a prime favorite with both Cicero and Cæsar.
this admission we might couple the plea, on the
The following phrases are quite Chicagoese : “An op-
one hand, for less prudishness than we have
portune time for finishing the business” (of destroying
been accustomed to put into books likely to
the enemy's fleet); “What business had Cæsar in
Gaul ?” « They undertook the business” (of arresting
while
all
literature should be clean, that grossness is a
Cicero in Latin, for he says, “ Tissaphernes threw out
thing unpardonable in itself, and not merely like an elder brother when he declares, “I made a
others” (of the refugees from the city). He seems
for its degrading influence upon a certain pos find," and “ They were like to wonder.”
sible class of readers. Some such middle ground
R. W. CONANT.
row.


64
(Feb. 1,
THE DIAL
mixed and cosmopolitan community. Our na-
The New Books.
tional bond is neither racial nor religious, but
the broader and humaner one of national con-
JUSTICE TO THE MODERN JEW.*
sciousness; and we have hitherto freely ex-
tended the right of citizenship, with all that the
Mrs. Frances Hellman's English translation
of M. Leroy-Beaulieu's “ Israel among the Na- he Jew or Gentile, bond or free—and says, as
term implies, to whomsoever comes to us — be
tions" will doubtless be widely read in this
Ruth said to Naomi, “ Thy people shall be my
country. The fame of the original work as the
best, because the fairest, most searching, and people.” This the Jew has done ; and that he
most critical, study of what is vaguely styled hereditary gabardine rent and tattered by bit-
now comes to us largely a suppliant, with his
and more vaguely known as the Jewish Ques- ter blasts of race hatred and persecution, should
tion has preceded and paved the way for Mrs.
not constitute his least claim upon our hospi-
Hellman's admirable version; and there are
tality; nor should the fact that he alone, of all
just now obvious reasons why Americans espe-
our transplanted fellow-citizens, may in general
cially should wish to understand this Jewish
be said to have left no fatherland behind him,
Question, and to qualify themselves to judge and brought no ancestral patriotism with him,
of its possible bearing upon their own present constitute the least warrant of his whole-hearted
and future. The main conclusion, probably, acceptance of his adopted country. A soil that
that the American reader will draw from M.
Leroy-Beaulieu's book is the comfortable one
has never been darkened by the walls of the
Ghetto may well be doubly dear to him. For
that there is for us no Jewish Question — the
the oppressed Jew of Europe, the promised
conditions which gave rise to that question and
rise to that question and land lies no longer Jordanwards ; he turns his
tend to perpetuate and inflame it in the Old wistful gaze to the far West, to the shores of
World not obtaining here. Antisemitism and
the new Canaan beyond the Atlantic, at whose
Jewish particularism are the outwardly dissim-
ilar but really cognate blossoms of a tree for- portals stands Liberty with flaming torch light-
eign to our soil
, and unable, when transplanted, And this new promised land once reached, why
ing the way for the oppressed of all nations.
to flourish in our social and political atmos-
should he need much time to become attached
phere. The Jew's troubles in the Old World
to it?
“ It would not surprise me,” says M.
and the chronic “Question ” concerning him Leroy-Beaulieu, “if, on disembarking, those
have been and are rooted in and bound
up
with
Jews were to feel like pressing their lips to the
his peculiar status - a status primarily thrust
ground, as did their forefathers on reaching the
upon him from without, and secondarily of his Holy Land.” If there is ever to be a Jewish
own creation. In every land in which for the Question in this country, it must be primarily
past fifteen centuries the son of Jacob has
the result of our own apostasy—of our failure
pitched his tent he has been perforce the man
to maintain those sublime humanitarian prin-
without a country, the intruder, a stranger ciples which it is France's greatest glory. to
within the gates of the Gentile,- in fine, the
have first proclaimed to the world, and which
man of a race and a religion distinct from the
the founders of the American Republic, touched
dominant ones about him. Always isolated, with the optimism of their era and nerved by
usually threatened, and often persecuted, he has
its faith in the intrinsic virtue and high terres-
naturally tended (to quote an expression of trial destinies of mankind, stamped freely upon
Tolstoi) to curl back upon himself and retreat
their institutions and confidently left to the
into the shell of his own exclusiveness. Given guardianship of posterity. Generous France,
these conditions, and the Jewish Question arises
the France of Turgot and of Condorcet, first
of itself. In America the Jew is placed in a
bade Ahasuerus “ Rest”; despotic Russia, at
new environment. For the first time since he
the close of our nineteenth century, bids him
began his wanderings, he finds himself at home
take
up
his wanderer's staff anew. Pelted by
- actually in a country he can call his own
the pitiless storm of a new persecution, he bends
unchallenged, where his claim to citizenship is
his steps westward ; and his almost pathetic
flawless, and where his blood and faith are nat-
readiness, when he reaches our shores, to be of
urally matters of relative indifference to a
us, to be like us, to master our ways and our
ISRAEL AMONG THE NATIONS : A Study of the Jews and tongue, and to respond like other men to the
Antisemitism. By Anatole Leroy-Beaulieu. Translated from
the French by Frances Hellman. New York : G. P. Patnam" fusing influence of universal liberty and toler-
Song.
ance, indicate that an American Jewish Ques-


1896.)
65
THE DIAL
tion, should it ever arise, will spring from a Slav, Latin, Teuton, and Magyar would seem
seed of our planting, not of his.
to have united in this singular movement to
Turning now to our author, let us glance at a put an end to what Antisemitism terms the
few of his leading facts and positions; and first judaising” of European states and societies.
as to the numbers and distribution of this Sem Essentially, these vague and grandiose charges
itic remnant which is pointed out as the potent against the Jew amount to the sufficiently ab-
source of the evils that afflict modern society. surd one that he is the author as well as the main
There are at this period of Israel's greatest disseminator of what is termed the spirit of
dispersal seven or eight millions of Jews scat the age, of the modern practice of summoning
tered among five or six hundred millions of belief to the bar of reason. That this charge
Christians and Moslems—the Russian Empire is out of all accord with the facts of history –
holding about one-half of all the Jews in the let us add, with the real stature of the modern
world. Surely the Son of Jacob, looking about Jew — is plain. That the rationalistic temper
him and noting the vast complexity of social budded in the stifling atmosphere of the Ghetto,
phenomena ascribed to him as the efficient and that the spirit of free inquiry was cradled
cause, may well say, with Æsop's fly, “ What behind the bars of the Judengasse, is a propo-
a dust do I raise !” Israel's centre of gravity sition, one would think, to stagger even the
is in ancient Poland, Russia, Roumania, and trained credulity of a Pastor Stoecker; and, as
Austro-Hungary, this district forming a res our author observes, it would surely have sur-
ervoir of Jews whose overflow, always tend- prised Voltaire and Diderot to be told that they
ing westward, is now vastly increased, and were only the unconscious agents of the Jews.
threatens to sweep old European and the young Small wonder is it that the liberal Israelite,
American states with a long tidal wave of Jew- quick to discern his advantage, has ostenta-
ish immigration. As the numbers and import- tiously accepted the reproach hurled at him
ance of the Jews in western Europe increase, from Lutheran pulpits and Russian tribunals,
so does the prejudice against them increase. and decked his brow with it as with a garland.
Hence has arisen Antisemitism - a threefold But let Israel be content with its matchless
conflict of creed, race, and class. Rooted in an- glory of having given to the world its religion,
tiquity, and partly an atavistic trait, Antisemit its Decalogue, its sublime ideal of human duty.
ism flourishes afresh under favoring conditions ; One sees, indeed, many scientific Jews, but no-
and, being cradled in the new empire of the where a Jewish science; and inquiry shows us
Hohenzollern, it naturally " plays the pedant,” that, in modern times, the Jew has been mainly
proses learnedly from the Katheder, and cov receptive, not originative ; the broker of ideas,
ers its barbarous gospel of race-hatred with a not the author of them. “ Look at them,” said
modern scientific veneer. While religious an a friend of the author, “ see how quickly and
tipathy of the vulgar sort counts for little in the with what squirrel-like agility they climb the
movement, one of the main charges brought first rungs of any ladder; sometimes they suc-
against the Jew is that he is the born enemy ceed in scaling the top, but they never add to
of “ Christian civilization "; that he is at work | it a single round.” Without wholly accepting
through a thousand occult agencies, noiselessly this disparaging estimate, may we not agree
sapping the foundations of the City of God, with M. Leroy Beaulieu that, in the main, the
and undermining the fair fabric of Christian genius of the modern Jew lies in a certain unique
traditions and institutions. Antisemitism is facility of adaptation, a talent for grasping the
thus the counterpart of Anticlericalism ; it is varying gifts of different races and blending
another Kulturkampf, this time instituted by them into an eclectic whole which is unlike each
the Clericals as a tactical maneuvre, in the yet contains a tincture of all ? That there is
heart of the struggle between the new Empire in high and exceptional cases a new and unique
and the Romish hierarchy, against the foes of flavor superadded, the lover of Heine, of Men-
“ Christian civilization.” Sprouting from this delssohn, or of Spinoza may well claim. But
germ, the tree of Antisemitism has spread and the origin of the modern world lay neither in
flourished until its baleful shadow has dark- the Jew nor in the Jewish spirit. " It was due
ened western Europe—the German-Ultramon to the spirit of analysis, of research, to the sci-
tane war-cry, “ Make front against the New entific spirit, whose first teachings came to us,
Jerusalem," being echoed widely in Protestant not from Judea, but from Greece; and though,
Germany, in Catholic France and Austria, and at a later day, the Jews or the Arabs brought
in orthodox Russia, until Catholic or Sectarian them back to us, they have none the less ema-


66
[Feb. 1,
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nated from the Greeks.” In all the world there Babylonian captivity. Antisemitism decks itself
is no man more stubbornly conservative than and hides its vulgar origin with the specious
the talmudic Jew; and the new light that shot theory of a pinchbeck social philosophy; and
in a thousand prismatic rays of verse and prose at the heart of this philosophy one detects the
from the “ burning and far-shining spirit of old tribal notion that identifies nationality with
Voltaire ” penetrated with the utmost difficulty race.
the chinks in the walls of Ghetto and Juden It is urged that “since every nation is
gasse. Well may Jewish rabbis, viewing with founded on unity of race, and since the Jews
sorrow the sceptical tendencies of their dis are a separate race, they can never belong to
persed flock, hurl back at the Gentile the charge any nation.” Confronted at this primitive
of having secularized or “paganized” modern stage of his argument with the fact that not a
society, and say to him, as Nathan said unto single modern nation, not even Germany, can
David, “ Thou art the man.” The reply which justly lay claim to unmixed blood, to a national
the Russian novelist has placed upon the lips basis of race-unity, the Antisemitic philoso-
of the accused Lithuanian Jew may well be pher widens his concept, and urges that, after
sadly repeated by many of the latter's co-relig. all, these superficially diverse ethnie elements
ionists, in the West as well as in the East: constituting modern nations are really homo-
“Our children have no longer our beliefs; they do geneous elements, rays diverging from a com-
not say our prayers, nor have they your beliefs; no mon centre, branches of the noble Aryan oak.
more do they say your prayers; they do not pray at all, But is it true that none but Aryan elements
and they believe in nothing."
have entered into the composition of modern
Neither the distinctive merits, then, of mod-
nations ? What of the underlying strata of Eu-
ern civilization, nor the defects of those merits,
ropean pre-historic races — of Cro-Magnon or
are of Jewish origin. Let us not reverse the
of Neanderthal — which must have been sim-
roles of Jew and Gentile.
ply covered over, and not obliterated, by Indo-
“ Despite the statements of certain Semites, or cer-
tain Antisemites — both tending equally to exaggerate
European deposits ?
the importance of Israel - it is not the Jew who has “Nothing warrants the belief that we are all Aryans;
emancipated Christian thought, but Christian thought,
the Frenchman or the German who prides himself on
or, if you prefer, Aryan thought, that has emancipated
his pure Indo-Germanic blood, may have descended
the Jew. . . . Scepticism, nihilism, materialism, so far
from the cave-dwellers. In fact the existence of an
from being Jewish products, are, in the Jews infected • Aryan race' at the present time is perhaps as purely
by them, but a sign and a consequence of the closer union
imaginary as the existence of a • Latin race.'
of races; they bear witness to the contact of the Jew Again, what becomes of this notion of a
with ourselves.”
sharp and antagonistic confrontation of Jew
Then there is the National Grievance. Not
and Aryan upon which Antisemitic theory
content with de-christianizing his neighbors, depends, when we consider that, while it is
the Jew, it seems, threatens to de-nationalize certain that alien blood, pagan or Christian,
them; and this, in our century, when national flows freely in Jewish veins, it is also certain
feeling counts for so much, is an unpardonable that Christian nations have, on their side, a
sin. In an evil hour for the sons of Abraham, marked strain of Jewish blood ? Shem and
there was discerned, at the bottom of the Jew, Japhet, supposed to be incapable of blending,
the Semite -- the natural antagonist of the
have already blended. There is probably not
Aryan, the blood-foe of that precious deutsche a single modern nation that is quite free from
Kultur complacently held by the naïve philoso-admixture with the Semite; while some of
phy of history of an ultra-Teutonic school to be them, like Spain and Portugal, have absorbed
the nurse and mother of modern civilization.
so much Jewish blood that they have become
This profound discovery made, and a weak “completely impregnated with it.” Germany
point in the lines of the liberal attack present is not exempt; and an ironical destiny may
ing itself, the signal for a new Judenhetze was have so ordered it that the Teutonic current in
sounded summoning the defenders of German- the veins of indignant Pastor Stoecker himself
enthum to make front against Judenthum. The is faintly perfumed with the fotor Judaicus.
slogan sounded in Germany soon found, as we “ Israel has been like an island whose borders, swept
have seen, an echo beyond her borders; and by the waves, have crumbled piecemeal into the ocean,
once more the ominous cry “ Hep! Hep!”
until more than once it seemed threatened with com-
its modern euphemism, warned the startled Jew
plete submersion. Of all the descendants of Jacob, only
of his old fatal status as a stranger
a small part, perhaps even only an infinitesimal minor-
the root
ity, has remained faithful to the religion of its fathers.
of every charge brought against him since the The great majority of the twelve tribes have accepted
or


1896.]
67
THE DIAL
the yoke of the Cross; they have long since become country, these institutions at once so far met the
merged in us; the waters of baptism have swept them
higher needs of men for the present, and so far
out among the nations of the world. We Christians
can never be sure that we do not number among our
adapted themselves to changing conditions, that
ancestors some unrecognized Northern or Southern they attained to the greatest usefulness and in-
Jew."
fluence in mediæval times, and continued into
We cannot here follow further M. Leroy- the modern era. In his very first paragraph,
Beaulieu's elaborate argument, nor even glance
Dr. Rashdall shows that he grasps the dignity
at his interesting chapters on the Physiology, of his theme.
the Psychology, and the Genius of the modern “Sacerdotium, Imperium, Studium are brought together
Jew. His views are by no means always flat-
by a mediæval writer as the three mysterious powers, or
tering to the latter; but they are always broad,
virtues,' by whose harmonious coöperation the life and
health of Christendom are sustained. This Studium'
well-considered, and based on the freest and
did not to him, any more than the . Sacerdotium' or the
fullest scrutiny of facts. One point upon which • Imperium' with which it is associated, represent a
he constantly insists, and which may be per mere abstraction. As all priestly power had its visible
haps taken as the key-note of his eloquent plea
head and source in the city of the Seven Hills, as all
for a humaner view of the Jewish Question,
secular authority was ultimately held of the Holy Ro-
man Empire, so could all the streams of knowledge by
is the truth that the Jew of to-day—that is, the which the Universal Church was watered and fertilized
Jew of the marked type generally objected to be ultimately traced as to their fountain-head to the
- is what he is largely because of the life we great universities, especially to the University of Paris.
have so long forced him to lead. The virtues
The history of an institution which held such a place in
the imagination of a mediæval historian, is no mere sub-
which we accuse him of lacking could scarcely
ject of antiquarian curiosity; its origin, its development,
have blossomed under the rod of persecution. its decay, or rather the transition to its modern form,
If he is the child of the Talmud, he is none the are worthy of the same serious investigation which has
less the child of the Ghetto ; and it is to the
been abundantly bestowed upon the Papacy and the
latter parent that most of his objectionable Empire."
traits may be traced. Antisemitism has little In his preface the author briefly refers to
chance even of a hearing in this country, as
the origin and growth of his book, describes
recent events have proved—we trust to the sat-
his ideal or plan, and indicates the sources of
isfaction of Herren Stoecker and Ahlwardt.
his materials and the extent of his obligations
To us, we believe it is no idle boast to say, the to others. Like
many
other works of English
most “philosophical” Antisemite is simply a scholarship, this book originated in a univer-
Jew-baiter with a doctrine; and the only part sity prize essay, which was won in 1883. At
of that doctrine with which we need concern first the author intended nothing more than
ourselves is refuted by our daily experience of such a revision and expansion of the essay as
our Hebrew fellow-citizens.
would justify its publication in book-form ; but
E. G. J.
he continued his labors until twelve years were
gone, and his essay had been expanded into
1400 octavo pages.
His plan is “ to describe
THE MEDIÆVAL UNIVERSITIES.*
with tolerable fulness the three great archetypal
universities — Bologna, Paris, Oxford — and
Dr. Rashdall has written a good book on a
to give short notices of the foundation, consti-
great subject. The origin, growth, constitu-
tution, and history of the others arranged in
tion and government, the ideals and studies,
national
students and teachers, relations and influence,
” Even of the three great uni-
groups.”
of the universities of the middle ages, are
versities, he does not profess to have written a
history. Referring to the others, he says:
themes that can never lose their interest for
educated men.
“ The condensed treatment of seventy-three univer-
With beginnings so obscure
sities in 316 pages has of course rendered that part of
that they are likely to remain a subject of con my work of little interest, except for purposes of refer-
troversy, growing up in ways that often defy
ence;
but to have ignored all but the most famous Stu-
the most learned and acute minds to explain
dia would have left the reader with a very inadequate
them, encountering all sorts of difficulties and
impression of the extent and variety of the mediæval
dangers both within and without, and marked
university system, and of the importance of the part
which it played in the making of civilized Europe.
by the characteristic facts of their time and Moreover, it would have been impossible to write satis-
* THE UNIVERSITIES OF EUROPE IN THE MIDDLE AGES.
factorily the history of even one university without an
By Hastings Rashdall, M.A., Fellow and Lecturer of Hert-
acquaintance with the documents of all the rest. The
ford College, Oxford. In two volumes. Oxford: At the great defect of university histories has been the non-
Clarendon Press. Macmillan & Co., New York,
application of the comparative method. As matters


