hold in The next meeting of the Central Division of the Mod-
trust for the Dutch, or after they had succeeded ern Language Association of America will occur at St.
Louis, Mo., between Christmas and New Year. Those
in monopolizing the commerce of the seas.
wishing to read papers are requested to address Prof.
Occasionally he seems to suspect that there may
Gustav Karsten, Bloomington, Indiana. Membership is
have been on the irrational continent, or in pen to all interested in the study of modern languages.


190
[Oct. 1,
THE DIAL
ART.*
designs, our author makes use of a series of
ORIGINS AND MEANINGS OF DECORATIVE
recent terms — in part of his own suggestion
which are convenient. Decorative designs
66 To show that delineations have an individ.
are either skenomorphs, physicomorphs, or bio-
uality and a life-history which can be studied
quite irrespectively of their artistic merit,” is morphs. Skenomorphs are decorative trans-
formation and transference of originally neces-
one of Professor Haddon's objects in writing sary and non-ornamental technic characters,
« Evolution in Art"; to show by specific cases
the method to be pursued in such study, is an-
Thus, a late bronze axe may bear ornamental
lines, which imitate the cord fastenings by
other. The book bristles with suggestive points. which it was previously joined to its handle ;
That artistic patterns or decorations have a
“ life-history," that they are born, develop, of the appearance of the basket-work, which
decorations on pottery may be the reproduction
and die, is a startling preceded earthen vessels. Physicomorphs are
but true thought. The infancy and the senility decorative designs representing objects or oper-
of a given pattern often vary so profoundly as
ations in the physical world. The rain-cloud
to be hardly recognized for one and the same.
of the Moki, the zigzag lightning symbol of
Who, uninstructed, sees at once the crocodile
pattern worked out in detail on the curious
many peoples, are examples. Biomorphs are
decorative patterns drawn from living things,
arrows from Torres Strait? Who, unless he
makes a comparison of specimens, recognizes (animal), or anthropomorphs (human), in
and may be phyllomorphs (vegetal), zoomorphs
the frigate-bird head in the pretty running their origin. When such decorative designs
spirals on the handles of the lime-spatulas, or
the human faces on the wooden belts from heteromorphs, and these may be either hetero-
are not simple and pure, they may be called
British New Guinea ?
Decorative art, to be understood, must be morphs of skenomorphs, of biomorphs, or of
studied as faunas are studied--geographically.
skeno-biomorphs.
The same decorative design may come about in
After a study of the reasons for which ob-
different ways in different regions. It is only each of the needs to be satisfied
jects are decorated, in which weight is given to
when we study it in all its relations to climate, mation, Wealth, Religion,— Professor Had-
Art, Infor-
products, materials, tools, technique, life condi-
don gives some practical suggestions upon the
tions, that we may be sure of its origin and of
its development.
scientific method of studying decorative art.
Man has been constrained to artistic effort Recognizing that patterns are not freely evolved
by four needs : Art, Information, Wealth, Re- by savage peoples, but that they are suggested
ligion. Each gives rise to art forms. Upon by some object, the student must first seek for
the source of the suggestion; he must then
any art form, once born, two forces operate :
trace the development which may be upward
suggestion, which dynamically initiates and
modifies ; and expectancy, which tends to con-
specialization, degeneration, or selection. Orig-
serve unchanged what already exists. Mr.
inated and developed, the design must be traced
Haddon illustrates the results of these needs as
in its geographical wanderings—a task of great
acted upon by these forces. Taking first the delicacy, requiring much judgment. In such
art products of a limited field - British New study, direct information from the maker or
Guinea,-- he sketches its main features in elu-
user of the object is vastly important, but not
cidation of his proposition. He then selects always accessible ; often induction and inter-
examples of from every elime. These he studies presente anchores can be used,
The author's material is drawn from many
man makes designs and patterns; and second,
authorities, of varying value. Most of his facts
are already known to the ethnographer. But
to illustrate the fact that transformation of
objective originals into æsthetic conceptions is
he presents them suggestively so as to arouse
much new thought; he brings out a useful no-
not confined to one people, but is common to
menclature; he displays such earnestness as to
mankind.
kindle enthusiasm and raise up workers in a
In his study into the source of decorative
field where workers are much needed; he also
* EVOLUTION IN ART, as Illustrated by the Life-histories of
suggests the safe and useful method to be fol-
Designs. By Alfred C. Haddon. Contemporary Science
Series." London: Walter Scott Co., Ltd. Imported by
lowed if real advance in the subject is to be
Charles Scribner's Sons, New York.
gained.
FREDERICK STARR.
66
1


1896.]
191
THE DIAL
colonies contributed to the army chest, but it was,
STUDIES IN AMERICAN HISTORY,*
in North America, essentially a war of New En-
A writer in a recent number of THE DIAL (Pro glanders against the Canadian French, for the ob-
fessor J. J. Halsey, May 1, 1896, p. 268), says: jective points were Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, and
“American national history cannot be finally writ northern New England. The French garrison at
ten until the field of the local life be thoroughly Louisbourg had news of the declaration of war
investigated and the material classified.” To the (March 15, 1744) a full month before Boston re-
truth of this dictum, American historical students ceived its information by a Glasgow ship. It was
will generally testify. One of the most satisfactory easy, therefore, for the French to surprise and cap-
phases of the activity in historical studies, now evi ture the English post of Canso, and send its garri-
dent among us, is the tendency to systematically son as prisoners to Louisbourg. Annapolis Royal,
develop this local field. Sectional, state, and local the only English fortification now left in Nova
historical societies are busy searching the uttermost Scotia, was sharply beset by the enemy, who was
corners of their several domains, and pouring out aided by Indians and rebellious Acadians. New
upon us a mass of original material hitherto exist England soon sent reinforcements thither; but when
ing only in manuscript form, and for the most part supplies were forwarded to them in May, 1745, in
wholly inaccessible to students. The patriotic the schooners “Montague” and “Sunflower,”
hereditary societies, having emerged from the mildly- French marauding party captured the vessels and
exciting stage of organization, are now proving their crews, at their anchorage in Annapolis Basin,
themselves useful factors in civilization by editing sold or divided the cargoes, and sent the prisoners
and publishing historical documents, often of con overland to Quebec. William Pote, Jr., a man of
siderable importance. Several of the racial organ spirit and enterprise, was master of the “Mon-
izations are doing most admirable special work of tague,” and during his captivity of over two years
this character,— prominent among them, the na (he was captured May 17, 1745, and released July
tional Scotch-Irish, Huguenot, and Jewish Publica- 30, 1747) kept an elaborate journal of his daily
tion societies, the Holland Society of New York, experiences. Smuggling this treasure through the
and the Pennsylvania-German Society. The county lines, when finally exchanged, Pote appears to have
and town historians are unusually busy, these days ; given the journal to his superior officer, John Henry
and the often valuable newspaper "annuals” and Bastide, chief-engineer of Nova Scotia; and the
"anniversary numbers” are not to be ignored, for plump little manuscript book remained in the pos-
many of them contain most excellent historical ma session of the latter's family for many years. Later,
terial, collected by competent hands. Last, but not it drifted to the English colony at Geneva, Switzer-
least, the genealogists, who have of late become so land, and in August, 1890, was there acquired by
numerous among us as to form a considerable per John Fletcher Hurst, to whom we owe its resurrec-
tion
the country over, are doing their part in shedding The importance of the narrative will be appre-
light upon dark places, firmly convinced, with Mac ciated when it is remembered that but two other
aulay, that the study of a nation's life is but the accounts of this notable captivity have before seen
sum of the stories of individual careers.
print, and they but brief tracts by fellow-prisoners,
Now and then the story of an individual career which do not cover so long a period or give such
is of prime importance to the general historian. full and interesting details. The editor, Mr. Hurst,
Parkman and Fiske, for instance, have been partic does not overstate the case in saying:
ularly skilful in their use of such. Warmly would " While some accounts of the war make mention of
Parkman have welcomed “Pote's Journal,” which Pote as a participant, and finally a captive, it is now
has just been given to the world ; and what a wealth first known, through the discovery of his complete Jour-
of illustration he would have found in it for his
nal, that he kept a minute record of his experiences, and
“Half Century of Conflict.” Of the inner history
of the important events of the war. It supplies many
missing links, and reconciles contradictions which had
of King George's War (1744-48), we have had an
hitherto defied the student of American Colonial His-
insufficiency of records. New York and a few other
tory. In addition, it throws full light on entire depart-
* THE JOURNAL OF CAPTAIN WILLIAM POTE, JR., during ments of that important struggle between the French
his captivity in the French and Indian War, from May, 1745, and the English for the possession, not of Canada alone,
to August, 1747. With portraits and maps. New York: but of North America in general. It records incursions
Dodd, Mead & Co.
related to Pote by the captives themselves; gives mem-
THE WINNING OF THE WEST. By Theodore Roosevelt.
Volume IV. With map.
oranda of marriages, illnesses, deaths, and many other
New York: G. P. Putnam's
minute facts relating to the captives; and contains the
Sons.
NATHANIEL MASSIE, A PIONEER OF OHIO. A sketch of
best and fullest account of Donahew's exploit in Tat-
his life, and selections from his correspondence. By David
megouche Bay. There is a strong genealogical element
Meade Massie. Cincinnati : The Robert Clarke Co.
pervading the whole narrative. Indeed, the latter part
WITH THE FATHERS. Studies in the History of the United
of the Journal is occupied with a list of the persons who
States. By John Bach McMaster. New York : D. Appleton died during the two years of the captivity. This bitherto
& Co.
unknown treasury of genealogy is of absorbing interest
THE MAKING OF PENNSYLVANIA. By Sydney George and value to New England families, so many of which
Fisher. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott Co.
were represented in this large band of captives."


192
(Oct. 1,
THE DIAL
Mr. Hurst supplies an introductory Account of the early West ; we are told of Burr's conspiracy, of
the Journal itself; Victor H. Paltsits, of Lenox the several wars with the Creeks of the South and
Library, furnishes an Historical Introduction, with the swarming Algonkins of the Northwest, of the
copious foot-notes and genealogical appendices; and great exploring expeditions to and through the far
several old manuscripts, maps, views, and portraits West — those of Lewis and Clark, and Pike. What
are effectively reproduced for the volume. A fine is more, we are advised not only of the deeds of the
large map of “The Northern English Colonies, leaders, we are made familiar with the daily lives and
together with the French neighbouring Settle- aspirations of the common settlers, the half-hunter,
ments,” drawn by Charles Morris for the use of half-farmer men of the little log cabins in the back-
Governor Shirly in the subsequent French and In woods clearings, the humble villagers of Lexington
dian War, and dated August 16, 1749, has been and Louisville and Nashville. Mr. Roosevelt not
rendered in facsimile from the original in Lenox only has a broad grasp upon the main facts, the
Library, and is folded within separate covers. fruit of serious toil in original research among old
Editor, contributors, and publishers have severally records in manuscript and print: but his own life
well performed their parts, the result being an upon the frontier, under somewhat similar condi-
important contribution to American colonial history, tions, has given him an intimate knowledge of the
which is at the same time an admirable specimen of earlier borderer, enabling him by rare insight and
bookmaking. It is unfortunate, however, that the gift of phrase to paint for us a graphic picture of
editor should have adopted upon his title-page a wilderness life, which is one of the greatest charms
term for the hostilities of 1744-48 which is now of “The Winning of the West."
discarded by historians. To avoid confusion it has Mr. Roosevelt illustrates, in this otherwise admir-
been found necessary by them to designate this able volume, the inadvisability of attempting too
affair as King George's War, reserving for the ulti much. The president of the New York Police Com-
mate struggle of 1754-63 the title, French and mission can have but little leisure for historical
Indian War. This neglect to properly designate the investigation or historical writing. Mr. Roosevelt
earlier campaign will lead to confusion among did the greater part of his study of the West pre-
bibliographers and historical students.
vious to taking upon himself his present harassing
Mr. Roosevelt's great sectional history, “The
office; it is only in putting his material together
Winning of the West,” is progressing apace. In the
that he shows haste and sometimes negligence. Some
fourth volume, now before us, he carries forward
day he will wish to revise, in the present volume,
the story from 1791 to 1807; beginning with the
the not infrequent evidences of an overcrowded
uprising of the Northwestern Indians, who at first
office-holding historian,—the occasional crudities of
defeated St. Clair and Harmar, and were in turn
expression in the text, the often slip-shod foot-notes,
effectually quelled by Anthony Wayne, the volume
slight errors of statement, and careless proof-reading.
closes “with the acquisition and exploration of the
These are minor defects, but Mr. Roosevelt is too
vast region that lay beyond the Mississippi." In
good a book-maker not by this time to be grieved at
former volumes, the author dealt with the explora-
them. There is a useful map of exploration routes,
tion and first settlement of the trans-Alleghany
and the usual good index ; the concluding volume
region,—the crude formative period when the West-
of the work should, and doubtless will, contain a
erners, almost wholly neglected by the tide-water general index to all.
colonists, broke the paths and wrested from a sav Public attention is just now being drawn to the
age foe the wilderness beyond the mountains ; he
Western Reserve,— Connecticut's land reservation
tells us, in this volume, how the West at last forged in Ohio,—the centennial of which has recently been
to the front, and began the acquisition of that polit celebrated in Cleveland. The colonizing experiences
ical power which it has since so effectively wielded. of Gen. Moses Cleaveland in what was popularly
Mr. Roosevelt tells us how Kentucky, Tennessee, called “New Connecticut,” a hundred years ago,
and Ohio became states, and Louisiana, Indiana, are not referred to by Mr. Roosevelt, although they
and Mississippi territories ; how the great stream of were of prime importance; neither does he say any-
permanent settlers followed the over-mountain paths thing concerning the rival reservation between the
worn by Boone and other wilderness hunters, who Miami, Scioto, and Ohio rivers, the Virginia Mili-
in turn were swept by the incoming tide to the tary District. A few lines summarizing the story
region beyond the Mississippi, where they could live of each enterprise would have been advisable even
in peace; how the West came dangerously near in so general an account as “The Winning of the
separating from the Union, in its uneasiness over West.” Concerning the Western Reserve, much
the Spanish ownership of the mouth of the Missis has been written in detail; the Western Reserve
sippi; how men like Clark and Wilkinson and Innes, Historical Society, at Cleveland, has done its part
jealous of the East, coquetted with foreign powers in enlightening general historians concerning it, and
for the securing of political separation, until the the Western Reserve University helps to perpetuate
final acquisition of Louisiana and the Far West put its name. Of the inner history of the Virginia Mil-
a stop to this plotting. We learn, in this volume, itary District, less is known. Burton's “Notes on
of the great land speculations which were curses to the Northwest Territory,” “The St. Clair Papers,"


1896.]
193
THE DIAL
and “ Cutler's Memoirs,” are accessible to students;
are accessible to students ; Pennsylvania was from earliest times a meeting-
but these give us only a partial view — the St. Clair place of many peoples, representing many creeds
view. In truth, there was a desperate struggle for and widely divergent interests. New England and
supremacy, between the founder of colonization at the Southern colonies were planted almost exclu-
Manchester and Chillicothe, General Nathaniel sively by Englishmen; but in the middle group
Massie, and the governor of the Northwest Terri there was a mingling of foreigners of many sorts
tory, General Arthur St. Clair. The Massie side and conditions, and nowhere was the variety so great
of the contest is now for the first time presented in as in Pennsylvania. Dutch, Swedes, Germans,
the life and letters of Nathaniel Massie, prepared Scotch-Irish, and Welsh united with the English;
by that pioneer's grandson, a citizen of Chillicothe, between the Puritan solidarity of New England and
and published by the Robert Clarke Co., a house the strongly-contrasted circles of Churchmen and
which has for many years done yeoman service for English Dissenters of the South, there dwelt in more
the cause of Western history,—often with no other or less harmony, in Penn's domain, a curious mix-
recompense than the commendation of students in ture of Quakers, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Lu-
this field. An important chapter in the story of therans, Reformers of many kinds, Mennonites,
Ohio will now have to be re-written,—thus remind Dunkards, and Moravians. All of these strangely-
ing us of the truth of the familiar dictum that each commingled folk, each community in its own way,
generation is obliged to write its own history, be had a share in the making of Pennsylvania. At first
cause either of new material discovered, or a change in separate groups, with sharply-defined character-
in the mental attitude of the people.
istics and aims, often pulling apart though linked
Professor McMaster's “ With the Fathers” is a
together, they in time were fairly merged in a great
collection, within covers, of a “baker's dozen " of his commonwealth. Mr. Fisher has, for the most part in
fugitive essays on various topics connected with
good temper and with sound judgment, told us the
American history and polity, originally published in story of each group, how “they all acted and re-acted
the leading magazines. The range is wide, chro-
on each other, changed sides in politics, and produced
nologically, extending from "How the British left movements and counter-currents which make the
New York,” down to the timely query, “ Is Sound
history of the state extremely varied and interesting,
Finance Possible under Popular Government?”
and at the same time rather difficult to trace.” It
The Monroe doctrine, the third-term tradition, Wash-
is a timely work in a comparatively untilled field,
ington's inauguration, the Know-Nothing move-
for the study of the elements which have made us
ment, and Franklin in France, are among the sub-
a distinct people has thus far not progressed beyond
jects treated. Our author throws no new light upon
the tentative stage. If allowances are made for ill-
these, and could not be expected to do so, for it is
concealed bias, here and there, the book will be
well-threshed straw; he has opinions, however, and, helpful to students of history and sociology. The
although we may not always agree with his conclu-
author has not forgotten the necessary index.
sions, he is always interestingly readable. Uphold-
REUBEN G. THWAITES.
ing the extreme jingo view of the Monroe doctrine,
he maintains that the United States should not
permit any such contest (the attempted transfer of
BRIEFS ON NEW BOOKS.
the political sovereignty of any portion of American
soil, whatsoever, to European powers] to result in
Dr. Edward Channing's “The United
the increase of European power or influence on this
rational history of States of America” (Macmillan) is
continent.” We should be ready, he thinks, being
an excellent addition to the useful
strong enough to do so, and might, he considers, “Cambridge Historical Series,” a set of concise
makes right,— to uphold this position “with force manuals on the history of Modern Europe and its
of arms." The professor evidently has inside infor-
chief colonies and conquests, already described in
mation, thus far unknown to the members of the
our columns. Dr. Channing's little book contains
Boundary Commission, who are as yet undecided, more actual political and social history, and should
when he unqualifiedly asserts that Venezuela is the
leave the reader with a juster knowledge of the
rightful owner of “the area now claimed arbitrarily,
elements and growth of our national organism, than
and with no proof submitted, by Great Britain." most works on the subject of twice its bulk. It
In the matter of our financial policy, to which two strikes us as, all in all, the best manual of the kind
papers are devoted, the author is a gold-standard
yet published. Its judicial tone places it in marked
man; although what he brands as fiscal heresies
contrast with text-books of the old flamboyant pat-
sometimes win in popular elections, he has firm reli tern, which have undoubtedly done much to breed
ance on “the hard common-sense of the people, who in our people that strain of " jingoism ” which
in their own good time and way have heretofore makes them lend a ready ear to the rants of our
adjusted all difficulties wisely.” The index is well
Congressional Bobadils. It is pretty difficult to rid
made.
the “average man” (whom we perhaps take, as Mr.
We have in Mr. Fisher's “The Making of Penn Matthew Arnold thought, too seriously in this coun-
sylvania” a state history quite out of the common. try) of the notion that the prime duty of an Amer.
A sober and
the United States.


194
(Oct. 1,
THE DIAL
Occu-
ican historian writing American history is to claim the phrase " a name to conjure with” (now gener-
everything and concede nothing, and to punctuate ally employed as political slang) introduced a second
his recital with war-whoops. Dr. Channing's aim is time. But it seems hypercritical to direct attention
“to trace the steps by which the American people to these defects in a book which is otherwise com-
and its peculiar type of federal state have developed mendable. It is rich in appendices and tables, and
out of such heterogeneous and unpromising mate is well indexed. Altogether, the Protestant Epis-
rials for nation-building as were to be found in the copal Church may congratulate herself upon the
English-American Colonies in 1760.” The space good showing she is permitted to make in this
gained by omitting the familiar details as to battles ecclesiastico-historical symposium.
and campaigns has been usefully devoted to the
explanation of the deeper causes of the Revolution,
The
A natural
often - propounded question
and to the detailed story of the period between the English school whether there is, or ever has been, a
of music.
close of the Revolutionary War and Madison's
national English musical school or
inauguration. The work extends to the end of the style, may now be considered as definitely answered
Civil War. The Virginia Resolves (1769), the in the affirmative by Mr. Frederick G. Crowest,
Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Con- through “ The Story of British Music” (imported
federation, the Constitution, and a serviceable Biblio by Scribner). The work reveals the fact that no
graphical Note, are appended; and there are some country - neither France, Germany, nor Italy -
good maps specially compiled by the author. has so ancient an origin in music as has England,
or a more glorious record ; in its far-off days, En-
The Church whose thirty-sixth trien-
History of the
gland was really a more distinctively musical nation
Episcopal Church nial convention in Minneapolis last than any other, and also more musically character-
in the United States.
year attracted widespread attention istic than it is to-day. The “story” told in this
and interest not only lays claim to an ancestry volume, although ending where England's musical
through the Church of England reaching back to history is commonly counted as only fairly begin-
Apostolic times, but possesses a history of far more
ning — at the close of the fifteenth century
than ordinary interest in her development in this pies four hundred interesting pages. So diligent
Western hemisphere. The materials for this history bas been the author's research that he has gathered
are to be found principally in numerous volumes of together and reproduced some splendid proofs of a
documents collated by the late Dr. Hawks and the
pure First Period school; has shown how England's
present Bishop of Iowa, who have successively filled
musical disputationists and theoretical writers stood
the position of historiographer of the Church in in the first rank; how secular music, and that greater
America. The results of their editorial labors have
art, sacred harmony, blossomed and grew; how
been freely drawn upon by the Rev. Charles C. musical establishments and systems existing to-day
Tiffany, D.D., Archdeacon of New York, in his con were founded and put upon workable footings -
tribution to the excellent series of American Church
all prior to the times of the Tudors. Leaving his
Histories published by The Christian Literature subject just on the threshold, as it were, we may
Co., New York. Dr. Tiffany's work is comprised well look forward to Mr. Crowest's promised con-
in Volume VII. of the series, and bears the title,
tinuation of his story in another volume, when we
“A History of the Protestant Episcopal Church in
may expect to meet, in the Elizabethan age, musi-
the United States of America.” The subject is a cians as great in their way as were Shakespeare,
broad one and is broadly treated. The bistory natur Bacon, Halley, and Frobisher in theirs. One who
ally divides itself into two distinct parts : The His knows nothing of musical art may follow the narra-
tory of the English Church in the Colonies (1607- tive with great interest and profit; but the trained
1785), and The Protestant Episcopal Church in the musician will find in this volume a special and
United States (1789-1895). In the latter portion unique value, owing to its illustrations of antique
of the work its excellence is especially noticeable in
instrument and its copies of old melodies, harmonies,
the marshalling of its facts, the easy style of its
and systems of notation.
narration, the defining of the various parties and
schools of thought existing in the Church, and the
The reasons for the existence of the
A trinity of
presentation of the institutions which best exhibit
somewhat liberal collections of vol-
famous Scots.
the Church's life and progress. In a work of so
umes devoted to great commanders,
much merit and such dignified appearance it is not great statesmen, and divers sets of men of letters,
a little surprising to find such misprints as “disas find more available exemplification perhaps in the
terous” and “incredibel,” and to find Bishop Stone's indomitable Scot than in many another less likely
name given twice as “Storer,” Bishop James Har unit. The latest additions to the “ Famous Scots
vey Otey as “James N. Otey," and Bishop Johnston Series ” (imported by Scribner) deal with a suffi.
as “ Johnson.” Some repetitions might have been ciently characteristic trio - John Knox, Robert
avoided to the advantage of the book. That the Burns, and Hugh Miller; and, in biographies of
author has a few pet phrases, which he is fond of a hundred and fifty pages each, present certain dif-
introducing, is evident, and perhaps excusable, ficulties. Of the three, Knox, at the hands of Mr.
though it jars slightly on the reader's nerves to find A. Taylor Innes, has been brought much more ade-