68
[Feb. 1,
THE DIAL
stand, even students will probably skip the greater part “(1) That the school attracted, or at least invited, stu-
of Vol. II., part i. The general reader will perhaps dents from all parts, not merely those of a particular
find most that will interest him in Vol. II., part ii.” country or district; (2) That it was a place of higher
Volume I. opens with a discussion of the
education, that is to say, that one at least of the higher
faculties, theology, law, medicine, was taught there ;
question, What is a University ? This is fol.
(3) That such subjects were taught by a considerable
lowed by a longer chapter on A belard and the number, at least by a plurality, of masters.”
Renaissance of the Twelfth Century. Then
How the meaning of the name fluctuated, how,
come a few pages devoted to Salerno, which in progressively, it became more definite, and how,
university history is little more than a great
finally, it disappeared, giving place to univer-
name. An extended chapter of 180 pages is
devoted to Bologna, and Paris fills out the vols in the fewest words.
sity, it would take too much space to tell even
ume. The universities of Italy, Spain, France,
Most persons who read books of this class,
Germany, Bohemia, and the Low Countries, of
if not indeed all of them, will find themselves
Poland, Hungary, Denmark, and Sweden, and
constantly falling upon surprises. Dr. Rash-
of Scotland, comprise the 316 pages described
dall himself has found a closer acquaintance
by the author in the quotation given above.
with the facts resulting in “a certain disillu-
Volume II., part ii., is devoted principally to
sionment." “ We have often had occasion to
Oxford, but it contains also an account of Cam. notice,” he remarks in his epilogue, “that
bridge, and two other chapters of a general features of the mediæval university system
character. For Dr. Rashdall's sources, we can
which have constantly been appealed to as
only refer the reader to his preface and numer-
binding precedents were really less universal
ous bibliographies and notes, adding merely and less invariable than has been supposed."
the remark that he must have spent his twelve The following extract shows what he means,
years industriously to have explored so much and also teaches us to beware of pushing gen-
material,
eralizations too far:
The reader who is not already familiar with «The University of London, after being empowered by
the main facts stated in the first chapter will Royal Charter to do all things that could be done by any
find it necessary to make them at once his sure University, was legally advised that it could not grant
possession. The notion that a university means
degrees to women without a fresh charter, because no
a school in which all branches of knowledge
university had ever granted such degrees; we have seen
that there were women-doctors at Salerno. We have
are taught “ has long since disappeared from been told that the medieval university gave a religious
the pages of professed historians.” “ A glance education; we have seen that to the majority of students
into collection of mediæval documents re-
it gave none. We have been told that a university must
any
veals the fact that the word university ' means
embrace all faculties; we have seen that many very
famous medieval universities did nothing of the kind.
merely a number, a plurality, an aggregate of That it eventually came to be considered necessary, or
persons. In the earliest period in which the at least usual, that they should do so, is due to the event-
word is used in a special sense, “ the phrase is
ual predominance of the Parisian type of university
always "university of scholars,' university of
organization, minus the very peculiar and exceptional
absence of a Faculty of Civil Law. We have been told
masters and scholars,'' university of study,' or
that the collegiate system is peculiar to England; we
the like."
have seen that Colleges were found in nearly all univer-
“ It is particularly important to notice that the term sities, and that over a great part of Europe university
was generally in the middle ages used distinctly of the teaching was more or less superseded by college teach-
scholastic body, whether of teachers or scholars, not of ing before the close of the mediæval period. We have
the place in which such a body was established, or even been told that the great business of a university was
of its collective schools. The word used to denote the considered to be liberal as distinct from professional
academic institution in the abstract - the schools or the education; we have seen that many universities were
towns which held them—was Studium, rather than Uni almost exclusively occupied with professional education.
versitas. ... The term which most nearly corresponds We have been assured, on the other hand, that the
to the vague and indefinite English notion of a univer course in arts was looked upon as a mere preparatory
sity, so distinguished from a mere school, seminary, or discipline for the higher faculties; we bave seen that
private educational establishment, is not Universitas in the universities of Northern Europe a majority of
but Studium Generale; and Studium Generale means, students never entered a higher faculty at all.”
not a place where all subjects are studied, but a place Different readers will find different parts of
where students from all parts are received. Studium
Generale became common at the beginning of the 13th
the book most instructive and interesting. We
century, when it was used as vaguely and indefinitely have taken a special interest in the chapters
as the English term Public School or the German Hoch and sections of a more general character. “The
Schule.”
Place of the University (of Paris] in European
The name now implied three characteristics History," " The Studies of Oxford,” “The


1896.]
69
THE DIAL
mean.
Studies of Paris,” « The Place of Oxford in
THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF
Mediæval Thought,” “Student Life in the Mid-
ELECTRICITY.*
dle Ages," are titles that illustrate what we
The demand for popular scientific literature
In a short chapter entitled “The Numbers having to do with electricity and magnetism has
in the Mediæval Universities,” Dr. Rashdall
of late been prodigious. A great deal has been
attacks the traditions that assign thirty thou-
written to gratify a love for the mysterious and
sand students to Oxford, and corresponding sensational, or, on the other hand, to supply a
numbers to Paris and Bologna, when those uni-
little information that might immediately be
versities were at the summit of their greatness.
turned to practical purposes. Much of this
Valuable data for such a purpose are far from popular writing has been indifferent and of but
abundant; inference must largely take the place literature of the subject has been too severely
slight value to general readers. The technical
of registration lists ; but we can see no good scientific and mathematical either to interest or
reason to dispute the general soundness of his
conclusions, which will be presented in his own
profit any except specialists. Electricity in its
words.
manifold applications is the dominant scientific
“(1) It is improbable that the numbers of either
feature of the age; and yet to the large body of
Bologna or Paris can ever have exceeded some 6000 or thoughtful readers the subject is one shrouded
7000. At Paris at least it is pretty certain that this limit with an air of mystery, because so little under-
was approached during its period of highest repute – stood. The great magazines and periodicals,
say, the beginning of the fourteenth century. (If all the
grammar-boys of the city were added, we should pos-
with rare exceptions, seem to avoid the subject,
sibly have to add some 2000 more.) About the middle
not, probably, from lack of interest, but rather
of the fifteenth century, however, the number at that on account of inseparable technicalities. This
university was probably nearer 3000. In Italy the difficulty is oftener fancied than real, for there
growth of new universities was so rapid and extensive, is much connected with electricity which is sug.
and the decline in the reputation of Bologna so serious, gestive and filled with absorbing interest. The
have approached the numbers of Paris after an early subject only requires humanizing to arouse a
period of the thirteenth century.
more intelligent interest in its historical devel-
“(2) The maximum number at Oxford was some-
opment as a preparation for understanding its
thing between 1500 and 3000. By about 1438 the num-
bers had fallen to under 1000.
existing applications. This, Dr. Park Benja-
(3) The numbers of Prague before the German
min's book on “ The Intellectual Rise in Elec-
migration in 1409 may have been 3000 or more; Vienna tricity” is eminently fitted to do. It is a book
and Leipsic may at one time have had 1000 or 2000. that will prove a most welcome addition to the
The numbers of the other German universities during library of every thoughtful reader.
the fifteenth century varied between 100 and 1000, in-
cluding grammarians.
This book marks the beginning of a new
“(4) We may add that the population of other minor epoch in the literature of electricity, and shows
universities in France and elsewbere, wherever ascer that the science has far transcended the sup-
tainable, is always numbered by hundreds and not by posed period of its infancy; for to the extent
thousands; at Toulouse alone there may have been as
the literature of any science becomes philosoph-
many as 2000.”
ical, it approaches the perfection of its develop-
The most serious defect of Dr. Rashdall's
book is the omission at the close of a summary
ment. The layman can scarcely appreciate the
The
narrowness of the electrical profession.
view of the whole field. No doubt such a chap- marvellous development of the applications of
ter would have been a peculiarly difficult one to
electricity has scarcely permitted time for phil-
write. Still, it would have given a unity and
osophical thought to be directed toward either
completeness to the work that it now lacks, and
its history or its broader relations. No science
should have been written. But even as it is,
has ever been so exacting, or had so little to
the work is incomparably the most valuable one
do with the strictly material. Devotion to it
dealing with the subject in our language, and
has meant absorption with mere technical de-
will at once take its place in libraries, public
tails. The writer who has presumed to tran-
and private, as a recognized authority.
scend petty technicalities, and to introduce gen-
B. A. HINSDALE.
eral conceptions or philosophical allusions, has
been called irrelevant, unpractical, and out of
touch with the times. The purely intellectual
The publisher of “ The Art Student” has acquired
“ The Limner," and the two titles will hereafter be * THE INTELLECTUAL RISE IN ELECTRICITY. - By Park
included in the “style" of this useful monthly.
Benjamin, Ph.D., LL.B. New York: D. Appleton & Co.


70
[Feb. 1,
THE DIAL
cance.
possibilities of the subject have scarcely been « In this research I have felt that it is not so much
dreamed of or imagined, and few have pos-
the trials and discoveries made in the great and new
field of Nature which attract us, instructive and useful,
sessed the courage to attempt to utter them.
even momentous, as they are, not these so much as the
But all this bids fair to be changed, and the breathing human beings, who in the far past saw them
“ Intellectual Rise of Electricity" to receive a and deciphered them in the light of those other days,
new impulse. What is urgently needed is that and of whose light they formed a part; who thought of
laymen acquire such a knowledge of electricity
them, and whose thoughts lived on, and became immor-
tal, and moved downward through generation after gen-
as will make its history, the general scientific
eration, to us; even as our thoughts, joining theirs, will
elements underlying the science, living reali- pass through the ages to the generations yet to come.”
ties ; that its devotees rise to broader apprecia Electricity as a science is fully matured, and
tion of literature, history, and philosophy. is in no sense in its infancy, except that the
“ From the inception of the study of natural phe extent of its possible applications is just be-
nomena, the human mind has pursued its development
coming realized. Its essential definition, full
along two well-defined lines. At first a phenomenon is
a mere matter of observation, of sensation; then, as its
of poetic fancy at first, has now become as
perception strengthens, the attempt is made to turn the clearly defined as our notions of gravity and
occurrence to some practical application, without seek of the nature and constitution of matter. We
ing to incorporate it into a generalization. This may speak of electricity to-day as an ether-stress,
be called the pre-scientific attitude. The true scientific
spirit develops whon the mind passes from mere observa-
an expression full of meaning to those who
tion to classification, and then on to the higher realm of
have thought far enough to grasp its signifi-
search for causes, for laws. It was when the light-
But what a progress from the concep-
nings burst from the clouds and the thunders shook the tion of an “ amber soul” to “ether-stress"]
earth that the human mind was awed before the mys-
Yet in the interval of time which marks this
terious and uncomprehended powers of nature. In the
childhood age of the race, the mind saw in such events
progress, all the intellectual and political his-
only the manifestation of the terrible powers of su tory of the human race can be written. In-
pernatural beings, which the superstitious revered as stead of being in its infancy, electricity is
gods to be appeased with sacrifices and placated with
really the oldest of sciences, since possibly the
prayers.
first recorded experiment in natural science
The task Dr. Benjamin has addressed himself
was the electrification of a bit of amber. The
to is to entangle the mingled threads of fact
word electricity comes from the Greek names
and fancy, of mythology and history, and reveal
applied to amber, and the significance of this
the birth of the electrical idea, its growth, and term is singularly appropriate. To the poetic
tell how later on it blossomed and bore rare
fancy of the Greek, the amber-gold, elector, was
scientific results. Nor has the author placed a an embodied sunbeam. From the amber the
false estimate on the value of his subject, when, name passed to a property possessed by it
in the Introduction, he says:
that of attracting light bodies ; and now, by a
“ The intellectual rise in electricity is worthy of his-
most singular coincidence, the imprisoned sun-
torical investigation, not merely because of the material
results, actual and potential, which have come from it,
beam energy of coal is released to furnish the
but because it shows clearly anew the marvellous power brilliant arc light, and we still name the agent
of the human mind as an instrument of discovery, capa electricity.
ble of correcting its own errors. Beginning with a sin The earliest mention of the electrical prop-
gle phenomenon, afterwards including effects, all for
erty of amber is mostly legendary, and whether
long periods seemingly fortuitous and uncorrelated,
this rise has involved questions of an interest second
the property was first discovered by genius or
only to that which mankind bas yielded to the great accident may never be definitely known. Yet
issues of life and eternity; questions which challenged it is especially interesting, in these latter days,
the human understanding and compelled it to measure when women are struggling for fuller recogni-
itself against them.”
tion, to learn that in all probability the discov-
The story of the amber and the magnetic ery of electricity was due to a woman.
The
stone is often repeated in classic lore, and is so Thracian women used amber spindles when
interwoven with early thought that the history spinning thread, and these were called “ clutch-
of development from these simple facts to the
ers,” because dust and light substances were
dynamo, the telegraph, and the trolley of to attracted by them after having been rubbed
day, involves very largely the various stages of against the garments.
progress of intellectual growth in general. So The lodestone, or natural magnet, has an
the author defines the spirit in which he wrote,
equally interesting history, and a no less ob-
scure origin of discovery. The simple phe-
* Albrecht, Geschichte der Elektricität.
nomena of the magnet and amber were doubly
when he says:


1896.]
71
THE DIAL
A great
mysterious to the ancients; both possess a Flemish physician, Van Helmont, who worked
strange power of attraction and repulsion, and wonders with the “ Balsamick Emanations of
these tendencies are selective, the amber for the Sympathetick Unguent or Powder.” Mag-
light bodies only, the magnet affecting naught netic remedies abounded, which were famed for
else but iron or its like. Did not such action curing even at great distance. Here we note
partake of the nature of an intelligence, and the rise of the conception of communication at
to what else could it be ascribed than the pres a distance by magnetic or electric means. Tel-
ence of a soul in amber and lodestone ? In such epathy was firmly believed in, and one may
attraction and repulsion they recognized both readily discern the beginnings of modern hyp-
Love and Hate, and it becomes easily appar-notic suggestion in those times.
ent that the “ Intellectual Rise” here chron But even at that period a wonderful idea was
icled has touched upon the profoundest con- slowly taking form in the minds of the more
cepts of philosophy.
thoughtful. Men began to dream of transmit-
A potent charm for the cure of all manner ting intelligence through space, - germs of
of bodily ills was thought to reside in the magic thought which have developed into the electro-
amber and lodestone. From the times of the magnetic telegraph and telephone.
Samothracian priests, the medical quack has generalization remained to be established, the
flourished and fattened on the credulous faith identity of the electric spark with the lightning;
of people in the miraculous healing power of and with this master-stroke of Franklin the
magnetic and electric belts, rings, pills, and chronicle of “ The Intellectual Rise in Elec-
so on through the list of traps for the unwary. tricity” comes to an end. The final lesson of
It is a singular fact that both in the develop- the author is worthy of note:
ment of electricity and chemistry the first prac “Man-made systems may fall, apostles of degenera-
tical application was made in the attempted tion may find, in the things which make up the environ-
healing of bodily ills. It is difficult to explain
ment of the hour, signs of impending decay. But he who
the vitality of the belief in the healing efficacy of nature will learn that when mind thus faces the pu-
turns to the history of intellectual endeavor in the study
of magnetism and electricity. This persistence rity of the Infinite, it does not and cannot degenerate.
certainly is no argument for the healing-power Rather will he see in the constant effort to reveal the
of such devices, but is rather evidence of the
truth an influence always making for good,— always
persistence of superstition and belief in dia- neutralizing the tendency to evil,—always vast in uplift-
ing power."
bolism.
The passage from poetic speculation to a con-
Dr. Benjamin has done his work well. He
crete science did not occur until the close of the
has brought to his task the scientific training
sixteenth century. In this change, the names
of the specialist in electricity, the resources of
of Gray and Gilbert stand as landmarks. Bacon,
a private library considered without an equal
Galileo, Hooke, and Boyle, all contributed to
in the country, and a literary style that is both
elevated and charming. The work is free from
gather the grains of fact from what had hitherto
mathematics and technicalities, and is as en-
been so largely legendary. Other bodies were
found to possess the attractive power of amber tertaining as a romance.
W. M. STINE.
under favorable conditions. Substances were
divided into electrics and non-electrics, and the
behavior of such under excitation was studied. THE CAVE-DWELLERS OF YUCATAN.*
Magnetic phenomena were carefully studied.
The examination of the earth accumulations
Later, Otto von Guericke discovered how to
upon the floors of caves in Europe has given im-
generate considerable quantities of static elec-
portant evidence to the archæologist. Ancient
tricity by a rubbed sulphur globe; and von
men used the caverns as homes, and in them
Kleist was as much dismayed by the shock that
are found to-day layers and heaps of rubbish
marked the discovery of the Leyden jar, as the
that accumulated during this
world was surprised. Then electrical experi- of animals that were used as food, rude tools
Bones
occupancy.
ments became the fad, and monks, nuns, cour-
and implements, charcoals of ancient fires, are
tiers, and soldiers were repeatedly and indis-
among the objects found. From their evidence
criminately shocked. A rich vein of humor
it is known that in France and England man
runs through the descriptions of these times.
was contemporaneous with the mammoth, the
The medical quack took fresh courage, and
plied the gullible public with vigorous activity. With illustrations and map. Philadelphia : J. B. Lippin-
* THE HILL CAVES OF YUCATAN. By Henry C. Mercer.
We read of the marvellous cures of a certain
cott Co.


72
[Feb. 1,
THE DIAL
woolly rhinoceros, the cave-bear, the reindeer, Such were the caves to be examined. The
creatures now extinct, or found only in dis- work was often difficult. The fallen rock
tricts remote from these ; that man in Western masses were frequently so numerous, so large,
Europe was at first a savage, with the crudest and so closely packed, that the excavation had
tools and weapons ; that he was capable of pro to be abandoned long before the original floor
gress, and that he made improvement, the steps of the cave was reached. It was soon evident
in which may be traced. All this has been that these caves had never been to any great
clearly proved.
extent either homes or burial places. But for
Comparatively little careful exploration has all that, they contained the evidence sought.
been made of American caverns. What has Yucatan bas little surface water, few streams,
been done is quite largely the work of Mr. and no great rivers. But underground water
Henry C. Mercer, who has recently studied abounds, and these caves contain a fairly full
caves in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, and reliable supply
and reliable supply. Man to-day comes to them
Illinois, Kentucky, and Tennessee. The results for water, and he must have done the same
are interesting and important, but cannot be ever since the peninsula has been inhabited.
presented here. The exploration of these caves Never living here continuously, he has always
suggested investigation of those of Yucatan. been a frequent visitor and camper. Though
Everyone knows of the curious ruins left in that relics are neither as abundant or varied in the
peninsula by the Mayas. A strange culture earth-layers upon these floors as they are in the
is shown by them and by the relics found with French caves, they occur, and are ample.
them. Was this culture indigenous, growing Twenty-nine caves were visited. “Thirteen
up in Yucatan itself, or was it introduced in had archæological significance ; six yielded val-
full development ? Mr. Mercer believed that uable, and three decisive, results.” The excava-
an examination of the caves would solve the tions at Oxkintok, Loltun, and Sabaka showed
question. Fortunately, means for the enter a single layer of rubbish, consisting of pots-
prise were not wanting. Mr. John White Cor- herds, stone tools and weapons, charcoal, and
with offered the funds for the investigation, bones of animals and birds, some of which had
and with Mr. Mercer and a small party of help- served as food. The objects found do not
ers spent some months last year in the field. indicate vast antiquity, do not prove the co-
The results of the trip are presented in Mr. existence in Yucatan of man and extinct
Mercer's volume on "The Hill Caves of Yu: species of animals, do not show
progress in
catan."
culture.
The physical geography of Yucatan is at once In closing his study, Mr. Mercer arrives at
peculiar and simple. The country is largely three conclusions, which may be stated in his
one of limestones, and these are almost honey-
own words:
combed with subterranean channels and cham “ First. That no earlier inhabitant had preceded the
bers. Of high mountains there are none; a
builder of the ruined cities in Yucatan.
low ridge was the mass in which lay the caves
“ Second. That the people revealed in the caves had
examined. It presented no cliffs or rock walls.
reached the country in geologically recent times.
Caves like those of France and England, of
“ Third. That these people, substantially the ances-
tors of the present Maya Indians, had not developed
Tennessee and Pennsylvania, do not seem to their culture in Yucatan, but had brought it with them
exist there. Those found are described as from somewhere else."
“A very striking class of underground chambers from These conclusions appear justified by the evi-
fifty to three hundred and fifty feet in diameter and
dence. It is now desirable that similar studies
from fifteen to seventy feet high, more or less brightly lit
by round openings in the ceiling—ten, twenty, and fifty
should be made in Central and Southern Mex-
feet in diameter. Through these skylights fragments ico, and in Guatemala and other parts of Cen-
of the original crust had fallen, forming piles of loose tral America. Mr. Holmes's interesting study
stones on the cave floor. . . . Where the rock pile was
of “ Early Man in Mexico " appears to show a
high enough, banana trees and tropical evergreens grow-
ing upon it swept the brink of the chasm with their progressive culture in the Valley of Mexico,
boughs, making strange rattlings when the wind blew. and legends of Nahuatl and other tribes tell of
Sometimes the subterranean groves lay far beneath the successive populations in various portions of
surface in rotundas inaccessible from above. Then they the Isthmian Area. Examination of caves in
were first seen after a long clamber underground, like
the regions suggested, such as Mr. Mercer has
gardens beneath the vaultings of sombre passages.
Doves built their nests in high ledges by the skylights,
made in Yucatan, might yield most valuable
and animals found refuge under the rock heaps, where
results.
Indians had built blinds of loose stones to stalk them."
FREDERICK STARR.