1896.)
195
THE DIAL
powers.
their proper
quately within the scope and nature of what the
Professor William Bondy has con-
Three branches
design of the series would seem to be. There is a of governmental tributed a substantial sum to the fund
judicious use of material, even a dynamic skill here
of general information by the able
and there in the arrangement of it; and the result and exhaustive manner in which he presents and
is readable without being in the least slovenly. In discusses " The Separation of Governmental Pow-
the case of Burns, Mr. Gabriel Setoun has been less ers." The book is the second number of Volume V.
happy in his special outlook. The Scottish genius of “Studies in History, Economics, and Public
for controversy asserts itself; and Burns, as often Law," a series which is ably edited by the Univer-
before in his posthumous vicissitudes, has to suffer. sity Faculty of Political Science in Columbia Col-
Mr. Setoun’s intentions are plainly the best in the lege, and published by the Macmillan Co. The sub-
world, but he has ended, unfortunately, unlike his ject is considered historically, theoretically, and in
subject's fame, by confining himself to one side of the constitutions. The arrangement of the contents
the Cheviots. A little more attention to broader is thoroughly logical, and the presentation of the
movements in literature than to mere biographical subject-matter is clear and concise. While there is
differences of opinion, and he might have gratified no attempt at extended discussion of any phase of
himself by a consideration of Burns not as a paro the subject, enough is said to inform the reader of
chial but as a European product. The least com the point which it is aimed to make, and the copious
mendable of the three lives is that of Hugh Miller, references and footnotes amply tell the rest. The
in which Mr. W. Keith Leask also has been need-governmental powers considered are, of course, the
lessly controversial, and incidentally does not get executive, the legislative, and the judicial. Mr.
his proportions well fused. The volume on Knox Bondy asserts that in spite of the strong language
has an apparently careful index, and that on Miller used in the American constitutions with regard to
has a bibliography; the Burns is without either. the separation of governmental powers, "there is
not a single constitution in which some of the chief
The work of the Peabody Museum
Good work of the
is important in the history of Amer-
powers of government were not made dependent for
Peabody Museum.
exercise
upon the action of more than
ican anthropology. The museum has
fought its way against all difficulties, until it stands
one of the governmental departments, and in which
recognized as one of the most important branches
powers, historically or theoretically considered ex-
ecutive, have not been exercised by the legislative
of the great University of which it forms a part.
Its field-work has been most significant. Its explo-
and judicial departments ; in which powers consid-
ered judicial have not been exercised by the legis-
rations of Tennessee and Ohio mounds are models.
The collections it possesses represent every part of
lative and executive departments; and in which
the United States, and comprise interesting series
powers considered legislative in their nature have
not been exercised by the executive and judicial
from Mexico, Central America, and Peru. Through departments.” The book is well adapted for use
its agency the great Serpent Mound in Ohio has
by the student, by the professional man, and by the
been saved from destruction and preserved for all
general reader.
time. From its field-work and collections much lit-
erature has already grown. Three sets of publica-
We have repeatedly spoken words
New reprints of
tions are now in progress — Annual Reports, Occa-
of praise concerning the “English
English classics.
sional Papers, and Memoirs. The Annual Reports,
Classics "published from time to time
in octavo form, have contained numerous valuable by Messrs. Longmans, Green, & Co. The skill with
papers. Recently, however, they have been con which these texts are edited for school use, and the
fined to business and statistical statements, while evident determination to treat them as literature
papers upon set subjects have been printed inde rather than as material for historical annotation and
pendently. Five such special papers have now ap- philological analysis, are qualities that commend
peared, the latest being Miss Fletcher's important this series of books to progressive teachers. Five
“Study of Omaba Music.” For some time the Mu numbers have recently been added to the series :
seum has promised the publication of Memoirs. “Southey's Life of Nelson,” edited by Mr. E. L.
The first number of these has now appeared. It is Miller ; « The Vicar of Wakefield,” edited by Miss
a preliminary report of the explorations of the Mu- Mary A. Jordan; Books I. and II. of “Paradise
seum among the prehistoric ruins of Copan, Hon. Lost,” edited by Dr. E. E. Hale, Jr.; the “Sir
duras, during the years 1891-1895. Since the time Roger” papers, edited by Mr. D. 0. S. Lowell ;
of John Lloyd Stephens, these ruins have been and Macaulay's “ Johnson,” edited by Mr. H. G.
among those most admired and visited in the Isthu Buehler. All of these books are welcome for the
mian district. Dr. Alfred P. Maudsley added much excellence of their editing, and the Nelson is addi-
to the work of Stephens and Catherwood. The re tionally welcome as a comparative novelty in En-
port before us carefully locates every ruin in the glish texts. Another highly meritorious book of
group,
with
maps and descriptions. Cuts and good this class is Mr. W. J. Rolfe's second series of the
plates supplement the text. Professor Putnam and Tennysonian“ Idylls” (Houghton), completing this
his helpers are to be congratulated upon the mate edition of the work. For the “ Eclectic English
rial and quality of this their first quarto publication. Classics” of the American Book Co. not much may


196
(Oct. 1,
THE DIAL
be said. The work done upon these texts is so per a sketch of each legend is given; in the case of the
functory and inadequate that the editors are unwill. Nibelungen Trilogy, for instance, Miss Weston gives
ing to let their names appear. Three volumes just abstracts of the Volsunga-saga, the Thidrek-saga,
issued contain “ The Princess," “ Franklin's Auto and the Nibelungen-lied. The main part of the
biography," and four books (1, 6, 22, 24) of Pope's treatment, however, consists of a discussion of the
“ Iliad.” Messrs. Silver, Burdett & Co. have re legend and of its treatment by Wagner. Although
cently published three books for teachers of English. not affecting the position of a specialist, Miss Wes-
Miss Lucy Tappan's “ Topical Notes on American ton has a very considerable acquaintance with the
Authors" deals with eleven representative writers, literature of the subject. From the standpoint of
is the outgrowth of several years of experience in scholarship there are some adverse criticisms that
teaching, and will be found helpful by other teach might be made. The treatment of the proper names
ers. The other two books are editions of “As You seems to show a lack of linguistic knowledge. We
Like It" and Irving's “Sketch Book," the former doubt the expediency of working so absolutely from
edited by Mr. Homer B. Sprague, the latter by Mr. Simrock. His book has run through many editions,
James Chalmers. Allied with the above-named and is still of value ; but his descriptive treatment
books in interest is the new “ Practical Rhetoric " is rather confusing. There are other things that
of Mr. John D. Quackenbos, which aims to adopt might be noted; perhaps the main criticism would
“the æsthetic as the true basis of literary criticism," be that Miss Weston goes into the subject rather
and is published by the American Book Co. farther than the ordinary reader can follow her,
and yet not always with the assured confidence and
One of the most useful volumes pub- power of the scholar. But even in such case, the
Imitation in
lished in the excellent “International book will meet the wants of a large number of
language-teaching.
Education” series (Appleton) is Pro- readers, and will serve as introduction to a very
fessor B. A. Hinsdale's book about “Teaching the interesting subject.
Language-Arts." It is the outgrowth of the author's
pedagogical teaching at the University of Michigan,
Memories
In his “Quaint Nantucket” (Hough-
and is based upon a wide knowledge of the condi of quaint ton), Mr. William Root Bliss has
Nantucket.
tions that obtain in American education. The cen-
collected many pleasant memorials
tral idea of the treatment is the importance of the of that storied island as it existed, or vegetated, for
part played by imitation, conscious or unconscious, some two centuries before the present annual inva-
in the mental growth of the child; and the book may sion of the summer boarder” began. The sources
almost be described as the application of this idea of information drawn upon comprise the original
to the teaching of speech, reading, and composition. town and court records, old letters, account-books,
The author thus states the chief objects of his work: ships' logs, and so on. These documents the author
“ The claim to merit must rest on these particulars : has freely "scissored," the resulting spoils being
First, the clear conception and description of speech, then duly sifted and classified, and finally sewn to-
reading, and composition, as arts; secondly, the gether on a thread of running comment and de-
large place assigned to use and wont, to models and scription--a style of book-making rendered familiar
imitation, and the small place to reflective art in by the useful volumes on early New England life
teaching them; and, thirdly, the grounding of the by Mrs. Alice Morse Earle. Mr. Bliss sets before
several teaching processes in the fundamental facts us a good deal of quaint matter touching old Nan-
of human nature.” The claim as thus stated may tucket life and character, a very amusing chapter
fairly be allowed, and it must be added that the being one descriptive of “Sea-Journals and Sea-
discussion is admirably clear, besides being made Rovers." One of these ancient marines especially,
interesting by all sorts of apposite illustrations, a Captain Peleg (pronounced “Pillick ") Folger
drawn from a wide range of reading that is by no must have been an odd fish, even for Nantucket.
means confined to educational lines. Every teacher He
may
have been the hero of the local stave -
of English in a primary or secondary school should “Old Uncle Pillick he built him a boat
study this book, and take to heart its fundamental
On the b-a-a-ck side of Nantucket P'int;
thesis.
He rolled up his trousers an' set her afloat
From the back side of Nantucket P'int"-
German myth
There are a number of books that But Mr. Bliss does not say so. Captain Peleg's
and legend bear upon the subject-matter of Wag- log-book was, in Nantucketese, indeed a “caution,"
in Wagner. ner's
operas, and we think the latest chiefly from its gifted author's habit of mixing up
is the best to be found in English. Miss Jessie his daily records of fair winds and foul, “sperma-
L. Weston’s “ Legends of the Wagner Drama” ceties” sighted and killed, and the like nautical and
(imported by Scribner) is a careful and in many appropriate matters, with scraps of Latin and totally
work.
moral record of
up
with
which are founded the Nibelungen Trilogy, Par the doleful and uncalled-for motto,
"" Death sum-
sifal, Tristan and Isolde, Lohengrin, and Tann mons all men to the silent grave”; while a few days
häuser, are discussed in some detail. As a rule,
As a rule, I later he piously writes: “We have killed two Sper-
33
sider ali of Wagner's operas ; but the legends
on a daya-good catch, " for instance,
winds


1896.]
197
THE DIAL
Leo XIII.
maceties. Now for home Boys! We have 70 bar subtle and laborious mind upon a favorite author.
rels fall in our Hold — ex beneficia divina.” Cap- Without wishing to be impertinent, one is tempted
tain Peleg's Latin habit was not, it seems, regarded to say that they are very much such papers as an
with favor by his shipmates, one of whom scrawls able and conscientious Oxford “ Coach "might fur-
irreverently in his magnum opus : “Old Peleg Fol nish for the service of a promising candidate for
ger is a Num Scull for writing Latin. I fear he honors. They abound in various material, yet one
will be Offended with me for writing in his Book cannot say that they contribute much to our knowl-
but I will Intercede in his behalf with Anna Pitts edge of Butler, or to the advance of Christian ethics
to make
up
for ye same — Nathaniel Worth.” Mr.
or Christian theology. Mr. Gladstone is a brilliant
Bliss treats in other chapters of “The Nantucket financier, an able administrator, an accomplished
Indian,” “The Dominion of the Quakers,” “The parliamentarian, a splendid orator, a striking and
Town's Doings,” “Nantuckets School of Philoso interesting personality; but he is not a profound
phers,” etc. The book is a capital one to while thinker. His rhetoric is more copious than lucid,
away a summer's visit to “Quaint Nantucket.” more vigorous than luminous. You recognize the
acute and practised debater in his replies to some
The excellent Shakespearian, Dr. modern critics of Butler. Yet he interests rather
The boy-life
William J. Rolfe, has given, in a
of Shakespeare.
than satisfies us. His discussions of Butler's method,
pretty volume entitled “Shakespeare and of his mental qualities, are perhaps the best
the Boy” (Harper), an elaborate picture of the
parts of what must be pronounced a rather dull
Stratford of the dramatist's boyhood, and of the life volume. Some readers may care to know that the
and manners, especially the local life and manners, author somewhat leans toward the doctrine of con-
of the period. Next to nothing is absolutely known ditional immortality.
of the life of Shakespeare. Most of the items com-
posing his traditional biography rest on no basis of
A pleasant
Mr. Justin McCarthy's “Pope Leo
sound evidence. We may as well reconcile our-
picture of XIII.” strikes us as easily the best
selves to that disagreeable fact. But by piecing
volume, thus far, in the useful “ Pub-
together in detail the conditions that surrounded his lic Men of To-Day" series (F. Warne & Co.). Mr.
boyhood, and especially those that peculiarly affected McCarthy is in full sympathy with his theme, and
boys, we can form a faint general notion of what
he treats it lucidly and temperately, and with com-
young Shakespeare, in common with other Strat-
mendable breadth and balance of judgment where
ford lads of his time and condition, might, could, the papal attitude toward vexed social and political
would, or should have done during the second stage questions, past and current, is discussed. It will be
of his “seven ages.” Such a mosaic of Stratford well worth while for those who wish to inform them-
boy-life Dr. Rolfe has given us. Drawing from selves briefly and pleasantly as to the main features
trustworthy sources, he writes entertainingly of of Leo's career and personality, and his share in
Warwick and Kenilworth Castles, Charlecote Hall, and views on public events, to turn to Mr. McCar-
of the Stratford Guild, Corporation, and topog-thy's little book. Especially good are the chapters
raphy, of the Stratford schools, of the home life, on the German Kultur-Kampf, and the Church's
games and sports, holidays, festivals, and fairs of relations with organized labor. There is an attrac-
the period, and so on. The text is freely strewn tive frontispiece portrait of the Pope, showing a
with quotations in point, largely from the dramatist's strong, calm, benevolent face-truly “a face like a
own writings. The book is based on a series of benediction.” Bigotry itself might melt before the
four familiar articles written by Dr. Rolfe for the tale of Leo's genuine goodness and high humani-'
“ Youth's Companion,” two years ago. These pa- tarian intent; and Mr. McCarthy tells it well, and
pers are now revised and enlarged to thrice their with a sober enthusiasm that is more effective than
original compass, and a new fifth chapter has been the strained panegyric of mere hero-worship or
added. Those who care least for the conjectural saint-worship.
element in the book may well value it for its his-
torical and descriptive interest. There are a num-
Mr. Laurence Hutton's “Literary
Some literary
ber of attractive woodcuts.
landmarks of
Landmarks of Venice" (Harper) is
a very acceptable addition to his
Students of Butler are much indebted pretty series of volumes on the “ Literary Land-
subsidiary studies to Mr. Gladstone for the admirable marks” of London, of Edinburgh, and of Jerusalem.
of Bishop Buller.
edition of the Bishop's works which The text is based on the author's article on Venice
the old statesman a few months since gave to the in “Harper's Magazine" for July, 1896 ; and is the
world, and which was noticed at length in The result, he tells us, of weeks of patient study of the
DIAL (April 16, 1896). Perhaps Mr. Gladstone's Queen of the Adriatic herself. The usual Venetian
tireless pen might well have rested, and spared | guide-book is mostly a bald affair, and aggravat-
itself the later labors of his “ Studies Subsidiary to ingly devoid of the class of facts sought by the book-
the Works of Bishop Butler” (Macmillan). They man. It tells us, of course, where Faliero plotted
will hardly add to the fame of the writer. They are and Foscari fell, where Desdemona wept and Shy-
evidently the fruit of the lifelong meditation of a lock drew his bond; but it gives no hint as to where,
Venice.
Mr. Gladstone's


198
[Oct. 1,
THE DIAL
Scott lodged or Rogers breakfasted — of the doings Supreme Gods of the Red Race, Cosmogonies, The
and habitations, in short, of the many English and Origin of Man, the Conception of the Soul. To
American men of letters who have visited or lived study the religious thought of a rude and barbarous
at Venice. This lack it is Mr. Hutton's chief aim folk is suggestive and stimulating to every thought-
to supply; and his book should find a place in the ful reader.
satchel of every American tourist to Italy. There
is much pleasant chat as to Dickens, Goethe, J. A.
Symonds, the Brownings, Mr. Lowell, Mr. Howells,
LITERARY NOTES.
Eugene Schuyler, Mr. Charles Dudley Warner, and
other literary lights — the great Italians who have
The Joseph Knight Company announce a new edition,
lived at Venice not, of course, being neglected.
in fourteen volumes, of Lady Jackson's popular books
on French history and society.
There are a number of illustrations.
“An Arctic Boat Journey in the Autumn of 1854,"
" The Spirit
In all the various attempts which
by Dr. Isaac I. Hayes, has just been put into a new
edition by Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Co. It was first
in Literature men are making to re-state their old.
and Life."
published in 1860.
time faith in the light of modern needs
In the notice of Gounod's Reminiscences, in the last
and discoveries, few have been attended with more
issue of THE DIAL (p. 157), the J. B. Lippincott Co.,
success than “ The Spirit in Literature and Life” and not the Macmillan Co., should have been named as
(Houghton), the little posthumous work of Dr. the American publishers of the book.
Coyle. Starting with the conception of spirit, some The Macmillan Co. publish a new edition of “The
thing in the sense of the word zeitgeist, as a pure Life of Richard Cobden,” by Mr. John Morley. There
phenomenon and by no means an abstraction, the are two volumes as before, unchanged as far as we have
author traces the development of the Hebrew spirit observed, and the price is three dollars.
up through the history of the kings and prophets
Messrs. Sheehan & Co., of Ann Arbor, announce a
and priests to the time of Jesus, in whose work he
series of reprints illustrative of English history, to be
sees the fruition of the long course of development.
edited by Mr. W. Dawson Johnston. They will consist
His spirit is seen carrying the social instincts of
of documentary matter, and will cost twenty-five cents
a number.
men into the various relationships of life. Every-
Dr. Wilhelm Dörpfeld, of Athens, bas just been lec-
thing that makes toward the union of man with man
turing at Cornell, and is to appear at Yale (Oct. 1-10),
and of man with God is normal. On this basis the
Harvard (Oct. 11-22), Chicago (Oct. 24-31), Penn-
author works out, somewhat briefly, a new concep-sylvania (Nov. 1-10), and Columbia (Nov. 11-20). His
tion of the old theological dogmas. He does not, subjects relate to recent archæological work in Greece.
it is true, arrive at conclusions which would please “ Songs and Other Verses," " Second Book of Tales,”.
the most ultra-conservative, but at the same time and “ The Holy Cross and Other Tales," three volumes
his own spirit is so liberal and earnest as to disarm by the late Eugene Field, which have already been dis-
criticism. The book is marked by a wide reading, cussed in our review of the complete edition of Field's
and a mastery of many things sufficient to enable writings, are now published in a less expensive form
the author to know what not to say. It is most cer-
(Scribner), and are obtainable separately.
tainly a book for readers of the present day.
Mr. Harold Frederic, writing to the American press,
says that it has become an open secret that Mr. Alfred
A good book
Austin is practically under an injunction to preserve
Certainly the best book ever written
on the myths of by its author is “ The Myths of the
silence.” If the effect of an appointment as Laureate
the New World.
is hereafter to be that of muzzling the poet thus dis-
New World,” by Dr. Daniel G. Brin-
tinguished, we could wish to see the office multiplied.
ton. For nearly thirty years it has profoundly
Mr. Edward Garnett's new translation of Tourgué-
influenced ethnological thought, and has done much
nieff's “ Virgin Soil," in two volumes, and a translation
to kindle interest in the psychology, mythology, and of Herr Björnson's “ The Fisher Lass,” are among the
religion of the native Americans. The earlier edi.
latest publications of The Macmillan Co. From the
tions have for some time been difficult to secure. same source we have received “The Exodus,” in “ The
The third edition, just from the press of Mr. David Modern Reader's Bible," and two new volumes of the
McKay, Philadelphia, is fairly revised, and contains Temple " Shakespeare, “Pericles,” and “Cymbeline."
some fifty pages of new matter. The general treat “ Bimetallism in History” is the subject of the issue
ment and style of the first edition have for the most of “Sound Currency” for August 15. Mr. Henry
part been retained. Nowhere have development Loomis Nelson, the editor of “ Harper's Weekly," is the
and progress been more rapid than in ethnologic
author of this pamphlet, which marshalls the arguments
science; many views which, when first advanced by
for the gold standard in a highly effective way. Spe-
cial attention should also be called to Professor Sum-
our author, were bold and novel, are to-day almost
ner's uncompromisingly logical treatment of this subject
commonplaces. It is unnecessary to here review the
in the October " Chautauquan.”
book in detail, but a hint of its contents may not
Three booklets upon subjects of timely interest have
be without value to the reader who has not seen the
just been published by Mr. Henry Altemus, of Phila-
older editions. Dr. Brinton discusses such topics as delphia. They are “ The Higher Education as a Train-
the Idea of God, Sacred Numbers, Bird and Serpenting for Business,” by Professor Harry Pratt Judson;
Symbols, Myths regarding the World Elements, « The Origin, Meaning, and Application of the Monroe
-


1896.]
199
THE DIAL
Doctrine," by Professor John Bach McMaster; and
“Why Americans Dislike England," by Professor
George Burton Adams. All three are neatly bound in
white boards.
Readers of the “ Atlantic Monthly” in its recent
issues have been conscious of a subtle transformation in
the spirit and purpose of the magazine. The change
may perhaps be defined as an attempt to give to the
contents a greater degree of actuality and a wider scope
than they have had hitherto, without sacrificing the lit-
erary quality which has made the “ Atlantic"
preëmi-
nent among its contemporaries. A new department,
called “Men and Letters," appears in the October num-
ber, and includes short signed articles similar to those
of the “Contributor's Club.” It is a pleasant addition
to the magazine, and is very happily begun by Mr.
W. D. Howells.
The Princeton Sesquicentennial, to occur this month,
will be celebrated for three days beginning with Octo-
ber 22. There will be a distinguished gathering of
European and American scholars to do honor to the ven-
erable institution of learning, and the occasion will be
in many ways memorable. A feature of much general
interest is provided by the public lecture courses of
which announcement has just been made. These lec.
tures will run from the 12th to the 19th of the month
(thus preceding the formal celebration), and the lectur.
ers include Professors Edward Dowden, Karl Brugmann,
Felix Klein, and Andrew Seth. Professor Dowden's lec-
tures will be six in number, having for their general
theme “The French Revolution and English Litera-
ture.”
TO SWINBURNE.
By the light and the love of the lilies;
By the hue of the hyaline stones;
By the whinny of whimpering fillies
To the meek mother-mare, as she moans;
By the gleam and the growl of the dog-star,
That howls on his hubs, as they turn;
By the murk and the mist of the fog-bar,
We adjure thee, Swinburne,
Tell us, Bard, in a rondel or sapphic,
Virelai, villanelle, or ballade,
In language for once somewhat graphic,
What thy message is, ere we go mad!
Feeble mouths faintly falter thy music,
Word-witchcraft betrays thy bebest;
Of rime-revels, indeed, not a few sick
Cry: “Give us a rest!”
If, like Eve, thou forbidden fruit feed me,
My old Adam adumbrates desire,
Poet sad, mad, and bad, as I read thee,
The apple to pick from the mire.
But I swoon, for thy word-swirls oppress me;
Walking water, I falter and fall;
I am crazy to ken, Heaven bless me,
What thou means't by it all!
The crest and the crown of the laurel,
Worn by bards who would broach "nothing base,”
Burns a brand on the brow of the lorel
To whom the distinction 's disgrace.
But profounder disgrace, O enigma
of poets and prophets, is thine,
For stamping with stain and with stigma
Thy genius divine!
M. B. A.
THE SEASON'S BOOKS FOR THE YOUNG.
In continuation of our Announcement List of Fall
Books, in the last issue of THE DIAL, we give the fol-
lowing interesting items of forthcoming Books for the
Young. These works, being intended largely for the
Christmas season, are a little later in preparation, and
therefore in announcement, than those in other cate-
gories.
The Century Book of Famous Americans, by Elbridge S.
Brooks, illus., $1.50.-The Prize Cup, by J.T. Trowbridge,
illus., $1.50. - Daddy Jake, by "Uncle Remus" (Joel
Chandler Harris), new edition, illus., $1.25.- The Sword-
maker's Son, by W. O. Stoddard, illus., $1.50.-Sindbad,
Smith & Co., by Albert Stearns, illus., $1.50.-- Rhymes
of the States, by Garrett Newkirk, illus., $1.-The Shadow
Show, by Peter S. Newell, illus., $1.- Gobolinks for
Young and Old, by Ruth McEnery Stuart and Albert Bige-
low Paine, illus., $1.-Paper Doll Poems, by Pauline King,
illus., 75 cts. — Bound vols. of St. Nicholas for 1895-6, 2
vols., illus., $4. (Century Co.)
Songs of Childhood, verses by Eugene Field, music by Regi-
nald de Koven and others, $2.-The American Boy's Book
of Sport, by D. C. Beard, illus., $2.50.- Hans Brinker, or
the Silver Skates, by Mary Mapes Dodge, new edition,
illus.--Through Swamp and Glade, by Kirk Munroe, illus.,
$1.25.– New books by G. A. Henty : At Agincourt, Coch-
rane the Dauntless, and on the Irrawaddy; each illus.,
per vol., $1.50.- The Log of a Privateersman, by Harry
Collingwood, illus., $1.50.-- Children's Stories in American
Literature, 1860-1896, by Henrietta C. Wright, $1.25.- The
Court of King Arthur, stories from the land of the Round
Table, by W. H. Frost, illus. (Chas. Scribner's Sons.)
The Animal Story Book, edited by Andrew Lang, illus., $2.
(Longmans, Green, & Co.)
The Story of Aaron, so-called, the Son of Ben Ali, by Joel
Chandler Harris, illus., $2. — Three Little Daughters of
the Revolution, by Nora Perry, illus., 75 cts.-Friendly
Letters to Girl Friends, by Mrs. A. D. T. Whitney.-A
Little Girl of Long Ago, by Eliza Orne White, illus., $1.
(Houghton, Mifflin & Co.)
In the Old Herrick House, and other stories, by Ellen Doug-
las Deland, illus. - The Dwarfs' Tailor, and other fairy
tales, collected by Zoe Dana Underhill, illus., $1.75.-
Rick Dale, by Kirk Munroe, illus.- A Virginia Cavalier,
by Molly Elliott Seawell, illus. (Harper & Bros.)
“Young Heroes of the Navy" series, new vol.: Midshipman
Farragut, by James Barnes, illus. - The Wampum Belt,
by Hezekiah Butterworth, illus.—The Windfall, by W.O.
Stoddard, illus.- Christine's Career, a story for girls, by
Pauline King, illus. (D. Appleton & Co.)
The Oracle of Baal, by J. Provand Webster, illus., $1.50.-
Swept out to Sea, by J. Provand Webster. — Through
Thick and Thin, by Andrew Hone, illus., $1.25.- Captain
Chap, or the Rolling Stone, by Frank R. Stockton, illus.,
$1.50. — Two Little Wooden Shoes, by “Quida," illus.,
$1.50.—Prince Little Boy, and other tales out of Fairyland,
by S. Weir Mitchell, M.D., illus., $1.50. — Philippa, by
Mrs. Molesworth, illus., $1.25.–The Black Tor, by George
Manville Fenn, illus., $1.50.- The Mystery of the Island,
by Henry Kingsley, new edition, illus., $1.25. – Betty of
Wye, by Amy Blanchard, illus., $1.25. Catalina, by
Laura T. Mead, illus. (J. B. Lippincott Co.)
Witch Winnie in Holland, by Elizabeth W. Champney, illus.,
$1.50.- Gypsy's Sowing and Reaping, by Elizabeth Stuart
Phelps Ward, illus., $1.50. — Legends from River and
Mountain, by Carmen Sylva (H. M. Queen of Roumania),
illus., $2. – Natural History in Anecdote, arranged and
edited by Alfred H. Miles, $1.50. — Elsie at Home, by
Martha Finley, $1.25.— Green Mountain Boys, by Eliza F.
Pollard, illus., $1.25. — Fairy Tales of the Slav Peasants
and Herdsmen, by Alex, Chodsko, trans. and illus. by
Emily J. Harding, $2—Wallypug of Why, by G. E. Far
row, illus., $1.50. Young Folks' Story Book of Natural
History, by Charles F. Holder, illus., $1.50. - Honor
Bright, by George Manville Fenn, illus., $1.50.- The Mabel
Stories, illus., $1.50. – The Mistress of Sherburne, by
Amanda M. Douglas, $1.50. - A Little Girl in Old New
York, by Amanda M. Douglas, illus., $1.50.- We Ten, or
the Story of the Roses, by Barbara Yechton, $1.50.-
Jumbo” series, 3 vols., illus., per vol., $2. — History,
Travel, and Adventure Library, 15 vols., illus., por vol.,
$1,50. (Dodd, Mead & Co.)