1896.]
73
THE DIAL
Our knowledge of the nervous system has recently
SOME PHASES OF THE SCIENCE OF MIND.*
progressed quite rapidly, but the records of the pro-
Different in subject and scope as are the five vol gress are difficult of access in scattered papers and
umes included in this review, an important bond of technical journals, and require the elimination of
community between them is none the less apparent; contradictory data and accidental variations before
and this consists of their common bearing upon the their significance is revealed. So readable and at
rigorous study of mental phenomena, that forms one once so scholarly an account of the essential facts
of the striking features of contemporary thought. of neurology, embodying these recent advances, is
For, apart from the anatomists, zoologists, and phy itself an important acquisition to the literature of
siologists, who are enlarging the facts and interpret- the subject.
ing the results of their own specialties as a self It is in the results of the main problem under dis-
sufficient and independent pursuit, there exists a cussion that the reader will probably be seriously
body of students ready to take up so much of these disappointed; he will find it difficult to carry away
data as can be utilized in the exposition and inves- any very definite conclusion regarding brain changes
tigation of psychological problems. And what is and individual variations in brain structure. He
true of the relations between the sciences that deal appreciates the interpretation of the several tables
with the body and those that deal with the mind, is of comparisons of cranial capacity and the like ; he
true, though in different ways and degrees, of an realizes the many sources of error and chances for
thropology and philology, of psychiatry and sociol misinterpretation and loose inferences in the treat-
ogy. Indeed, we may be said to have completed ment of the subject — for these are clearly set be-
the circle of the sciences, beginning with the days fore him ; but he cannot escape the suspicion that
when all knowledge was one, and that one philoso- the positive outcome of the discussion, though not
phy, and slowly developing to the formation of the to be ignored, is none the less disappointing. For
several sciences into independent groups; and now this he must blame, not the author, but the present
realizing, in the light of this vast accumulation of condition of the subject. It is in many ways an
fact-material, the essential interrelation and inter unfortunate time to attempt the grouping of the
dependence of the many specialties. The various facts into an orderly whole, and particularly to pre-
sciences represent the directions of our interests sent them in a form suitable for a semi-popular
and the limitations of each man's powers, quite as scientific series. The many tables and curves, the
much as they represent groups of facts naturally or cautious preliminary discussions and careful consid-
logically separated from other groups of facts. erations of sources of error, it is to be feared, will
Professor Donaldson's work on “The Growth of deter the layman, while calling out the admiration
the Brain ” is devoted to a systematic and discrim of the ellow specialist. Pioneer work is necessa-
inating account of the growth-changes in the nerv rily unsatisfactory from an artistic point of view.
ous system, accompanying and forming so essential A quarter of a century hence the time may be riper
a factor of the march from birth to death. To give for the preparation of such an essay on the growth
this account its maximum significance, the introduc of the brain as the average
reader
may desire, but
tory chapters describe the main factors of cell and will not find in the present volume. However,
body growth; and for the proper comprehension of although the keystone will be the most conspicuous,
the bearing of these changes, a clear and telling the other stones are quite as essential to the strength
exposition of tbe architecture and function of nerve of the structure.
tissues is introduced. The volume thus does more Before leaving this volume, we must give a mo-
than it promises, for it gives the facts of brain ment's notice to its sub-title —" a study of the nerv-
growth a carefully wrought and attractive setting. ous system in relation to education.” The growth-
THE GROWTH OF THE BRAIN. A study of the nervous
changes of the nervous system are obviously funda-
system in relation to education. By Henry Herbert Donald-
mental in all that process which we call education;
son, Professor of Neurology in the University of Chicago. and in the last two chapters of the work, the edu-
"The Contemporary Science Series." London : Walter Scott. cational bearings of the whole are ably set forth.
Charles Scribner's Sons, New York.
It is true that these educational applications are
LECTURES ON HUMAN AND ANIMAL PSYCHOLOGY. By
based as much upon
other facts as upon
those treated
Wilhelm Wundt. Translated from the second German edi-
tion, by J. E. Creighton and E. B. Titchener. London: Swan
in the volume, and even more so; but they tell very
Sonnenschein & Co. Macmillan & Co., New York.
plainly the lesson that neurology teaches. They
OUTLINES OF PSYCHOLOGY. Based upon the results of ex show how apt we are to exaggerate the importance
perimental investigation. By Oswald Külpe, Professor of
of formal education and technical acquisition, and
Philosophy in the University of Würzburg. Translated from
the German, by Edward Bradford Titchener, Sage Professor
how slight this may be when compared with uncon-
of Psychology in the Cornell University. London: Swan scious absorption and the unfoldment of natural
Sonnenschein & Co. Macmillan & Co., New York.
dispositions; they show that no discussion of the
STUDIES IN THE EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGY OF FEELING. effects of educational methods can be considered
By Hiram M. Stanley. London: Swan Sonnenschein & Co.
Macmillan & Co., New York.
complete that does not take into account the changes
THE BEGINNING OF WRITING. By Walter James Hoff-
in the nervous system by which all such processes
man, M.D. The Anthropological Series. New York: D. are conditioned. Our knowledge of such relations
Appleton & Co.
is lamentably imperfect in detail, but the attempt


74
[Feb. 1,
THE DIAL
to interpret educational changes in neurological | the budding-time of an expanding science could
terms is in itself most helpful, and gives additional hardly have been an easy task; and the result, as
importance to the volume under discussion.
the author confesses, is not free from the architec-
Professor Wilhelm Wundt is widely known to tural defects and compromises inherent in the mod-
English readers as a pioneer and a leader in the ernizing of an old structure. Distinctly new topics,
development of modern psychology and as the foun that have come into prominence within recent years,
der of the first laboratory for the experimental study
are introduced; other lectures are omitted ; and
of mental phenomena; yet the present is the first very generally new facts and experiments are sub-
volume of his writings to appear in an English trans-
stituted for the old ones. But in spite of all these
lation. These lectures on Human and Animal changes the volume does not adequately represent
Psychology” were first published over thirty years
the methods and results of the movement to which
ago, being one of the very earliest contributions to Professor Wundt has so largely contributed. Wel-
the experimental field ; in 1892 the author revised come as the volume undoubtedly is as an addition
and rearranged the older lectures, and from this to the psychological shelves of our libraries, private
second edition Professors Creighton and Titchener, and public, it must be recommended with an explan-
of Cornell University, have prepared their transla: ation of its relative historical importance, and of the
tion. Of all of Professor Wundt's writings, this vol- plan of its modernization.
ume is best suited for translation, because it is
The translation is both readable and accurate
adapted to a wider reading public, and covers, in a qualities not so often combined as to need no com-
less didactic and detailed manner than his more
mendation; here and there the harsh Teutonic tech-
formal treatises, the chief problems of mental sci nical phrases are insufficiently disguised, or unusual
ence. The first group of lectures considers the facts
words used when more familiar ones are in
vogue.
and interpretation of sense-impressions. The dis-
But these minor imperfections entirely disappear in
cussion of the measurement of intensities of sensa the general excellence of the whole.
tion and of the methods of gaining a knowledge of Professor Külpe's “Outlines of Psychology” is a
space-dimensions are particularly fully and inter- product of the Leipzic school of psychology; the
estingly treated. A second group of chapters takes author was for several years an assistant to Profes-
up the time-relations of mental phenomena, consid sor Wundt, and dedicates the volume to his master.
ering the rapidity of mental processes, the range It is in some respects a compendium of Wundt's
of consciousness, the fluctuations of attention, the larger work — the resemblances of arrangement and
nature of associations, and the like. Besides the treatment, of theory and perspective, being many
lectures which treat of the nature of animal activi and striking, but in the main deserves to be re-
ties, there are also discussions of abnormal states, garded as an original exposition of psychological
dreams, hypnotism, and allied phenomena; of the problems from the experimental point of view. It
development of the will and its relation to reflex, is to be regretted that the author has not availed
automatic, and expressive movements ; of the funda- himself of the convenience of a preface to explain
mental theories connecting bodily and mental states ; the special purposes of the volume, the class of read-
and more less incidentally of a variety of interest ers to whom it is addressed, and the basis of selec-
ing psychological problems.
tion of the particular problems selected and omitted.
It is thus apparent that the lectures cover a very The "psychologies" of an earlier period were mostly
wide range; but there is little attempt to give the expositions of individual systems, or the tenets of a
various topics a definite setting in a coördinated school ; more recently a “psychology " has come to
general conception. In each of the groups of prob- represent the particular group of problems, treated
lems considered, a few problems are selected as from this or that point of view, in which the author
typical, and are treated with considerable detail, is specially interested. It may be seriously ques-
their relations to other almost equally important tioned whether the progress of a science depending
topics being left without notice. This defect is per upon such contributions alone would be rapid or
haps to be ascribed to the lecture form of the work, certain. It would be foolish to question the right
but will often leave the general reader at sea re of any scientific worker to express his own convic-
garding the significance of what he has read. tions upon the main problems of his science in a
Indeed, the reader to whom the volume will be most way most satisfactory to himself, --- and, indeed, a
helpful is one who has some elementary acquaint frank acknowledgement of this individualistic mo-
ance with scientific psychology, and is willing to tive upon the title-page would often ward off a
make some effort to extend that acquaintance, and severe but justifiable criticism of the work ; but
at the same time demand a readable and impressive from the point of view of a disinterested zeal in the
exposition. This class of readers does not include advance of science it may be confidently maintained
the largest share of those who will be tempted to that a general discountenancing of such
works would
scan the title-page with a view of perusal, but it is be a wholesome corrective to a natural excess.
large enough to sanction the labors of translation ; | Many a work of ability, and replete with expositions:
nor should the demands of the rapidly increasing of originality and importance, repels rather than
number of professed students be ignored.
attracts, because it is entitled “principles " or "out-
The revision of a course of lectures prepared in lines” of psychology, instead of some contribu-


1896.]
75
THE DIAL
tions to the consideration of selected problems in tations, analysis, and the merits of rival theories.
psychology.” The matter is not one of title, of Considering the character of the work, the trans-
course (and unwieldy titles are obviously objec-lation is more than creditable; an elimination of
tionable); it is a question of the wholesomeness of a technical terms and unusual phrases and the didac-
certain literary tendency that is particularly pre tic arrangement would have been a departure from
valent in psychology.
a literal version, but a relief to the English reader.
Professor Kulpe's work is an able example of the
But in consideration of the recent contributions to
tendency in question. It represents more than any our literature of similar scope, it may be doubted
thing else his individual interests and methods of whether the translation meets any real need.
exposition; able as these are, and interesting as they Mr. Stanley's essay on the psychology of feeling
may be to his fellow-theorizers, it may be doubted is a noteworthy and original contribution to a much-
whether they will appeal to that considerable body discussed but obscure problem — the origin, signifi-
of English-reading students for whom the transla cance, and course of development of the emotional
tion was presumably prepared. The work is not activities and dispositions. The author's contention,
easy to read nor to describe. To the collegiate stu as implied in his title, is that the feelings prompt-
dent of psychology it will be quite generally puz- ing to and accompanying actions can be rightly
zling and unsatisfactory; although the claim is made interpreted only in the light of an evolutionary hy-
that “experimental psychology is fully within its pothesis and under the principle of serviceability.
rights when it claims to be the general psychology This at once emphasizes the problem as one belong-
of which we propose to treat,” it is surprising how ing to comparative psychology, and sends the stu-
few experimental results are described ; unusual dent to studying the simpler emotional capabilities
technical terms and needlessly abstruse classifica of children and of the lower animals. On the other
tions are constantly introduced. In brief, it is a hand, Mr. Stanley is convinced that the typically
work much better suited to the German than to the psychological method is introspection, that feeling
English mind; our education demands more atten can be known only by a discriminating and self-
tion to guidance and instruction than is traditional observant feeler; in this method, therefore, the first
in the academic freedom of a German university. place is given to a rigid self-analysis, the results of
We reap the benefit of this in the pains taken by such analysis to be controlled and corroborated by
our professional writers to be clear and useful. observation of less complex personalities than our
The work is divided into three parts, devoted
own, as well as of the various historical, social, and
respectively to the elements of consciousness, the anthropological variations which the study of man
connection between these elements, and the general furnishes.
considerations of states of consciousness. Under the The beginning of all mental life is in the pleasure-
first head, sensations are considered, first with refer- pain feelings; these precede cognition, the primi-
ence to their quality or specific character, and then tive organism realizing that its psychic state is dis-
with reference to their intensity. We ordinarily
turbed before it is aware of a something causing the
restrict the term sensation to the process that be-
disturbance. Indeed, the incentive to cognition is
gins with the action of some agency outside our-
the feeling; “ pleasure and pain bring their objects,
selves and makes us aware of such stimulus; for
not objects pleasures and pains.” Of the two, al-
this, Dr. Kulpe prefers the term “peripherally ex-
though both primitive modes of manifestation, pain
cited sensation," and treats of the processes of
is perhaps the earlier. Both appear because of their
memory, imagination, reproduction, and association serviceability in advancing the good of the organ-
as “centrally excited sensations.” A final section on
ism and protecting it from evil, and both develop in
the elements of consciousness is devoted to the feel-
the line of more and more efficient and far-seeing
ings, with some slight reference to the will. The
benefit and protection.
“conscious elements are connected mainly in two
“Further, that pain should be attained where there is
ways: by fusion, illustrated best by the mingling of
little actual harm, is good, but to attain pain, and self-
several tone-stimuli into one sensational effect; and
conservative action before any injury is done, but only
by colligation, which finds its best instance in the
about to be done, is better. Reaction to potential harm
method of our deriving a knowledge of space from
is a most important advantageous step. In the earlier
form of mentality, the animal must actually be in the
the combination of touch, movement, and sight.
process of being devoured by an enemy before a pain
The terms “fusion” and “colligation ” are used so reaction is achieved, but in the later representative form
broadly that a consideration of the emotions and of reaction there is complete anticipation, and the ani-
impulses, of the perception of time and space, of the mal can come off with an absolutely whole skin. Ideal
many variations of simple and compound reactions, pains, as fear, anger, and other emotions, are gradually
of the phenomena of contrast and optical illusions,
substituted for pains which are real in the sense that
are all made more or less pertinent to the discus-
they arise in a positive hurt to the life of the organism.
sion. The part dealing with the states of conscious-
The saving which is effected through emotion is most
important, and this economy is reason for the rise of
ness discusses attention, self-consciousness, sleep and
emotion in the strugle of existence. Those animals who
dreams, hypnotism and allied conditions. As already
are able, not merely to react on slight injuries to them-
indicated, the treatment gives least space to the selves, but also through fear, etc., to avoid all actual
description of facts, and dwells fully upon interpre- | injury, have a very manifest advantage.”


76
[Feb. 1,
THE DIAL
As forewarned is forearmed, as experience brings damentally a psychological one, involving the sur-
wisdom, as the power of prediction is the test of vival of the best-suited modes of communication
science, so the same prudential and anticipating under various primitive conditions, the necessity of
advantages furnish the clue for the development of communication being in turn an outcome of the
the emotions. Fear and desire, repulsion and social impulse. The typical forms of sign-making
attraction, the avoidance of evil, the seeking of good, must therefore correspond to typical modes of asso-
bring about opposite pairs of emotions, gradualy ciational and other mental processes ; of these, sym-
differentiating into more and more forms with the bolism is perhaps the most interesting and most
increased complexity of the animal organization efficient. Mr. Hoffman's grouping of signs involv-
and environment, until in man we have all shades ing this and similar processes is valuable and help-
and grades of fear emotions, requiring the trained ful; and in general it may be said that the more
powers of an astute observer for their analysis and limited purpose
of the volume — the illustration of
delineation. The portrayal of these differentiations the principles of sign-making by American picto-
of fear and desire, of surprise, hope, dissappoint- graphs—is successfully accomplished. As such, the
ment, of anger and despair, make up the central volume will be welcomed by a rapidly increasing
portion of the volume, and do not admit of a sum number of students and general readers who are
mary statement.
convinced that the proper study of mankind is man.
Mr. Stanley is equally forcible and felicitous in
JOSEPH JASTROW.
his treatment of more complex and peculiarly hu-
man emotions, as in his analysis of the simpler feel-
ings common to all living kind concerned in the
struggle for existence. His analysis of the æsthetic
RECENT FICTION.*
and the ethical feelings — the two most difficult
A review of recent books of fiction that is per-
chapters in the psychology of feeling — which are
certain to arouse objections in the minds of many,
mitted to include the names of Mr. Hardy and Mr.
Meredith cannot be altogether lacking in distinction,
cannot but be suggestive and stimulating to all;
and in particular
the chapter on the “Psychology by work that is of his best. Mr. Hardy’s “ Jude
even if neither of the two novelists is represented
of Literary Style” is cordially recommended to
students of literature as well as of psychology as *JUDE THE OBSCURE. By Thomas Hardy. New York:
an attractive bit of psychological analysis.
Harper & Brothers.
Mr. Stanley's views will incite criticism at the
THE AMAZING MARRIAGE. By George Meredith. Two
volumes. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons.
hands of those who have maintained different views
A GALLOWAY HERD. By S. R. Crockett. New York:
of the significance and origin of feeling — notably R. F. Fenno & Co.
in this country of Profesor James and Mr. Mar THE MEN OF THE Moss-HAGS. By S. R. Crockett. New
shall; and his general method will be opposed some-
York: Macmillan & Co.
what by the claimants for the introduction of ex-
RED ROWANS. By Mrs. F. A. Steel. New York: Mac-
millan & Co.
periment and objective tests throughout the psy-
JOHN DARKER. By Aubrey Lee. New York: Macmillan
chological field. The former will find much food
& Co.
for reflection in this evolutionary exposition of the A BID FOR FORTUNE. A Novel. By Guy Boothby. New
subject; and the latter, while convinced that the York: D. Appleton & Co.
author underestimates the possibilities of experi-
THE CHRONICLES OF COUNT ANTONIO. By Anthony Hope.
New York: D. Appleton & Co.
ment in psychology, will probably admit that its
A MONK OF FIFE. A Romance of the Days of Jeanne d'Arc.
application to the emotions is most difficult, and
By Andrew Lang. New York: Longmans, Green, & Co.
will be ready to admit introspection as a legitimate THE RED COCKADE. A Novel. By Stanley J. Weyman.
method when it is used, as it is in this volume, with New York: Harper & Brothers.
discrimination, with a recognition of its many CLARENCE. By Bret Harte. Boston: Houghton, Mifflin
sources of error; and under the guidance of a mental
& Co.
habit formed by familiarity with scientific thought.
IN A HOLLOW OF THE HILLS. By Bret Harte. Boston:
Houghton, Mifflin & Co.
The last volume in our group furnishes an addi A DAUGHTER OF THE TENEMENTS. By Edward W. Town-
tional example of an all too frequent discrepancy send. New York: Lovell, Coryell & Co.
between title-page and content. The reader, hav DOLLY DILLENBECK. By James L. Ford. New York:
ing his appetite aroused by an attractive
George H. Richmond & Co.
menu,
is
perhaps unduly annoyed at finding a very simple
ROSE OF DUTCHER'S COOLLY. By Hamlin Garland. Chi-
cago : Stone & Kimball.
meal, quite wholesome and palatable in itself, but
THE RED BADGE OF COURAGE. By Stephen Crane. New
very
different from what he was led to expect. Had York: D. Appleton & Co.
Mr. Hoffman entitled his essay “Contributions to A SINGULAR LIFE. By Elizabeth Stuart Phelps. Boston:
the study of American picture-writing,” he would Houghton, Mifflin & Co.
have attracted a more limited public, but would
A QUESTION OF FAITH. By L. Dougall. Boston: Hough-
ton, Mifflin & Co.
have fed this public to its satisfaction. The essay
PAUL AND VIRGINIA OF A NORTHERN ZONE. From the
touches the fascinating problem of the origin and
Danish of Holger Drachmann. Chicago: Way & Williams.
growth of sign-making frequently, but in an irregu Dona PERFECTA. By B, Perez Galdós. Translation by
lar and unsystematic manner. This problem is fun Mary J. Serrano. New York: Harper & Brothers.


1896.]
77
THE DIAL
the Obscure”- known as “ Hearts Insurgent” dur is a creation of a charm so elusive yet irresistible
ing the period of its publication in a popular maga that she is secure in the affections of the reader,
zine is a book sure to command much attention, although her kaleidoscopic nature is inconsistent 'far
and to provoke widely diverse expressions of opin- beyond the point to which inconsistency as the pre-
ion. When engaged in reading the opening pages, rogative of her sex is admissible. The book is also
it seemed to us that the book bade fair to equal, if a very plain-spoken one, more than necessarily plain-
not to surpass, any of the author's previous achieve spoken, we think. Will these realists leave nothing
ments. There is always something supremely touch to the imagination in dealing with the subject which
ing in the story of a boy of high aspirations and above all others makes a decent reticence imperative?
exceptional intellectual endowments, struggling up Mr. Ruskin once wrote of Browning in these
ward to the light under conditions the most adverse, terms: “The worst of it is that this kind of con-
and this is the story outlined for us in the begin centrated writing needs so much solution before the
ning of the book. But as our reading went on, and reader can fairly get the good of it.” Mr. Mere-
the twilight of the opening chapters deepened into dith's style calls for solution quite as much as
the gloom of those that followed instead of flushing Browning's ever did, and does not so well reward
into the dawn that we had reason to expect, as the the patience. Whatever may be the insight or the
youth who at first aroased sympathy developed into robust philosophy of his books, their utterly per-
the man who could inspire little besides contempt verse manner must exclude them from the vital
or disgust, as the book became more and more a literary interests of the great majority of readers.
bitter tirade against the fundamental institutions of This is unfortunate, for Mr. Meredith has better
society, and as we realized that its tenor was to re stuff to offer us than any of his contemporaries
main one of cheerlessness throughout, we must con among novelists, but it is nevertheless inevitable.
fess to a feeling of utter disheartenment at the use The rich kernel of his thought is encased in too
which the author was set upon making of his splen hard a nut for many to crack, and his doctrine is
did talent. Ours is not the childish complaint of likely to remain chiefly esoteric. “The Amazing
the reader who wants his stories to come out well; Marriage" is not as hard reading as some of its
we do not dispute the right of tragedy to a con predecessors have been, but is harder than most of
spicuous place in the literature that deals with the us like to undertake for pleasure. Between this
stern realities of human life, and we are more than book and Kant's “ Kritik," let us say, it is some-
most writers in sympathy with the moods of the thing like a toss-up, with the chances a trifle in favor
pessimist. But between the noble tragedy which of the sage of Königsberg. We do not profess to
performs for us the Aristotelian function of purging have read every line of these two thick volumes,
the soul of baseness and such tragedy as Mr. Hardy but we have caught glimpses in their pages of sev-
gives us in the present novel, between the proud eral intensely-realized individuals, and have as often
pessimism of a revolted but self-centred spirit and wished that the author might have presented his
the scolding sort of pessimism to which this book characters with the lucid art of a Balzac or a Thack-
gives vent, there is a world-wide difference. The eray, instead of as in a glass darkly, straining the
one is as attractive as the other is revolting to the gaze and thwarting the attention. Considered sim-
reader of serious temper. The author tells us that ply as a story, the book has but a slender equip-
his book “attempts to deal unaffectedly with the ment. An impulsive and eccentric young noble-
fret and fever, derision and disaster, that may press man meets an unconventional girl, and proposes to
in the wake of the strongest passion known to hu her on the spot. He soon regrets the act, while she,
manity.” Fret and fever he doubtless gives us, and never doubting his sincerity, holds him to the word
both derision and disaster, but to say that he does which he makes it a point of strenuous honor not
it unaffectedly is the last thing that would occur to to evade. The wedding is accomplished, and the
a reader of wholesome instincts. On the contrary,
bride is taken, for her wedding-journey, to a prize-
it would be uncharitable not to assume that the fight, described with ghastly exactitude. Immedi-
gratuitous cynicism, and the sullen temper, and the ately thereafter the husband deserts her, but can-
moral perversity of the book, were all affected, de not escape the spell cast over him by her proud and
liberately and of set purpose. It cannot be, for vital personality. The rest of the book is devoted
example, that Oxford is indeed to Mr. Hardy the to a description of the process of soul-subjugation
city of dreadful night that his Christminster is made to which the hero finally succumbs, only to be
to appear. To the childish imagination of Jude it flouted, and to find that he has cast irrevocably
appeared as a very city of the soul, and the chap away a jewel too cheaply prized. She leaves the
ters that present it to us in this aspect themselves scene upon some mad errand of mercy to the Span-
belie the other chapters in which it takes on so dif ish rebels, and he finds refuge in a monastery. An
ferent a guise. As for the plot of the novel, any obtrusive person called Dame Gossip interrupts the
outline statement would appear merely farcical ; with narrative from time to time, and an equally obtru-
the wealth of observation and episode brought to sive Old Buccaneer, sometime father of the heroine,
the working-out, it escapes this charge, although is permitted to bore us every now and then with
but narrowly. In characterization it is, of course, certain maxims left at his death to a wondering
strong beyond most contemporary novels, and Sue world.


78
[Feb. 1,
THE DIAL
One of the most noteworthy features of recent most notable in the matter of construction, although
English fiction is the revival of interest in the Scot, in this respect Mrs. Steel has still something to
due in part to the writings of Stevenson and Mr. learn. We cannot forgive the tragically abrupt
Lang, and still more largely to the still later group ending of the story, for the whole tenor of what
of writers that includes Mr. Barrie, Mr. Watson, goes before does anything but warrant so startling
and Mr. Crockett. Of these three, the latter, to a conclusion. One is almost tempted to think that
judge by what has already been accomplished, rep it was adopted in sheer despair, and because a nat-
resents the greatest fertility of invention, as well as ural solution of the complication was found too dif-
the most marked literary force. Two recent novels ficult. The story is, in the main, a wholesome piece
by Mr. Crockett appeal to us, as their predecessors of work, excellent in both description and charac-
have done, by their faithful delineation of scene terization. If it has not the extraordinary power
and character, their romantic manner, and their of “ The Potter's Thumb,” it is probably because
shrewd humor. Both are human books in a high its theme is too hackneyed and commonplace to per-
sense, and both enlist the sympathies of the reader, mit of a like display. But, in any case, the histo-
holding them to the end. “A Galloway Herd” is rian of our latter-age fiction will have to reckon
a story whose scenes are mainly Scotch, although with Mrs. Steel.
predetermined by certain tragic happenings in Lon The unfamiliar name of “Aubrey Lee” is at-
don, and ending, almost tragically, in the Paris of tached to the story of “ John Darker.” The book
1871 and the Commune. The passages are some is an exceedingly amateurish performance, with but
what loosely linked together, and one is often puz scant display of constructive skill — or rather an
zled to trace the connection between scene and scene. exasperating absence of it where most needed
This lack of explicitness is doubtless a fault, as is and concerned with people whose characters are so
also the intrusion of certain romantic elements not self-contradictory that we soon give up the attempt
quite in keeping with the tenor of the narrative. to reconcile their curious traits. Yet there is a cer-
The dialect, too, is a stumbling-block, and makes tain crude power in parts of the book that arrests
hard reading of far too many pages. That the book attention, and sustains a certain degree of interest.
should, on the whole, compel attention to the end, It is more than accident that the writer makes oc-
in spite of these shortcomings, is perhaps the best casional reference to Charlotte Brontë, for many
tribute that we can pay to its essential charm. We passages suggest the peculiar temper of the author
should add that the book is an early production, of “Jane Eyre," and the heroine (who uses the first
now reprinted without the author's sanction. person) succeeds in making herself almost as real
“The Men of the Moss-Hags,” Mr. Crockett's as her other characters are impossible. The sum
other novel, is "a history of adventure taken from of it all is that the writer must be a young woman,
the papers of William Gordon of Earlstoun in Gal who has had some personal experiences out of the
loway.” It deals with the persecution of the Cov common, who has preserved an unusually vivid rec-
enanters, and has many a stirring episode of con ollection of them, and who has thrown her person-
flict, and imminent danger, and escape. It is, in- ality unreservedly into her pages.
deed, open to the reproach of being little more than Mr. Boothby has hardly done well to desert, even
a series of episodes, and its charm is to be sought in in part, the Australasian scenes in which his earlier
the faithful finish of its separate scenes rather than novels have been placed, and “A Bid for Fortune"
in the action taken as a whole. The dialect, too, is weakened by being made to cover so much ground.
makes it difficult reading, but that is a necessary
It opens
with
a mystery so well conceived as to
evil in a tale of this sort, and we gladly put up with stimulate the most jaded interest, and speedily de-
the strange speech for the sake of the local color velopes into a promising love-story. But the love-
and sympathetic delineation. The closing episode story ends in insipidity, and the mystery appears
makes no small demand upon credulity, but the too much for its inventor, since he fails to clear it
story, taken altogether, is not lacking in verisimili up, although he calls hypnotism and other uncanny,
tude, and the author has so thought and felt him agencies to his aid. The plot is for the most part
self into the period of which he writes that we are wildly improbable, if not impossible, and the book
more than once reminded of Scott, without for a can hardly be called anything better than rubbish
moment thinking of Mr. Crockett as an imitator. of a rather clever sort.
Another Scotch story—wholly Scotch as to scene, “ The Chronicles of Count Antonio" is an ex-
and largely so as to character—is Mrs. Steel's “ Red periment in mediævalism, and the author has been
Rowans.” The writer herself frankly styles it “a fairly successful in the task of investing his narra-
love story,” and the name is accurately applied. It tive with the romantic atmosphere of the Italian
must have necessitated a sharp readjustment of fo life of some centuries ago. A petty state, its rul-
cus for the writer to turn to another country from ing prince, a noble maiden, and a valiant outlaw,
the India that she knows so well, and a book like are the materials out of which this somewhat la-
the present is the last that we should have expected bored book is made. We must confess to having
from the author of “ The Potter's Thumb." In found it dull reading, with hardly a trace of the
some respects the art of “Red Rowans marks sort of romantic interest that the author contrived
an advance upon that of the Indian tales, an advance to put into “ The Prisoner of Zenda,” for example.


1896.]
79
THE DIAL
The nature of the subject, of course, precludes the well planned and carefully written as two or three
introduction of the element of comedy that gives of its predecessors. The illustrations leave much
zest to such other books as “ A Change of Air” and to be desired; most of all, perhaps, that the artist
“ The Indiscretion of the Duchess," and that makes should have read the text with which he was sup-
those books so effective.
posed to be working. It is a little startling to read
The recent revival of interest in the Maid of Or of the heroine, at a certain critical juncture, that
leans has resulted in the production of a consider her hair was falling loosely over her shoulders, and
able amount of romantic fiction, of which the most to note the elaborate coiffure given her in the cor-
important example is Mr. Lang's “A Monk of responding picture.
Fife.” The subject is one almost ideally suited to The selection of American fiction made for the
Mr. Lang's hand, appealing, as it does, to his deepest present review cannot better be headed than by the
interests and intellectual sympathies—how warmly name of Mr. Bret Harte, who this year gives us of
the noble poem in his latest volume of verse may wit his largess two full-grown ro ances. “ Clarence" is
ness. The romance before us pretends to be a transla a sequel to “Susy,” and reintroduces us to Clarence
tion of a French manuscript in the Ratisbons Scots Brant, this time as a Union officer in the Civil War.
College. Whether this pretense be wholly a bit of The plot is based on the estrangement between him
mystification we are not concerned to inquire; for all and his wife, resulting from the pronounced South-
practical purposes “ A Monk of Fife" is an original ern sympathies of the aforetime Widow Peyton, and
work of Mr. Lang's imagination, although it follows leading somewhat tragically to her death. Another
historical fact more closely than such fiction is wont heroine is introduced to console Clarence in his be-
to do. As to the style of the book, it may be de reavement and make him happy at the end. Our
scribed in Mr. Lang's own words, as "not imitating, old friend Susy appears once more, as saucy and
in manner, the almost contemporary English of the bewitching as ever, and plays an important part in
• Paston Letters,' or the somewhat earlier English the fortunes of the hero. The story is certainly
style of the Regent Bedford, but merely attempt one of the best that have been written with the his-
ing to give a moderately old air to his [Mr. Lang's] tory of our Civil War for a background. Mr.
version of a French which, genuine or imitative, is Harte's other novel, “In a Hollow of the Hills,"
certainly, in character and spelling, antique." The must, we fear, be reckoned among his comparative
story is told in the first person, and is essentially failures. It would impress a reader unfamiliar with
the narrative of a young Scotsman, fleeing from his the bulk of the author's work as striking enough,
own country in consequence of a brawl, and finding but to the one who views it against the background
service with the French at such a time as to be con of so many earlier performances of its kind, the
cerned in the siege of Orleans, and to become hackneyed character of the material is only too ap-
closely associated with the fortunes of the Maid. A parent, while it displays, in exaggerated form,
pretty love-story—after the fashion made so famil author's weakness for situations that are made start-
iar by the author of “A Gentleman of France ling only at the sacrifice of probability. Its kalei-
runs through the chronicle, and gives it an extra doscopic changes are not easy to follow, or to con-
historical interest. The narrative is at times la nect into a coherent work of art.
bored, as the result of a wish to omit no historical Mr. Townsend, to whom we are all indebted for
fact of importance, but is for the most part highly the discovery and introduction to polite circles of
readable, giving a vivid impression of the stirring Chimmie Fadden, has essayed, in “A Daughter of
life of early fifteenth-century France.
the Tenements,” the conventional novel form, and,
It is to the France of a later period than this, if a good plot, close familiarity with the scenes and
of a period later even than that with which he has types depicted, and genuine human sympathies are
been in the habit of dealing, that Mr. Weyman the elements of success in such an effort, the author
takes us in “ The Red Cockade.” The hackneyed has certainly achieved it. His plain, almost blunt,
theme of the French Revolution has for a time, and style savors of journalism rather than of literature,
that not altogether happily, diverted the author's but affords just the medium needed for a vivid real-
attention from the ages of Henry IV. and of Riche ization of the sort of characters with which he has
lieu in which he has shown himself so entirely at chosen to deal, and whose life, both internal and
home. The present story is confined within the external, he knows so intimately. In a word, Mr.
first
year
of the Revolution, and its scene is in the Townsend offers us realism of a good kind, and de-
provinces. At first, it pictures the peasant uprisings serves our gratitude. His heroine is a very win-
of the summer and autumn of 1789; then the hope some young person, his hero is a fine example of
less stand taken by the clerical party at Nîmes the manhood, and his villain is as despicable as the
year following becomes the subject of the story, properly - behaved villain ought to be. Even the
bringing it to an effective climax. It is the conven ward politician has, it appears, a human side, and
tional and melodramatic view of the Revolution that is not altogether deserving of the sweeping condem-
Mr. Weyman gives us, a view that will not bear nation bestowed upon him by self-righteous critics.
very close historical examination, but that is, of If we must find some fault with Mr. Townsend's
course, highly effective for romantic purposes. It story, it shall be that it is crowded toward the close,
does not seem, to us, however, that this book is as and leaves us with a feeling that the threads of a


80
[Feb. 1,
THE DIAL
rather complex entanglement have not been straight-gle person -- a girl who by sheer force of genius
ened out with sufficient deliberation. Mulberry rises out of an adverse and benumbing environment
Bend, alas, is no more, but this novel will preserve to shape for herself spiritual freedom. The delinea-
the memory of that famous slum, and, what is still tion of this character is warmly sympathetic, and
better, will help the student of the future to recon displays a degree of insight nothing less than re-
struct not a little of its variegated and character markable. It is in the creation of this character
istic local color.
that Mr. Garland has achieved his success, a more
“ Dolly Dillenbeck” is not the story of a maiden, notable success, to our mind, than anything to be
as might be inferred, for Dolly is short for Adol- found in his earlier books. And he may indite
phus, and the name is borne by a gilded youth who essays in iconoclasm by the score if he will only now
runs through his fortune in an incredibly brief pe and then, by way of proving his quality, project into
riod, and, after a season of convivial companionship our fiction a few more Roses — by any other name
with as disreputable a collection of deadbeats as -hailing from Dutcher's Coolly or other localities
Broadway can furnish, ends his wretched career in of cacophonous designation.
an asylum. He becomes successively famous as a “ The Red Badge of Courage” is a book that has
“wine-opener,” a society-newspaper publisher, and been getting a good deal of belated praise within
a “putter-up” for an actress, before his final dis the past few weeks, but we cannot admit that much
appearance from the scene, and his story becomes, of it is deserved. There is almost no story to Mr.
in the clever hands of Mr. James L. Ford, a me Crane's production, but merely an account, in rough-
dium for the presentation of a good deal of cutting shod descriptive style, of the thoughts and feelings
satire, and a number of rapid and realistic sketches of a young soldier during his first days of active
of metropolitan types of character. The book does fighting. The author constructs for his central char-
not introduce us to any very desirable society, yet acter a psychological history that is plausible, but
the total impression is not as unpleasant as might hardly convincing. We do not know, nor does the
be expected from this description, a fact largely due writer, that it is what actually does go on in the
to the flashes of genuine humor that light up the mind of a man who is passing through his baptism
pages of the narrative.
of fire. It may be retorted that we do not know
“Rose of Dutcher's Coolly” is a most uncom any the more that Count Tolstoi is giving us the real
promising title, and seems to symbolize an unneces thing in his-war-stories, or “Stendhal” in the
sarily stern insistence upon the particular form of “Chartreuse de Parme,” but the descriptions in
realism or veritism of which Mr. Hamlin Garland these books at least seem inevitable while we are
has so often made himself so outspoken and unami- reading them, and Mr. Crane's descriptions do not.
able a prophet. The title introduces, moreover, a “A Singular Life" is perhaps the strongest piece
novel characterized by several noticeable defects, of work yet done by the author of “The Gates Ajar.”
such as an obtrusive didacticism, a repulsive lack of It is marred by the note of hysterical emotion, from
reticence concerning those details of the sex prob- which none of Mrs. Ward's books is quite free, and
lem that it should be the first principle of whole- parts of it read too much like the unrestrained out-
some art to avoid, and a style that is often slovenly. pourings of the revivalist or “temperance” lecturer.
We may illustrate the latter defect by such sen But it has a fine simple theme to build upon that
tences as,
“ Rose received a note from her asking of a clergyman who seeks to live the life of Christ
her to come over and see her,” and “I would be a rather than expound the doctrine by which theology
literary if I were not forced to be a newspaper has so successfully obscured the essential Christian
man,” which are examples taken almost at random. spirit — and the idea is worked out in fairly sym-
Of the other defects noted, we may say that the very metrical form. In one aspect, the book might be
nature of one forbids any attempt at illustration on described as a tragic dramatization of the Andover
our part, while the other is familiar enough to read Controversy ; in another, as the story of an Amer-
ers of the author's earlier imaginative work. But ican Brand, devoting himself single-hearted, like
we are happy to say that Mr. Garland's novel is a his Norwegian prototype, to the work of saving
better one than his theories would rationally account souls.
for, that the wanton nastiness of a few chapters does The main impression made by Miss Dougall's
not prevent the book as a whole from exercising a new novel is that the author has tried to make too
singular power over the reader's imagination, and much of a single slender idea. What might have
that the faulty style is in part, at least, offset by been an admirable short story of thirty pages has
some striking word-painting of the impressionist taken the shape of a rather tedious long story of
sort, and by a vivid presentation of the vital mo some three hundred pages. The religious motive
ments in the life of the heroine. At times, as in is not lacking in this any more than in Miss Dou-
the chapter called “Mason talks on marriage," or gall's other books, but the “Question of Faith” sug-
in the strong description of a storm on Lake Mich gested by the title is not a religious question at all,
igan, the reader ceases to be critical, and frankly being nothing more than a question of the amount of
gives himself up to delight in the display of genuine faith that a man should repose in the woman whom
characterization, or poetic observation, as the case he expects to make his wife. There is room for
may be. The story centres about the life of a sin casuistry in the treatment of such a subject, but the