200
(Oct. 1,
THE DIÀL
Soldiers' Stories, by Rudyard Kipling, illus.-Tommy-Anne,
or the Three Hearts, by Mrs. Mabel Osgood Wright, illus.
TOPICS IN LEADING PERIODICALS.
-The Oriel Window, by Mrs. Molesworth. (Macmillan Co.)
October, 1896 (First List).
The Black Dog, and other stories, by A. G. Plympton, illus.,
$1.25. A Cape May Diamond, by Evelyn Raymond,
American History, Studies in. R. G. Thwaites. Dial.
illus., $1.50.- Jerry the Blunderer, by Lily Wesselhoeft, Ballot, The American. Hugh H. Lusk. Forum.
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1896.)
201
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202
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Street. His collection includes also many high-class engrav-
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and long experience are justly appreciated by his patrons,
including art-lovers throughout the United States.
A. S. CLARK, Bookseller, No. 174 Fulton Street, New York (west of
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Send for a copy.
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MAGAZINES, and other Periodicals. Sets, volumes, or single numbers.
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No. 248.
OCTOBER 16, 1896.
Vol. XXI.
CONTENTS.
PAGE
WILLIAM MORRIS (With Biography and Bibliog-
raphy). .
209
GEORGE DU MAURIER
. 212
ORIGINALITY IN LITERATURE. Richard Burton 213
COMMUNICATIONS ..
214
A World-Anthology of Lyric Poetry. F. L. Thompson.
Proof in Literary Usage. Caskie Harrison.
An Illogical Inference. Edward A. Allen.
WILLIAM MORRIS.
Of the six great poets whose names stand
preëminent in the later Victorian era, five have
gone to their rest, and the solitary figure of
Mr. Swinburne alone remains to bear aloft the
torch of the singer. Rossetti died in 1882,
Arnold in 1888, Browning in 1889, Tennyson
in 1892; and now the idle singer of an empty
day,” as William Morris styled himself with
modesty no less excessive than that which
prompted Keats in the suggestion of his own
epitaph, has ceased from life, and entered into
the inheritance of fame that he shares with
Chaucer and Boccacio, with the creators of
Norse saga and mediæval French romance. The
death of these five men one after another, with-
out the appearance of any new poet comparable
with the least of them, has practically estab-
lished the contention made many years ago by
Mr. Stedman, that a well- marked period in
English poetry was drawing to its close with
the last quarter of the nineteenth century.
The affinities of Morris are with Rossetti
and Mr. Swinburne, rather than with Arnold,
Browning, or Tennyson ; and the public early
learned to associate the three poets first-named,
not only with one another, but also with the
movement in English painting of which Ros-
setti was one of the chief glories. These men,
painters and poets alike, have been variously
described as Pre-Raphaelites, members of the
stained-glass school, apostles of mediavalism
and of Renaissance art. No one of the epithets
is exact or comprehensive, but all are at least
suggestive of the aims and methods of the ex-
traordinary group of men of genius to whom
they are applied. And of the three poets con-
cerned it is to be noted that Morris was the first
to make himself heard. “ The Defence of
Guenevere" was published in 1858; three years
later came Rossetti's “Early Italian Poets,"
and Mr. Swinburne's “ Rosamond” and “The
Queen Mother." It was not until 1870 that
Rossetti's first collection of original poems was
exhumed from the grave of his wife and given
to the world. When we examine the total
poetical product of the three men, we find a
wide differentiation of achievement, although
a common impulse and common sympathies
A SURVIVING CONTEMPORARY OF LAMB,
KEATS, AND SHELLEY. E. G. J.
216
.
James Westfall
BOOKS AND THEIR MAKERS.
Thompson
THE ART OF WRITING. Edward E. Hale, Jr.
221
.
A FAMOUS FAMILY OF SINGERS. Grace Julian
Clarke.
222
SOCIAL FORCES IN GERMAN LITERATURE.
W. H. Carruth.
224
19
BRIEFS ON NEW BOOKS
226
The treatment of Nature in English poetry.-A study
in old Scottish literature.-“The Chisel of Phidias."
- The earliest American architect. - Old French
romances. — A step toward political reform. – A
glance at Japanese literature.
BRIEFER MENTION
229
LITERARY NOTES
229
.
.
.
.
TOPICS IN LEADING PERIODICALS
230
.
LIST OF NEW BOOKS
230
.


210
(Oct. 16,
THE DIAL
may be detected at their starting-points. The tivity, the simplicity, and the grace of an art
dramatic genius, the political and ethical pas- hardly tinged with self-consciousness and inno-
sion, displayed by Mr. Swinburne in his ma cent of any concealed ulterior motive.
turer work, are without a parallel in the work Pure beauty may indeed be taken as the note
of Morris ; nor did the latter long remain tram of all the poetry that William Morris has left
melled by the mysticism and the spiritual sub for the enrichment of our literature. “Full
tlety that were characteristic of Rossetti's poetry of soft music and familiar olden charm,” to
to the last. As for comparison with Arnold, use Mr. Stedman's felicitous phrase, it has the
Browning, and Tennyson, it is clean out of the power to lull the senses into forgetfulness of
question. These men felt the whole burden of this modern workaday world, to restore the soul
the modern world, were oppressed by its enig- with draughts from the wellsprings of life, to
mas, and looked toward the future rather than bring back the wonder of childhood, the glory
the past. Morris, on the other hand, found all and the dream that we may perhaps have
his inspiration in the past, and the golden age thought to be vanished beyond recall. It is
of which he sang was envisaged as a rever poetry to read in the long summer days when
sion rather than as a progressive evolution. we seek rest from strenuous endeavor; it is
“Dreamer of dreams, born out of my due time," poetry for the beguilement of all weariness, and
he called himself; and, man of affairs that he for the refreshment of our faith in the simple
became and remained to outward seeming, his virt
virtues and the unsophisticated life; it is poe-
ioner life was always attuned to the simpler try that brings a wholesome and healing min-
harmonies of the naive older world.
istry akin to that of Nature herself; it is poetry
The plan and craftsmanship of " The Earthly that leaves the recollection unsullied by any
Paradise,” the work by which Morris is best suggestion of impurity and unhaunted by any
known, are such as to make inevitable some spectre of doubt. Like Letbe, it has the gift
comparison with "The Canterbury Tales,” and of oblivion for those who seek the embrace of
the author has frequently been described as a its waters; but, unlike the dark-flowing stream
modern Chaucer. The ascription of this title of the underworld, its surface is rippled by the
has a certain rough external value, but little breezes of earth, its banks are overarched by
more. Certainly we may say that “The Earthly living foliage, and its waves mirror the glad
Paradise” is the only work in all English lit- sunlight. This rich treasure of song includes
erature to challenge comparison with “ The the tentative first volume of miscellaneous
Canterbury Tales." Nearly five hundred years poems, the great epic of “ The Life and Death
had to elapse after the death of Chaucer before of Jason," the twenty-four tales of the wan-
England could produce his peer as a story-teller derers who sought, but did not find, " The
by right divine. But the similarity does not Earthly Paradise," the “morality" of "Love is
extend far beyond this fact. Chaucer's tales Enough,” the story of “Sigurd the Volsung,'
were in their essence prophetic rather than and the volume of Poems by the Way.” To
retrospective; they heralded the coming glories this list we should also add the versions of the
of English literature, they were in a sense the Odyssey" and the “Æneid,” which are great
precursors of the Elizabethan drama and the English poems, whatever may be said of them
modern novel. The tales told by Morris bave as translations.
in common with them little except the qualities We have thus far made no mention of the
of easy rhythm and noble diction that belong group of works in which the genius of the poet
to all great poetry, and the fact that they found a new medium of expression during the
are tales and not subjective outpourings. Of last few years of his life. There is nothing in
the wit, the shrewdness, the practical good English literature sufficiently like them to be
sense, the dramatic faculty, and the insight into put in the same class with the series of five
the recesses of individual character displayed books that began with “ The House of the
by Chaucer, there is very little to be found in Wolfings” and ended, shortly before the au-
Morris ; but we find instead the conception of thor's death, with “ The Well at the World's
men as types rather than individuals, the fresh End.” These romances mingle formal poetry
and simple outlook upon nature, the very breath with a sort of poetic prose that has all the qual-
and finer spirit of all romance.
We find, too,
ities of poetry save metre, and that does not
a curious blend of Hellenism with mediæval err - this is a very important point — by any
ism, or rather an amalgam of the elements of approach to rhythmical regularity. Mr. Watts-
pure beauty common to both styles, the objec- | Dunton says the final word upon the subject :


1896.)
211
THE DIAL
as ously in this business for the remainder of his life. But
was
“While the poet's object is to arouse in the listener of art; as the advocate of what are probably
an expectancy of cæsuric effects, the great goal before impossible ideals of social organization, he has
tion; it is to make use of the concrete figures and impas- done much to stimulate the moral sense of
sioned diction that are the poet's vehicle, but at the same Englishmen, and persuade them that ours is
time to avoid the expectancy of metrical bars. The mo by no means the best of all possible civiliza-
ment that the regular bars assert themselves and lead tions. He has lived a great and a good life,
the reader's ear to expect other bars of the like kind,
in the best sense a life of service to mankind,
sincerity ends."
and his death is a loss which it would be diffi.
Of poetic prose in the true sense are these
cult to exaggerate.
romances chiefly made, and their beauty is as
absolute, in its own way, as the beauty of the
BIOGRAPHY AND BIBLIOGRAPHY.
avowed poems. We may speak of these books William Morris was born at Walthamstow, near
as a class by repeating what we said some years London, in the year 1834. The eldest son of a merchant
ago in a review of one of them-_“The Story of
whose early death left ample provision for the family,
the boy was given the education of an English gentle-
the Glittering Plain." « The reader of Mr.
man, and upon leaving Oxford, found himself free to
Morris's first volume of poems might bave dis choose a profession.
Tentative efforts were made in
cerned therein glimpses of the author's affinities painting and architecture, but soon abandoned. Poetry
for an art even less sophisticated than the proved a kinder mistress, however, and « The Defence
Chaucerian, and of the ideals of a still more
of Guenevere and Other Poems," published in 1858
(republished 1875), apprised the few who found the
primitive age. The subsequent development book out that a new force had appeared in English litera-
of the author's genius has made this clear ture. In 1863, in conjunction with Rossetti, Ford Madox
enough, and the types of thought and speech Brown, and Edward Burne-Jones, he started his famous
which he has delighted to embody have grown
London establishment for the designing of wall-paper
and other household decorations, and engaged continu-
more and more archaic and remote. He has
found the true springtime of the world, not if bis vocation was decorative art, his avocation was
even in the poems of Homer, but in the sagas literature. “ The Life and Death of Jason"
of Iceland, in the conditions of Teutonic life published in 1867, and the twenty-four tales of “The
Earthly Paradise” from 1868 to 1870.
of which Tacitus affords us a glimpse, and in
“ Love is
Enough,” a “morality," appeared in 1872, and “The
the still more primeval regions which myth and Story of Sigurd the Volsung and the Fall of the Nib-
folk-lore enable us to penetrate. And he has lungs” in 1876. “Poems by the Way,” his last volume
developed a style in keeping with the life which of original poetry, is dated 1892. Translations of the
« Æneid ” and “Odyssey," respectively, appeared in
he depicts, a style which has permitted him to
1876 and 1887. Icelandic literature was a life-long
translate the saga literature as it was never study with Morris, and an extensive series of transla-
translated before, a style of severe and noble tions from the sagas, made in collaboration with Pro-
simplicity from which the Latin element of the fessor Eirikr Magnusson, attest his industry in this
language is all but wholly banished.”
direction. They include the “Grettis Saga” (1869),
the “Völsunga Saga” (1870), “ Three Northern Love-
In the foregoing characterization of Morris,
Stories and Other Tales” (1875), and the volumes of
he has been considered simply as an English “ The Saga Library," of which five have been issued
man of letters, with no reference to the many (1891-95), including, among others, the “ Eyrbyggja
activities that he associated with the pursuit of Saga” and the “ Heimskringla.”. Of late years Morris
literature. In a strict sense, of course, poetry
has been writing sagas and medieval romances of his
own, the list comprising “The House of the Wolfings”
was his avocation, just as it was with Oliver (1889), « The Roots of the Mountains” (1890), “The
Wendell Holmes ; but the world will remember Story of the Glittering Plain” (1891), “The Wood
the poet in both cases long after it has forgot. beyond the World” (1894), and "The Well at the
ten the professor of medicine and the master
World's End” (1896), which appeared a few days be-
fore his death. In 1895 he published a translation
of decorative design. Yet if Morris had writ-
of “ Béowulf.” Morris was a socialist, although of a
ten no books he would have been one of the
type neither practical nor revolutionary, and his writ-
most noteworthy men of his time, and his labors ings upon this subject include " A Dream of John 11"
in the field of the practical arts would bave (1888), “News from Nowhere” (1892), and “Socialism:
earned for him the warmest gratitude of all
Its Growth and Outcome” (1893), the latter work
written in conjunction with Mr. Belfort Bax. “Hopes
who are struggling to make the world better
and Fears for Art," a collection of five lectures, appeared
worth living in. In the department of house in 1881. Of late years he has devoted much of his time
hold decoration he has exerted a wide influence to bookmaking in the mechanical sense, and the pro-
for good ; by means of the famous Kelmscott
ducts of his Kelmscott Press are among the most cher-
ished possessions of bibliophiles. He died Saturday
Press, he has done much to develope the pub-
morning, the third of October, and was buried the fol-
lic taste for books that are mechanically works lowing Wednesday.


212
(Oct. 16,
THE DIAL
terday but of generations and centuries. The new
GEORGE DU MAURIER.
aspirants who win critical favor, moreover, are gen.
The author of “ Trilby ” died in London on the erally bound to do good work within these recognized
eighth of this month, at the age of sixty-two. Had
and well-defined limits. This is natural, and of
his death occurred five years ago, the news would
easy solution : it is always a plainer task to judge a
have made some stir in artistic circles, but a literary given thing by some standard of common agree-
journal would hardly have been called upon to 80 ment, while it is folly to deny that a residuum of
much as mention it. To-day, his death means the truth is here; familiar accents are those best loved
loss of a widely-read novelist, and is a cause of gen- by even the critical ear. When the pioneers of lit-
uine grief to many thousands who had never heard erary expression or of form appear, they it is who,
of him until he was nearly sixty years old. His con as a rule, fare hardest at the hands of the critical
tribution to literature consisted, as everybody knows, class, even if the broad republic of readers be not
of “ Peter Ibbetson,” “ Trilby,” and “The Mar deaf to the message. Temporary fluctuations there
tian,” the latter of these three novels being now in are, to be sure, when it becomes a fad to hail the
course of serial publication in “Harper's Magazine.” bizarre novelty, the fresh voice; and our own time
The astonishing popularity of "Trilby "in this coun is an illustration of this. When a Francis Thomp-
try (for the book had no such vogue anywhere else) son emerges from the purlieu of obscurity, with the
was the result of a “craze" rather than of a genu welcome drapery of a mysterious and romantic
ine recognition of the meritorious qualities of that career about him, bringing the world (in his initial
novel. What it was that caught the American fancy volume) the raw material of poetry rather than
-whether the hypnotism of Svengali, or the bare poetry itself, the furore he creates is of so exag-
feet of the heroine, or the eccentricities of her three gerated a type, both among cultured readers and
champions—is not easy to determine, but it is quite critics themselves, as to suggest the theory of the
certain that the success of the book was not won new for the new's sake pushed ad absurdum. But
upon rational grounds. To a judge of literature, even to-day, a Francis Thompson could not win the
indeed, " Trilby " had admirable qualities, but the consensus of critical opinion as to take another
things that attracted popular attention were the modern and strictly contemporaneous instance
accidental features of the work, and even the blots could a William Watson. In the latter's verse is
upon its execution. Its unconventional and ama to be seen the culture of the schools, the methods of
teurish qualities were condoned by the critic for the Wordsworth and Tennyson, the sobriety and bal-
sake of the rich and genial nature that found ex ance of a great and accredited tradition in English
pression in its pages. One could not help feeling poetry. Hence, while he is written down as “ lit-
that here was a talent akin to that of Thackeray, erary,” his place is secured quicker and more surely
and there was no lack of charitable allowance for than that of a bard whose manner is more violently
the fact that the author was a beginner in literature. individual and whose literary lineage is less plainly
“Peter Ibbetson,” which came before “ Trilby,” is to be traced. On the one hand, then, tradition is
thought by some to be the better novel of the two, always at work, and (for a season at least) the work
but in this judgment we cannot concur. As for “The is most likely to win plaudits whose way is in ac-
Martian," comparison is as yet out of the question. cordance with its tenets; on the other hand, the
Du Maurier appears to have been a singularly lov. rebellious, the daring and progressive, the icono-
able man, and his readers felt that they were brought
clastic maker of literature, blazing new paths and
into unusually intimate relations with his personal moving forward with an unwonted and uncouth
ity. For this reason particularly his death brings gait, will in the nature of things have an unsmooth
with it a sense of loss quite out of proportion to the
time and make slower progress.
importance of his literary achievements.
No objection to this class of innovations is more
often brought to bear than that of affectation : it is
a stumbling block for every new writer whose man-
ner is markedly aside from the beaten way; it is
ORIGINALITY IN LITERATURE.
dinned into his ears, mayhap, until he become self-
conscious, dropping what was a natural and legiti-
On the appearance of a new force in literature, mate mode of expression for that which, while more
the critics constitute the conservative element in conventional, is for that very reason, for him, imi-
appraising the work and giving it its place; the tative and unnatural. If it happened that the new
public, poor giddy-headed thing, not seldom jumps hand be resolute and independent enough to push
at what is to its taste, swallowing it whole in a gusto on in indifference to these criticisms, in time its
of unthinking dietetic delectation. But they whose “affectation” will more likely than not be dubbed
sacred function it is to be at once Radamanthus and originality,” and the struggle be over. Blunt-
Mercury, stern judge and messenger of good to men, schli's phrase, “ Politics is present history and his-
are not so easily caught, and at once begin to apply tory past politics,” suggests the literary parallel :
tests and standards. These are likely to be tradi affectation is present originality, originality past
tional and well-defined: the canons of an estab affectation. Very often this apothegm is vindicated.
lished literary development, the criteria not of yes Familiar examples in our day are afforded by poets


1896.]
213
THE DIAL
-
was
like Browning and Whitman. The English mas ord declares that history will show this to be unfair
ter's early and tentative efforts and his idiosyn- and frequently wrong in the sequel; moreover, it is
crasies were marked in such a cryptic work as evident that if traditional criticism be allowed to
“Sordello "- found no audience, and he had to win settle each new claimant's case, there can be no uni.
his way slowly, not coming to conceded and wide form standard, for the very good reason that tradi-
recognition until middle-age had come, and the ap tions vary with the years and the current schools.
proval he most cared for that of his wife
Yesterday, classicism perhaps had sole sway; to-
impossible, since she had passed “ to where beyond day, romanticism has; to-morrow, realism may
these voices there is peace.” But Robert Brown have; the day after to-morrow, neo-romanticism;
ing held stoutly to his individuality — cacophoneity, none of them is all-perfect, all of them contain the
psychologic stress, obscurity, and all ; never abating millet seed of truth. And so the novitiate is the
jot or tittle of his faith or method, and leaving to buffet of temporal canons. When the English poet-
the society formed to expound his verse the parlous critic, Mr. Edmund Gosse, was lecturing in Balti-
task of explaining his meaning, when it lay beyond more, he took occasion to refer to the Southern poet,
ordinary comprehension. Even long after he was Sidney Lanier, whose connection with Johns Hop-
ranked with Tennyson as chief singer of the Vic kins University he knew, and whose medallion
torian era, yea, now when he is dead and his poetry indeed looked at him from the wall as he spoke in
is subject to the decree of Time, there be those who terms of kindly but frank disapproval. He depre-
believe that his peculiarities were self-consciously cated what he called Lanier's "strained attempt to
wilful, that he was, in short, “ affected.” But the be original.” The scene well furnishes a text for
bulk of the best opinion will join the dictum of his our sermon: the British critic, with his leaning to
idolators of the Browning Society in the decision tradition and classicality in English poetry, utterly
that his manner was natural, his very own in an inti failed to grasp the seriousness, the spontaneity and
mate and organic sense ; that Browning is a stalwart the deep spiritual honesty of the American singer
specimen of the species Original. The case is some as man and poet, qualities precluding the possibility
what different with Whitman. Browning, with all his of his straining for effect or striving toward a fan-
artistic blemishes, was, broadly viewed, a great artist: tastic originality. The literary bias of Mr. Gosse,
the Camden Seer for a long life-time deliberately and his unfamiliarity with Lanier as a man, disqual-
refused to do his work after the prescribed rules of ified his judgment, which already, ten years having
verse, eschewing rhyme, definite rhythm, the dic elapsed, is being reversed by the best critical opin-
tion and form of poetry, and the principle of artistic ion, which awards the Georgian, half-accomplished
selection. He conquered, so far as he did conquer,
and tentative as his work was, his place among the
by the natural music in him sounding forth in his few masters of American song.
irregularly rhythmic, half-prosaic dithyrambs, and But granting that this esoteric test of honesty be
by the picturesque virility and the large sweep of his the safer one, how may we apply it? The objector
thought and expression. But the point at issue is, might, not unnaturally, claim that the difficulty of
What of the validity of this phenomenon? Affecta- | judging a man's character in his work was quite as
tion and originality are in turn attributed to him, much open to the chance of error as are the fluctu-
according as the critic regards his mannerisms and ating tests of more objective and conventional liter-
extravagances as an integral and honest part of him, ary criticism. But a little reflection will, we fancy,
or as intentionally assumed, an art-pose for the sake prove
this to be otherwise. It is a pretty safe gen-
of blague. Good men have taken either side: Mr. eral proposition that a man's essential character can
Burroughs and Mr. Swinburne the affirmative, Mr. be gathered from his work; the “real John” speaks
Thompson and Mr. Gosse the negative. And much there if anywhere. True, often the life is sadly in
confusion there is at present concerning this formid dissonance with the written profession or implica-
able individuality, who insistently demands some tion: one thinks of Rousseau with his “ Emile,” let-
classification, yet on whom few are agreed. An inter ting his own illegitimate children die in the found-
national society for the reverent study of his life ling's hospital ; of Byron, frankly a roue and
and work is already founded, yet it is safe to say sensualist; and of Bacon, wisest, meanest of man-
that it will be some years hence before his biography kind. But we maintain that a good book (in the
is included in our regular Men of Letters series. ethic sense) means a good man either in positive or
The whole question of affectation versus origi- potential. In the cases of those who blot their fair
nality, then, comes to this : Is a man's manner, his fame on the personal side with sins and shortcom-
method of expression, natural and honest? If so, ings, we see men who were made for higher things,
however contrary to the accepted theory, however however out of tune and harsh under the fierce as-
shocking to experience and taste, he is to be studied saults of the flesh or the lure of worldliness. As no-
on this major premise, and not to be refused a hear where else, such are sincere in their books. And when,
ing. He is, to be sure, open to jealous and judicial in addition to the subtle testimony of the printed
judgment at the bar of Art, and indicted if found | page
page - that permanent registration of the inner
guilty. Whitman, in our opinion, must plead guilty spirit,—the life of the writer, studied and analyzed
to this indictment. But he cannot be refused a trial in all its light and shade, its confusing minutiæ and
on the ground that he is a poseur. Past literary rec the significance of its rounded whole, is seen to be