1896.]
81
THE DIAL
author avoids using it, and presents her problem in story, and the problem is attacked in the bitterness
a direct and matter-of-fact way that can admit of of spirit that comes from close familiarity with a
but one solution. When the end is reached, it seems phase of life quite as characteristic of an Iowa vil-
as if a great deal of trouble has been taken to set lage as of a Spanish town. The universality of the
tle a very simple matter, and the sense of disap problem makes the book far more than a local study,
pointment is inevitable.
and gives it a place among the half-dozen best works
We will bring this already overgrown article to a of modern Spanish fiction.
close with some mention of the two most important
WILLIAM MORTON PAYNE.
of recent translations of foreign fiction. Herr
Drachmann, who is foremost among the living story-
tellers of Denmark, makes his first appearance be-
fore an English public with a pretty idyllic tale dat-
BRIEFS ON NEW BOOKS.
ing from his earlier period. “ Paul and Virginia
Imaginary portraits
It is art of a peculiarly delicate and
of a Northern Zone," put into English by the late
of Sir Thomas More sympathetic kind by which a modern
T. A. Schovelin, with the aid of Mr. F. F. Browne, and his family.
writer is able not only to show us
is a charming addition to our collection of transla-
how to understand the past, but also to show us how
tions from the fiction of the Scandinavian countries.
the past understood itself. Walter Pater and Rob-
The story has the freshness, if not naïveté, that
ert Browning have special gifts for painting these
gives to so many of the products of Scandinavian
imaginary portraits ; but humbler writers, by a fic-
fiction their peculiar charm, and is so well exem-
tion of memoir or correspondence or journal, have
plified in the writings of Herr Lie. The work dates
also succeeded in drawing the great heroes as their
from the author's earlier period, before he went the
contemporaries may be thought to have seen them.
way of nearly all the moderns and began to write
“ The Household of Sir Thomas More," a work first
about problems. Its publication should be followed
published about the middle of the present century,
by other translations from Herr Drachmann, whose
belongs among the best things of this kind, although
place in contemporary Danish literature is a high
the author's name, by her own choice, has remained
one, if not the highest.
almost unknown, not appearing on the title-page of
The transition from romantic idealism to “ten-
dencious” realism, that has marked the career of
any of the numerous editions through which the
work has passed, nor even being included in the
such Northern writers as Herr Drachmann, Herr
recent “ Dictionary of National Biography." In
Lie, Herr Björnson, and Dr. Ibsen, is equally no-
the Introduction to the new and beautiful edition
ticeable in the strongest contemporary writers of
Southern Europe. It may be illustrated for this
just issued (imported by Scribner), the Rev. W. H.
Hutton, B.D., supplies the very meagre information
occasion by the “Doña Perfecta” of Señor Galdós,
that the book came from the pen of Miss Manning,
now translated by Mrs. Serrano. Mr. Howells, from
and that “almost all that her wishes suffer us to
whose mintage we cheerfully accept the needed
know is that she was sister of Mr. William Oke
word tendencious" (tendencioso in Spanish), writes
an introduction to the translation, saying, among
Manning, to whom she affectionately dedicated the
fourth edition of her work; that she was never
other things, the following : “Up to a certain time, married ; and that she was a genuine student and
I believe, Galdós wrote romantic or idealistic novels,
an indefatigible writer on historical and literary
and one of these I have read, and it tired me very
subjects.” The style of this book-professing to be
much. It was called · Marianela,' and it surprised
the journal of Margaret, the eldest and best be-
me the more because I was already acquainted with
loved of Sir Thomas More's daughters — is in the
his later work, which is all realistic.” But Mr.
quaint old English spelling and the prose forms of
Howells does not admit that the author of “ Doña composition of the sixteenth century: and every
Perfecta” has undergone complete conversion, and
detail of the present handsome edition is in keeping
sorrowfully adds : “I am not saying that the story
with these characteristics. The illustrators — Mr.
has no faults ; it has several. There are tags of
John Jellicoe and Mr. Herbert Railton - have im-
romanticism fluttering about it here and there; and
bibed the spirit of the text; and the reader, aided
at times the author permits himself certain old. by their twenty-five illustrations, feels that he does
fashioned literary airs and poses and artifices, which
indeed see the home of him who was called “the
you simply wonder at. It is in spite of these, and
best of all the English,” with his family, in their
with all these defects, that it is so great and beauti-
habits as they lived.
ful a book.” We are quite disposed to admit that
the book is both great and beautiful, although not
The volume of “ Ballads and Other
Additional poems
exactly for the reasons advanced by our critic with
Poems” that completes the new
by R. L. Stevenson.
a hobby. We should say rather that the book has
“ Thistle” edition of the works of
these qualities because its author has had the ro Robert Louis Stevenson (Scribner) brings with it a
mantic training, and has kept to its essential method welcome surprise in the shape of nearly fifty hith-
while at the same time gaining a firmer grasp upon erto unpublished pieces of verse. Written for the
the actualities of life. The religious bigotry of the most part during the past five or six years, and re-
provinces is the central theme of this remarkable | Aecting the new and strange environment in which


82
(Feb. 1,
THE DIAL
:
keep the
Stevenson found, or nearly found, the peace of soul ishes on an excellent presentation of the early life,
he so long had sought, these poems reveal to us his training, and first seven years' rule of an extraordi-
ripest thought upon the vast themes of human life
nary man.
As the author says, the life of a mon-
and destiny. Their brave undaunted temper is noth- arch so near the beginning of his reign must nec-
ing new to us, nor their frank acceptance of what essarily be a torso. For this reason he has chosen
ever life might have in store. Reading these last the descriptive rather than the critical method, and
poems, it becomes more difficult than ever to real has presented the Emperor's ideas and motives in
ize that the bright spirit that found expression in the words of his own speeches. The picture shows
them has left us forever. Here is a noble and William's self-confidence, amounting to an assump-
pathetic quatrain that would have been worthy of tion of infallibility on all subjects ; his extreme self-
Lander:
consciousness, his pride, restlessness, despotic ten-
“I have trod the upward and the downward slope ; dencies, his almost insane fondness for his army and
I have endured and done in days before ;
navy, his incessant speech-making and journeyings
I have longed for all, and bid farewell to hope ;
by land and sea. But it shows also his extraordi-
And I have lived and loved, and closed the door."
A strain more characteristic of the author is found
nary energy, his versatility, his unceasing effort to
in the following song:
peace of Europe; it leaves on us the im-
pression that beneath the froth of youthful vanity
“Bright is the ring of words
there are many solid qualities, though it may not
When the right man rings them,
Fair the fall of songs
persuade us to share the author's conviction that
When the singer sings them.
William is “gifted with such a striking combina-
Still they are carolled and said -
tion of both mind and will as has distinguished no
On wings they are carried -
occupant of the Prussian throne since it was va-
After the singer is dead
And the maker buried.
cated by Frederick the Great.”
“Low as the singer lies
In the field of heather,
The subjects of Mr. George H. Ell-
Idyllists of
Songs of his fashion bring
the country-side.
wanger's six brief sketches, entitled
The swains together.
collectively Idyllists of the Country
And when the west is red
With the sunset embers,
Side” (Dodd, Mead & Co.), are Izaak Walton and
The lover lingers and sings,
White of Selborne, Thomas Hardy and Richard
And the maid remembers."
Jefferies, our own Thoreau and Burroughs. Mr.
One more brief illustration may be given
a copy
Ellwanger, like many other writers, is most enjoy-
of verses written on the leper island of Molokai:
able when his language is simplest; for he has a
“To see the infinite pity of this place,
large vocabulary of odd and unusual words, and in
The mangled limb, the devastated face,
reading a book of this sort one does not care to
The innocent sufferer smiling at the rod –
keep an etymological dictionary at hand. This love
A fool were tempted to deny his God.
of words for their own sake has led to the fault
He
sees,
he shrinks. But if he gaze again,
Lo, beauty springing from the breast of pain !
of spreading his language, of needless repetition.
He marks the sisters on the mournful shores ; Moreover, he does not always make himself quite
And even a fool is silent and adores.'
clear, and his grammar is not immaculate. Not-
withstanding these blemishes, however, the book is
That most interesting and important an entertaining one; and although, as the author
A new Life of the
German Emperor.
personage, the German Emperor, is asserts, “an unbounded love for nature and a poet's
the subject of the last number of the
eye
are alone the gifts of the gods,” yet we
series of “Public Men of To-day” (F. Warne & Co.). believe that the first, at least, which often lies dor-
The author, Mr. Charles Lowe, has already written mant in those who are city born and bred, may be
biographies of Bismarck and Alexander III., and has developed by much reading of the true nature-
shown in them excellent judgment and great famil writers. If Mr. Ellwanger shall have succeeded in
iarity with European politics. In the present vol-drawing attention to some of these, his book has
ume we see these qualities to even better advantage, not been written in vain.
for the critical balance is held more evenly; the
book shows full appreciation of the Emperor's good Some literary
The third volume of Mr. Donald G.
qualities without the warping effect of the enthu portraits by Mitchell's " English Lands, Letters,
siastic admiration that marred the life of Bismarck.
D. G. Mitchell.
and Kings" (Scribner) is not less
The author shows his journalistic training by the readable than its two predecesso
ssors. Covering the
vividness with which he presents the many sides period of Queen Anne and the two Georges, it
of William's character, but his style suffers from includes, of course, some of the most interesting
the constant effort to be vivid, as well as from too figures in England's literary history: the novelists,
great a familiarity with German idiom and mode Richardson, Fielding, Miss Burney, Jane Austen,
of expression. His figures are sometimes almost Maria Edgeworth; the famous group of “ The Lit-
grotesque, and his choice of words extends from
erary Club," consisting of Dr. Johnson and his
current slang to the recondite treasures of the un worshippers ; the poets Crabbe, Cowper, and Burns,
abridged dictionary. But these are minor blem and the illustrious company known as “The Lake


1896.]
83
THE DIAL
Poets," with Wordsworth, Coleridge, and Lamb as California Midwinter International Exposition, which
its central figures. One is again struck with Mr. was in some respects an offshoot of the Chicago Fair.
Mitchell's happy art of characterization, in noting
An index completes the work, bringing it up to an even
how he succeeds in giving in a few lines a more
thousand pages. We congratulate Mr. Bancroft and
vivid impression than the whole of some big biog-
his associates upon their work. The publication is not
without some minor defects, but is, on the whole, ex-
raphy furnishes. Take, for example, Miss Edge-tremely creditable, and very fully accomplishes its pur-
worth : the entire two volumes of her recently pub-
pose.
lished “Life and Letters " contain no such clever
Professor C. F. Bastable's work on “ Public Finance"
analysis of her life and work as the five pages de is so well known to students of the subject that little
voted to her in this little book.
need be said of the new edition recently published (Mac-
In Miss Florence A. Maccunn's brief brought the work fully up to date, adding many new
millan) beyond remarking that the author's revision has
Life and influence
“ Life of John Knox” (Houghton) facts and figures, new chapters on “The Maxims of
of John Knox.
we have an admirable sketch of the Taxation” and “Death Duties," and a new subject-
work of the great Scottish reformer, of the Refor index. Even so recent a matter as the abortive income-
mation in Scotland, and of the miserable failure of tax law enacted by our last Congress is brought into
the brilliant Mary Stuart as both
the discussion, and offers only one among many
and woman.
illustra-
queen
The narrative moves straight on, with little of
tions of the timeliness of the new publication.
praise or denunciation, yet is so presented as to
The “Arden” Shakespeare, published by Messrs. D.
C. Heath & Co., is a new series of texts for school use.
make the leading characters live before us, with
It is aimed in this edition “to present the greater plays
their good and bad traits, their mistakes and their
of the dramatist in their literary aspect, and not merely
successes, and with their motives so far as their
as material for the study of philology or grammar.'
words or their acts have disclosed them. The This is the best of theories upon which to prepare a set
grand and heroic qualities of Knox are apprecia of the plays, and the names of the editors inspire con-
tively set forth, but the other side is not hidden, fidence. The volumes thus far published include “Ham-
the side that shows his arrogance, pride, ambi let” and “Macbeth,” both edited by Mr. E. K. Cham-
tion, harsh cruelty, and personal hatreds. But with bers; “ Richard II.," edited by Mr. C. H. Herford;
all his faults, we are shown his wonderful influence “Twelfth Night,” edited by Mr. Arthur D. Innis;
for good upon the character of the people of Scot-
“ Julius Cæsar," edited by Mr. Arthur D. Innes (can
land, perhaps a greater shaping influence than any
this be the same gentleman ?), and “ As You Like It,"
edited by Mr. J. C. Smith. We may note at the same
other man has ever exercised over a whole nation.
time the admirable edition of “A Midsummer-Night's
Dream,” edited by Miss Katharine Lee Bates, and pub-
lished by Messrs. Leach, Shewell, & Sanborn.
BRIEFER MENTION.
Dr. Charles Waldstein's inaugural lecture as Slade
Professor of Fine Art in Cambridge University is pub-
The historical text-books of Professor Philip Van lished in a neat volume of 130 odd pages, by Messrs.
Ness Myers have been favorably known to American Harper & Brothers. Dr. Waldstein, treating his theme
teachers for many years. They certainly have no supe from the three standpoints of the production, the en-
riors for high school and college use, and it is doubtful joyment, and the understanding of art, sketches what
if they are equalled by any of their competitors. Pro may be considered an ideal scheme of organization for
fessor Myers has now issued a “History of Greece" university art study. The book is a most useful and
(Ginn), upon the general lines of his earlier treatment suggestive one; and its point of view is timely.
of the subject, but expanded to more than double the Washington a Model in his Library and Life”
length. The work is compact, up to date, and abun (Young & Co.) is the outcome of a lecture by Dr.
dantly illustrated with well-chosen maps, diagrams, and Eliphalet Nott Potter, now extended and arranged in
cuts. “ A Short History of Greece” (Macmillan), by four parts. Dr. Potter has not the gift of clear and sys-
Mr. W. S. Robinson, is a work of perhaps half the com tematic presentation, but he has gathered together some
pass of the preceding, sparingly illustrated, but trust-
good material concerning Washington's books and his
worthy and straightforward as to text.
way of regarding them and using them. Several times
A number of the lesser known writings of Defoe are the author touches on an attractive topic - the present
collected in volumes fifteen and sixteen of the charming whereabouts of Washington's books; and it is to be hoped
Dent-Macmillan edition of that author, and complete that he will be able to carry out his plan for treating
the publication. Our gratitude for this entirely satis this subject fully and in detail.
factory set of books should be shared about equally by
We have frequently had occasion to commend the
the publishers, the learned editor, Mr. George Aitken, “ University" series of manuals, designed for the uses
and the skilful illustrator, Mr. J. B. Yeats. The books
of the general reader and university extension student,
form as pretty a series as has been seen for many a day. and their excellence has often suggested the painful
The publication of Parts 23, 24, and 25 of “The Book contrast that exists between these books and most of
of the Fair” (Bancroft Company) brings to its close the books written for a similar purpose by an Ameri-
that valuable and handsome work. These instalments can scholar. Their aim “is to educate rather than to
discuss the special buildings of the foreign governments, inform”- this is the keynote of their success, and the
with their contents, and the work of the World's Con index of the contrast that we have suggested. Mr. J.
gress Auxiliary. A chapter follows on “ Results, Awards, W. Mackail's “ Latin Literature” (Scribner), just added
and Incidents," and then comes a final chapter on the to the series, is one of the best of them all — a really