214
[Oct. 16,
THE DIAL
beautiful and for the nonce blameless, there is set Mr. Stedman, it will be powerfully influenced by the
up a dual and cumulative surety that here is no pos-
standard of excellence previously adopted.
Such a
ing trickster, but a genuine and straightforward hu-
standard cannot but be raised by a more faithful absorp-
man brother, with failings beyond doubt, but one
tion of the best the world has to give.
lovable and trustworthy. And our great literary
The project thus suggested is doubtless too formid-
able to be in its perfection other than an ideal in our
personalities can be thus studied, and should be, in
time. But by judicious limitations we may bring the
order to reach any conclusion upon this vexed ques essential features within range of our immediate powers.
tion of their affectation.
I have in my mind's eye a volume, or rather volumes,
The method of proof is thus that of literary crit- consisting of a text and a bulky appendix. The text
icism corrected by the study of personal character. consists of lyric selections of all periods in the most
Such a matter as the honesty or dishonesty of man important literary languages, dead as well as living.
nerisms can only be settled in this way. Apply the
The term “ lyric" here applies to the spirit, not the
include
test of life to the literature of a Browning, a Whit- form; for the selections, besides complete poems,
man, or a Meredith, and much of the criticism which,
many passages from longer poems of all kinds, not ex-
reversing the habit of the court, assumes the pris- trusiveness of art, inevitableness, and absolute sincerity;
cluding blank verse. All are characterized by unob-
oner guilty until he proves his innocence, will be
and by a degree of simplicity, intensity of feeling, ex-
exposed in all its nugatory superficiality.
cellence of expression, and concentration. They are
RICHARD BURTON. largely of that kind of poetry which appeals to the heart
directly, rather than to the heart through the intellect,
according to the pithy distinction made by a reviewer in
THE DIAL. The appendix includes all of the poems
COMMUNICATIONS.
(when short, and good enough) from which passages
were quoted in the text; other poems that have excel-
A WORLD-ANTHOLOGY OF LYRIC POETRY.
lence but are shut out of the text by the severe stand-
(To the Editor of THE DIAL.)
ard adopted; and necessary annotations, including prose
The earnest lover of poetry, in his desire to become translations when deemed advisable. The characteristic
intimately acquainted with “ that great Poem which all of the text is poetic intensity; that of the appendix, an
poets, like the coöperating thoughts of one great mind, attempt at scholarly completeness. Most of the labor
have built up since the beginning of the world ” (Shel of preparing the appendix may be relegated to future
ley, quoted by Palgrave), finds, firstly, that much of it years, or the next generation.
is inaccessibly locked up in foreign literatures; secondly, The selections in the text, in this imagined volume,
that contemporary additions of value, though more ac are not arranged according to periods. It is assumed
cessible, must frequently wait years before being brought that ultimately the poems themselves are more precious
to his notice by the collectors of anthologies, who, besides, than their minor traits; that the readers of such a work
necessarily omit much that is good. He may approxi already possess the requisite historical knowledge. Log-
mately keep pace with the additions in his own language, ical and artistic arrangement throughout is regarded as
though his enjoyment will be marred by the necessity for an essential feature of the presentation of that Poem of
reference work; but he can make no pretence, beyond the World referred to by Shelley. Nevertheless, poems
a very limited one, of overcoming the first obstacle. of different periods are not indiscriminately mixed.
In the latter respect, the art of poetry is exceptional Much of the work is naturally composed of sub-groups,
in the hindrances to its progress. Music, sculpture, each containing poems of a separate period. An exam-
painting, and inventions have no limitations of language, ple (necessarily very imperfect, for the work does not ex-
but at once become common property so far as their ist) may best illustrate: A few of a certain class of love-
benefits are concerned. The obstacle of inaccessibility poems would probably be arranged as in the following
is, indeed, insurmountable by the general public. But list of first lines, in which the affinities of the Eliza-
when we consider the relative importance, for the devel bethan poems for each other are at once seen: “ Ich
opment of literature, of that class of readers whose denke Dein” (Goethe); “ En Avril où naquit amour
members, though few, may become leaders of taste and (Jean de la Taille); “ Im wunderschöuen Monat Mai”
culture, and that, if each foreign language possessed a (Heine); “Elle était bien jolie” (Charles Nodier);
collection of but half the value which Palgrave's “Golden “ Her arms across her breast she laid ” (Tennyson);
Treasury” might have by being brought down to the “ Leise zieht durch mein Gemüth” (Heine); “ Vitas
present year, the probability that the thin veil of Teu hinnuleo me similis ” (Horace); “Du schönes Fischer-
tonic and Romance languages would deter few of our mädchen” (Heine); “ Ich hab' ein kleines Hüttcben"
leaders from assimilating those collections, and thus (J. W. L. Gleim); “ Huc ades O Galatea” (Vergil);
other languages represented would find more readers and the corresponding passage of Theocritus; “Come
than at present, -when we consider these propositions, down, O maid ” (Tennyson); “ Here she was wont to
the thoughts arise that a World-Anthology of Lyric go! and here! and here!" (Ben Jonson); a passage from
Poetry, even in a pot-pourri of the original languages, the song of Daphnis in the sixth idyll of Theocritus;
would fill a want; and if the scheme of the collection “O mistress mine, where are you roaming ?" (Shake-
were such as to admit of organic increase from year to peare); “Come live with me and be my love” (Mar-
year, we could then say that our literary culture was not lowe); “ Pack, clouds, away” (Heywood); “ It was a
behind our science in its mechanical helps. The culti lover and his lass” (Shakespeare); “Crabbed Age and
vated of all nations would be drawn together by observ Youth” (Shakespeare); “ Fair, and fair, and twice so
ing their own place and that of their neighbors in the fair” (Peele); “Gin a body meet a body"; "Nach
most sacred activity of the mind. Whatever shape may
Sevilla”
( Brentano); “ Bonnie lassie, will you go
be taken by the re-flowering of poetry prophesied by (Burns); "If love were what the rose is ” (Swinburne);


1896.)
215
THE DIAL
"To-day what is there in the air” (Marzials); “ Dass publications. Indeed, the irony of fate—“pede Poena
du mich liebst, das wusst' ich” (Heine); “Wie heisst claudo”— has recently overtaken our friend “ The Book-
König Ringangs Töchterlein ?” (Mörike); “Quel vago man,” who in his September issue (page 78) writes “We
impallidir, che'l dolce riso” (Petrarch); “ Aennchen are accorded an insight.” In the play of “Caste,” when
von Tharau” (Simon Dach); “O wert thou in the cauld the marchioness, whose universe is her visiting list, says,
blast” (Burns); “O my lúve's like a red, red rose « There are no such people as Eccles !” the aged bac-
(Burns); "She walks in beauty" (Byron);
« Maxwel chanalian who owns that name rejoins, “ Well, marm,
ton braes are bonny” (Lady John Scott).
I takes the liberty of hexistin' notwithstandin'!” Usage
One who has not tried it can have but little idea of is like old Eccles.
CASKIE HARRISON.
the pleasant surprises, the unsuspected combinations,
Brooklyn, N. Y., Oct. 7, 1896.
side-lights, and mutual reinforcement of emotions, the
clear outlook over the excellences of each literature, and
AN ILLOGICAL INFERENCE.
the satisfaction of keeping up with the times, which are
(To the Editor of THE DIAL.)
the result of collecting and classifying material at hand A correspondent in your issue of October 1 has done
in even a few languages. And more: the work as a me the honor of glancing over my excursus on “ Dog-
whole will be a grand lyrical drama, emphasizing the matic Philology" (THE DIAL, Sept. 1, pp. 109-110),
unity of humanity. It would be a cause for congratu but his comments show that he could not have read it
lation if the impulse and beginning of a movement of carefully, for there is nothing in my communication
art no less important than that cultivated at Bayreuth that can, by any logical inference, be brought into oppo-
should come from America.
F. L. THOMPSON.
sition to the views which he, in common with every
Denver, Colo., Oct. 10, 1896.
other sane man, holds. I agree with him entirely in the
three main points he makes: (a) that the correct usage
PROOF IN LITERARY USAGE.
of a former period of the language, as in Shakespeare,
Milton, Addison, is no proof of the correctness of pres-
(To the Editor of THE DIAL.)
The correspondent who discussed the subject of proof
ent usage; (b) that the use of an idiom in one language
does not justify a similar use in another; (c) that an
in literary usage in your last issue seems unaware that,
array of blunders culled here and there from the works
while asking what constitutes proof, he is in effect pre-
of reputable authors cannot be used to establish proof
cluding proof. When we say that a given usage is his-
of the correctness of these expressions. But I am at a
torical, he replies that history is irrelevant; when we ex loss to know what he found in my article that was at
hibit the evidence that it is present, he maintains that our
variance with these trite observations, or that would
evidence is occasional. Without going into the com warrant an issue with me on these points.
plete theory of proof, there is no doubt that argument
He asks, “ Does not the writer assume that rhetoric
must be addressed to the issue as made; and I may be
pardoned for recalling that this is just wbat I endeav-
never changes ? Does he not accept an idiom in one
language as evidence of acceptable usage in another
ored to urge and to illustrate in my brief letter in The
DIAL of July 16, entitled “Journalistic Retribution."
tongue ? What pertinency is there otherwise to his quo-
tations from Sophocles, Chateaubriand, or even from
The mere dogmatist may with simple denial be dis-
Spenser and Milton?”
missed to his prejudices and predilections: to the claim-
In the discussion of the phrase “in our midst” there
ant that reason or analogy forbids this or that combina-
was involved necessarily the use of the possessive adjec-
tion, it is enough to show that this or that combination
tive in the objective sense; and to show that this was
is or has at some time been reasonable in some tongues
not an isolated fact in English, I quoted, from Latin,
and has its recognized parallels in our own; to him who
Greek, French, and German classics, examples of similar
maintains that illustrations of a given locution cited
from representative authors are exceptional, the cita-
usage. This, it was thought, would certainly not weaken
tions may be multiplied, or a confident and competent
the argument. When it came to treating the phrase
under discussion as an English idiom, I went back to the
observer is warranted in diverting the burden to the ob-
Anglo-Saxon, following the historical method, and sup-
jector: to him who arrays authorities, their admitted
fallibility in other issues may be demonstrated, while
porting the position by three quotations from Schiller's
classic German, the only other Teutonic tongue, I regret
other authorities may be pitted against his host, after an
asserted and exemplified present, national, and reputable
to say, that I am familiar enough with to quote. Since
usage is discredited as exceptional.
then, I have noticed that Dr. Fitzedward Hall (“ Mod-
Of course, rhetoric changes; and usage remains the
ern English,” p. 49) cites an example from Middle
English, “ in her middis, that is to say, in their midst,” in
only test of usage, without which authority is puerile
and reason and analogy are inadequate, while dogma
support of the genuineness of the idiom. I went a little
farther back, to Old English; that is all.
and prejudice are always insignificant. In view of a
And again, in combatting the statement of the rhet-
recognized and prevailing grammatical principle, an
orician that “is gone” is not idiomatic, I referred to
occasional violation is not usage, a regular or approxi- Anglo-Saxon and German in vindication of its rights.
mately regular violation is usage; hence Hawthorne's
In matters of English idiom one cannot get away from
whomsoever as subject is the former, while “who did you
see ? ” is the latter, in spite of any alleged authority,
one's grandmother tongue, any more than in matters of
analogy, reason, or predilection. It is notable that ob-
heredity one can get away from one's grandfather. It is
rather late in the day, however, to have to reiterate, in
jectors, even while accepting the arbitrament of usage,
self-defence, this evident truth.
insist on regarding as occasional illustrations they dis-
As to “try and" instead of “try to," I did not “cull
like without the trouble of a fair count. It is in point
here and there from books of accepted authors,” but
to refer to the recent discussion of, “Who was given a
quoted four examples from a single essay of one of the
seat," which I believe I can illustrate overwhelmingly
most modern of modern men of letters.
from any author in any form of literature valid for pres-
EDWARD A. ALLEN.
ent usage, as well as from the irresponsible periodical Columbia, Mo., Oct. 8, 1896.


216
(Oct. 16,
THE DIAL
The New Books.
ing, if slight, reminiscences. That she was a
very “proper” little girl, of (as the times went)
conscientious bringing - up, a little incident
A SURVIVING CONTEMPORARY OF LAMB, shows. She had been asked to a children's
KEATS, AND SHELLEY.*
party, where they were playing a round game
From Charles Lamb's day to ours seems a
of cards.
pretty far cry; and it is a little startling to find “When the nursery-maid came to fetch me home, the
a contemporary of our own who was also a con-
lady of the house offered me some silver, saying: • Take
this seven-and-sixpence, you have won it.' •I thought,'
temporary of his, chatting familiarly of him and
I replied, that we were playing with counters; I saw
his circle, very much as if she had parted from them on the table, ma'am. I did not know we were
them the day before yesterday. Therein, and playing for money. I have none, and could not have
in a certain pleasant old-time primness of style paid if I had lost. Therefore I can't have won, and
that is perhaps a relic of early devotion to Rich-
can't take that silver. When I went home and told
my mother what had happened, she said: “You did well
ardson's epistolary heroines, lies the chief
to refuse the money, and gave the right reason [the italics
charm of Mrs. Cowden-Clarke's cheery retro are ours] for doing so.'
spect of her “ Long Life.” From cover to cover The Novellos' house in Oxford Street was
the little book spans a wide interval of years naturally a resort of artists and literary people.
and manners. In her girlhood the writer was
“ Elia" speaks passim of “ the little household,
the pupil of Mary Lamb -- of comparatively cake - producing, wine - bringing out,” of the
young Mary Lamb; she remembers Keats, who
friendly supper - tray and draught of true
as a boy had thrashed his way, more suo, to the Sutheran beer” that succeeded to the feasts
top of her father-in-law's school at Enfield ; she
of music provided by the host. Besides the
had a glimpse of Shelley ; she was intimate artists Varley, Copley, Fielding, and others,
with Leigh Hunt; she saw Munden (Lamb's Mrs. Cowden-Clarke remembers having seen
Munden ) in “ Cockletop” and Liston in in the little drawing-room the Lambs, Leigh
“Paul Pry"; she saw the Vestris in “Orpheus ” Hunt, Keats — many distinguished guests, for
" clad," she records, “in the smallest amount
whom her childish enthusiasm was curiously
of clothing I had ever then seen upon the strong. Shelley she had a peep at over the par-
stage”; she knew Hazlitt well and Godwin
lor window-blind, as he was leaving the house
slightly, and heard Coleridge hold forth melli-
after a visit to her father; of which incident
fluously on the “spheral music” at Highgate. she says :
A fair notion of the very old-time savor per-
“Well was I rewarded, for, as he passed before our
vading Mrs. Cowden-Clarke's earlier chapters house, he gave a glance up at it, and I beheld his seraph-
may be conveyed by the following extract from like face, with its blue eyes, and aureoled by its golden
the account of her wedding :
hair."
• I remember rather wondering at my own perfect
Keats she thus describes :
calmness during the service, for I had determined not
“I have even now a full recollection of the reverent
to follow Charlotte Grandison's example of hesitation
look with which I regarded him, as he leaned against
at saying the word “obey,' but to speak the love, honor,
the side of the organ, listening with rapt attention to
and obey' with the full tone that should express the
my father's music. Keats’s favorite position - one foot
true wish of my heart to faithfully keep this vow. Well
raised on his other knee-still remains imprinted on my
might I, with such a man as he was who had chosen me,
memory; as also does the last time I saw him, half-
and whom I had long known, esteemed, respected, ad reclining on some chairs that formed a couch for him
mired, and warmly loved."
when he was staying at Leigh Hunt's house, just before
Mrs. Cowden-Clarke was born at London on leaving England for Italy."
June 22, 1809. Her father, Vincent Novello, It was while the Novellos were living in Bed-
the noted composer, was for twenty-six years ford Square that our author became a pupil of
organist at the Portuguese Embassy's Chapel, Mary Lamb. Miss Lamb had volunteered to
whither his skill attracted a large and distin- give her little friend lessons in Latin ; and the
guished concourse weekly. It used to be play- latter used, therefore, to trudge regularly at
fully said of Mr. Novello that his voluntaries,” the appointed hour to Great Russell Street,
conventionally supposed to play the congrega where the Lambs then lived. One morning,
tion out, on the contrary kept them in, listen on entering the room, she found a guest sitting
ing till the very last note. Of her childhood with Miss Lamb, whom she heard say, “Oh, I
Mrs. Cowden-Clarke gives a number of pleas- am nothing now but a stocking-mending old
* MY LONG LIFE. An Autobiography. By Mary Cowden
woman. The speaker is thus described :
Clarke. Illustrated New York: Dodd, Mead & Co.
“ This lady had straight, black brows, and looked still


1896.]
217
THE DIAL
teach me,
young, I thought, and had a very intelligent, expressive engagement, says our author, “afforded us most
countenance. When she went away, Miss Lamb said, congenial entertainment for our evenings, since
That is the excellent actress, Miss Kelly. Look at
her well, Victoria, for she is a woman to remember hav-
it took us perpetually to the different theatres."
ing seen. And, indeed, this was no other than the ad It was a day of great actors, and they saw the
mirable artiste to whom Charles Lamb addressed his best of them, Edmund Kean, for instance. Of
two sonnets; the one beginning,
Kean's famous “Sir Giles Overreach” Mrs.
* You are not Kelly of the common strain,'
Cowden-Clarke remembers chiefly the death-
and the other, on her performance of The Blind Boy,'
scene.
beginning,
“He lay prostrate near the footlights, his face and
“Rare artist, who with half thy tools or none
figure clearly visible to the audience, and fearfully true
Canst execute with ease thy curious art.'”
to the ebbing of life was the picture they presented. In
From Bedford Square the Novellos moved to
• Othello' a striking point was the mode in which he
Shacklewell ; and it was at this period that clung to the side-scene when uttering the words, “Not a
Mrs. Cowden-Clarke was sent to a school at jot, not a jot,' in Act III., scene 3, as if trying to steady
Boulogne-sur-Mer, to acquire the French lan-
himself against the life-blow he was receiving. Towards
the latter part of his career, Kean most frequently
guage. On returning from Boulogne, she be-
played. Shylock,' and grand was his playing throughout.
came governess to the children of a Mr. Pur.
But a superb piece of action and voice was his, as he
cell; and in 1826 she was affianced to Mr. delivered the speech, concluding with the words — The
Charles Cowden-Clarke, whom she had long hard, but I will better the instruction. He seemed
I will execute; and it shall go
known. They were married in 1828; and
positively to writhe from head to foot as he poured
before settling down in London they spent a forth his anguished recapitulation of his own and his
delightful week with the Lambs at Enfield. nation's wrongs, and of his as deadly determination to
Charles Lamb, one can readily believe, was the have his revenge upon them.”
“cordialest of hosts,-playful, genial, hospit- Of Kean and Liston a humorous story is re-
ably promotive of pleasurable things, walks, corded àpropos of a wager laid by the latter
cheerful meals, and the very best of talk. Of that he could make Kean laugh even on the
his pranks there was no end ; and he really stage, despite his boast that nothing could upset
seems to have “gone through life" (as he said his gravity while there.
of his friend Rickman) “ laughing at solemn “Once, when Kean was playing · Rolla,'a procession
apes.'
of veiled Virgins of the Sun had to enter and pass be-
· His hospitality, while we were visiting him that for
fore him. The first virgin, as she passed, suddenly
raised her veil, confronted Kean with the irresistible
memorable week, was characteristically manifested one
visage of Liston, and the wager was won, for Kean went
day, in his own peculiarly whimsical way, by his starting
off into an uncontrollable fit of laughter.”
up from dinner, hastening to the front garden gate, and
opening it for a donkey that he saw standing there, and The evenings at the theatres brought the
looking, as Lamb said, as if he wanted to come in and Cowden-Clarkes and Hazlitt (then dramatic
munch some of the grass growing so plentifully behind critic for the “ Times ") often together. Haz-
the railing."
litt's gift in painting, the author says, was
Another visit of signal interest was one paid remarkable.
by our author to Leigh Hunt (her“ first poet,' “ A portrait he took of his old nurse, ,- a mere head,
and the object of her childish adoration) at - the upper part of the face in strong shadow from an
Highgate. She says:
over-pending black silk bonnet edged with lace, while
“I must have always had a touch of romance in my
the wrinkled cheeks, the lines about the mouth, with
disposition,-- even as long back as when, quite a child,
the touches of actual and reflected light, were given with
I had crept round the sofa to kiss his hand. . . . Thus
such vigor and truth as well might recall the style of
the renowned Flemish master, and actually did cause a
to stay in the same house with him; to be the companion
of his walks about such charming environs; to listen to
good judge of the art to say to Hazlitt, Where did you
bis confidential talk after breakfast, in his flowered
get that Rembrandt ?'”
morning-gown, when he would discuss with me his then It was about a year after her marriage that
literary projects in a style which showed he felt he had Mrs. Cowden-Clarke began her“ Concordance
near him one who could understand and appreciate his
to Shakespeare,” which occupied her for six-
avowed views,— all formed a bewitching combination
that rendered this visit indeed a memorable one to me.
teen years. She had already made certain
He was then full of a project for writing a book to be
minor essays in literature, in the shape of five
called • Fabulous Zoology,' which was to treat of dragons, brief papers published in Hone's “Table Book,"
griffins, cockatrices, basilisks, etc."
to which serial Lamb also was a contributor.
When the Cowden-Clarkes first settled in We may quote here from what she has to say, in
London, Charles was writing for the news. closing, of her own relations with the author's
papers, — the “ Examiner” among others, for alleged natural enemy and Shylockian task-
which he wrote the theatrical notices. This i master, the publisher.
66


218
(Oct. 16,
THE DIAL
.
casm.
to me,
“I may here take occasion to say that all my experi-
BOOKS AND THEIR MAKERS.*
ence of publishers has been most agreeable. Contrary
to the prejudiced opinion sometimes expressed, that
That a good-sized volume of four hundred
authors and publishers are often antagonistic in their
transactions, I have invariably met with courtesy and
and fifty pages may be written concerning
kindness. I must not omit to record that from
books and their makers in the middle ages
American publishers I have also received tokens of attests at least a considerable degree of mental
marked regard. Messrs. Munro, Messrs. Roberts of activity during that period of time, even if
Boston, Mr. G. P. Putnam, and Messrs. Appleton of
New York, have each and all shown me much that proves
most of such intellectual energy was result-
ant in character, and not of a constructive and
the courtesy of publishers to authors.”
Mrs. Cowden-Clarke has some kind words to original quality. The mediæval product in book
manufacture appears truly enormous, when the
say of Douglas Jerrold.
“ Hardly a greater mistake could be made than to
means and methods are considered. The great
attribute bitterness or ill-nature to Jerrold's sharpest collection of Muratori in Italy, of Dom Bouquet
sarcasms, as sometimes was the case by those who merely in France, the Rolls Series in England, the
heard of them and did not know his real nature. We Monumenta of German history, not to speak
who did know him understood them better. He was
of the vast body of writing comprised in Migne,
deeply earnest in all serious things, and very much in
earnest when dealing with less apparently important
all together comprise a mass of matter aggre-
matters which he thought needed the scourge of a sar-
gating nearly four hundred folio volumes.
His concern for the object of his satirical quips One may reasonably expect a book about
was often at the root of them; and he would pour forth books to be bookish ; and the relative sterility of
his keen flights of pointed arrows chiefly with the view
mediæval thought may intensify that quality.
of rousing to improvement his butt, whom he knew capa-
ble of better things, and on whom the shafts of his rid-
Mr. Putnam has been very bookish indeed. He
icule might tell to good purpose rather than harm.
has told us much that is of interest and profit,
As a token of his belief that he was entirely understood and has given much detail regarding the meth-
and appreciated by my Charles and me, I may mention
ods of writing, the regime that prevailed in the
that when he brought his • Mrs. Caudle's Lectures 'as a
presentation copy
be bad written in its blank page,
monasteries, the work of the universities. But
Presented with great timidity, but equal regard, to
little is said of the men who wrote the books.
Mrs. Cowden-Clarke, by Douglas Jerrold.'”
In a word, the makers and the men receive a
Mrs. Cowden-Clarke's later chapters contain
small amount of observation. Books are to
some interesting references to literary people,
our author the concrete substance rather than
and artists of more modern vogue, whom she a potential personality. But the rationale of
met at home and abroad; but we must forbear mediæval thought is not so far removed from
transplanting any more of her “purple patches” the manner of expression and preservation of
to our own pages. Enough has been quoted, that thought as the work before us has divorced
we trust, to send the reader expectantly to her
them. A book is a personality, and much me-
pleasant little book. It contains a frankly, diæval writing was original, even if crude. The
almost naively, told life-story, sweet with the maker is behind the thing made. A study of
pervading suggestion of sunny days, warm the condition of the production and distribu-
friends, and wholesome thoughts ; and might
tion of literature from the decline of the Roman
well bear on its dainty title-page as a motto the Empire also involves a study of condition and
device on Hazlitt's Venetian sun-dial : " Horas development of thought, and the personal his-
non numero nisi serenas” (I count only the tory of the men who formed that thought, as
hours that are serene). The volume is prettily
well as a consideration of resources and method
made and well printed — though there are two
of manufacture.
or three unfortunate misprints, as “match " for The mere preservation of classic literature,
march, on page 67 ; “Murot” for Marot, on the copying of the Vulgate Bible and homilies
page 56; and “ Ranch’s ” for Rauch's, on page of the church fathers, or the writing of saints'
203. There are several portraits, including an lives, were not the whole devotion of mediæval
attractive one of the author.
E. G. J. scribes. What of Gregory of Tours and Nith-
ard in Frankish history of Frodoard and
Miss Ruth PUTNAM'S “ Life of William of Orange" Richer and Suger in France ? of Rodolph of
has been honored by a translation into Dutch and a pub Fulda, remarkable as the only mediæval writer
lication at The Hague, and its author by an election to
to whom Tacitus was known at first-hand? The
the Society of Literature of the Netherlands (De Maats-
chappy der Nederlandsche Letterkunde te Leiden), the BOOKS AND THEIR MAKERS DURING THE MIDDLE AGES.
first time this society (dating from 1778) has conferred By George Haven Putnam. Volume I., 476-1600. New York:
this honor on a foreign woman.
G. P. Putnam's Sons.