84
[Feb. 1,
THE DIAL
intelligent and delicately critical account of the whole sors in Arthurian fields resolves itself into this: when
subject within moderate compass. It is the work of a Tennyson follows Walter Map's lead, he is right; when
pupil of the late William Sellar, reflects much of the he strikes out for himself, he is inartistic. The criti-
inspiration of his method, and may be unreservedly com cism of “ Merlin and Vivien " is a fair sample of Mr.
mended.
Gurteen's critical range. The poem is roundly scored
A trip to the Mediterranean offers an American the
on Christian grounds because Tennyson did not make
happiest means of escaping from the severity of a North Vivien the “female Galahad” that Walter Map in-
ern winter, and the number of persons taking such a trip
tended her to be. Then follows several pages of proof
grows yearly. Under the title of “The Mediterranean that “Vivien of the Idylls no longer retains this char-
Trip" (Scribner), Mr. Noah Brooks has prepared a
acter”! Further comment is unnecessary.
brief guide-book for the use of travellers, including the
Azores and Madeira in the itinerary. The book is useful
as far as it goes, but it has the fault of most American
guide-books in failing to give the exact and detailed
LITERARY NOTES.
information that one is so sure to find in his Baedeker.
Again, illustrations in such a book are an impertinence
Messrs. G. P. Putnam's Sons have reissued Mr. Con-
where maps are lacking, and with maps this book is
way's edition of Paine's “ Rights of Man" in a separate
most pitifully supplied. To give the traveller a photo-
volume.
graph of Athens when he wants a diagram of the streets
“ Yeast” and “The Water Babies" are the latest addi-
is like giving stones for bread--a fact that cannot be too
tions to the Macmillan “ Pocket Edition" of Charles
strongly impressed upon the consciousness of most Kingsley's novels.
guide-book makers.
The memoirs of Mr. Locker-Lampson, edited by his
It is safe to say that no prettier book for children has
son-in-law, Mr. Augustine Birrell, will shortly appear
been published this season than “The Arabella and
under the title of “My Confidences.”
Araminta Stories,” just issued by Messrs. Copeland & Volume X. of the Gibbings-Lippincott edition of
Day. The stories are by Miss Gertrude Smith, and Smollett's novels, containing “ The Adventures of Sir
they are embellished by fifteen illustrative designs, the
Launcelot Greaves," has just been published.
work of Miss Ethel Reed. A charming introductory
Messrs. Macmillan & Co. send us a new edition of
poem by Miss Mary E. Wilkins gives the book the hap Mr. Arthur Waugh's “ Alfred, Lord Tennyson,” the
piest kind of a send-off. The title-page describes the most satisfactory life of the poet yet published.
book as belonging to the “ Yellow Hair Library," which “ Ursole Mirouët,” translated by Mrs. Hamilton Bell,
indicates, we trust, that it is the forerunner of others of has just been added to the Dent-Macmillan edition of
like design.
Balzac. « Old Goriot” will be the next volume.
“ Brown Heath and Blue Bells ” (Macmillan), a
The United States Book Co. reprints in two paper-
dainty booklet of Scottish travel-sketches from the pen covered volumes its well-known editions of “The Prose
of Mr. William Winter, forms a welcome addition to Dramas of Henrik Ibsen," including eight of the mod-
that graceful writer's familiar series —“Shakespeare's ern plays, translated by various hands.
England,” “Gray Days and Gold,” and “Old Shrines The long-promised Life of Agassiz, by his pupil and
and Ivy.” The new volume contains, in addition to the associate Jules Marcou, is about ready for publication
twelve Scottish sketches, a half-dozen fugitive papers by Messrs. Macmillan & Co. They will also issue im-
on various themes, besides several personal tributes (to mediately “ England's Darling, and Other Poems,” by
Doctor Holmes, George Arnold, Fitz-James O'Brien, the new laureate.
Jefferson, etc.), added, the author says, “ with the feel Lord Beaconsfield's “Sybil,” and Captain Marryatt's
ing that admiration for fine spirits may fitly consort “ Peter Simple" are the latest works to be reprinted in
with remembrance of beautiful scenes." The merits of the Macmillan edition of standard English fiction. Mr.
Mr. Winter's delicate and lucid prose are familiar to H. D. Traill and Mr. David Hannay write introductions
our readers; and we need only say of the present vol for the respective volumes.
ume that it fulfils the fair promise of its predecessors. A chapter on “ The Mercantile System,” translated
A book of « French Folly in Maxims" (Brentano) is from Professor Schmoller's “ Wirthschaftliche Politik
a collection of seven hundred sayings, more or less epi Friedrichs des Grossen," is the latest addition to Pro-
grammatic, gathered from the literature which is most fessor Ashley's series of " Economic Classics," published
happy in such utterances, and translated and edited by
Henri Pène du Bois.
Co That clever politico-military brochure, “ The Battle
quelin, Paul Bourget, Alexandre Dumas fils, Francisque of Dorking,” is reprinted in pamphlet form by Messrs.
Sarcey, Jules Lemaître, Joubert, Chateaubriand, Pierre Way & Williams. Older readers will recall its remark-
Loti, Sainte-Beuve, Ferdinand Brunetière, Victor Hugo able vogue in England and America on its first appear-
are an evidence that there is something beside “ Folly” ance twenty-five years ago, and the drift of current
in these pages; neither is the sub-title “Of the Stage” events seems to make its reappearance hardly less timely
strictly descriptive.
and pertinent.
The Rev. S. Humphreys Garteen's volume on “The The Rev. J. L. Spalding, Bishop of Peoria, has pub-
Arthurian Epic" (Putnam) is a somewhat upscholarly lished through Messrs. A. C. McClurg & Co. a volume
attempt to trace the development of the Arthurian of “Songs Chiefly from the German.” The work of
stories from their inception to the “Idylls of the King." translation is gracefully done, reproducing much of the
The writer is quite unfamiliar with modern investiga- feeling and beauty of the originals. An index of
tions on his subject, and the historical part of his book authors is lacking to the volume, for which defect we
is therefore not to be treated seriously. The extended find it difficult to account.
comparison between Tennyson and that poet's predeces A second volume of the selection of “ Lyrical Poetry
The names of Jules Janin, Co by Messrs. Macmillan & Co.


1896.)
85
THE DIAL
from the Bible," made by Mr. Ernest Rhys, has just
appeared with the Dent-Macmillan imprint. Eccles-
iastes, the Song of Songs, the Prophetic Books, and the
Gospel of St. Luke are drawn upon for the contents of
this volume, which thus supplements the earlier selec-
tion from the Psalter and Job.
A new edition of Professor A. E. Dolbear's “Matter,
Ether, and Motion” (Lee & Shepard) contains three
chapters hitherto unpublished, and embodies several
corrections of the former text. The note of mysticism,
apparent in the earlier edition, is still more pronounced
in this revision, and puts the book, in part, into the
category of metaphysical publications.
The progress of specialization in physical science has
a striking illustration in the newest periodical publica-
tion of the University of Chicago. It is a quarterly
devoted to “ Terrestrial Magnetism," and the subject
gives it a title. It is published under the auspices of
the Ryerson Physical Laboratory, with much learned
American and European collaboration.
The “ Journal of Pedagogy,” published quarterly at
Binghamton, New York, is in appearance an unpreten-
tious periodical, but it takes high rank among our edu-
cational reviews. Its contents are varied and dignified,
while its editorial comment is serious in tone, advocat-
ing, as it does, progressive and praiseworthy ideals. No
teacher who adds this excellent paper to his list will
regret having done so.
“The National Review” has never been as well known
in this country as the other three great English month-
lies, partly because no effort has been made to distribute
it, and partly because it has not had quite the power of
its older contemporaries to secure the services of the
greatest writers. But for all that, it is an excellent and
readable periodical, and we note with pleasure that it is
now supplied to American subscribers by the publisher,
Mr. Edward Arnold, who has recently established a
branch office on this side of the Atlantic.
“ The Auk," which is the official organ of the Amer-
ican Ornithologists' Union, enters upon the thirteenth
volume of its new series with the January number. It
is one of the most creditable scientific periodicals that
we have, and is of interest to more than ornithologists,
unless we may give that name to all interested in birds.
Publication is quarterly, and each issue contains a
highly-attractive colored plate. Mr. L. S. Foster, 35
Pine street, New York, is the publisher, as well as the
agent of the Union for all its other publications.
The July-September number of the “ American Jour-
nal of Archæology,” just published, contains three pa-
pers of the American School of Classical Studies at
Athens, an account of “Some Sculptures from Koptos
in Philadelphia," an article, by the Rev. John P. Peters,
on “Excavations at Nippur," and a rich miscellany of
“ Archæological News." Two of the American School
papers are by Mr. Edward Capps, of the University of
Chicago, and treat, respectively, of the chorus in the
later Greek drama, and of recent excavations at Eretria.
The “ Journal" is published quarterly by the Prince-
ton University Press.
On the 25th of January, news was received in this
country of the death of Alexander Macmillan, the
younger of the two brothers who founded the great
publishing house that bears their name. He was seventy
years of age at the time of his death, and had retired
ten years previously from active participation in the
business. He made two visits to this country, the sec-
ond, in 1869, leading to the establishment of the Amer-
ican branch of the house. The business is now left in the
hands of his two sons, Frederick and Maurice, of George,
his nephew, of Mr. George L. Craik, and of Mr. George
P. Brett, the latter of these gentlemen representing the
firm in the United States. An American observer can-
not help marking the close coincidence of this death with
that of the senior member of the house of Houghton,
Mifflin & Co.
Mr. Morley Roberts, whom some of our readers may
possibly know as the writer of a few fairly clever short
stories, has voiced in “ The Saturday Review” his indig-
nant protest against what he calls the “whining appeal
to the authors of the United States " framed by Mr.
Hall Caine on behalf of the London Society of Authors.
He is kind enough to put aside the point,“ which could
be strongly urged, that there are no authors to appeal
to on the other side of the Western Ocean," but cannot
rest under the imputation of having been in any way
concerned in such a demonstration of friendliness and
good-will.
“ Those who sign this precious paper go on
to say that we are proud of the United States. Sir, we
might be proud of them; but to say that we are proud
of them is to speak most disingenuously. Who can be
proud of our connection with a politically corrupt and
financially rotten country, with no more than a poor
minority vainly striving for health ? . . . If our liter-
ature is the only bond between us and this most ill-
mannered country, it may be time for us to repudiate
American copyright before the Americans repudiate it.
But literature is no real bond, because not one Ameri-
can in a thousand, no, not one in ten thousand, has had
his manners made less brutal by the most casual ac-
quaintance with it.” Bravo, Mr. Roberts! If we have
not heard of you before, we have heard of you now, and
are not likely to forget the lesson in international amen-
ity conveyed by the courteous phrases of your disclaimer.
The first number of “Cosmopolis” has reached us,
and amply fulfils our expectations. It is a monthly
review in the three culture-languages, English, French,
and German, published by Mr. Fisher Unwin. Each
number is to contain 320 pages, so that the purchaser
really gets a good-sized English magazine, a good-sized
French one, and a good-sized German one, all within
the same covers. Among the contents of this January
issue are the beginnings of serials by Robert Louis
Stevenson and Mr. Henry James; an acute critical study
of “Othello," by Dr. Brandes; a piece of pure litera-
ture in the shape of “Le Chanteur de Kymé," by M.
Anatole France; an essay on the Roman death-penalty,
by Professor Mommsen, and papers by Herr Spielhagen,
Sir Charles Dilke, Mr. Edmund Gosse, M. Edouard Rod,
M. Francisque Sarcey, and several others. Besides these
leading articles, there are series of “chronicles " which
constitute perhaps the most noticeable feature of the
publication. The political chronicles will appear
monthly, one for each country; the three dramatic chron-
icles are to be written tri-monthly; while the literary
chronicles will be bi-monthly for England and Germany,
monthly for France. Mr. Andrew Lang and M. Jules
Lemaître are the literary chroniclers for France and
England. We understand that occasional chronicles
from other countries will appear, thus giving the sub-
scribers to this periodical a fair conspectus of what is
going on throughout the world of politics, literature,
and art. We have long wished that someone would
undertake such a publication as “ Cosmopolis,” and we
heartily welcome the enterprise.


86
[Feb. 1,
THE DIAL
The Second Madame: A Memoir of Elizabeth Charlotte,
Duchesse d'Orleans. By M. Louise McLaughlin. 12mo,
uncut, pp. 172. G. P. Putnam's Sons. $1.25.
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Cave-Dwellers of Yucatan. Frederick Start. Dial.
Child, The, and his Fictions. Elizabeth Seat. Lippincott.
Civilization in America, Some Aspects of. C.E.Norton. Forum.
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Food and its Use. Thomas G. Allen. Chautauquan.
French Academy, The. Henry Houssaye. Forum.
Fur-Seal, Passing of the. Henry L. Nelson. Harper.
Heine-Fountain Controversy, The. William Steinway. Forum.
High School, Future of the. F.W. Kelsey. Educational Rev.
Insanity, Premonitions of. Forbes Winslow. Harper.
Jew, The Modern. Dial.
Madness as Portrayed by Shakespeare. Forbes Winslow.Arena.
Mexico. Walter Clark. Arena.
Mind, The Science of. Joseph Jastrow. Dial.
Monetary Programme, Our. J. Laurence Laughlin. Forum.
Monroe Doctrine, The. James A. Woodburn. Chautauquan.
Mount Ararat, Ascent of. H. F. B. Lynch. Scribner.
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Public School Ethics. Preston W. Search. Educational Rev.
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Macmillan's Novelists' Library: The Last Touches, by
Mrs. W. K. Clifford ; 12mo, pp. 269. 50 cts.


1896.]
87
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The First Greek Book. By Clarence W. Gleason, A.M.,
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Twelve Hundred Miles in a Wagon. By Alice Blanche
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First Course in French Conversation, Recitation, and
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THE DIAL
A Semi-thonthly Journal of Literary Criticism, Discussion, and Information.
No. 232.
FEBRUARY 16, 1896.
Vol. XX.
CONTENTS.
PAOX
95
.
.
.
. 108
A UNIVERSITY SYMPOSIUM.
The rapid growth of some of our larger uni-
versities has given much prominence, during
the past few years, to the question whether
they should retain their present form of organ-
ization, simply expanding upon the old lines,
or seek to reconstruct themselves upon a basis
better fitted to meet the needs of their enlarged
bodies of undergraduate students. In other
words, it has become a serious question to de-
cide whether the system which has worked so
admirably in dealing with hundreds should not
give place to some system planned with express
reference to the wants of thousands. In trying
to answer such a question, we naturally look to
the Old World, where universities with thou-
sands of students are not uncommon, and ask
if some modification made with the best Euro-
pean models in view may not be worth under-
taking in the case of our own larger institutions.
In this survey of the problem as it exists else-
where than in the United States, attention is,
of course, chiefly attracted to Germany and to
England — to the former country, because so
many of our educators have got their training
and inspiration there; to the latter because it
is a priori probable that the main trunk of the
English race has developed the university ideals
most likely to find acceptance in any commu-
nity the offshoot of that race. The New York
Evening Post,” in a recent issue, presents a
very interesting account of the English uni-
versity system, written with reference to its
possible adoption, or rather adaptation, in the
United States. This account is accompanied
by a collection of views expressed by members
of the Harvard and Yale faculties, examining
the subject in its general aspects, as well as
from a number of special standpoints. While
these expressions of opinion are far from ap-
proaching unanimity, they make it evident that
the existence of a very real and pressing prob-
lem is felt, and that the English university
system, or certain features thereof, may turn
out to offer us the best solution. The feeling
at Harvard, more noticeably than the feeling
at Yale, seems to favor the English idea, with
out, however, giving any countenance to the
notion that an acceptance en bloc of the En-
A UNIVERSITY SYMPOSIUM
COMMUNICATIONS
97
The Problem of the “Young Person" in Literature.
Hiram M. Stanley.
Emerson's Ideas of Teaching Literature. Edwin Mims
ANTIGONE. (Sonnet.) Mary M. Adams .
99
MODERN NAVAL WARFARE. E. G. J.
99
RECENT EDUCATIONAL LITERATURE. B. A.
Hinsdale
103
Spalding's The Means and Ends of Education.
King's School Interests and Duties. - Tompkins's
The Philosophy of School Management. — Froebel's
Pedagogics.-Mottoes and Commentaries of Froebel's
Mother Play.- Roark's Psychology in Education.
RENAN'S HISTORY OF ISRAEL. Emil G. Hirsch 105
PSYCHOLOGY GONE MAD. Joseph Jastrow . . . 107
TEACHING THE ART OF WRITING. Martin W.
Sampson
MORE BOOKS ON BOTANY. John M. Coulter 109
Kerner's Natural History of Plants. - Campbell's
Structure and Development of Mosses and Ferns.-
Murray's Introduction to the Study of Seaweeds.-
Nooker's Index Kewensis. — MacDougal's Experi-
mental Plant Physiology.- Gregory's Elements of
Plant Anatomy.
RECENT BOOKS OF AMERICAN POETRY.
William Morton Payne .
Lowell's Last Poems.– Thoreau's Poems of Nature.
-Smith's Poems of Home and Country. - Wash-
burn's The Vacant Chair and Other Poems. – Mrs.
Stoddard's Poems.-Mrs. Fields's The Singing Shep-
herd.- Lawton's Folia Dispersa.- Dole's The Haw-
thorne Tree. – Miss Litchfield's Mimosa Leaves.-
Miss Coolbrith's Songs from the Golden Gate.- Miss
Shearer's The Legend of Aulus. — Horton's In Un-
known Seas. — McGaffey's Poems. — Gunsaulus's
Songs of Night and Day.- Mrs. Coonley's Under the
Pines. - Mrs. Nason's The Tower. – Savage's First
Poems and Fragments.-Hayes's The Old-Fashioned
Garden.- Roche's Ballads of Blue Water. - O'Con-
ner's Poems.- Lindsey's Apples of Istakhar.- Bur
ton's Dumb in June. - Miss Cocke's A Doric Reed,
- Miss Johnson's The White Wampum. -Scott's
The Magic House.- Carman's Behind the Arras.
BRIEFS ON NEW BOOKS
116
The frescoes of the Vatican. – A romance from the
world of butterflies. — Stories and sketches of New
Orleans. - Fallacies of race theories. — A sidelight
apon Renan.-"The Midsummer of Italian Art."-
A short account of modern German literature.-Wild
places in England. -A Southern school history.-Ten-
nyson, Browning, and Arnold. – Mr. Julian Ralph's
Southern sketches.
BRIEFER MENTION
120
LITERARY NOTES
120
TOPICS IN LEADING PERIODICALS
121
LIST OF NEW BOOKS
121
• 110
66
.
.


96
[Feb. 16,
THE DIAL
9
glish plan of organization would be either prac the imperfections of its working-out, embodies
ticable or desirable.
the political ideal toward which the larger gov-
To begin our discussion with a few figures, ernments of the world are inevitably tending.
the latest statistics show an enrolment of 3358 This is the real explanation of such experi-
students in the Oxford colleges and halls, of ments in English politics as county and parish
2795 students in the Cambridge colleges and councils, and even of the mismanaged Home
hostels. Against these figures we may set 3600, Rule movement. That movement failed, as it
the total enrolment at Harvard University, and deserved to fail, because it aimed to institute
2415, the total enrolment at Yale University. local government in but a single part of the
The problem is, then, quantitatively much the United Kingdom, and because it sought to be-
same in both countries. At the English uni-
At the English uni- stow a dangerous degree of political power upon
versities, these six thousand odd students are the people of Ireland; but the decentralizing
members of something like forty colleges, each principle upon which the movement was based
having its own foundation, its own buildings, is a sound one, and so profound an observer as
its own corps of instructors, and its own dis- Matthew Arnold gave frequent testimony to its
cipline. Trinity at Cambridge has over six validity. Applying our analogy to the educa-
hundred students ; no other college at either tional question now under discussion, it will
university has as many as three hundred, and readily be seen that the English university rep-
a dozen or more have less than one hundred resents the federal type of organization, while
each. We need hardly add the information the American university illustrates the central-
that the colleges have nothing to do with honors ized system, once entirely adequate, but now
or degrees, except to prepare candidates for so overgrown as to have become unstable from
these distinctions, as awarded respectively by its own weight. And just as it would be theo-
the University Senate at Cambridge, and Con- retically possible for the English government
vocation at Oxford. In our two American to transform itself into an artificial reproduc-
universities, on the other hand, half of the stu tion of the system which in the United States
dents are enrolled in the special or professional has been a product of natural growth, so it
schools (which to a certain extent embody the would be theoretically possible for Harvard
English college idea), while the other half be- University, let us say, to create a system of
long to Yale College and Harvard College, colleges corresponding, in most of the essential
1199 to the former, 1771 to the latter. The respects, to the Oxford colleges which began
central difficulty is in these two overgrown col as independent foundations, and afterwards be-
leges, still organized upon a plan admirably came merged in the aggregate which is known
adapted to the hundreds of a generation ago, as the University of Oxford.
but not equal to the demands made by the This, stated in terms of the broadest general-
greatly increased numbers of the present. ization, is the question which has now reached,
It will be seen that this educational diffi both at Harvard and Yale, the stage of discus-
culty is analogous to the political difficulty with sion in which an ideal becomes something more
which the larger centralized governments of than a mere counsel of perfection, and is
to-day are forced to contend. The French Re- brought within the range of the practicable.
public, for example, or the English monarchy, A thoughtful paper by the late Frank Bolles
suffers in a hundred ways from over-centrali may be said to have set the ball of discussion
zation. A system that was once fairly adequate rolling, and the expressions of opinion now
is found sadly wanting in this age of multiplied brought together by the “ Evening Post ” sym-
special interests and local self-assertion. The posium show us the discussion in its present
elasticity of the federal system, as displayed in state. The more conservative find many diffi-
the United States, Germany, and Switzerland, culties in the way of reorganization upon the
stands in striking contrast to the rigidity of college basis. Their objections relate mainly
the system which heaps all the work of govern. to discipline, the division of endowment funds,
ment, in matters both large and small, upon the duplication of teaching, and the weaken-
the shoulders of a single set of officials. Many ing of loyalty to the university. These objec-
a philosophical observer in France or England, tions are all worth considering, but it is evi-
while not blind to the faults of the federal or- dent that no one of them offers an obstacle to
ganization of the United States, has cast long reform in the nature of the case insuperable.
ing glances in our direction, and recognized And it is equally evident that some sort of com-
the fact that our Federal system, in spite of promise in all of these matters would be found


1896.]
97
THE DIAL
necessary. As one of the Harvard instructors view than a university-bred man should have,
puts it, there can be no question of adopting the while the class organization and fraternal feel-
English system as a whole, but only a questioning, long since killed by the elective system of
of adapting its best features to our own use. studies and the large number of students, is
In the matter of discipline, our universities soon to be definitely buried by the inevitable
now occupy a middle ground between the “mo- adoption of a three-years course in some form
nastic” English methods and the extreme or other.” It may be worth while, in closing this
freedom allowed to students in Germany. If presentation of an interesting discussion, to call
an improvement is to be made here, it should attention to the fact that the organization of the
probably be in the English rather than the Ger. University of Chicago carries the division of
man direction, but need not go to the extent of faculties and student-bodies a little farther than
“gating” and compulsory chapel. As far as it is carried elsewhere, and that the several
the ion of endowments is concerned, it “halls," which constitute one of the most dis-
should not be impossible or even extremely dif- tinctive features of this institution, are, to a
ficult to make an equitable allotment to the limited extent at least, like the colleges of an
several colleges, should such be organized. The English university. That is, they provide a cer-
division of teaching should probably not be tain amount of discipline and self-government,
carried nearly as far as at Oxford and Cam- of personal relation between students and in-
bridge, both because the expense of the En- structors, and of social intercourse; and, in so
glish system is very great, and because the far as they provide these things, they approach
range of the student under that system is un the type that the advocates of the English col.
necessarily narrowed to the courses he can get lege system have in mind.
within the walls of his own college. A wise
adjustment of this matter of teaching would go
far to remove whatever force there may be in
the argument that the English system stimu-
COMMUNICATIONS.
lates loyalty to the college at the expense of THE PROBLEM OF THE “YOUNG PERSON"
loyalty to the university.
IN LITERATURE.
On the whole, the subject seems to be one
(To the Editor of THE DIAL.)
eminently open to discussion, with the balance The problem of the freedom of literary expression is,
as The Dial intimates in its last issue, a “ vexatious"
of argument inclining a little toward the col-
lege idea. The positive pleas made for that that its vexatiousness lies largely in the fact that it is
one; but I think it must be more clearly apprehended
idea are forcible, to say the least. The pres distinctly a two-fold problem: first, as to the scope of
ent system is said to result in something like literary art; and second, as to its dissemination, or, in
“ social chaos," under which, as Mr. Bolles other terms, the problem of the “ Young Person.”
wrote, a man might possibly be “ a living, hop-art, like all art, was in its origin lyric and hortatory;
As to the first problem, we must remark that literary
ing despairing part of Harvard College,” eating, the love-song proceeded from and excited to love, the
sleeping, studying alone, and “not even hav war-story was the expression of and incitement to war.
ing the privilege of seeing his administrative And, in fact, every representation by early art was
officers without having to explain to them who avowedly to stimulate the action represented, and so if
he is and what he is.” This plaint is amplified erary art was primitively excitement and incitement, in
the action was evil, the art also was evil. But while lit.
with a good deal of force by the Harvard cor our day it has attained a high degree of dramatic and
respondent of the “ Evening Post,” who uses psychological objectivity, and even depicts innocently and
the following language: "Plainly, the old artistically the coarsest sexuality. Thus, Zola deals with
fashioned idea of a student's benefitting, by plete artistic objectivity. “La Terre,” for instance, is
contact with and the example of his teachers plete artistic objectivity: “La Terre,” for instance, is
and officers outside the lecture-rooms is at pres. significance of the coarsest peasant sexuality, which is
ent relegated to the past, and the proof of that, invested with a certain large æsthetic interest compar-
if any were needed, is to be found in the utter-
able in its kind with that which Millet's paintings throw
about the peasant as sodden toiler. But Zola should
ances of graduates of thirty or forty years ago
make the history of the typical prurient reader of his
in regard to their teachers, as compared with works the subject for a novel.
those of graduates of recent years. One hears, Every fact, then, so general as to be of typical sig-
too, constant complaint that the men are liv.nificance, objective art can dignify and glorify. Art
sounds all the depths as well as all the heights of life;
ing their lives in smaller groups, coming less
it treats impartially the lowest animalism and the gross-
and less into contact with one another, and so
est crime, as well as the loftiest aspiration and the no-
leaving Cambridge with a narrower point of blest endeavor. The “Edipus Tyrannus" of Sopho-


98
[Feb. 16,
THE DIAL
cles, the “Cenci” of Shelley, the “ La Terre" of Zola, culum. What is true of authors has been true of many
are as truly works of art as the “ Paradiso ” of Dante, men of less power; this is what those who plead for the
the “Imitation" of Thomas a Kempis, or Bunyan's study of literature in colleges to-day are striving to ob-
“ Pilgrim's Progress.” Purely artistic appreciation of viate they are striving to bring into the lines of col-
any of these carries no influence on the actions and life. lege men that larger inspiration that comes from a study
Objective art is separate from life; it is a life of its own, of the works of imagination.
which stands wholly without the life it feeds on; to it, While many men of genius have felt this lack of
all is spectacle.
inspiration, Emerson felt and expressed it in words
But we come now to the second side of the problem: that have in them the very force of the great emanci-
whether the dissemination of all literary art should be pator. He experienced the need of it in bis own life.
as universal as its scope. It is an obvious fact, and, He has told us of the “idle books under the bench at
indeed, a sad one, that art is mostly used for unartistic the Latin School,” and many of his fellow-students have
enjoyment, to stir every passion and emotion but the left us accounts of his extensive reading while at Har-
æsthetic. Anyone who watches, for instance, the crowds vard. He knew less about text-books than many, but a
at the theatres, must feel this to be true. And so all great deal more about Shakespeare, Bacon, and Milton.
art, literary, graphic, musical, as well as dramatic, is He was a “dunce in mathematics,” but could “console
continually diverted from its true purpose, and is made himself with Chaucer and Montaigne, with Plutarch
to minister to reality rather than ideality. That the art and Plato, at night.” From his earliest days he lived
of a novelist is thus swerved is not that artist's fault; in the atmosphere of literature, although he was very
that people read “ La Terre" and " Jude the Obscure" far from letting any books he might read take away the
to stimulate their passions rather than their æsthetic original bent of his own mind. He was a creative
natures, does not, from one point of view, attach blame reader; following his own advice along that line admir-
to the writers. Still, these novelists may well ask ably, he was as far removed as possible from mere re-
whether they should not respect the weakness of the ceptive reading.
grand majority to whom their writings may come, or Having graduated at Harvard, Emerson became an
whether other and less dangerous subjects may not give associate with his brother William in a school for young
full development to their creativeness. Goethe knew ladies. Many years afterwards, in speaking to some of
well the universal scope of art, but he did not publish his old pupils, he expressed a deep regret for two things
his freest productions, keeping them only for a few ap that had happened while he was a teacher. « The first
preciative friends. Zola appears to be an honest artist, is that my teaching was partial and external. I was at
but his novels, spread broadcast, have sown great cor the very time already writing every night, in my cham-
ruption. Readers in general are unable to attain the ber, my first thoughts on morals and the beautiful laws
free and calm objective spirit which such art demands; of compensation and of individual genius, which to ob-
with them, art is the servant of reality; with them, the serve and illustrate have given sweetness to many years
thought of evil becomes an evil thought. While to most of my life. I am afraid no hint of this ever came into
the thought of murder may not be a murderous thought, the school, where we clung to the safe and cold details
yet the thought of lust is a lustful thought. It may be of languages, geography, arithmetic, and chemistry.
a reflection on our civilization, but it is still an un Now I believe that each should serve the other by his
doubted fact, that though society bas got beyond the or her strength, not by their weakness, and that, if I
danger-point as regards such a homicidal novel as Sien could have had an hour of deep thought at that time, I
kiewicz's “ Fire and Sword,” it yet feels most evil effects could have engaged in thoughts that would have given
from such lustful novels as Zola's “ La Terre.” While reality and depth and joy to the school, and raised all
we acknowledge that Zolaism, as the art which flinches the details to the highest pleasure and nobleness. Then
not at any human animalism and sexualism, has a cer I should have shown you (as I did afterwards to later
tain theoretical vindication, yet we must consider its friends) the poems and works of imagination I de-
general circulation extremely noxious. It is a bit of lighted in; the single passages which have made some
stubborn Philistinism to decry real art of any kind, but men immortal. The sharing of a joy of this kind makes
it is a matter of common-sense to keep art away from teaching a liberal and delicious art. What I wonder
those who will only misuse it. HIRAM M. STANLEY.
at is that I did not read to you, and attempt to teach
Lake Forest, Ill., Feb. 5, 1896.
you to read certain selections of Shakespeare and the
poets, in which in late years I have had a certain degree
EMERSON'S IDEAS OF TEACHING LITERATURE. of success." *
(To the Editor of THE DIAL.)
Dr. Holmes tells us that when Emerson was teach-
Students of the biographies of great authors must ing at Chelmsford, somewhat later, “one of his modes
bave been reminded many times that the curricula of of instruction was to give the boys a piece of reading
colleges and universities were not adapted to the minds to carry home with them,- from some book like Plu-
of expanding genius. Turning aside from the college tarch's Lives,—and the next day to examine them and
courses, they have often had their souls kindled and find out how much they retained from their reading.”
their imagination aroused by the reading of the best It is no wonder that these boys found in him a great
literature, or, as was the case with Wordsworth, have inspiration.
found in Nature joy and inspiration. This cannot be In August, 1838, Emerson made the opening address
explained by saying that genius must educate itself,–
at the American Institute of Education in Boston. The
this is begging the question; genius demands life, and
this is what universities have not given them in many
* This may account for the fact that Emerson was not a
happy teacher, rather, "a hopeless schoolmaster," as he called
cases. Tennyson found more interest in attending the
himself. How many teachers there are to-day worrying their
meetings of the Water Club, where he and those gifted lives out teaching grammar and rules of composition, to say
young men talked “ on mind, and art, and labor, and the nothing of other dry-as-dust, when they might be leading the
changing mart," than he did in the Cambridge curri young into the enjoyment of the life of literature.


1896.)
99
THE DIAL
subject was, “ The best mode of inspiring a correct
taste in English literature." I give Mr. Cabot's account
The New Books.
of the lecture: “ The leading thought was that since all
the colleges in the world cannot make one scholar, any
more than the physician can make one drop of blood,
MODERN NAVAL WARFARE.*
those who are to supervise education must not expect
much from ingenious methods or urgent appeals, but
Naval men and general readers interested in
should aim to awaken in those under their charge the current naval problems will find in Mr. H. W.
sense of their own powers and their particular voca Wilson's new volume, “Ironclads in Action,"
tion, and in the way of instruction acquaint them with
a most useful and informing book. The au-
the wealth of their mother-tongue, as the best means
thor's aim has been to present, with fair detail
for calling out their capabilities, whatever these may
be. The first step towards a revolution in our state of
and with constant reference to the technical
society, would be to impress men's minds with the fact value and bearing of the facts narrated, a sketch
that the purest pleasures of life are at hand, unknown of naval warfare during the period of transi-
to them; that whilst all manner of miserable books
tion which has followed the introduction of
swarm like flies, the fathers of counsel and of heroism,
Shakespeare, Milton, and Taylor, lie neglected. As to
steam — that is to say, from 1855, when ar-
method, would you inspire in a young man a taste for mored ships were first tested in action (at
Chaucer and Bacon? Quote them." This last advice Kinburn in the Crimea) and the history of the
sounds very much like the words of Dr. Corson in “The ironclad may be said to have begun. The ques.
Aims of Literary Study," and can be readily understood
tions which agitate the naval world to-day are,
by all those who have ever heard that great teacher
read the classic pieces of English literature.
despite the practical teachings of the past two
In 1864 Emerson delivered an address on university years, largely open ones, and must remain so
education. After speaking of defects in the educational until brought to the crucial test of a great sea-
system at that time, and anticipating the elective sys-
fight, or a series of them, between two first-
tem of modern times, he says: “ Then the imagination
must be addressed. Why always coast on the surface,
class maritime powers. As Lord Salisbury
and never open the interior of nature — not by science,
said recently :
which is surface still, but by poetry. Shakespeare should “ In respect to armaments, nobody yet knows what
be a study in the colleges, as Boccaccio was appointed the torpedo will do in actual warfare. Nobody yet
in Florence to lecture on Dante. The students should knows which is the more important, the big ironclad or
be educated not only in the intelligence of, but in sym the swift cruiser. These things can only be decided by
pathy with, the thoughts of the great poets. _Let us experience. You can obtain for any particular opinion
have these warblings as well as logarithms.” Emerson any collection of expert authority you wish to get. ...
had a faith that everyone is capable of some interest
in literature. A great number of his lectures were on
While, however, the world's experience of naval
the subject of English Literature. Who can tell how warfare has been small (perhaps distressingly
much he accomplished, in New England and elsewhere, so, from the professional standpoint) since the
in the way of spiritualizing the lives of people by bring-
advent of steam and armor, material for induc-
ing them in contact with the best literature, and who
can calculate what will be the good to come from the
tion is not wholly lacking; and this material
sympathetic study of literature in the colleges of Amer the reader will find intelligently sifted and ar-
ica,—not the study of philology, nor the study of criti- ranged, and attractively set forth, in the work
cisms on literature, but the literature itself ?
before us. In his Introduction, Captain A. T.
EDWIN MIMS.
Mahan emphasizes his approval of Mr. Wil-
Trinity College, Durham, N. C., Feb. 10, 1896.
son's book by laying down the principle that,
even in the present period of transition, exper-
iment, and rapid development, it is to history,
ANTIGONE.
rather than to theorizing and the tests of the
What lofty purpose held thee, holy maid,
proving-ground, that the naval profession should
Thou signal witness of ennobling thought! chiefly look for guidance.
What mighty semblance of the God-head wrought
“Scanty indications there obtained are worth much
Its way into thy heart, and on it laid
more than the most carefully arranged programme, in
Such tribute to itself as few have paid !
which the elements of actual danger, of perplexity re-
Oh, can such great self-sacrifice be taught,
Or does it but elude, if it be sought,
sulting from anxious doubt, of the confusion and chances
of real battle, cannot be efficaciously represented.”
Keeping itself in unseen robe arrayed ?
Ah, faithful woman's heart! it is with thee
Nearly two-thirds of Mr. Wilson's opening
In every place this garb of light to wear,
volume are devoted to the naval operations of
Though only one has found the poet rare
our Civil War, including an instructive chap-
Who can interpret thus its majesty.
* IRONCLADS IN ACTION: A Sketch of Naval Warfare from
O thought sublime ! that one thus glorified
1855 to 1895. By H. W. Wilson ; with Introduction by Cap-
Proves even the lowliest unto her allied.
tain A. T. Mahan. In two volumes, illustrated. Boston:
MARY M. ADAMS. Little, Brown, & Co.


100
[Feb. 16,
THE DIAL
ter on The Blockade, Blockade Runners, and not killed seeking shelter below the armor-
International Law.” The remaining chapters deck, whence they could not be driven until
in the volume describe severally “ The Battle their officers had drawn their revolvers and
of Lissa," “ South American Wars (1865– threatened to use them with effect. As soon
70),” “Naval Events of the Franco-German as her hand steering-gear could be got to work,
War,"“Actions off the South American Coast," the Tsi Yuen, now in dreadful plight, turned
and - The Bombardment of the Alexandrian from her enemies and headed for Wei-hai-wei,
Forts.” In Volume II. the author, after a hotly pursued by the Yoshino, which, for some
brief résumé of the French naval operations in reason not yet clear, finally abandoned the
Tunis and the East, proceeds to give a detailed chase, allowing her crippled foe to gain shelter
critical account of the maritime phases of the without further mishap. A European who saw
recent struggle in the Orient. The opening the Tsi Yuen on her arrival at Wei-hai-wei
action off Asan and the subsequent sinking of thus describes her:
the transport Kowshing by the Japanese cruiser “ The vessel presented the appearance of an old wreck.
Naniwa are vividly described, as is the memor The mast was shot through half-way up, the gear was
able, if not very instructive, fight off the mouth
torn in pieces, ropes hung loose and tattered. On deck
the sight was cruel and beggars description. Wood-
of the Yalu. A thoughtful chapter is devoted
work, cordage, bits of iron, and dead bodies, all lay in
to a prophetic picture of “The Naval Battle of confusion."
To-morrow," and a painful one to “ Ironclad
To this an English officer adds :
Catastrophes,” in which are recounted the
“ The slaughter had been awful, blood and human re-
tragic episodes of the foundering of the Cap-
mains being scattered over the decks and guns. Three
tain, the sinking by collision of the Vanguard, of the five men working the 4-ton gun in the after-tur-
the Grosser Kurfürst, and the Victoria, and ret were blown to pieces by a six-inch shell from one
the loss of the Reina Regente. The work
of the Yoshino's quick-firing guns, and a fourth was shot
closes with an instructive chapter on the devel-
down while trying to leave the turret. The remaining
gunner stuck to his post, and managed to load and fire
opment of the British battleship.
three rounds at the Yoshino, and, one shell entering her
Mr. Wilson's account of the action off Asan engine-room and another blowing her fore-bridge away,
and of the sinking of the Kowshing (both of
she hauled off. The Chinese admiral awarded the
which events took place before a declaration
plucky gunner 1000 taels. One shell struck the Tsi
Yuen's steel deck, and, glancing, passed up through the
of war had been made) is not favorable to the
conning-tower and exploded, blowing the gunnery lieu-
Japanese. It may be remembered that the tenant to pieces, and leaving his head hanging to one of
Asan affair arose from a chance meeting in the the voice-pipes. Huge fragments of armor and back-
Gulf of Korea of the three Chinese warships, ing had been torn from their fastenings and carried in-
the Tsi Yuen, the Kuwan-Shi, and the Tsao-
board, crushing a number of poor wretches into shape-
less masses, even the upper part of the fundels being
Kiang, with the fast Japanese cruisers Yosh.
splashed with blood. An engineer-officer (European)
ino, Naniwa, and Akitsusu. According to was sent for to repair the steam-pipe of the steering-
Japanese reports, the Chinese were the aggres-
engine, and tried to grope his way through the smoke
sors; but this time it seems the conflicting Chi-
of bursting shells and heaps of killed and wounded lying
on the deck, when a shot struck his assistant and dis-
nese version is the more probable. According embowelled him, covering the engineer with blood. He
to the latter account, the three Japanese ships nevertheless managed to reach the steering-engine, and
took their opponents unawares, and opened fire repaired the pipe, for which he received a rather hand-
on them without notice or provocation. At the
some reward from the admiral.”
first discharge several shots struck the conning Still more tragic than the fate of the Tsi
tower of the Tsi Yuen, piercing it, and blow Yuen was that of the Kowshing - an English
ing to pieces the first lieutenant and a sub steamer of 1355 tons, flying the British flag
lieutenant, while steering-gear, engine-room and carrying a British captain and British offi-
telegraphs, etc., were completely wrecked. Or cers, and chartered by the Chinese to convey
ders were at once given by the Chinese captain troops to Korea.
troops to Korea. On July 23 she left Taku,
to clear for action; but before anything could having on board 1100 Chinese infantry, two
be done, a second broadside struck the ship, Chinese generals, Major Von Hanneken, and
working terrible havoc in her upper works, rid twelve field-guns with a large quantity of am-
dling her hull above water, and placing her munition. On July 25 (the day of the Asan
virtually hors de combat. So searching and fight) she sighted a large warship, probably the
deadly was the bail of projectiles poured upon
Tsi Yuen in retreat before the Japanese, steam-
her by the Japanese quick-firers that not a man ing westward. An hour later four large iron-
was left on deck—those of the crew who were clads, also heading west, hove in sight, and it