1896.]
219
THE DIAL
-
-
-
history of the recovery by Pertz of the lost man Benedict, providing that “ He who does not
uscript of Richer, mouldy and dilapidated, in turn up the earth with the plough ought to
the cathedral library of Bamberg, is a romantic write the parchment with his fingers," saved
story with the higher beauty of truth attached Western Europe. It directed the entire intel-
to it. Suger is remarkable as the earliest lectual activity of the time and much of the
French chronicler to whom the advisability of physical energy. The monk was a civilizer.
using the French language instead of Latin, He built his retreat by a marsh or in a forest
in the Chroniques de Saint-Denis, suggested because it was trial so to live. The Rule re-
itself. Instead of the meagre paragraph in quired him to labor, and if he did not write he
notice of Dunstan, whole pages might have been labored with his hands, draining the fens and
made luminous in telling of him. The man cutting down the forest. Not a little of the
whose influence along intellectual lines pene intellectual product, however, of the monks was
trated as far into later English history as the due to negative motives. It was a common
time of the Reformation was greater than the form of penance — particularly in the darkest
books written in Glastonbury, or than the cu- period, the ninth and tenth centuries to im-
rious manuscript believed by some to have been pose the writing of a certain amount of copy";
wrought by Dunstan's own finger-joints. and slovenly work the writer sometimes made
As the history of modern book-making dates of it.
of it. The variant readings in classic litera-
from Gutenberg, so that of the middle ages ture which to-day vex and perplex scholars are
must be dated from the establishment of the many
of them due to the carelessness of some
monastery of Monte Cassino by St. Benedict half-hearted or disciplined inmate of a monas-
in 529. The agencies to which were due the tery, who, working away in a cold cell unpro-
maintenance of intellectual interest and liter vided with means of warmth, and with only
ary activities during this period of pine centu winter daylight struggling through the narrow
ries were three in number, and these three con casement, had no regard for the matter he was
veniently separate the period into three stages. copying, and little regard for the manner in
“During the first, the responsibility for the preser- which he was writing.
vation of the old-time literature, and for keeping alive
Of the ancient classics, Cicero and Aristotle
some continuity of intellectual life, rested solely with
the monasteries, and the work of multiplying and dis-
were most earnestly read. A valuable para-
tributing such books as had survived was carried on by graph is this:
the monks, and by them only. During the second stage, “ The fact that, during the manuscript period and
the older universities, the organization of which had the first two centuriess of printing, the writings of Cicero
gradually been developed from schools (themselves were reproduced far more largely than those of any
chiefly of monastic origin), became centres of intellec other of the Roman writers, is interesting as indicating
tual activity and shared with the monasteries the work a distinct literary preference on the part of successive
of producing books. The books emanating from the generations both of producers and of readers. The pre-
university scribes were, however, for the most part re eminence of Aristotle in the lists of the medieval issues
stricted to a few special classes, classes which had, as a of the Greek classics has, I judge, a different signifi-
rule, not been produced in the monasteries and
Aristotle stood for a school of philosophy, the
the university booksellers were in the earlier period not teachings of which, in the main, had been accepted by
permitted to engage in any general distribution of books. the Church, and the copies of his writings were required
With the third stage of manuscript literature, book for the use of students. The continued demand for the
producing and book-selling machinery came into exist works of Cicero depended upon no such adventitious
ence in the towns, and the knowledge of reading being aid, and can, therefore, fairly be credited to their per-
no longer confined to the cleric or the magister, books ennial value as literature” (p. xii.).
were prepared for the use of the large circles of the
community, and to meet the requirements of such circles
But as the New Europe opened, and Greece
were, to an extent increasing with each generation, writ and Rome faded into the background, while the
ten in the tongue of the people” (pp. 9-10).
dogmatic theology of the Church developed, the
The preservation and dissemination of classic writers came to be looked upon askance.
thought in the western world in the middle “ What do we want,” wrote S. Eligius in the
ages was almost wholly dependent upon the eighth century,“ with the so-called philosophies
work of the monks. Mr. Putnam gives a full of Pythagoras, Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle,
and exact account of the preparation of mate or with the rubbish and nonsense of such shame-
rials and the process of writing. Since Mont- less poets as Homer, Vergil, and Merander?"
alembert, indebtedness to the “ Monks of the Vergil became a name to conjure with. Syl-
West" for the preservation of the literary her vester II. was looked upon as a necromancer,
itage of Europe has been clearly recognized because of his love for classic literature; while
That almost inspired clause in the Rule of St. the writings of Sallust, Livy, Herodotus, and
.
cance.


220
(Oct. 16,
THE DIAL
Demosthenes became almost as unknown as the One chronicler, Gildas, has painted with fiery
realm of Prester John. Honorius wrote in the touches the miseries of Great [!] Britain after
twelfth century: “ It grieves me when I con the departure of the Romans.” Confusion worse
sider in my mind the number of persons who, confounded ! Gildas was a monk of the British
having lost their senses, are not ashamed to Church, a Briton dwelling in Britain (not
give their utmost labor to the investigation of “Great” Britain), and was not of England nor
the abominable figments of the poets and the English. Ingulph of Croyland is a forgery,
captious arguments of the philosophers which and not, as Mr. Putnam thinks (pp. 56, 132),
are wont inextricably to bind the mind that is a genuine chronicle. Was it not Henry IV.
drawn away from God in the bonds of vices, instead of Frederick IV. who was hostile to the
and to be ignorant of the Christian profession monks of Hirschau? (p. 82). The reform
whereby the soul may come to reign everlast movement began rather with the Council of
ingly with God. ... Moreover, how is the Constance than with that of Basel (p. 85).
soul profited by the strife of Hector, or the Henghist and Horsa landed in 449, not 451
argumentation of Plato, or the poems of Ver- (p. 93). This statement is not clear to me:
gil, or the elegies of Ovid ?” And so it was During the long years of invasion and of civil
for four centuries. The Church confounded the war, the literary interests and culture that had
truth with its interpretation of truth. But while come to the Saxons had been in great part
St. Bernard, the arch-advocate of this manner swept away” (p. 98). Is it to be understood
of thinking, was living, Abelard was also de that the term “ civil war” refers to the wars of
claring the right of liberty of thought and lib the different petty English kingdoms with one
erty of the spirit.
another? And what amount of literary inter-
After all, the narrowness of thought in this ests and culture" came to the Saxons through
time was not unmixed with good. There was Rome until the missionaries of Gregory the
much that was incorrigible in the Germanic Great? There is curiously little notice of the
stock. Feudalism was the political drill-master destruction of monasteries and manuscripts by
of Europe. Men needed a rod of iron across the Danes. “Richard " of Wendover (p. 104)
their backs. So, too, the dogmatism of the is properly Roger of Wendover. And, finally,
Church, its bigotry and intolerance, had virtue is not this a fancy? - “The school at Tours
in it. In an age when everything tended to [under Charles the Great] may be considered
divide Europe into a chaos of jarring fragments, as a precursor of the French Academy of mod-
the Church was one in theory, in government, ern times” (p. 107).
in faith, in language. Its unity had to be pre It is to be hoped that Mr. Putnam's second
served at any cost, until young Europe might volume, covering a time so rich in men the
become united enough to stand. When that first printer-publishers of France, Casaubon,
time came, dogmatism and scholasticism and Caxton, the Kobergers of Nuremberg, Eras-
dialectics had taught men how to think; the mus, Luther as an author, the Elzevirs of the
new culture of the Renaissance was to give the Low Countries, and the
Low Countries, and the great Italian galaxy,–
now trained mind of Europe new matter to and so splendid in ideas — freedom of the press
think about. As truth broadened, the ways of and the conception of personal property in lit-
looking at things could then safely broaden too. erature - will embrace this large spirit already
The author is occasionally led astray by un indicated in the history of books and authors.
familiarity with details of general history. No Books which are worth anything are not merely
“Roman gentleman in far-off Britain” (p. vii.) books, but a part of the body of literature.
ever ordered, or could have ordered, a copy of Mr. Putnam's personal experience has doubt-
“ the latest ode of Horace,” for the reason that less led him to dwell upon the making of books
Britain did not become a Roman province until rather than upon the makers. There is such a
after the Christian era. Is not Boethius entitled thing as sympathy with books apart from the
to as much credit (p. 35) as Isidore for intro authors thereof. It certainly was no intentional
ducing to Europe of the Middle Ages the teach- slight, but simply an illustration of the prin-
ings of philosophy ? On p. 38 the author ciple that knowledge even of a particular sub-
apparently uses the words “rule of the Lom-ject is too vast and too subtle to be comprised
bards” to mean the Lombard Italy of the tenth between the covers of one volume. Mr. Put-
century. On p. 55 we read : “ England, con nam's modest hope that “the present volume
verted by her monks, has special reason to be may be accepted by the historian of copyright
proud of the historians furnished by her abbeys. I and by the students of the subject as forming


1896.]
221
THE DIAL
-
a suitable general introduction to such a his- pels agreement. With a good deal of this book
tory," if not fulfilled by himself in some future I disagree, but not because it differs from any
work will be fulfilled by some other student accepted standard ; merely because it differs
indebted to him for this blazing of the path. from my own idea of how the thing should be
JAMES WESTFALL THOMPSON.
done.
It must be remarked, however, that Mr.
Bates's book does not pretend to be a system-
THE ART OF WRITING.*
atic treatment of rhetoric. It is not a college
It is hard to see just who can use the many
text-book, but a book for more general reading.
text - books now being published on rhetoric
It is not a guide to instruction, but a discussion
and English composition, for every teacher has
of the subject of good writing. As appears
written one himself (or is writing one), and, if
from the name, it is not a systematic treatise,
but a series of “talks," or somewhat informal
only out of self-respect, must use it with his
classes to the exclusion of the rest. That is,
lectures. For writing such a book, Mr. Bates
every teacher has his peculiar way of looking
has very eminent qualifications : he is at once
a man of letters and a college professor; he
at the subject, his own way of teaching it, that
has also been an editor. He is entitled to be
makes it impossible for him to approve of any.
heard on the ars utens and the ars docens.
body else's way. We have all of us wandered
While he has the skill and confidence of the
far from Aristotle, but there has arisen no
John Stuart Mill. There is no name of pre-
artist, he is not unacquainted with academic
tradition nor with the needs and uses of the
eminent greatness among modern writers on
rhetoric, no one system of post-Aristotelian tical discussion of the art of writing by a writer
is a
method that compels attention. Every man
who, while devoted to literature, has had the
says whatever is right in his own eyes.
There was a time, long since, when there privilege of being led into the temptation to
was a more or less definitely accepted system affairs on the other, and has resisted both temp-
become a pedant on the one hand and a man of
of rhetoric; but even in such palmy days the
tations.
system was not very systematic. In fact, the
rhetorician (if the teacher or student of good teaching by example as well as by precept. It
His book, therefore, has the advantage of
writing will accept that name of hissing and
reproach), the rhetorician has almost always the thing himself. Illogical though it be, one
is encouraging to learn of a man who can do
been like that distinguished master of the art
who aroused complaint because he not only had
does feel as though a teacher ought to be able
to do the thing he teaches. It is true that a
nothing so finite as a system,” but not even
any principles which were “coherent, inter-
man may know what good writing is and how
it is to be attained, and yet not be able to write
dependent, subordinate, and derivative." In
usaget ; in place of logically developed princi- then, also, one finds it more amusing. This
place of a system, the modern student has good especially well himself
. But one feels safer
one -
ples, the rhetorician substitutes whatever rules
book is written in a happy and interesting way,
of practice his own reading and writing recom-
mend to him. There is perfect freedom on the
so that it is a pleasure to read it. If anything,
it
king's highway, and everyone may ride along on
little too far: there are not a few pas-
goes a
his hobby at the gait that seems most pleasant.
sages that please one until one asks, “ What
has all this to do with the matter in hand ?”
Hence (finally to fetch a compass, and get That is natural in the work of an imaginative
around to our subject), it is not easy to criti- T
cise Professor Arlo Bates's “ Talks on Writing
writer : he does not readily confine himself to
mere didactics ; his ideas have more than the
English,” as he rightly says a book should be
mere facts to them.
criticised, namely by measuring it with a de.
I take it, the book is meant for people adopt-
fined standard. There is no defined standard, be-
cause there is no system of rhetoric, or English ing literature as a profession ; certainly the
composition (if that be the better name), which greater part of the book will appeal to such a
compels consistency, and no theorist who com-
public. There is another book on English com-
position of something the same character as this
* TALKS ON WRITING ENGLISH. By Arlo Bates. Boston:
one, and the publishers tell us that it is amaz-
Houghton, Miffin & Co.
+ A matter as easy to determine by the canons of Campbell ingly successful with college classes. But it is
as true Christianity by the dictum of Vincent of Lerins. hard to think of this book's being used as a


222
[Oct. 16,
THE DIAL
text-book; a good teacher could do excellent
A FAMOUS FAMILY OF SINGERS.*
work with it, of course, as with several dozen
others. But it does not especially address stu-
Mr. John W. Hutchinson, the sole survivor
dents ; the four chapters on narration, for of the famous “ Hutchinson Family” of sing-
instance, are written with an eye to short stories ers and musicians, has told their interesting
and novels, and there is slight use in trying to story in two large octavo volumes, with fifty-
teach college men in general to write short seven illustrations. In 1874, Joshua Hutch-
stories or novels. It seems to be the “young inson, an older brother, published a “ Brief
aspirant for literary honors ” who will get the Narrative" of the family; but this was inade-
most good from these talks. Such a one I can quate, and in response to frequent requests from
imagine reading the book with intense interest,
friends in all parts of the country the present
keeping it by him and referring to it often, up-
work
appears. The first volume concludes with
braiding it for its rigor and trying hard to real- the year 1869, and -- partly because of the
ize its felicities. Mr. Bates says he has tried to period covered, partly because of a certain spon-
state those things which would have been most taneity and freshness in the manner of telling
helpful to him twenty years ago; his book will which are lacking in the second—is by all odds
be most useful to those who have in mind a the more interesting and important. The story
career in the same direction as the author's. is too long drawn out, and the almost infinite
It is, perhaps, ungracious to be dissatisfied number of details grows tiresome. The little
with a book for not being what it never intended homely incidents and anecdotes related in the
to be, and yet (to harp again upon an old chord) first part are of value as side-lights to the his-
I read modern books on writing English with tory of that early time in New England. We
a regret that they do not at least attempt a
are even interested to hear just how the belong-
thorough authoritative study of the phenomena ings of the quartet were disposed on their first
of the expression of thought in letters. Beyond tour,-- how the violins, without cases, were
such and such a point, one may say, analysis hung up inside the carryall, the bass-viol was
cannot go ; and this is true of your analysis if strapped on top, while the little hair-trunk con-
you can make it go no farther. But I have taining Abby's simple wardrobe was safely
great faith in the determined energy of the
stowed away on the rack. But we care less to
scholar, which is something that this book lacks
be informed how John spent each day at the
something, indeed, to which it hardly pre-
World's Fair, of the old friends he met, and
tends. Mr. Bates says that a professional is a
what they said.
person who has learned how to do a thing,
Jesse and Mary Hutchinson, of Milford, New
while an amateur is one who has not. He is Hampshire, were the parents of sixteen chil.
certainly a professional writer himself, and he dren, of whom thirteen grew to maturity. The
shows how another can learn something at least father and mother were both musical, and mel-
of his profession. But there is a good deal of ody was a part of the atmosphere of their home.
difference between learning how to do a thing Parker Pillsbury was much impressed by an
and learning how a thing is done. Let a pro-
incident that occurred in 1844, while he was a
fessional be one who knows how to do a thing; guest of the Hutchinsons. After breakfast,
the scholar always wants to know how a thing the father was about to start for his labor in the
is done. We have already many books that fields, when one of the boys asked him if they
teach how to write; no new one adds very
should not sing him a farewell. The father
much to our ideas. What we want now is paused, and the dozen sons and daughters, led
something that gets to the root of the matter. by Jesse, the oldest, sang:
Perhaps it is a dangerous experiment. The
“Our father, we wish you well.
When our Lord calls, we hope you will be mentioned in the
great delight of good writing lies in its charm; promised land.”
it is, of course, not wise for your enchanter to To this prayer the father responded, in sonor-
explain just how he manages his wonders. To ous and earnest tones :
try to snatch off the magic robe is perhaps too
“My children, I wish you well.
like destroying the last reserve anywhere else :
When our Lord calls, I trust you will be mentioned in the
promised land.”
you do it at your peril. And yet, one always
The first public appearance of the Hutchin-
longs to scale a mountain ; there is surely some-
* STORY OF THE HUTCHINSONS (Tribe of Jesse). By John
thing splendid to be seen from the top.
Wallace Hutchinson. Compiled and edited by Charles E.
Mann; with Introduction by Frederick Douglass. In two vol-
EDWARD E. HALE, JR. umes, illustrated. Boston: Lee & Shepard.


1896.]
223
THE DIAL
-
son family was on Thanksgiving evening, 1839, Rogers, always a warm friend, wrote of their
when the eleven sons and two daughters de- appearance at one of the great abolition meet-
lighted the Milford people with a free concert ings in Boston:
in the Baptist Church. A little later, the “ They made the vast multitude toss and heave and
quartet, destined to fame on both sides of the clamor like the roaring ocean. Orpheus is said to have
Atlantic, started out; they were Judson, John,
made the trees dance at his playing. The Hutchinsons
made the thousands at Faneuil Hall spring to their
Asa, and Abby, and were christened by Mr.
feet simultaneously, as if in a dance,' and echo the
N. P. Rogers “ a nest of brothers with a sister anti-slavery appeal with a cheering that almost moved
in it.” Abby was then only eleven years old ; the old Revolutionists from their stations on the wall.
but she proved a drawing card, her voice being
Phillips had been speaking in his happiest vein.
rarely musical, and she herself a most charm-
It was toward night. The old hall was sombre in the
gloaming. It was thronged to its vast extremities.
ing creature. A few years ago, Abby, with her
Phillips closed his speech at the highest pitch of his
husband, Mr. Ludlow Patton, visited Santa Fé, fine genius, and retired from the platform, when the
New Mexico, where the writer was then living, four brothers (Jesse, Judson, John, and Asa) rushed to
and sang in the hotel parlors. It is no exaggera-
his place, and took up the argument where he had left
it, on the very heights of poetic declamation, and carried
tion to say that, although nearly sixty, she still
it heavenwards on one of their boldest flights. Jesse
retained the engaging manner and spiritual had framed a series of stanzas on the spot, while Phillips
beauty of her youth, and that her voice had was speaking, embodying the leading arguments, and
lost none of its rich melody. She was a beau- enforcing them, as mere oratory cannot, as music and
tiful and noble woman, always the idol of her
poetry only can, and they poured them forth with amaz-
ing spirit, in one of the maddening Second Advent
brothers, and probably the most highly gifted tunes. The vast multitude sprang to their feet, as one
of the family. The tender solicitude and love man, and at the close of the first strain gave vent to
of all for this youngest blossom are constantly
their enthusiasm in a thunder of unrestrained cheering.
shown in these volumes. She early abandoned
Three cheers, and three times three, and ever so many
more,- for they could not count — they sent out, full-
the concert field, being married in 1849, and
hearted and full-toned, till the old roof rang again.
afterwards appearing in public only at rare And throughout the whole succeeding strains they re-
intervals and on very special occasions. Of her peated it, not allowing the singers to complete half the
appearance in 1845, when she went to Great stanza before breaking out upon them in incontrollable
emotion."
Britain with her brothers, Mr. Frank B. Car-
penter gave a very interesting account:
Such was their singing, and such was its
“When the evening came for the opening concert,
effect. No wonder they were lionized in the
the Hanover Square Rooms were crowded by a gather- North and hated in the South. Their work
ing of prominent literary and musical people. Abby, brought them in contact with all the great re-
modestly attired in white, was radiant with happiness formers of that golden period, and many pre-
and intelligence. It was something new to behold one
so modest, so artless, commanding the attention of En-
cious friendships were formed. They sang in
glish audiences. She won the hearts of all. Her voice all parts of the country, to the soldiers in
was full and clear, and her execution faultless. Her camp, to President Lincoln at the White House,
singing of Tennyson’s · May Queen’ had a heavenly to great audiences in all our large cities; and
charm. The first part was sung with such exuberance
of youthful joy and hope as to win the instant uncon-
though praised and flattered without stint, they
trolled applanse of the audience. The second part in
remained the same simple, unaffected band of
sad and mournful strains carried home the words of this Yankee singers, pouring themselves forth in
pathetic song to every heart. It seemed an angel's voice music that was as natural as breathing. Jud-
whispering to the dying May Queen peace and resigna- son's voice was a pure tenor, John's a baritone,
tion. It was the passing of a spirit to that heaven where
the sun of righteousness forever shines. She lifted the
Asa's a deep bass, while Abby sang contralto.
audience to a state of unparalleled exaltation. The next
The voices blended so perfectly that it was quite
day the press of London rang with the praises of the impossible to distinguish the several parts, and
American Singers.”
such exquisite harmony is seldom attained by
But the greatest work of the Hutchinsons, long years of practice. The wives of Judson
and that in which they won their chief fame, and Asa and John were all singers, and since
was in the anti-slavery field. They were aboli- | the war there have been so many different
tionists from the very beginning of their career. tribes of Hutchinsons singing in various parts
• The Old Granite State” was the song with of the country as to prompt a Massachu-
which they opened their concerts ; but there setts paper to declare, a few years ago : “ The
were always such stirring melodies as “ The Hutchinson Family, which has been giving
Slave's Appeal," "Get Off the Track," and concerts since the flood, and about one hundred
Whittier's anti-slavery verses. Nathaniel P. of which have died, is singing away as though


224
[Oct. 16,
THE DIAL
nothing had happened, up in New Hampshire.'
SOCIAL FORCES IN GERMAN LITERATURE.*
Of the three brothers who sang with Abby,
perhaps the most interesting was Judson, the Since Herder put forth the doctrine that
eleventh child, “ dear, impulsive, noble Jud. literature is only one of many manifestations of
son," as Garrison called him. He had more of national life, a century passed before the writ-
what is termed genius than any of the others. ers of histories of literature learned to apply to
Possessed of rare ventriloqual powers, he was
their work the natural conclusions of the doc-
able in such songs as “ Excelsior" to produce trine, and to keep their readers always in sight
wonderful effect. Of a nervous, high-strung of the reality behind the manifestation. No
temperament, he was always inclined to mel history of literature is satisfactory to-day unless
ancholy; yet humor and satire were curiously it is more or less a philosophy of literature.
blended in him. He is said to have possessed Of course it is not possible within practicable
what is commonly known as “second-sight,"
second-sight,” limits to display at every moment the whole of
and some strange illustrations of this gift are
the national life together with its literary pro-
given in the present work. Living through that duct. The reader must be familiar already
stimulating period of moral awakening of which with the outlines of the general history. Taine,
the anti-slavery movement was the strongest in the Introduction to his “ English Litera-
outbreak, when, as Mr. Higginson says, “ it was
ture,” makes the race, the surroundings, and
in as bad taste for a poor man to have but one
the epoch the essential features which he would
hobby in his head as for a rich man to keep keep in sight of his readers ; but he bardly
but one horse in his stable," the Hutchinsons carries out his programme as to the last of
were not absorbed in the anti-slavery movement these. We see constantly the full-feeding, pug-
to the exclusion of other reforms. They sang
nacious Saxon and his foggy green island, but
with equal zest in behalf of peace, temperance,
not much of the popular, intellectual, and polit-
and woman's enfranchisement. Judson adopted ical life of an epoch. Scherer, in his “Ger-
new notions with all the ardor of an enthusi man Literature," as in a well-constructed his-
astic nature, going about in socks, because he torical novel, keeps the dynastic history evident
did not believe in wearing any garment that
iu the background, but does not hold his read.
necessitated the killing of animals, and being
ers well in touch with the great social move-
a most devoted Grahamite. The rest of the
ments of the nation.
family laughed at Judson's idiosyncrasies, but In deciding what phases of the nation's life
he was the one they all loved most. His mind, to portray along with its literature, it is inev.
like many another so sensitively attuned, be itable that a writer have a theory and follow a
came really unbalanced during the last years principle. This Dr. Francke has done in his
of his life, and in a period of depression he study of “Social Forces in German Litera-
hanged himself. Each of this band of singers ture.” He endeavors to keep always in mind
is interesting in his way; they all had strongly the prime tendencies in the social and intel-
pronounced personalities, and may be taken as
lectual life of the period, and especially the
types of the New England character of their parallel expressions of these tendencies in phi-
time. All but one have passed over to the losophy and art. He sees these tendencies
great unknown; and it was fitting that this last striving between the poles of individualism and
of the sixteen, lingering now " among new men,
collectivism, finding perfection on the indi-
strange faces, other minds,” should tell the story vidualistic side in the great masters of the
of the picturesque band who rendered such val. eighteenth century, and moving even now to-
iant service to the cause of humanity in the ward a collectivistic harmony. If the effort to
days that tried men's souls.
discover these tendencies in all interesting
GRACE JULIAN CLARKE. works of German literature seems occasionally
a little forced, on the whole it must be admitted
LOCKHART'S “ Life of Sir Walter Scott,” in the con by even the most determined casualist that the
densed form of the edition of 1848, has been published theory is luminous. For the first time, Ger-
in an excellent two-volume American edition (Crowell).
man literature has been depicted with a spirit
It will be remembered that this revision and condensa-
tion of the full biography was made by Lockhart himself,
that imparts to it organic unity. We have not,
who compressed the original eighty-four chapters into then, a mere old-fashioned chronological list of
eighteen, and added considerable fresh matter. Life is
*SOCIAL FORCES IN GERMAN LITERATURE. A Study in
too short to allow many of us to read the work in its the History of Civilization. By Kupo Francke, Ph.D., Assist-
earlier form, and this abridgment gives us the best of ant Professor of German Literature in Harvard University.
both Scott and Lockhart.
New York: Henry Holt & Co.


1896.]
225
THE DIAL
author says:
German authors, with brief biographies and ing the Elizabethan era, while the Dutch are fighting
extracts, such as might serve for cramming in
the most glorious struggle of modern times for free
a civil service examination ; and yet few works
thought and free government, Germany, the mother-
land of religious liberty, is hopelessly lost in the conflict
of importance fail to receive mention, while the
between Jesuit and Protestant fanaticism, and is grad-
excellent index and bibliographic foot-notes ually drifting toward the abyss of the Thirty Years'
make the volume a satisfactory hand-book for
War.”
college classes pursuing the outline of the sub- Such is the introduction to the chapter — the
ject. Doubtless Dr. Francke had no thought statement of the question. After an analysis
of supplanting Scherer, but he has certainly of Humanism and of Luther's greater works,
produced an indispensable supplement to that Dr. Francke
Dr. Francke prepares for a résumé :
or any other standard history of German litera “We have already spoken of the causes which be-
ture.
tween 1525 and 1530, brought the Reformation move-
Notwithstanding what has just been said of
ment to a standstill and checked the upward, idealistic
the pursuit of a theory, and the disclaimer in
current of German literature. To say it once more:
the chief reason was the absence in the Germany of the
the Preface of any pretensions to purely liter-
sixteenth century of a strong national will, of an en-
ary criticism, this book is rich in well-weighed, lightened public opinion. ... The result was that the
condensed judgments of writers, and in dis- religious Reformation, instead of being borne along by
criminating, yet enthusiastic, appreciations of
an irresistible tide of national enthusiasm, was forced
into the narrow channels of local fanaticism. ... And
the best qualities in their masterpieces. For
thus it came about that at the very time (1530) when
instance, in speaking of the Court Epics our the Augsburg Confession, the official form of the Pro-
testant belief, was definitely fixed, Protestantism had
« There is no background to most of these poems.
ceased to represent, what in the beginning it had stood
In reading them we feel as if we were seeing a mirage.
for, the deepest hopes and highest aspirations of a united
people."
garments of these lords and ladies are, almost all their Luther himself ended by abandoning the ideals of
faces look alike; however wild the forests, however gor-
his early manhood. He had broken with the old sacred
geous the ravines, we do not hear the wind rustle in the tradition; he had rejected all outward helps to salva-
leaves or the water roaring in its fall. And over the tion; be had placed himself on his own ground, alone in
unending succession of fashionable happenings, of gal all the world, trusting in the personal guidance and pro-
lant tournaments, of love-scenes both delicate and frivo tection of God. As a result of his own teaching he now
lous, of bold abductions and miraculous escapes, we
saw the country transformed into a surging sea, tossed,
entirely lose sight of the real forces and the true mean as it seemed to him, by evil doctrines and pernicious
ing of life.”
contests. Had it, then, really been the voice of God
Here is a much-needed correction of a cur-
that called him ? . . . He can only answer these terri-
ble questionings by a blind and implicit faith. He comes
rent error regarding what are called Popular forth from the struggle, not as be entered it, strong in
Lyrics and Epics ( Volkslieder, Volksepen): intellectual fearlessness, but strong in stubborn adher-
“No doubt there is a great deal of truth in the asser-
ence to a chosen authority; not any longer the champion
tion that the Volkslied is property and product of the
of reason, but as its defamer.”
whole nation. . . . And yet it is equally certain that
“ And yet how different the intellectual history of
each Volkslied, in its original form, is property and Germany and of the world would have been if the man
product of an individual poet, and is the result of indi who had given the German people the idea of universal
vidual and personal experiences. If this were not self priesthood, who had called on them to fling away the
evident, the German folk-songs of the fourteenth, fif-
form in order to save the substance of religion, who had
teenth, and sixteenth centuries would give ample proof grounded the religious life upon individual belief and
of it."
individual reason, had not ended as the founder of a
As an illustration of Dr. Francke's method,
new orthodoxy and a new absolutism."
I submit several extracts from his treatment of
It is manifest, in the extracts already given,
Luther and the Reformation.
that the judgments of the author are not
“ The history of the German people in the sixteenth
mere re-wordings of the opinions of standard
century presents a strange and sad spectacle. At the critics. Every page bears witness to his inde-
beginning of the period Germany, of all European na pendence. But it is an independence based evi.
tions, shows the highest intellectual promise.
dently upon broad and careful knowledge, and
Great'men are standing up for a great cause. Coper-
will therefore attract and interest in its concur-
nicus is pointing toward an entirely new conception of
the physical universe. Erasmus and Hutten, Holbein
rence as well as in its dissent. Among dissenting
and Dürer, Melanchthon and Luther, each in his own positions is what is meant to be a “ Rettung
sphere, are preparing the way for a new and higher of Klopstock. In the opinion that “the time
form of national life. It seems as though a strong and
free German state, a golden age of German art and lit-
will certainly come when even the narrative
erature, were near at hand. At the end of the century
part of the Messias will again, as in Goethe's
all these hopes are crushed. While England is enter- | youth, find readers willing to let themselves be


226
(Oct. 16,
THE DIAL
carried along by its powerful and sonorous,
normal, but in the exceptional and the abnormal, in the
though sometimes monotonous, flow of oratory,'
capricious and the diseased."
Dr. Francke will probably find few sympa-
“ It is indeed well-nigh impossible for the modern
reader to find his way through the labyrintbine tangle
thizers,— least of all, if we may credit a recent
of Jean Paul's imagination. These enchanted forests of
report, from one of his colleagues in the En wild adventure and mysterious chance, these dreary des-
glish department.
erts of recondite learning, these gloomy caverns of mys-
It is not possible within the limits of this tic contemplation, these cataracts of untamed emotion,-
review to do justice to Dr. Francke's treatment
how strange and bewildering it all is !”
of the great writers of the eighteenth century.
What a blessed feeling of relief these last par-
In general, there is here much more of literary agraphs must bring to many a docile literary
criticism than in other parts of the book.
conscience confused in its vain attempts to
While there is a conscientious, and, as it seems
bring the hitherto required tribute to Richter's
to me, thoroughly successful, attempt to do jus-
shrine!
tice to Goethe, the author's sympathies are
But I have said and quoted enough to arouse
plainly with Schiller. He admires Goethe, he
in every friend of German literature the de-
loves Schiller. For instance, your genuine sire to possess this interesting volume. The
Goethe worshipper would not be satisfied to style is clear, crisp, and unobtrusive, and de-
have this said of “ Wilhelm Meister":
spite the modest apology of the Preface, would
“We feel as though we could not breathe in this probably betray to no one not on the alert for
atmosphere, as though there was no chance for activity
evidence the fact that the author left Germany
in a social order in which the main interests of modern less than fifteen years ago. The proof has been
German life, a national dynasty, a national parliament, read with great care, the few errors being
problems of national organization, defence and self-
mostly immaterial, and the publishers have
assertion, had no part. We even feel something akin
to contempt for these men and women who keep a most given a handsome and dignified outfitting to
scrupulous account of their own precious emotions, who what is destined to be a standard work for both
bestow the most serious consideration upon a host of professional and general uses.
insignificant trifles, and who, at the same time, only too
W. H. CARRUTH.
often are found erring in the simplest questions of right
and wrong.”
Yet the novel is by no means herewith con-
demned. With great care its undoubted merits
BRIEFS ON NEW BOOKS.
and historical significance are pointed out. But
We have several times had occasion
when Dr. Francke turns to Schiller's charac-
of Nature in to commend academic dissertations
ters, he says:
English poetry.
published by the English Department
“If they are sometimes lacking in that instinctive of the University of Chicago. Such work as has been
sympathy with human nature as it is which distinguishes done in this field by Dr. Lewis, Dr. Carpenter, and
all of Shakspere's and nearly all of Goethe's work, they Dr. Triggs exhibits in a very high degree the thor-
compensate for this by their splendid enthusiasm for oughness and the painstaking industry that we have
human nature as it ought to be.”
a right to expect from the university thesis, although
Rarely, as in the case of Richter, there seems we do not always get it. The University of Chicago
to be an incomplete reconciliation of the hith has set a high standard in this matter, and the lat-
erto prevailing opinion, and the author's own, est English monograph that has issued from this
and both appear. For instance :
institution certainly does not derogate from that
standard. It is the work of Miss Myra Reynolds,
“ In him [Jean Paul], it seemed, the ideal of an bar-
monious, all-embracing individuality had taken bodily
and bas for its subject “ The Treatment of Nature
form and come to walk among men. There probably
in English Poetry between Pope and Wordsworth.”
never was a poet who felt more deeply and with more
The author has evidently read, note-book in hand,
personal ardor than Jean Paul the unity of all life. His the main body of eighteenth-century poetry, a large
loving eye lingered with the same calm serenity upon part of the fiction, and not a little of the literature
the smallest and the greatest.
His life was filled with of travel of the period. Her monograph fills 290
that profound and joyous awe which springs from a octavo pages, crammed with illustrative facts and
strong and abiding sense of the infinite and which is
phrases, and bristling with references as becomes a
'man's best part.
dissertation ; yet graceful in manner and extremely
But a few pages farther on occur these bewil. readable, wherein it differs from most works of its
dering, though certainly just, judgments : class. She gives us, first, “ a general statement of
“How could he belp being devoid of the moral
the chief characteristics that marked the treatment
soundness and vigor which is the fruit of individual tal of nature under the dominance of the English clas-
ent exercised in the service of a common cause ? sical poets,” then a detailed study of those poets in
“ His real interest lay, not in the universal and the whose writings we may find germs of the conception
The treatment


1896.]
227
THE DIAL
-
-
“ The Chisel
of nature that was to burst into full flower with our author prefers “to leave the task to others bet-
Wordsworth and his contemporaries; and, finally, ter qualified,”—a modest and laudable proceeding,
brief special chapters on the landscape gardening, but not convincing or persuasive as an argument.
the fiction, the books of travel, and the landscape The Macmillan Co. are the American publishers.
painting of the eighteenth century. The work is
essentially a study in literary evolution, and contrib-
It is quite certain that few of us get
utes an important chapter to the new history of our
as much as we might out of the
of Phidias."
literature, the work of many hands, that is slowly
picture galleries and museums of our
emerging, and that will, when completed, be as dif- large cities; and particularly is this apt to be the
ferent from the earlier annalistic treatment as Ly-
case with regard to collections of casts from the
ell's “Geology” was different from the catastrophic antique. Most people feel as thougb “the chisel of
geology of his predecessors. “Before Wordsworth,
Phidias
was a something not wholly unfamiliar to
most of his characteristic thoughts on nature had them, but too often one's ideas upon the art of Phi-
received fairly explicit statement.” This sentence,
dias are based merely upon the Psyche and Flying
taken from the last page of Miss Reynolds's essay,
Mercury we happeu to have in the parlor, and vague
is amply justified by the pages that go before, and
recollections of the Venus of Melos and the Apollo
may be taken as striking the keynote of her work. Belvedere. In rendering more popular the knowl.
edge of Greek sculpture and indicating its possibil-
A study in
In “The Authorship of the King'isities, we can hardly overrate the value of a book
Old Scottish Quair,” by J. T. T. Brown, we have like the “Catalogue of the Casts of Greek and
Literature.
what, if published in Germany, would
Roman Sculpture in the Museum of Fine Arts”
be a simple dissertation or programme, a thin pam (Boston), prepared by Mr. Edward Robinson, Cur-
phlet sold for a mark. As brought out by the Pub-
ator of Classical Antiquities, and now in its third
lishers to the University of Glasgow, however, it and revised edition (Houghton). We speak prin-
appears in a much more imposing and sumptuous cipally of the value of this book, not merely to those
dress. Internally, there is not so much difference
who walk about the galleries of casts and want to
of spirit; the book is an argument to show that the know what this or that may be, but to anyone who
old Scotch poem of “ The King'is Quair” was not wants to know about Greek sculpture, for the book
written by James I., as has been commonly sup-gives a careful discussion of each statue. It has its
posed. The view has not been universally accepted; value to scholars also, both in its opinions and its
indeed, there has been a running fire of criticism and
indications of literature; but for popular use the
correspondence on the subject throughout the past book is especially adapted, and such use it will serve
summer. We have not space at hand even to sum admirably. Even if the reader be not able to go to
marize the argument; and on other terms, an opin the Museum and see the casts in question, the book
ion on the outcome would hardly be of value. The will furnish him with a guide to study, or, if no more,
case practically rests on six points : first, the poem with much useful information. And, after all, Greek
is not by James, because the earliest ascription to sculpture is something that one should have at least
him is of doubtful value ; because the testimonies to some little notion of, if only for the part it plays in
his poetical ability are not convincing, while the every-day literature or conversation. True, most of
silence of authoritative writers weighs heavily against us can appreciate that strange remark found by
it; because there is no sufficient reason to suppose Longfellow somewhere, “ Her arms were as lovely
that James, who was captured by the English when as those of the Venus di Milo,” but how many see
only twelve, would or could have written Lowland why that friend of Emerson's insisted that the
Scotch before he was released, and because of some Rondanini Medusa was really a Mnemosyne?
errors as to the facts of the King's life which seem
to be borrowed from Wyntoun's Chronicle ; second,
As a sidelight upon the history of our
the poem is of a later date than James, because it
country and its earlier conditions, the
has several characteristics of the Scotch of the lat-
“ Life and Letters of Charles Bul-
ter half of the century, and because it is evidently finch” (Houghton) will appeal to a larger circle
written with some reference to “The Court of Love." than might care for the record of older Boston
Stated thus baldly, these reasons do not, of course, or the life of one of our first architects. Charles
have the weight given by fuller treatment; but Bulfinch was a man of broad culture. He came of
scholars will be able to see the direction of the ar a family well-known in the Boston of the eighteenth
gument. Our own opinion is that the last two points century, in which was kept up a relation with Eu-
are the only ones of much value : if “ The King'is rope, both by study in earlier years and by later
Quair ” were written after “ The Court of Love” | travel, that brought their interests more into the cur-
(about 1450), if the rhymes show that its language rent of the world's ideas than was commonly the case
is of the latter part of the century, it is not probable in the America of a hundred years ago. His grand-
that it was written by James I., who died in 1437. father and his father had been doctors, one study-
But we cannot regard the parallelisms with - The ing his profession in Paris, the other in London and
Court of Love” as wholly convincing; and as to the Edinburgh. Although not destined for the family
showing of the language to be late fifteenth century, | profession, Charles Bulfinch spent several years of
The earliest
American
architect.


228
(Oct. 16,
THE DIAL
his youth in continental study, with results advan sideration of a greatly misunderstood movement.
tageous not merely to himself but to the country as He contends that while proportional representation
well. Subsequent events rather forced upon him recognizes the existence of parties as indispensable
as a profession what had been more of a cultivated in a free government, it prohibits the exaggerated
taste, and he became the first American architect of influence of small factions holding the balance of
real distinction. The nation at large knows his work power between two parties, and thus removes the
in the west front of the Capitol at Washington and incentives to bribery in elections. He thinks also
in the State House at Boston, while a smaller con that proportional representation based upon political
stituency owe to him University Hall in Cambridge opinions, rather than territorial areas, is a “spe-
and the Massachusetts General Hospital. In this cific” for the gerrymander. By abolishing districts,
life of a man who, becoming imbued with old-world the substance of the gerrymander is effectually oblit-
culture, if in one direction only, returned to his own erated. Parties are represented in proportion to
country and gave himself up to doing what he could their strength. Justice and equality become reali-
to increase her power and breadth of civilization, ties. The independence of the voter, and freedom
we of a later day have a peculiar interest. We
We from the rule of the party machine, are assured.
should be glad to call especial attention to the many “ Freedom from the rule of the machine,” he says,
agreeable nooks and by-paths, as one may say, “is, first, power on the part of the voters to control
the main road; but these the reader must discover the nominations of their party; and second, power
for himself. The book is pleasantly written by Miss to defeat obnoxious candidates without endangering
Ellen Bulfinch, with many letters, and is presented the success of the party." His arguments are sus-
in delightful form by the publishers.
tained with tables, maps, and diagrams, illustrating
and explaining them. Proportional representation
The cante-fable of "Aucassin et Nic is not an untried experiment. It has been success-
Old French
olete” has become of late years some-
Romances.
fully tried and is at present in vogue in several of
what widely known to English read the cantons of Switzerland, and there is no thought
ers, thanks mainly to the delightful version made of change there. It is now proposed as a method
by Mr. Andrew Lang. That old French romance of reform in American politics. Professor Com-
contains many other gems of purest ray serene, mons believes it is only preliminary to social reform.
hardly inferior in beauty to that tale of Provençal The book is a valuable addition to the “ Library of
love, is a fact by no means so well known. A lit Economics and Politics ” (Crowell).
tle volume called “ Nouvelles Françaises en Prose
du XIIIme Siècle," published in 1856, presented
One of the distinctive characteristics
A glance al
modern readers with the text of five romances, of Japanese of this century of English letters is
which “ Aucassin et Nicolete” was the last. The
literature.
its relation to the literature of for-
other four have been left for the late William Moreign countries. In the beginning of the century,
ris to translate, and his versions have duly appeared Coleridge and Carlyle began to familiarize us with
as issues of the Kelmscott Press. Not long before German literature. In the middle of the century,
his death, the translator consented to the re-publica- attention being already centrifugal, Tourguénieff
tion of these four translations in a volume of the and Tolstoi concentrated interest upon the literature
ordinary sort, and asked Mr. Joseph Jacobs to intro of Russia. Nowadays we can hardly say that there is
duce them to their new and wider public. This vol any particular foreign influence ; Norway and Bel-
ume of “Old French Romances (imported by gium and Spain attract to themselves, by this touch
Scribner) is a treasure indeed. The English is as of novelty, an already half-jaded curiosity ; but no
archaic as one could wish, and the spirit of the single nation exerts the power over the republic of
mediæval French most subtly decanted into new letters that was exerted by France two hundred
vessels. The events of these stories happen, as the years ago, or by Germany more recently. It is pos-
editor happily suggests, " at the root of the moun sible that a new interest will arise, not only in En-
tains, on the glittering plain, and in short, we get gland but in all cultivated Europe, for the literature
news from Nowhere.” And for this gift, as for so of Japan. We have already been strongly influenced
many others of perfect beauty, we may now thank by her more material arts and craft, but we do not
only the memory of the noble poet whose special know much of Japanese literature. With a view of
mission it was to interpret to a self-conscious age affording some acquaintance therewith, Roger Rior-
the life and thought of an unsophisticated past. dan and Tozo Takayanagi have given us " Sunrise
Stories" (Scribner). The book is called “ A Glance
It is encouraging to read so interest at the Literature of Japan,” and that is just about
A step toward
political reform.
ing a book upon a subject usually so what it is. After we have read it we feel that we
dry as “ Proportional Representa- have glanced at the matter, and no more. It is
tion "; and Professor J. R. Commons, while in some neither a serious history of the development of Jap-
sense an advocate, has done much in his essay upon anese literature, nor a free rendering of its spirit.
the subject to disabuse the mind of misconceptions, We rather regret that the book should neither charm
and to present a clear, cogent, and impartial con and delight us nor give us material for information


1896.]
229
THE DIAL
je
the
which we may desire. It is attractively printed,
LITERARY NOTES.
and there is a good deal that is interesting besides ;
but it still leaves a place for an Introduction to It is announced that Mr. J. W. Mackail will write
Japanese literature that shall be either fascinating the biography of William Morris.
or scholarly, or both.
Balzac's “The Country Parson” (“Le Curé de Vil-
lage"), translated by Miss Ellen Marriage, has just
been published by the Macmillan Co.
Mr. Theodore Watts-Danton is now publishing a vol-
BRIEFER MENTION.
ume of “Collected Essays.” We trust that we may not
“Briefs for Debate” (Longmans), edited by Messrs. have to wait long for an American edition.
W. Du Bois Brookings and Ralph Curtis Ringwalt, is a “Germany" and “The Sea" are the respective sub-
book that will be found useful by members of literary jects of two new volumes in the series of “Stories by
societies, and will also prove a helpful adjunct to the English Authors," of which Messrs. Charles Scribner's
work of the teacher of rhetoric. The subjects selected Sons are the publishers.
deal with "current political, economic, and social topics." The “ Athenæum" states that Mr. Aubrey de Vere is
A great number of such topics are analyzed, and sup about to publish bis autobiography, containing reminis-
plied with outline arguments and bibliographical refer cences of the various men of literary eminence with
ences. Professor Albert Bushnell Hart provides the whom he has been associated during the last fifty years.
work with an excellent introduction.
Four new volumes have been published in the taste-
Madame de La Fayette's “ La Princesse de Clèves" ful new edition of Marryatt issued by Messrs. Little,
(Ginn) is edited for school use by Messrs. B. F. Sledd Brown, & Co. The titles are “ Percival Keene," « Mas-
and H. Gorrell, and is a welcome addition to our list of terman Ready,” « The Privateersman,” and “Monsieur
annotated texts. “Moi," a three-act comedy by La Violet."
biche and Martin (Allyn), is edited by Mr. B. W. Wells “The Minister's Wooing,” “ The Pearl of Orr's Is-
for what is styled the “Ca Ira" series. Other books
land,” and “ Agnes of Sorrento,” are the first volumes,
for the teacher of French are “ Premières Lectures'
just published, of the new uniform edition of Mrs.
(Jenkins), by “ Veteran”; “ French Lessons and Exer-
Stowe's writings. Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Co. are
cises ” (Heath), by Mr. C. H. Grandgent; and a book in the publishers.
two parts on “ The Study and Practice of French in
A new series of works to be known as “The Sports-
Sebool,” by Mlle. Louise C. Boname, who is her own
man's Library," will be published by Mr. Edward Ar-
publisher.
nold, New York. The volumes will be issued at the
Professor O. F. Emerson's “ Brief History of the En rate of two or three a year, under the editorship of Sir
glish Language” (Macmillan) is marked by the same Herbert Maxwell, and will be profusely illustrated.
excellences as his longer work on the same subject, pub The series called “Heroes of the Nations,” published
lished less than two years ago; the differences being by Messrs. G. P. Putnam's Sons, has hitherto consisted
principally in the way of condensation and re-arrange-
entirely of new books. The latest volume offers a de-
ment in the later work, to adapt it to the use of schools.
One of the noticeable features of the book is the stress
parture from this custom, being nothing more than a
laid upon spoken language as a factor in sbaping En-
new edition of Irving's “Columbus” in its shorter form.
glish past and present; and this, in the bands of an
“ Bibliographica," the beautiful quarterly publication
enthusiastic and skilful teacher, may be made the means
devoted to the history and art of books, has reached its
of original work on the part of students.
tenth issue, leaving but two more to complete the series.
Mr. Arthur Waugh's new six-volume edition of “John-
We feel that we are conferring a favor on book lovers
son's Lives of the Poets" (imported by Scribner), of
and collectors in advising them to send to Messrs.
which four volumes have already been issued, presents
Charles Scribner's Sons, the American agents, for pros-
the work in a very satisfactory form. Cunningham's
pectuses of this really monumental work.
edition, hitherto the library standard, has become out-
Messrs. T. Y. Crowell & Co. have just published, at
dated by the mass of new information that has accum-
a moderate price, a neat and compact edition of Bour-
ulated during the past forty years, and his text is by no
rienne's “ Memoirs of Napoleon Bonaparte.” Four vol-
means accurate. Mr. Waugh gives us a new apparatus
umes are bound in two, and numerous illustrations are
of notes, concisely stated and sparingly introduced, while
supplied. The same publishers also send us an excep-
his text is literally “that of the last edition to pass un-
tionally attractive edition of Cooper's “ Leatherstock-
der Johnson's revision, the edition of 1783; the phras-
ing " novels, in five volumes, handsomely illustrated.
ing, punctuation, and spelling bave been alike faithfully The second volume of “The Tragedies of Euripides
preserved.” The edition is made particularly attractivo in English Verse,” translated by Mr. Arthur S. Way, has
by portraits of all the poets discussed by Johnson. just been published by the Macmillan Co. A third vol.
The pretty edition of FitzGerald's “ Omar," pub ume will complete the work. The instalment now pub-
lished by Messrs. T. Y. Crowell & Co., gives us the
lished includes a considerable essay on “ Euripides and
text of the “Rubaiyat” as posthumously corrected by
His Work," and translations of the following six plays:
Mr. W. Aldis Wright, also the text of the first edition,
“ Andromache," “ The Children of Herakles," " The
and the variants offered by the others. It also contains Daughters of Troy," "Electra," “ Helen,” and “The
a biography by Mr. Michael Kerney, the epilogue to Madness of Herakles.”
Tennyson's “ Teiresias," the translator's own introduc The American Library Association is raising a fund
tion and notes, and, in addition to all these features, for the purpose of placing a bronze bust of the late Dr.
reprints the translation of Jami's “Salaman and Absal.” William F. Poole in the Public Library or the New-
A portrait also appears, and the book contains, alto berry Library, Chicago, and the Committee will welcome
gether, a good dollar's worth of literature,
contributions from any one of the multitudes who have


230
[Oct. 16,
THE DIAL
found “ Poole's Index” of great use to them and would
like to honor its maker. No one has done more than
Dr. Poole to promote the cause of general culture
through public libraries. The committee, of which Dr.
G. E. Wire, 1574 Judson Ave., Evanston, Ill., is secre-
tary and treasurer, will welcome all contributions, how-
ever small.
Wülker's “Geschichte der Englischen Litteratur" is
the initial number of an important series of illustrated
histories of literatures, soon to be published by Das
Biobliographische Institut in Leipzig. Each history will
be prepared by men of authority in their own line: the
one on German literature by Professors Friedrich Vogt
and Max Koch of Breslau; on the French, by Profes-
sors Hermann Suchier of Halle and Heinrich Morf of
Zurich; the Italian, by Lector Berthold Wiese of Halle
and Privatdocent Erasmo Percopo of Naples. Some-
what later the series will include histories of the litera-
tures of the Slavonic and Oriental nations. The pub-
lishers intend to avoid the publication of “picture-
books,” and will make the illustrations contribute in
every possible way to the clearer presentation of the
subject. In selecting material for illustrations, three
general principles are to be followed: they must not be
too numerous, they must be selected by specialists and
be arranged on scientific principles, and they must be
reproduced from authentic originals and in the very
best artistic skill. The first Lieferung of the work on
English literature has just appeared, and gives a fair
sample of wbat may be expected from the rest of the
series. Professor Wülker's name is ample guarantee
that the book is trustworthy and fully abreast of the
latest scientific research, and the illustrations seem to
have been selected and reproduced according to the
principles just mentioned. One of these is a facsimile
of a page from the Anglo-Saxon Durhambuch; another
is a full-page wood-cut of Tennyson; others are of the
earliest monuments of civilization in England. With
them is given exact information as to the history of the
originals and their present location. In the whole book
of fourteen lieferungen there will be one hundred and
fifty illustrations in the text, twenty-five large ones in
colors or from copper or wood, and eleven facsimile
inserts; and among them all will be a large number of
authentic portraits. The treatment of Ossian is quite
characteristic, and shows the general method of the
book. After briefly describing Ossian and the Sagen-
kreis upon which his poems are based, the discussion
shows how Macpherson in the eighteenth century won
renown by sending these poems all over the world to
influence more or less the literatures of other peoples.
Then follows an abstract of many of the poems, with
frequent quotations in modern German translation. The
complete book is to be sold at fourteen marks.
TOPICS IN LEADING PERIODICALS.
October, 1896 (Second List).
Acetylene, the New Illuminant. V. J. Youmans. Pop. Sci.
Am. Industry, Why It Languishes. Sec'y Herbert. No. Am.
Art, Purpose in. Harriet Monroe. North American.
Books and their Makers. J. W. Thompson. Dial (Oct. 16).
Butler, Marion. Carl Snyder. Review of Reviews.
Children's Questions, Educative Value of. Popular Science.
Cowden-Clarke, Mrs. Mary, Autobiography of. Dral (Oct. 16).
Currency, The Best. A. W. Tourgée. North American.
Educational Prospects in England. Sir J. E. Gorst. No. Am.
Electoral System, Our. Bishop S. M. Merrill. No. American.
Foreign Trade, A Hindrance to Our. T.J. Jernigan. No. Am.
France's Task in Madagascar. Fred'k Taylor. No. American.
German Literature, Social Forces in. Dial (Oct. 16).
Hanna, Marcus A. Murat Halsted. Review of Reviews,
Hutchinson Family of Singers, The. Dial (Oct. 16).
Hypnotism, Educational Uses. Dr. R. O. Mason. No. Am.
Jones, Senator J. K. W. J. Abbott. Review of Reviews.
Leaves, Significance of. F. S. Mathews. Popular Science.
Literature, Originality in. Richard Burton. Dial (Oct. 16).
Mental Capacity, A Measure of. Emil Kraepelin. Pop. Sci.
Metric System, The. T.C. Mendenhall. Popular Science.
Morris, William. Dial (Oct. 16.)
Nevada Silver. C. H. Shinn. Popular Science.
Novelists, Contentiousness of Modern. Agnes Repplier.No.Am.
Princeton after 150 Years. W. M. Daniels. Rev. of Reviews.
Self and Its Derangements. W. R. Newbold. Pop. Science.
Shipping, Our Neglected. A. R. Smith, North American.
Silver, Constitutional Changes under. Hon.W.Clark. No. Am.
Silver, Wage Shrinkage under. L. Windmüller. No. Am.
“Sound Money" Democray, The. Review of Reviews.
Writing, The Art of. E. E. Hale, Jr. Dial (Oct. 16).
Vivisection Question. C. F. Hodge. Popular Science.
LIST OF NEW BOOKS.
(The following list, containing 150 titles, includes books
received by THE DIAL since its last issue.]
HISTORY.
Constitutional History of the United States from their
Declaration of Independence to the Close of their Civil
War. By George Ticknor Curtis ; edited by Joseph Cul-
bertson Clayton. Vol. II., with portrait, 8vo, gilt top,
uncut, pp. 780. Harper & Bros. $3.
A History of Egypt during the XVIIth and XVIIIth
Dynasties. By W. M. Flinders Petrie, D.C.L. Vol. II.;
illus., 12mo, uncut, pp. 353. Chas. Scribner's Sons. $2.25.
English Historical Reprints. Edited by W. Dawson John-
ston and Jean Browne Johnston. No.1, Relations between
Church and State, Mediæval, 664-154. 8vo, pp. 46. Ann
Arbor, Mich.: Sheehan & Co. 25 cts.
BIOGRAPHY AND MEMOIRS.
The Memoirs of Baron Thiébault (Late Lieutenant-
General in the French Army). Trans, and condensed by
Arthur John Butler. In two vols., with portraits, 8vo, gilt
tops, uncut. Macmillan Co. $7.
My Long Life: An Autobiographic Sketch. By Mary
Cowden-Clarke. With portraits, 12mo, gilt top, uncut,
pp. 276. Dodd, Mead & Co. $2.
Famous American actors of l'o-Day. Edited by Fred-
eric Edward McKay and Charles E. L. Wingate. With
portraits, 12mo, gilt top, pp. 399. T. Y. Crowell & Co. $2.
William Henry Seward. By Thornton Kirkland Lothrop.
12mo, gilt top, pp. 446. American Statesmen." Hough-
ton, Mifflin & Co. $1.25.
Life and Times of Savonarola. By Prof. Pasquale Villari;
trans. by Linda Villari. Popular edition ; illus., 8vo, un-
cut, pp. 792. Chas Scribner's Sons. $2.50.
Columbus: His Life and Voyages. By Washington Irving.
Condensed by the author from his larger work; illus.,
12mo, pp. 412. “Heroes of the Nations." G. P. Putnam's
Sons. $1.50.
The Balladists. By John Geddie. 12mo, pp. 160. "Famous
Scots." Chas. Scribner's Sons. 75 cts.
ON RETURNING A BORROWED BOOK.
“Such is the fate of borrowed Books; they're lost,
Or not the Book returneth, but its Ghost."
Charles Nodier.
This book you loaned, I did not borrow;
Else had you wisdom at great cost,
And learned the truth made Nodier sorrow:
A borrowed book returns a ghost.
I've read the tale of these two lovers;
My memory's stolen all 't will hold,
And yet you 'll find between the covers
The same sweet story as of old.
WILLIAM S. LORD.