1896.]
101
THE DIAL
her
the
the Japanese flag. She approached rapidly, and swam.
and swam.” Other survivors state that the
saluted the Kowshing, and passed her. The torpedo missed, and that the main damage was
Japanese vessels appeared to be chasing the done by a 500-1b. shell which exploded the
Tsan Chieng (which had also been sighted), Kowshing's boilers. The transport soon listed
and to intend no harm to the Kowshing; but heavily to starboard, while the deadly Japanese
presently the nearest ship signalled the English fire raked her crowded decks, riddled her sides
vessel to anchor. The order was obeyed, and and top-hamper, and searched her vitals.
was followed by a second one, “ Remain where “ From the Naniwa's tops, where were mounted Gat-
you are or take the consequences," after which lings, and from Nordenfelts and small quick-firers on
the Japanese ship circled and signalled to her upper deck, came a hail of small projectiles, tear-
consorts. As she afterwards drew rapidly nearer
ing through the dense mass of Chinamen on the Kow-
shing's deck. The Chinese replied in a futile, though
it was seen that her crew were at quarters, and gallant manner, by discharging their rifles at the enemy.
her guns trained on the Kowshing. A boat The result could not be long in doubt. The heel of the
was lowered and sent to the English vessel, Kowshing became greater, and she sank lower and lower
when it was learned that the challenger was
in the water, till, about 2 o'clock, an hour from the fir-
ing of the first shot, her deck was submerged. All this
the cruiser Naniwa, Captain Togo. The Chi-
time the Europeans, and many of the Chinese who had
nese on the Kowshing were greatly excited ; leaped overboard, were in the water, exposed to stray
and, when urged by Von Hanneken and the shots from the Japanese, and deliberately fired upon by
English officers to surrender, replied that they
the Chinese who were still left on board the sinking
would die first, and asserted that if the English
ship. •Bullets began to strike the water on all sides of
us,” says Mr. Tamplin, the Kowshing's first officer, 'and,
attempted to leave the ship they should be
turning to see whence they came, I saw that the Chi-
killed. Meantime, the Japanese officers who nese, herding round the only part of the Kowshing that
had boarded the Kowshing were told that she was then out of water, were firing at us.'”
was a British ship, with the British consul's The scene that followed the sinking of the
clearance, and that she had sailed in peace and Kowshing was a terrible one, and, according
in good faith. In reply, the Kowshing was to evidence which the author deems 6 incontro-
ordered to follow the Naniwa; but this course vertible," a most disgraceful and barbarous one.
the Chinese, who had set a guard over the an It appears that the Japanese not only made no
chor, absolutely refused to allow, and Von Han- attempt whatever to rescue their drowning ene-
neken, finding argument useless, had the Nan- mies, but deliberately fired upon them in the
iwa's boat recalled. Placed thus between two water — an act which, to the Western mind,
fires, the foreigners were in no enviable plight. no plea short of the direst necessity can palli-
The Japanese were clearly determined to take ate. Mr. Tamplin of the Kowshing, who had
or to sink the Kowshing; and the Chinamen been picked up by one of the Naniwa's boats,
were apparently bent on resisting the Naniwa's testifies that the officer in charge told him that
onset with small-arms. Close upon the return he “had orders to sink the Chinese lifeboats,
of the Naniwa's boat to her ship came the and in spite of remonstrances he proceeded to
warning signal, addressed to the Europeans, do so." Two volleys were fired into them, and
“Quit ship as soon as possible,” this order be both were sunk; and the Naniwa, having com-
ing followed a moment later by the peremptory pleted her bloody work, steamed backwards
one, “ Weigh, cut, or slip; wait for nothing.' and forwards on the scene of her not very
cred-
To obey, in the face of a thousand armed and itable victory until eight in the evening.
menacing Chinamen, was hopeless; and the From the Yalu fight, which is described and
Kowshing's captain signalled back, “ We can minutely analyzed by the author, the most con-
not.” At once the Naniwa got under way, tradictory deductions have been drawn—each
blowing a long and ominous blast on her steam naval expert finding in it full confirmation of
siren, and hoisting a red flag. Approaching his particular hobby. While it was the first
to within 500 yards or less of the ill-fated trans time that fleets equipped with modern engines
port, she discharged a torpedo, firing at the of destruction, monster guns, torpedoes, quick-
same instant with a terrific crash and with mur firers, went into action, it must be remembered
derous effect a broadside from her five guns, that no large first-rate battleships of recent
two of twenty-eight tons, and three six-inch. types fought at the Yalu. The Japanese vic-
According to Von Hanneken, the torpedo struck tory was a foregone conclusion -a fact of which
a coal bunker amidships. “ The day became they themselves were thoroughly aware. Their
night; pieces of coal, splinters, and water filled moral superiority alone was enough to decide


102
(Feb. 16,
THE DIAL
the issue ; but in addition to this they had bet- though, if so, I ought to have been blown to pieces.
ter and newer guns, with speedier and, on the Anyhow, I was pretty badly burnt, and when I came
average, larger ships. They fought through ing down the tube of the great gun pointing straight
to I sat up leaning on my elbow, and found myself look-
out by signal, as a compact, organized force;
at me. I saw the end move a little to one side, then to
while their opponents were, after the first on the other, up a little, then down: and I waited for years
set, merely a mob of ships. The gunnery of
a fraction of a second no doubt - for the gun to fire,
the Chinese was extremely indifferent, their
for I knew the gunner had taken aim. Then it sud-
denly occurred to me to make an effort. I rolled over
heavy guns were antiquated, and they carried
on my side, and by great good fortune, down a batch-
no large quick-firers — thus lacking precisely way some eight feet or so, onto a beap of rubbish, which
the weapons which would have been most ef broke my fall; as I fell I heard the roar of the big gun.”
fective against the Japanese unarmored cruis Reviewing his deductions as to the lessons
ers. The Japanese had, of weapons ranging to be drawn from the Yalu, Mr. Wilson con-
from the 6.8-inch Krupp to the 4.7-inch Arm cludes that, except as to the danger of fire, the
strong, no less than ninety-four, sixty-six of engagement has done nothing but emphasize
them quick-firers; while the Chinese had, of known principles, and tends to confirm the
corresponding calibres, only twenty-seven, prob- views of those who hold that "naval science is
ably all slow-firers. The numerical disparity an exact science, and that its issues can be pre-
is virtually increased by the fact that, as a quick- dicted.” Upon the points where practical in-
firer will discharge in a given time from three formation is especially needed, such as the use
to six times as many rounds as a slow-firer, and disposal of torpedo-boats in a fleet action,
each Japanese quick-firer was worth three Chi or the possibilities of the ram, the Yalu throws
nese guns; and a rough calculation shows that
no light.
whereas the whole Chinese fleet could fire on
We may fitly conclude our citations with the
the broadside, in a space of ten minutes, 58, following forecast of the naval battle of to-
620 pounds of projectiles, the weight of metal morrow," admitting at the same time that we
discharged in the same period by the Japanese find some difficulty in entering at all into the
was 119,700 pounds, making the artillery pre- evident enthusiasm of the writer.
ponderance of the latter nearly two to one. “Two great lines of monster ships steaming side by
The greater speed of the Japanese vessels gave side, but far apart, whilst the uproar of the candonade, the
them an advantage comparable to the posses-
hail of shells, fills the air. As the minutes pass, funnels
sion of the weather-guage, and enabled them
and superstructures fly in splinters, the draught sinks,
the speed decreases, ships drop to the rear. The moment
to wheel and circle at will around their slower
for close action has come, and the victor steams in on
antagonists. The number of fires that occurred the vanquished. The ram and the torpedo, amidst an
on board the ships of both combatants was a inferno of sinking ships and exploding shells, claim their
striking feature of the battle ; and a propos of
victims. The torpedo-boats of the weaker side in vain
this we may quote the account of a European of smoke, upon a sea of blood, the mastery of the waters
essay to cover the beaten battleships. Beneath a pall
who served on the large armored ship, Chen is decided for a generation. Such an encounter will
Yuen (Chinese).
not lack sensation. To live through it will be a life's
“In helping to put out one of those fires I was
experience; to fall in it a glorious end."
wounded. The fire was forward, on the forecastle, and Mr. Wilson's book is indispensable to the
there was such a fierce fire sweeping the deck between
student of naval science, and general readers
it and the fore-barbette, that the officer wbom I ordered
to go and put it out declared it to be impossible to get
will find its descriptions graphic and its expo-
there alive; so I had to go myself. I called for volun sitions lucid. Outwardly the volumes are very
teers, and got some splendid fellows—some of our best attractive; the illustrations are profuse and
men, unhappily, for nearly all were killed, but we got well-chosen, and the maps, charts, etc., all that
the fire under. The fire was on the port side, and as
the starboard fore-barbette gun was firing across it, I
the most exacting could well ask. E. G. J.
sent orders that it was only to fire on the starboard
side, but, as bad luck would have it, the man who re A RECENT decree of the French Education Depart-
ceived the order, the Number One of the gun, had his ment has opened some of the French faculties to Amer-
head shot off just after I had gone forward, and his suc ican students upon terms so advantageous that the Ger-
cessor did not know of the order. As I stooped to pick man universities will no longer be likely practically to
up the hose, a shell, or a fragment, passed between my monopolize this constituency. The American bacca-
wrists, grazing each. Shortly afterwards, I heard a loud laureate degree will hereafter be accepted in France as
explosion, and saw a brilliant light behind me, was a qualification for admission to these faculties, the old
knocked down, and lay unconscious for a while - how restrictions having been largely done away with. MM.
long I do not know. I believe it was the flame from Berthelot and Bréal have been particularly active in
the gun which I had ordered to fire only on the star- bringing about this change, which has long been urged
board side, but it may have been a shell exploding, by many American scholars.


1896.)
103
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RECENT EDUCATIONAL LITERATURE.*
than among the Bishop's own co-religionists.
But to quote again :
Bishop Spalding's new book on "The Means
“ It is impossible for an enlightened mind not to take
and Ends of Education ” has in general the profound interest in our great system of public educa-
same valuable qualities of his earlier works. tion. . . . I am willing to assume and to accept as a
It is marked by clear thinking, deep sympathy,
fact that our theological differences make it impossible
reverent faith in God and human nature, high public schools. I take the system as it is,- that is, as
to introduce the teaching of any religious creed into the
ideals of man's worth and work and destiny, and a system of secular education,- and I address myself
so of the teacher's function, and practical ideas more directly to the question proposed: What is, or
as to modes of working out these ideals,- all
should be, its scope ? . . . I myself am persuaded that
the real and philosophical basis of morality is belief in
expressed in a clear and winning style. While
the power of God. . . . But it is possible, I think, to
urging his favorite thoughts with force and cultivate the moral sense without directly and expressly
earnestness, the Bishop is remarkably free from assigning to it this philosophical and religious basis; for
those habits of mind, deemed offensive by many, goodness is largely its own evidence, as virtue is its
which are often associated with the Church own reward. It all depends on the teacher. . . . We
must cease to tell boys and girls that education will
man. We have a good illustration of this in
enable them to get hold of the good things of which
the catholic chapter entitled “The Scope of they believe the world to be full; we must make them
Public School Education," from which a few realize rather that the best thing in the world is a noble
sentences will be quoted.
man or woman, and to be that is the only certain way
to a worthy and contented life.”
« Unless we bear in mind that the school is but one
of several educational agencies, we shall not form a
“ School Interests and Duties" is one of
right estimate of its office. It depends almost wholly those practical books that neither teachers nor
for its success upon the kind of material furnished it by parents are likely to read too much.
The
the home, the state, and the church; and, to confine our
view to our own country, I have little hesitation in
sources of the book are shown by its explana-
affirming that our home life, our social and political life, tory title: “Developed from Page's • Mutual
and our religious life, have contributed far more to make Duties of Parents and Teachers,' from various
us what we are than any and all of our schools. The public reports and documents, and from the
school, unless it works in harmony with those great
bulletins of the National Board of Education."
forces, can do little more than sharpen the wits. Many
of the teachers of our Indian schools are doubtless com-
While he is a compiler merely, Mr. King shows
petent and earnest; but the pupils, when they return to good judgment and taste in selection and ar-
their tribes, quickly lose what they have gained, because rangement. He will not revolutionize the think-
they are thrown into an environment which annuls the ing or practice of good teachers, but such
ideals that prevail in the school.”
teachers as read his book will find help and
This protest against an exaggerated estimate encouragement in pursuing the good old ways
of the office of the school, and this demand for that experience has approved and that can
coöperation with the school on the part of the never become obsolete. The book has been pre-
home, general society, and the church, are well pared with a particular view to reading-circle
timed. Perhaps we may add that among no work.
part of our population are they more needed
The leading word in Professor Tompkins's
*THE MEANS AND ENDS OF EDUCATION. By J. L. Spald titles indicates his point of view. He seeks to
ing, Bishop of Peoria. Chicago : A. C. McClurg & Co. base the teaching process and the managing
SCHOOL INTERESTS AND DUTIES. By Robert M. King,
process on universal ideas. “Science explains
Instructor in the Indianapolis High School. New York: The
American Book Co.
a group of phenomena by a principle, or law,
THE PHILOSOPRY OF TEACHING. By Arnold Tompkins. coëxtensive with the group explained. At least,
Boston: Ginn & Co.
THE PHILOSOPHY OF School MANAGEMENT. By Arnold ophy explains a group of phenomena
by some
emphasis is given to such a principle. “ Philos-
Tompkins. Boston: Ginn & Co.
FREDERICK FROEBEL'S PEDAGOGICS IN THE KINDERGAR- principle, or law, which extends beyond the
TEN; or, His Ideas Concerning the Play and Playthings of the
group explained to all other groups.
- The
Child. Translated by Josephine Jarvis. New York: D.
Appleton & Co.
Philosophy of Teaching” is devoted to the teach-
THE MOTTOES AND COMMENTARIES OF FREDERICK FROE- | ing process in its wide relations. The great divis-
BEL'S MOTHER PLAY. Mother Communings and Mottoes ions of the book are: “The Teaching Process,"
Rendered into English Verse by Henrietta R. Elliot. Prose
Communings, Translated and Accompanied with an Introduc-
“ Aim in Teaching,” and “Method in Teach-
tion Treating of the Philosophy of Froebel, by Susan E. Blow. ing," the third division receiving principal at-
New York: D. Appleton & Co.
tention. This is an outline that is perfectly
PSYCHOLOGY IN EDUCATION. By Rurick N. Roark, Dean
of the Department of Pedagogy, Kentucky State College, intelligible and coherent. The only question
Lexington, Ky. New York: American Book Co.
that can arise is whether the first and second


104
(Feb. 16,
THE DIAL
-
topics should not be given in the reverse order. an extended analysis of its contents. While ac-
In the other work, the leading ideas are not knowledging our debt to Dr. Stanley Hall" for
equally clear. They are: “The Fundamental
“ The Fundamental | the wide-spread interest in the United States
Law," "The Law Creating the Organism,” | created by his labors in the movement known
and “The Law Executing the Organism.” The as child study," Dr. Harris certifies : “In this
“ Law” in question is the “ Law of Unity.” book are collected the first great European con-
This law is found within the organism itself,” tributions to the subject. They are so subtle
or, in the final analysis, “ within the spiritual and so suggestive that every teacher should be-
unity of the pupil.” But how, if the law is in the gin his pedagogical training by reading and
organism, can it evolve the organism and execute studying them.” The voluminous title of the
the organism? This question, of course, leads other volume describes its character. In her
back to some old contentions about the relations introduction, Miss Blow says that Froebel, in
of ideas and things. We are quite in sympathy the Mother Play, “ deciphers all that the child
with the author's attempt to base school man feels in cipher, and translates for mothers the
agement on ideas. We quite agree with him hieroglyphic of their own instinctive play. As
in his protest against the wretched empiricism a child's book, this little collection of songs
of the schools. A person is not equipped for and games is unique in literature. As a
school management when he has merely learned mother's book likewise it has no ancestry and
the catalogue of “do's” and “do not's.” “The no posterity. It is the greatest book for little
ory and Practice are organically one, - two children, and the greatest book for mothers, in
sides of the same process: the process in thought the world. When all women shall have laid to
and the process in external realization ”; “ the heart its lessons, the ideal which hovers before
ory is practice in thought,” practice " theory us in the immortal pictures of the Madonna
emerging from thought,”—all of which is very will be realized, for then, at last, each mother
well put. But the difficulty is organically to will revere and nurture in her child the divine
relate the two. Authors do not always find humanity.” Only an enthusiastic kindergar-
this easy, as the book in hand shows; and prac tener can rise to this high level.
tical teachers often find it positively difficult. Mr. Roark has written bis 6 Psychology in
To tell a teacher that he is to manage a school Education,” he says, “ for the average teacher,
with reference to universal ideas, is not to give and because of the deep interest that the aver-
him very much immediate assistance. We have age teacher — the private in the grand army
never known a teacher in the common schools of education - is taking in the subject.” We
so philosophical, so intelligent, so wise, that he should say that he has well guaged the reader
did not find much use for the maxim, “ Do the for whom he writes, and that he has written a
best you can.” And this is the maxim of the book which is well adapted to his needs. We
opportunist, or the empiricist if you will. We do not remember a book that, everything con-
feel sure that some very intelligent teachers, sidered, is better worthy of being recommended
resorting to Professor Tompkins to help them for use in all the places and ways where the
in the management of their schools, will, while average teacher may be reached. It is scien-
attending to his practical suggestions, have dif. tific on the one side and practical on the other.
ficulty in discovering just where the “philos- It was hardly necessary for the writer to say,
ophy" comes in. But if the second book is as he does, “ Almost every paragraph was writ-
the less successful of the two, the author can ten with the thought constantly in mind, •What
fairly plead that to connect the managing pro-application can be made of this in the details
cess and universal ideas is much more difficult of every-day school work?'” If we were to
than it is to connect the teaching process and offer any general criticism, we should say the
such ideas. Once more, we see no reason why book is over-minute in its division of subject-
much of the matter that is in the second book matter. The writer has not invented elements ;
might not with equal propriety, or even more all the elements that he recognizes exist; but
propriety, be put in the first one.
there is reason to think that he has sometimes
The two new volumes in the International carried his analysis too far for the average
Series " are valuable contributions to the stock teacher. We fear that the elaborate division
of kindergarten literature. The Pedagogics” which constitutes Chapter II. will produce a
is a translation of fifteen of Froebel's essays, depressing effect upon the mind of his typical
collected by Dr. Wichard Lange, and published reader; and would suggest to him whether, in his
in Berlin in 1861. The translator contributes next edition, it would not be better to put this


1896.]
105
THE DIAL
skeleton after his discussion rather than before cent Christianity had been the spur of his lit-
it, or, at least, to insert in this place only the erary and scholarly activity ever since early
main dividing members, leaving the full scheme in the sixties. His last work, the history
for a later page. Again, we have not found a of Israel, was in his view the introduction to
multiplicity of definitions of the same term help his volumes on Jesus, Paul, the Apost