1896.]
231
THE DIAL
The Story of a Busy Life: Recollections of Mrs. George A.
Paull;
edited by J. R. Miller, D.D. With portrait, 16mo,
gilt top, pp. 275. T. Y. Crowell & Co. $1.
GENERAL LITERATURE.
Fables. By Robert Louis Stevenson. 16mo, gilt top, uncut,
pp. 92. Chas. Scribner's Sons. $1.
A Phrase Book from the Poetic and Dramatic Works of
Robert Browning. By Marie Ada Molineux, A.M. 8vo,
gilt top, pp. 520. Houghton, Mifflin & Co. $3.
Shakespeare's Heroes on the Stage. By Charles E. L.
Wingate. Illus., 12mo, gilt top, pp. 348. T. Y. Crowell &
Co. $2.
Talks on Writing English. By Arlo Bates. 12mo, pp. 322.
Houghton, Mifflin & Co. $1.50.
The Real and Ideal in Literature. By Frank Preston
Stearns. With portrait, 12mo, gilt top, pp. 223. G. P.
Putnam's Sons. $1.25.
Rosemary and Rue. By “ Amber." 12mo, gilt top, uncut,
pp. 303. Rand, McNally & Co. $1.25.
The Tragedies of Euripides in English Verse. By Arthur
S. Way, M.A. In three vols., Vol. II.; 12mo, uncut,
pp. 418. Macmillan Co. $2.
Bibliographica: A Magazine of Bibliography. Part X.;
illus. in colors, etc., 4to, uncut. Chas. Scribner's Sons.
(Sold only in sets.)
Literary Studies. By Joseph Jacobs. New and enlarged
edition ; 16mo, uncut, pp. 195. Chas. Scribner's Sons. $1.25.
NEW EDITIONS OF STANDARD LITERATURE.
“Riverside" Edition of Harriet Beecher Stowe's Works.
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and engraved title-page, 12mo, gilt top, uncut. Houghton,
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The Loatper Stocking Tales. By James Fenimore Cooper ;
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Novels of Captain Marryat. Edited by R. Brimley John-
son. New vols : Percival Keene, Monsieur Violet, The
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Bourrienne's Memoirs of Napoleon Bonaparte. Edited
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Johnson's Lives of the Poets. With Notes and Introduc-
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gilt top, uncut, pp. 256. Chas. Scribner's Sons. $2.50.
Lockhart's Life of Scott. With prefatory Letter by J. R.
Hope Scott. In two vols., illus. in photogravure, etc.,
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Duruy's History of France. Abridged and trans. by Mrs.
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J. Franklin Jameson, Ph.D. In two vols., illus. in photo
gravure, etc., 12mo, gilt tops. T. Y. Crowell & Co.
Boxed, $3.
Pope's Poetical Works. Edited, with Memoir, by Adolphus
William Ward, Litt.D. In two vols., illus. in photogra-
vure, etc., 12mu, gilt tops. T. Y. Crowell & Co. Boxed,
$3.
Browning's Poems. His own selections, with additions.
Edited by Charlotte Porter and Helen A. Clarke. In two
vols., illus. in photogravure, etc., 12mo, gilt tops. T. Y.
Crowell & Co. Boxed, $3.
Don Quixote. By, Cervantes ; Ormsby's translation. In
two vols., illus. in photogravure, etc., 12mo, gilt tops.
T. Y. Crowell & Co. Boxed, $3.
“Faïence" Editions of Standard Works. New vols.:
Fitzgerald's translation of the Rubaiyát of Omar Khay-
pám; George Sand's Fadette, trans. by Mrs. James M.
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by Helen B. Dole. Each with photogravure frontispiece,
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The Country Parson. By H. de Balzac; trans. by Ellen
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Robert Helmont: Diary of a Recluse, 1870-1871. By
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One Day's Courtship, and The Heralds of Fame. By Rob-
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Houghton, Mifflin & Co. $1.50.


232
(Oct. 16,
THE DIAL
66
Handbook of Old Burial Hill, Plymouth, Mass. By Frank
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Guide to Historic Plymouth. Illus., 16mo, pp. 96. Ply-
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THEOLOGY AND RELIGION.
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The Inspiration of History. By James Mulchahey, S.T.D.
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204. Baltimore : John Murphy & Co. 75 ots.


1896.]
THE DIAL
233
THE FIRST VIOLIN.
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234
[Oct. 16,
THE DIAL
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--
2
2-99m 73
،
paque
follow a6.
THE DIAL
A Semi-Monthly Journal of Literary Criticism, Discussion, and Information.
No. 250.
NOVEMBER 16, 1896. Vol. XXI.
CONTENTS.
PAGE
THE FUTURE OF ENGLISH SPELLING .
. 273
. 275
ENGLISH LITERATURE IN GERMANY. Frederic
Ives Carpenter.
COMMUNICATIONS
276
A Misplaced "Beer Keg." C. A. Seiders.
Bird Illustrations from Life. Charles C. Abbott.
.
AT HIGH TIDE (Poem). Martha Gilbert Dickinson . 276
HAMERTON'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY. E. G. J. 277
.
280
PRESENT EDUCATIONAL TENDENCIES. Hiram
M. Stanley
Laqueer's Hegel as Educator. - Bryant's Hegel's
Educational Ideas. - Herbart's A B C of Sense-Per-
ception.-- Miss Haskell's Child Observations.-Com-
payré's Development of the Child.- Mrs. Wiggin and
Miss Smith's Kindergarten Principles.- Jobonnot's
Principles of Teaching.–Garlick's A New Manual of
Method. - Clarke's The Education of Children at
Rome. - Halleck's The Education of the Central
Nervous System.-Jordan's The Care and Culture of
Men.
THE LIFE OF WILLIAM H. SEWARD. Francis
W. Shepardson.
282
THE COUNTRY OF HORACE AND VIRGIL.
Josiah Renick Smith .
284
THE FUTURE OF ENGLISH SPELLING.
Agitation for a reform of English spelling
has been going on for a long while, both in
England and the United States, but the reform-
ers have received slight encouragement from
the public. The empirical reconstruction urged
by Webster has given place to the more scien-
tific conceptions of modern philology ; but all
the reformers, men of science and empiricists
alike, have made no serious breach in the de-
fences of conservatism. Every form of argu-
ment, from plea to denunciation, has been en-
listed in the attack, but the citadel has remained
impregnable. Even Webster's “ Dictionary ”
has grown conservative in its old age, and bears
but few traces of the fiery radicalism of its
youth. The little systems of the phonetists
have had their day, each in its turn arousing
the public to momentary mirth or wonder, and
then giving place to another no less grotesque
and impossible. The legislature of the nation
and the school authorities of the locality bave
been petitioned and memorialized and appealed
to in the most frantically misspelled terms,
and have remained obdurate. The publisher
here and the editor there, who, impatient of
delay, have allowed zeal to outran judgment,
and have sought to force a reformed spelling
upon the reluctant public, have had only their
labor for their pains, and made for themselves
the old discovery that man is not a logical ani.
mal. Judging by the almost total failure of
the English spelling-reformer to accomplish his
purpose, we may with peculiar fitness apply to
him the words of the poet:
“He weaves, and is clothed with derision;
Sows, and he shall not reap."
The net result of all his efforts in the United
States is summed up in the few Websterian
forms that have found a lodgment in usage
(many of these abhorrent to a delicate sense),
in the adoption of a few other simplified forms
by scattered publishers, and in the tentative
admission to some of our later dictionaries of
an appendix of amended spellings.
In the face of this persistent opposition to a
change which has been advocated by so many
able scholars and supported by so many plaus-
ible arguments, it is worth while to inquire into
.
RECENT FICTION. William Morton Payne
285
Mrs. Ward's Sir George Tressady. – Pritchard's
Without Sin. — Bourdillon's Nephelé. — Ian Mac-
laren's Kate Carnegie. - Crockett's The Gray Man.
- Barrie's Sentimental Tommy.- O'Grady's Ulrick
the Ready.-O'Grady's In the Wake of King James.
- McManus's The Silk of the Kine.- Bray's The
King's Revenge. - Bloundelle-Burton's In the Day
of Adversity. - Bloundelle-Burton's Denounced. -
Mason's The Courtship of Morrice Buckler.-Rhos-
comyl's Battlement and Tower.-Clark's The Find-
ing of Lot's Wife. — Boothby's Dr. Nikola. – Stim-
son's King Noanett. - Cogswell's The Regicides.-
Stockton's Mrs. Cliff's Yacht. - Frederic's March
Hares. Pontoppidan's The Promised Land. -
Jokai's Black Diamonds. — Hichens's The Folly of
Eustace. – Morrison's Chronicles of Martin Hewitt.
Bunner's Love in Old Cloathes. - Matthews's Tales
of Fantasy and Fact.
BRIEFS ON NEW BOOKS .
290
Electricity and magnetism as modes of motion.-
Three new volumes of popular science.- A history of
the English people. - More problems of modern
Democracy. - The methods and characteristics of
Darwin.
.
BRIEFER MENTION
292
.
LITERARY NOTES
293
.
.
.
LIST OF NEW BOOKS
293
.
.
.
.


274
[Nov. 16,
THE DIAL
the causes of what spelling-reformers have too even of a Shakespeare, we feel, retain for us
hastily assumed to be mere obstinacy or unrea undiminished its delicacy and power if clothed
soning prejudice. The time is past for them in the spelling of the • Fonetic Nuz'?” The
to say with Professor Lounsbury that “there feeling thus expressed is akin to that which
is certainly nothing more contemptible than our makes us enjoy literature far more in the pages
present spelling, unless it be the reasons usually of a comely and carefully-studied volume than
given for clinging to it," or with Professor Whit we could enjoy the same work in some cheap
ney that "it need not be said that the objec- and tasteless reprint. It is the same sort of
tions brought on etymological and literary and feeling that heightens for all readers of taste
other grounds against the correction of English the power of literature when it appeals to them
spelling are the unthinking expressions of igno- from the pages of a Conquet edition, or a pub-
rance and prejudice.” If these statements were lication of the Grolier Club, or an issue of the
true, the reformers would have something sub- Kelmscott Press. It is useless to call such feel-
stantial to show for their long-continued efforts, ings irrational, or to make light of them as
and the fact is notorious that they have almost arguments against a change; they exist, and
nothing to show for them. When we come to they exert a controlling influence upon the de-
think of it, the wholesale ascription of " igno- cisions of the majority of intelligent readers.
rance and prejudice” to the many men who Those who cannot share them, and allow them
have opposed the spelling-mongers is a weapon their full weight in the discussion, are as incom-
more likely than not to recoil upon those who petent to pronounce judgment upon the
ques-
use it as an argument; while“ contemptible tion of spelling-reform as are the color-blind to
is about as ill-fitting an epithet as could be pronounce upon Venetian painting, or those
found, whether to describe the conservative po without an ear for music to pass upon the
sition itself, or the spelling which is the pri- achievements of Bach and Beethoven.
mary object of attack. Our English spelling This of course is only one of the reasons for
may be irrational, and inconsistent, and diffi- which a wholesale change in our spelling is
cult of mastery, but it is just as much a natural opposed by so many earnest thinkers. There
product as is a tree or a wild animal. One are other weighty considerations, such as the
may prefer the order and symmetry of a French danger of making the great mass of printed
garden to a free woodland growth; but he who literature in the least degree difficult of access
has a nice feeling for the meaning of words for the average reader; and the danger of ob-
does not call the forest oak contemptible be- scuring etymologies, of which too much has
cause it is gnarled.
doubtless been made, but which remains a real
A recent article in “The Forum,” by Mr. danger in spite of the many efforts to minim-
Benjamin E. Smith, the editor of “The Cen ize it. We must also remember that the argu-
tury Dictionary,” quotes with seeming approval ments made in behalf of reform are often
the above dicta of Professors Lounsbury and greatly overstated. We are given the wildest
Whitney, but proceeds to discuss the subject estimates of the amount of money that might
in a very different spirit. Mr. Smith is a pro- be saved in our printing bills, of the number
nounced advocate of spelling-reform, but he of years that might be saved in the work of
reckons with the arguments of his opponents primary education, of the obstacles that might
instead of brushing them aside as unworthy of be removed from the path of foreign students
serious consideration. The conservative could of our language. All of these arguments have
ask for no better statement than the following weight, but they do not have anything like the
of the reason that chiefly influences him in op- weight given them by phonetic extremists. Mr.
posing any radical change. This reason is “the Smith, who is not an extremist, discusses the
closely-knit association, in all minds, between the whole question with the utmost fairness, admits
form of the printed word, or of the printed page, that spelling-reform" has made almost no head-
and the spiritual atmosphere which breathes way at all,” concedes “that the adoption by
through our language and literature. There is the public of any general, radical, phonetic
a deep-rooted feeling that the existing printed system is one of the most improbable things
form is not only a symbol but the most fitting that can be imagined,” and declares that the
symbol of our mother tongue, and that a radical only practical thing for the reformers to at-
change in this symbol must inevitably impair for tempt is a series of gradual modifications in
· us the beauty and spiritual effectiveness of that the language — stimulating by conscious effort
which it symbolizes. Could the literary spirit | the sort of transformation that has been work-


1896.)
275
THE DIAL
ing itself out instinctively during the past exclusively linguistic. Representative titles under this
three centuries.
head are Professor Wülker's course at Leipsic on “ The
If spelling-reformers in general would adopt razin's course at Kiel on “ The History of the English
Historical Grammar of English ” and Professor Sar-
this moderate position, there would be little Language.” Of courses in Old English there are nine-
serious disagreement among thinking men. teen requiring thirty-eight hours; and in Middle English
Mr. Horace E. Scudder, speaking of Webster's (exclusively) there are eight (sixteen hours). Most
unsuccessful effort to create a new language linguistic. Specimen titles are Cynewulf's Elene and
of these are introductory courses, and are also largely
"made in America,” justly says: “Language
the Cynewulf Question " (Professor Victor at Mar-
is not a toy or a patent machine, which can be burg), “ Anglo-Saxon Grammar, with Reading of Beo-
broken, thrown aside at will, and replaced with wulf” (Professor Streitberg at Freiburg in Switzerland),
a better tool, ready-made from the lexicog- Prologue of the Canterbury Tales ” (Professor Kölbing
rapher's shop. He had no conception of the Prologue of the Canterbury Tales ” (Professor Kölbing
at Breslau), and “Introduction to the Critical Study of
enormous weight of the English language and Middle English Ballads and Metres ” (Professor Brandl
literature, when he undertook to shovel it out at Berlin). Nine courses on literary history before
of the path of American civilization. The stars Shakespeare are announced (twenty-four hours). Such
in their courses fought against him.” It may Saxons” (Professor Koeppel at Strassburg), and « The
“The Language and Literature of the Anglo-
safely be said that English spelling will con-
History of English Literature from Chaucer to Spen-
tinue to undergo the sort of modification in the ser" (Professor Schipper at Vienna). Eight will treat
direction of rationality that has marked its de of Shakespeare generally (fourteen hours), and five will
velopment in the past, and at a probably accel-
study selected plays of Shakespeare (eleven hours): e.g.
erated rate. And it may be said with equal mann at Bonn), and Interpretation of Hamlet” (Pro-
“Shakespeare's Life and Works" (Professor Traut-
safety that no other sort of change is possible. fessor Schick at Munich). There are only four other
It is our own opinion that no other sort of courses on Elizabethan and Seventeenth Century Liter-
change is, all things considered, desirable, and ature (eight hours), comprising the seminar of Professor
that each simplified spelling proposed must be
Hoops at Heidelberg on “The English Renaissance,"
Professor Schipper's seminar “ The Interpretation of
judged upon its own merits, submitting to a test
Selected Passages from the Fairy Queen," and two
in which feeling and instinct are given as much courses on Milton. In eighteenth and nineteenth cen-
weight as logic, before it shall receive perma tury literature there are fourteen courses (twenty-four
nent acceptance in our speech. “There are,
hours). The selection here is somewhat uncertain and
to quote from Mr. Smith once more, “ in the
bizarre, ranging from “The History of English Prose
Literature in the Eighteenth Century" (Professor Vetter
variations of our existing orthography allowed at Zurich) and “ James Thomson's Life and Works "
by the dictionaries and in the occasional inno- (Professor Fischer at Innsbruck) to such titles as
vations of influential writers which are accepted “ Readings in H. Morley's Of English Literature in
by the public without any jarring of the nerves,
the Reign of Victoria'" (Dr. Hechler at Vienna), “The
Interpretation of Thackeray's Book of Snobs" (Dr.
the beginnings of a movement which, if contin-
Tamson at Göttingen), “ The Interpretation of C. Mas-
tinued along its own lines and gradually pushed sey's “In the Struggle of Life"" (Professor Fischer at
to a consistent conclusion, will result in a vast Innsbruck), and “Shindler's Echo" (Professor Victor at
simplification and rationalizing of our lan. Marburg)—80 the title stands in the Verzeichniss; I
do n't know what it means! Burns has two courses
and Byron two. Professor Brandl, who has recently
taken up arms for Byron in the pages of “ Cosmopolis,"
makes Byron the starting-point for his treatment of
ENGLISH LITERATURE IN GERMANY.
nineteenth century literature. Under the head of mis-
cellaneous, I place two courses on English metrics (Pro-
(Special Correspondence of THE DIAL.)
fessors Kaluza and Wagner),
Professor Vetter's course
At the moment when the effort is being made to estab on the English Volkslied, and Professor Victor's “Meth-
lish the teaching of English Literature in American odik des Unterrichts im Englischen."
universities, it may be of interest to consider the teach Summarizing, accordingly, of courses not exclusively
ing of the same subject in the German universities, linguistic I find that there are twenty-five treating En-
where for the last quarter-century or more so many glish literature before the sixteenth century, sixteen on
American teachers of English have received their train Shakespeare and the Elizabethans, and fourteen on
ing and their methods. I have before me the general eighteenth and nineteenth century authors. Further-
catalogue of the lectures in all the German universities more, it is to be noticed that while many of the courses
for the coming winter semester, which has recently on linguistics and several of those covering the earlier
been published in Munich. In twenty-eight German period in literature are of an advanced and highly spe-
universities (in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland) cialized nature, the same can be said of very few of the
where courses in English philology are given, I find that courses on the later periods. The unavoidable inference
out of a total of ninety-six courses, not including courses is that the literary study of English literature is but
for beginners in modern English, some twenty-five little attempted in the German universities. In the last
courses, requiring some fifty-six hours per week, are few years, however, I am informed, the demand for
guage."


276
[Nov. 16,
THE DIAL
:
of my
courses permitting such study, on the part of American and it seems as though the attitude of academic Ger-
students in Germany, has in some quarters begun to many towards modern English literature were negative
make itself felt. One hears that such-and-such pro and scholastic rather than interpretative and illumina
fessors do not neglect the literary side of their subjects, tive.
FREDERIC IVES CARPENTER.
and that consequently their courses are more and more Munich, November 3, 1896.
frequented by Americans.
Doubtless we have still much to learn from German
culture and methods in the study and appreciation of
COMMUNICATIONS.
our own literatures, as we bave from French. Who can
say that the insistence of French and German critics in
A MISPLACED “BEER KEG."
time will not force us to revise our obdurate estimate
(To the Editor of THE DIAL.)
of Byron ? In most respects, however, it is plain that Let me call attention to an amusing error made by
the forte of German scholarship is in the treatment of the reviewer of “ Colonial Days in Old New York,” in
Old and Middle English. The text-books and the cur the last issue of THE DIAL. Speaking of the cover of
rent histories of literature at any given period usually the book, the reviewer says that it is “decorated with
reflect the prevailing taste and criticism of the time. suggestive windmill, beaver, and beer keg." Those who
If we leave aside the case of Byron, is there any last pos have pursued Dutch New York history beyond Irving's
sibility that we will ever be brought to accept the current humorous libel know that the design on Mrs. Earle's
German evaluation of modern English authors, as it is book is a copy of the seal of the City of New York,
reflected in their histories of English literature? The adopted in 1686. The flour industry of New Nether-
last part of Professor Wülker's new popular “Geschichte lands and early New York out-rivalled that of the ex-
der Englischen Litteratur von den Aeltesten Zeiten bis portation of furs, and in consequence the arms of the
zur Gegenwart” has just this month appeared, and I windmill, and a flour barrel, were added to the beaver
turn to his pages to discover his method of treatment on the seal of the city, as emblems of its industry and
for the modern period. The apportionment of chapters commerce. It is the flour barrel, and not the beer keg,
for the sixteenth, seventeenth, and eigbteenth centuries which is most truly “suggestive" of Dutch development
seems to be just and fairly comprehensive. The Eliza in this country.
C. A. SEIDERS.
bethan period receives five chapters; the period of the Paulding, Ohio, November 7, 1896.
Civil Wars and the Restoration, two; and the first half
of the eighteenth century, four. The titles of the re-
BIRD ILLUSTRATIONS FROM LIFE.
maining chapters are as follows: The Movement against
(To the Editor of THE DIAL.)
the Art-School in Poetry; Walter Scott; The Lake
I am truly grateful for the kindly notice of the text
School; Thomas Moore; Byron and Shelley; The Age
“ Birdland Echoes ” in your last issue. But in
of Queen Victoria. Thomas Moore exalted to a sepa-
justice to Mr. Crane, the illustrator, I must say that the
rate chapter, while Wordsworth, Coleridge, and Southey
strictures on his part of the work are not justified by
are collectively hidden under the traditional appellation
the facts. Instead of the illustrations being "copies of
of “The Lake School”! I find the same lack of literary
stuffed birds,” every bird was drawn from life, and after
perspective exemplified in a representative university long study; and the appearance of being “puffed out in
reference book in the same field, the “Grundriss der
the breast” is really true to nature. The truth is, we
Geschichte der Englischen Litteratur” by Dr. Gustav
have too much in mind the trim, smooth-feathered birds
Körting, professor at Kiel. In this work eleven pages
of the average illustration. Mr. Crane's drawings I
are devoted to Byron, four to Moore, and three to
claim are the best - i.e., the most correct black-and-
Wordsworth! The æsthetic judgments are generally
white — illustrations ever published; so correct, indeed,
to match. I quote from Professor Körting's pages:
they do not call for color, if used as a means of identify-
CHARLES C. ABBOTT.
• The greatest of the three poets [of the Lake School] ing any bird in hand.
is the highly talented Coleridge; Wordsworth and
Trenton, N. J., November 2, 1896.
Southey never rose above a respectable mediocrity.”
“In England Wordsworth is more favorably judged.
The reason for this in some measure may be that Words-
AT HIGH TIDE.
worth through his excellences as through his defects is
in the highest degree a poet comprehensible to all, and, O shining slaves that must forever bend!
more than this, a poet who has had the peculiar gift, as
Accursed waves that must forever strain!
few others have had, of giving expression to specifically What power draws thee, drives thee without end,
English thoughts and feelings. “ It may be asserted
Along a pathway beautiful as vain ?
[of Moore's lyrics] that they are the noblest productions Did'st thou betray the Goddess Moon above,
of the modern English Art-lyric.” “A poet may pos To be imprisoned thus in green unrest ?
sess all the qualities which grace the verse of Tennyson, Compelled to follow in enchanted love
and still be a poet of only the second or third rank.
The magic vengeance of her jealous breast!
Tennyson is one of the
most attractive of poets, but he
Did'st thou once lift thyselves in praise divine,
is not a great poet. He lacks originality and genius.
The form of his poetry ... is much more significant
To be thus chained to her idolatry,-
than its contents, which for the most part does not rise
Condemned in sight of Heaven still to pine
In adoration of futility ?
above mediocrity, and frequently not even above triv-
iality, using the last word in its best sense. Tennyson's O shining slaves that must forever bend!
poems, if written in prose, would be void of every attrac-
Accursed waves that must forever strain!
tion; it was with good reason that he never made uso
What
power draws thee, drives thee without end,
of prose"!
Along a pathway beautiful as vain ?
It is hardly from the negative that our help will come,
MARTHA GILBERT DICKINSON.


1896.]
277
THE DIAL
Fortunately, our future author and etcher
The New Books.
was not brought up mainly under the roof of
this graceless father -else he might well have
HAMERTON'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY.*
lapsed into a mere rustic scapegrace of the
“Tony Lumpkin" order, or worse. Much of
Mr. Hamerton's Autobiography (1834-58) his childhood was passed with two maiden
fills about one-third of a rather substantial vol-
ume, and tells the story of the writer's life up have been better cared for by my own mother
aunts at Burnley; and he says, “I could not
to his twenty-fourth year. Fortunately, as it
than by these two excellent ladies.” At Burn-
happens, this year was the date of his marriage ; ley he learned to read English with ease, and
so that Mrs. Hamerton, in the Memoir by which
attended the Grammar School, where he was
she has supplemented her husband's too brief
at once " set at Latin ”- unfortunately, after
sketch, is enabled to take up the thread of the
a method so ingeniously difficult and repulsive
narrative at the point where he dropped it.
as to breed in him a “horror of everything
The volume thus forms a complete and contin- printed in Latin ” that was scarcely
, overcome
uous life of a man to whom America owes
in later years. The Burnley period is followed
much both of profit and pleasure. We venture by a dark chapter in Mr. Hamerton's life SO
to say (with all deference to the fine rhapsodies dark, he says, that the necessity of writing it
of Mr. Ruskin) that Mr. Hamerton's books
have done more than those of any other writer has made him “ put off the composition of this
autobiography year after
year.
Into the ex-
to spread in this country a taste for sound art tremely painful details of this chapter we need
and an insight into its principles.
not go. Suffice it to say that in 1843 Mr.
Mr. Hamerton was born at Laneside, near Hamerton, then a sensitive boy of nine years
Shaw, Lancashire, in 1834. His family on
or so, was taken to live alone with his father at
both sides seems to have been of the upper Shaw; and that while there, during a period of
middle class, with aristocratic connections and
six months, he was treated by him with a cruelty
leanings. Of his father (an attorney in fair which it is charitable to ascribe to mental dis-
practice) he says:
order brought on by long addiction to the
“ He had very little to recommend him except a fine brandy bottle. During this half-year, existence
person, great physical strength, and fifteen quarterings.
was a hell to him ; and his system was fast giv-
He had a reputation for dissolute habits, was a good
horseman, an excellent shot, looked very well in a ball. ing way under the constant strain of the alter-
room, and these, I believe, were all his advantages, save nate dread of blows and their actual reception,
an unhappy faculty for shining in such masculine com and torments even worse than blows, when the
pany as he could find in a Lancashire village in the days
end came, swift, tragic, yet not wholly unwel-
of George IV. Money he had none, except what he
come. Mr. Hamerton thus describes it :
earned in his profession, at one time rather a good in-
come."
“I awoke one bleak winter's morning about five
o'clock, and heard the strangest cries proceeding from
Mr. Hamerton's mother died a little over a
his room. His man-servant had been awakened before
year after her marriage. “Few people,” her me and had gone to the room already, where he was
son says, “who have lived in the world have engaged in a sort of wrestling match with my father,
left such slight traces." Her loss was a heavy
who, in the belief that the house was full of enemies,
blow to her husband, who, despite his rough Other men had been called for, who speedily arrived,
was endeavoring to throw himself out of the window.
nature and hard-riding hard-drinking procliv. and they overpowered him, though even the remnant of
ities, loved her devotedly. He thenceforth neg. his mighty strength was such that it took six men to hold
lected his profession, separated himself more
him on his bed. ... I was not in the room when he
and more from his social class, and sank grad died, but my aunt took me to see him immediately after,
ually into a slough of mere village conviviality: the present day."
and then I received an impression which has lasted to
“ He and his friends drank when they were together
The week that preceded the death of the
to make society merrier, and when they happened to be
elder Hamilton was one of terror for the for-
alone they drank to make solitude endurable. . .
They dined at mid-day, and had the spirit decanter and
lorn and bewildered boy ; but it had a blessed
the tobacco-box on the table instead of desert, frequently interlude that came like a sign and a dawning
drinking through the whole afternoon and a long even of the brighter time to come. Of this incident
ing afterwards. In the morning they slaked alcoholic Mr. Hamerton says:
thirst with copious draughts of ale."
“I had been able to get to sleep that night for a short
* PHILIP GILBERT HAMERTON. An Autobiography, 1834-
time, when a light in the room woke me. The horrible
1858, and a Memoir by his Wife, 1868–1894. With portrait. life I had been leading for many a day and night had
Boston: Roberts Brothers.
produced a great impressionability, and I w particu-


278
[Nov. 16,
THE DIAL
larly afraid of my father in the night-time, so I started many pleasant passages) was first mildly in-
up in bed with the idea that he was come to beat me, dulged. A primitive catamaran launched on
when lo! instead of his errible face, I saw what was
a Lancashire fish-pond was the first of a long
for me the sweetest and dearest face in the whole world!
It was his sister Mary, she who had taken my mother's series of experiments with that delusive order
place, and whom I loved with a mingled sentiment of of craft. About this period his love of mediæ-
filial tenderness and gratitude that remained undimin valism, imbibed from Scott, led to the produc-
ished in force during all the after years. For the sud-
tion of a little book (his first printed one) on
denness of revulsion from horror to happiness, there has
never been a minute in my existence comparable to the heraldry, which had some sale. Up to this
minute when I realized that she had come.”
point his tastes had been conservative and aris-
In his father's will the sister Mary of the
tocratic, and consonant enough with his guard-
foregoing incident was named as Mr. Hamer-
ian's plans as to Oxford and the Church. But
ton's sole guardian. Her general life-scheme
now there came a change, a revolution which, he
for him was the socially irreproachable one
says," was the most important intellectual crisis
comprising a Public School, Oxford, the of my life, and which deserves a chapter to
Church ; but, says Mr. Hamerton, “there was
itself.” Into the details of this chapter we can
a vis inertiæ in my total want of social and
not go here. As the reader will have surmised,
At seven-
scholastic ambition. In the worldly sense I the “crisis.” was a religious one.
never had any ambition whatever." The idea teen the thinking, earnest youth found himself
of Rugby or Harrow having been abandoned, spiritually at the parting of the ways. Inquiry
he was sent, in 1845, to Doncaster School, bred doubt, and doubt meant inability to sign
where he spent three half years not unprofit the Thirty-Nine Articles -- that is, to conform
ably, making fair progress in all branches
to a then condition precedent to entering Os.
(including drawing) save, as we infer from the ford. This lapse must have been a sad shock
following observation, the classics.
to the kind guardian, who was orthodox to the
« The misfortune was that the classics were not taught
backbone, and would doubtless herself have
as literature at all, but as exercises in grammar and
gone as a rejoicing witness to the stake. Ox.
prosody. They were dissected by teachers who were ford and the Church abandoned, the choice of
simply lecturers on the science of language, and who a calling became necessary-though Mr. Ham-
had not large views even about that. Our whole atten-
tion being directed to the technicalities of the peda, enable me, as a bachelor, to live like a gentle-
erton had some means, enough, he says, “to
gogue, we did not perceive that the classic authors had
produced poems which, as literature, were not inferior
man.' He at once declared for literature and
to those of our best English poets.”
painting. He adds :
Blinded thus by those who should have
“ I have been sometimes represented as an unsuccess
known better to the beauties of Homer and
ful painter who took to writing because he had failed
as an artist. It is, of course, easy to state the matter
Virgil, the boy found out for himself the charms
so, but the exact truth is that a very moderate success
of the native poets — notably Scott, of whom in either literature or art would have been equally ac-
he
says:
“Of all the influences that had sway ceptable to me, so that there has been no other failure
over me in those days and for long afterwards,
in my life than the usual one of not being able to catch
the influence of Scott was by far the strong, painter and to try to be an author, and see what came
two hares at the same time. I decided to try to be a
est." From Doncaster Mr. Hamerton returned of both attempts.”
to Burnley Grammar School. Here he was Mr. Hamerton's first master in painting was
under the care of Dr. Butler (afterwards his Mr. J. P. Pettitt, whom he met at Keswick in
private tutor), a kindly man guilty of spoiling 1852. In the year following he fell under Mr.
his boys by sparing the rod, but in advance of Ruskin's influence, touching which he makes
the average Orbilius of his day and class in
the following sound observations :
that he heretically " did not think education
“ It was a good influence in two ways, first in litera-
should be confined to the two dead languages, tare, as anything that Mr. Ruskin has to say is sure to
but incited the boys to learn French and Ger- be well expressed, and after that it was a good influence
man, and even chemistry.” At Burnley School in directing my attention to certain qualities and beau-
the author etched his first plate -“ a portrait
ties in nature; but in art this influence was not merely
evil, it was disastrous . . it tended directly to en-
of a Jew with a turban,” and “ frightfully courage the idea that art could be learned from nature,
overbitten."
and that is an immense mistake. Nature does not teach
In 1850 Mr. Hamerton went to live with art, or anything resembling it; she only provides mate-
his guardian at Hollins, in the country; and
rials. Art is a product of the human mind, the slow
here his natural and life-long taste for gipsey-
growth of centuries. If you reject this and go to nature,
you have to begin all over again, the objection being
ing and aquatics (to which his readers owe so that one human life is not long enough for that.”
*


1896.]
279
THE DIAL
From the foregoing one may fairly infer that land home on Loch Awe—of all strange places
the writer admitted to himself that he had real in the world, Mr. Hamerton admits, surely the
ized too late in life the truth that painting is least suitable for a young Parisienne to be
at bottom a refined handicraft; and that high brought to. On the day of their arrival the
mental gifts coupled with the closest study of Loch was shrouded in a fog so dense that the
nature are of little avail to the painter unless young bride could scarcely believe there was a
he be a master of the tools and technique of his high mountain opposite : nothing was visible
eraft. In 1853 Mr. Hamerton began his “new from Innistrynich but a still, gray, shoreless
London life" as a pupil in the studio of his sea. But this first frown of Nature proved no
Keswick friend, Mr. Pettitt. His account of symbol of the future.
this period contains some interesting memories With the arrival at Innistrynich Mr. Ham-
of artists and writers—Leslie, Constable, Landerton's quota of the volume ends and his wife's
seer, Doyle, Ruskin, Tennyson, Rogers, Miss begins. "To Mrs. Hamerton's Memoir, which
Marian Evans, and others. At one time he is a very charming, frankly written composi-
had a notion of going to Egypt, as artist- tion, we have little space to devote - much
traveller. “I mentioned,” he says, “ this pro less than the work deserves. It gives a sat-
ject to Mr. Ruskin, who said that he avoided isfactory account of Mr. Hamerton's life and
travelling in countries where he could not be work after 1858, and is brightened with much
sure of ordinary comforts, such as a white table- lively chat as to the writer's own experiences,
cloth and a clean knife and fork; still, he would domestic and social, in Scotland and in France.
put up with a great deal of inconvenience to
Mrs. Hamerton details with much pleasant
be near a mountain.” In April, 1854, Mr. naïveté her not altogether cordial reception at
Hamerton returned to the country; and, he the hands of her husband's relatives (who were
says, “ from that day to this I have never lived a little disappointed at his choosing a wife
in London, which has probably been a misfor- abroad) — notably of a certain Aunt Susan
tune to me, both as artist and writer.” A trip Hamerton, a Shandean character recalling in a
to the Highlands in the same year resulted in way David Copperfield's peppery but excellent
a little volume entitled “ The Isles of Loch
Aunt Betsy Trotwood. Aunt Susan's hostility
Awe and other Poems," which appeared the to the French fell little short of Miss Trot-
day the author came of age, September 10, wood's to donkeys; but she finally melted be-
1855. In the autumn of this year Mr. Ham- fore the grace and amiability of her niece. The
erton made his first trip to Paris, where he met story of the reconcilement is prettily told :
his future wife, Mlle. Eugénie Gindriez, daugh-
“One morning I was gathering strawberries in the
ter of a gentleman who had been Prefect of the garden. ... Aunt Sasan came up and offered to help
Doubs under the second Republic, and who was me. Never shall I forget the scene when we both rose
living quietly at Paris, under mild political from the strawberry-beds, with our fragrant little bas-
surveillance, under the Empire. The subject soft
, hazy glamor matched that of the tender sky; the
kets well filled. We turned towards the lake, whose
of marriage, or even of attachment, was not at
air was still, and there reigned a serene silence, as if a
this time broached between the young people. / single sound might have desecrated the almost religious
Says Mr. Hamerton :
peace of earth and heaven; yet a smothered sob was
“ I, for my part, left Paris without being aware that
heard as I felt myself caught in a close embrace, my
Mademoiselle Gindriez had anything to do with my
head laid upon a heaving bosom, my hair moist with
future destiny; but she, with a woman's perspicacity,
warm tears, a broken voice murmuring: My child,
knew better. She thought it at least probable, if not
how I have wronged you! . . . and now I love you
certain, that I should return after long years; she waited
80—.' Oh! Aunt Susan,' I said, do n't cry; I will
patiently, and when at last I did return there was no
love you too; my husband will be so happy.' We kissed
need to tell on what errand.”
each other, and said no more, and from that time Aunt
Susan became my most faithful friend.”
The marriage took place at Paris in May, 1858.
Mrs. Hamerton has naturally many kind
On the eventful morning, as Mr. Hamerton
recalls, there was a garçon of the hotel brushing band's works have always been deservedly pop-
things to say of this country, where her hus-
the waxed floor on the landing
outside his door.ba
ular; and in this connection we may quote her
“I had a flowered white silk waistcoat on, and the
note touching the honorable (if perhaps, from
man said, Monsieur est bien beau ce matin ; on dirait
qu'il va à une noce.' I answered: Vous avez bien de the piratical point of view, Quixotic) behavior
viné ; en effet, je vais à une noce.' It was unnecessary towards Mr. Hamerton of an American pub-
to give him further information.”
lishing firm, at a period when the rights of the
The pair journeyed at once to their wild High- British author here were fenced by no law save


280
[Nov. 16,
THE DIAL
the moral one,
“ Thou shalt not steal.” Says about a hundred pages, is practically a popular
our author (1868):
life of Hegel, but a very carefully studied,
“For some time past
, Mr. Hamerton's reputation though not very original, presentation. The
had been growing in America, but he did not derive the second part of about the same number of pages,
slightest profit from the sale of his books there till gives many of Hegel's most suggestive thoughts
Messrs. Roberts Brothers, of Boston, proposed to pay
him a royalty upon the works that should be published
on education, and is preceded by a short but
by them in advance of pirated editions. This offer was interesting introduction.
accepted with pleasure and gratitude, and the pecuniary Dr. W. M. Bryant's little book on “ Hegel's
result proved a timely help.'
Educational Ideas" is a far slighter contribu-
We can promise Mr. Hamerton's many tion to the subject than the one just noticed,
American admirers a treat in the perusal of yet it shows a certain originality and sugges-
this attractive volume.
E. G. J. tiveness. Though the essay is an attempt to
interpret Hegel's theory with direct reference
to the educational needs of our own times, it is
too general and indefinite to be of much service
PRESENT EDUCATIONAL TENDENCIES.*
to practical teachers. The Hegelianism is
The two main trends in education to-day in somewhat too florid, and there is constant over-
the United States seem to be the importation emphasis, as evidenced by the profuse itali-
of German ideas and the application of physio- cizing.
logical and psychological science to child study In Herbart's “ABC of Sense Perception
and pedagogic theory. Hegel and Herbart we have a more definite contribution to peda-
among German philosophers are especially gogy than in the case of the two previous vol-
studied, and three of the books on our present umes. Here Herbårt expounds with some ful-
list directly concern them. At least five others ness his views of sense perception, and his
show the influence of the second trend.
mathematical methods of training it, that is
Dr. F. L. Luqueer, in “ Hegel as Educator,” by “the apperception of form through con-
deals with his subject in two parts, Part I. cepts," of which the triangle is the master one.
showing Hegel as student and teacher, and This developing percept through concept is
Part II. being a translation of Hegel's thoughts rather a reversal of the common method nowa
on education, mainly extracted from Thaulow: days, which appeals solely to percepts to guide
Hegel's Ansichten über Erziehung. Part I., of to concepts. Among the minor works trans-
lated in this volume the most interesting and
HEGEL AS EDUCATOR, B, Frederic Ludlow Laqueer, important is doubtless “The Æsthetic Presen-
Ph.D. New York: The Macmillan Co.
HEGEL'S EDUCATIONAL IDEAS. By William M. Bryant, tation of the Universe the Chief Office of Edu-
M.A., LL.D. Chicago: Werner School Book Co.
cation," in which Herbart sets forth his ideal
HERBART'S A B C OF SENSE-PERCEPTION, and Minor Ped-
agogical Works. Translated by William J. Eckoff. New
of education as the coördinate developing of
York: D. Appleton & Co.
Cognition and Sympathy toward the highest
CHILD OBSERVATIONS. First Series : Imitation and Allied
point, where the universal ethical and ästhetic
Activities. Edited by Miss Ellen M. Haskell, with an Intro-
duction by E. H. Russell. Boston: D. C. Heath & Co. significance is fully comprehended and acted
THE INTELLECTUAL AND MORAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE on. Those who wish to attempt Herbart at
CHILD. Part I., Containing the Chapters on Perception, Emo first hand have in this book their opportunity.
tion, Memory, Imagination, and Consciousness. By Gabriel
Compayré. Translated from the French by Mary E. Wilson.
The translation appears to be well done by an
New York: D. Appleton & Co.
enthusiastic Herbartian, Dr. W.J. Eckoff, who
KINDERGARTEN PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE. By Kate
has added prefaces and introductions and an
Douglas Wiggin and Nora Archibald Smith. Boston: Hough-
ton, Mifflin & Co.
exhaustive analysis.
PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF TEACHING. By James
To the second trend of educational tenden-
Johonnot. Revised by Sarah Evans Johondot. New York: cies, the psychological, belongs the volume on
D. Appleton & Co.
A NEW MANUAL OF METHOD. By A. H. Garlick, B.A.
This book consists of
"Child Observations.'
New York : Longmans, Green, & Co.
a bare record of rather commonplace observa-
The EDUCATION OF CHILDREN AT ROME. By George tions, preceded by an Introduction by Principal
The EDUCATION OF THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. A I
E. H. Russell. We are there told that these
Study of Foundations, Especially of Sensory and Motor Train-
records are “not a scientific study of children,
ing. By Reuben Post Halleck, M.A. New York: The Mac in the interest of psychology, but an attempt to
millan Co.
bring our future teachers into closer and more
THE CARE AND CULTURE OF MEN. A Series of Addresses
on the Higher Education. By David Starr Jordan. San sympathetic relations with them as individ-
Francisco: The Whitaker & Ray Co.
uals." We do not think this attempt to divorce
:


1896.]
281
THE DIAL
sympathy and knowledge is very successful. Froebel, indeed, studied the child mainly
Knowledge is necessary to sympathy, and sym. through sympathy, but yet not unscientifically;
pathy to knowledge. All real insight quickens still, he made but a beginning, and on the whole
sympathy, and all sympathy quickens insight, he erred rather in over-emotionalism and over-
which must be scientific to be true. As the tenderness toward making childhood a world in
physician and professional nurse study cases in itself rather than a passing stage of develop-
the light of pure science, so must the educatorment. This book, however, corrects to some
do for his pupils. It is somewhat singular that extent this tendency, and becomes a very good
Mr. Russell, after so vigorously declaiming introduction to modern Kindergarten practice.
against the selfishness of making child-life It may be doubted, however, whether the fem-
“material” for science, should yet (p. xxxiii.) inine spirit which so dominates Kindergarten-
consider the “highest ideal ” of such study as ism at present gives the complete environment
helping the observer to a full enjoyment of the for the young child, and whether it would not
varying phases of childhood. Mr. Russell gain something by a training by men kinder-
(p. xxix.) makes far too sharp a distinction garteners.
between the child and the adult. In short, the What the work just noticed does for the kin-
introduction is quite too one-sided ; and the dergarten, James Johonnot’s “ Principles and
main body of the book, as a record of facts, Practice of Teaching" does for the graded pub-
shows too little insight by the observers, though lic school. We have here a thoroughly pro-
it may impress some teachers with the power gressive manual for the use of practical teach-
and scope of the mimetic tendency in children. ers. Training in natural science and in man-
In striking contrast with this rather crude ual arts is especially emphasized. Still, the
work is Compayré's " Intellectual and Moral author by no means neglects the moral and
Development of the Child,” which is an ex æsthetic culture. With regard to the former,
tremely careful and thorough, yet sympathetic, he has a severe standard for the teacher as well
summary of infant psychology. It is a clear as the pupil. “Of course,” he says, “no per-
and on the whole candid résumé of the psychol- son addicted to the use of strong drink or to-
ogy
of the first few months of the child's life, bacco should ever presume to take upon him-
as illustrating perception, emotion, memory, self the office of teacher.” This revised edition
imagination, and attention. Professor Com- of a well-known work especially emphasizes the
payré often writes both clearly and forcibly, as interdependence of studies. In an appendix is
when he
says : " While in the adult the expres- reprinted the interesting “Story of a School,"
sion falls short of the reality, in childhood it which so fully illustrates Mr. Johonnot's ideas
exceeds it. The child's embraces are in excess on “ ” .
he Mr. A. H. Garlick's “New Manual of
laughs more than he is amused ; and when he Method” is primarily intended for young teach-
has learned to talk, he will talk more than he ers in English schools, and will hardly interest
thinks.” It will certainly occur to many that the American teacher save by an occasional
talking more than one thinks is not wholly con- suggestion by way of comparison of American
fined to children. The book would be improved and English practice. There are some points
by the addition of an index, and of a tabular on which the American teacher would be sure
outline of the growth of mind; or at least these to dissent,— for instance, the necessity of cor-
features should be incorporated in Part II., poral punishment, and the advisability of allow-
which we are glad to note is to follow this vol. ing poetry to be studied only at a late period
in the pupil's work in English literature; but
The third volume in the “ Republic of Child in the main it will be found a sound though
hood" series, coming after the volumes on rather conservative manual.
“ Froebel's Gifts” and “Froebel's Occupa In the neat little volume entitled “ The Ed.
tions,” is now before us with the title “ Kinder- ucation of Children at Rome,” Dr. George
garten Principles and Practice.” It treats, in a Clarke publishes his doctorate dissertation. It
very clear and lively way, and yet with discrim- deals with the intellectual and moral side of
inating enthusiasm, of such topics as Nature. Roman education, and brings out fully the
Study, Moral Training, and Kindergarten Play. practical bent of Roman life. The book is
As an interpretation and application of Froebel, clearly written, and seems a trustworthy and
it will be of great value to parents and teach scholarly handbook, and the only special work
ers who wish an introduction to his system. on the subject in the English language.
ume.


282
[Nov. 16,
THE DIAL
Mr. R. P. Halleck, in his “ Education of the tory, giving as it does a full account of the
Central Nervous System,” aims mainly at sen problems connected with slavery between the
sory training. His special aim “consists in Kansas Bill and Emancipation, even were it not
showing that recalled images of sense objects permeated with the personality of the great
are powerful and necessary aids in further mod statesman whose name appears upon the title-
ifying and developing the sensory cells ; not page. For thirty-one years, beginning as Gov-
images of sight alone, but of every sense. ernor of New York and ending as Secretary of
From long personal experience, the author can State under Johnson, he gave his life to the
testify that the majority of pupils can soon be public. The most momentous questions of
induced to seize the first opportunity to obtain American history were decided during this
definite sensory knowledge of any object men period; political parties sprang into being and
tioned in poetry, whether of a daffodil, of a died ; legislative struggles gave place to the
murmuring pine, or of incense breathing battle of bullets. It was a difficult task to
morn.” How the study of literature may help keep the story within the limits of a single vol
the study of nature, and vice versa, is a very ume, and the decision to give greater attention
interesting topic, which, however, is plainly to the decade from 1855 till 1865 was a proper
psychological, and receives very little elucida one, considering the prominence of the position
tion from the study of the central nervous sys of Mr. Seward in that trying time.
tem. The most original and suggestive chap William H. Seward was a man of inferior
ters are “Special Sensory Training"and"Form- physique, with few graces of oratory and little
ation of Images,” where definite exercises are power to command the attention and sway the
set, and a sort of sensory gymnastics prescribed. feelings of an audience. When his contem-
Dr. David Starr Jordan has been well known poraries, Clay or Webster, addressed the Sen-
for years as a power in educational affairs, es ate, every seat was filled and every nerve was
pecially in the West; and his volume on “The strained to catch the full effect of the words of
Care and Culture of Men " presents in popular the speaker; when Seward spoke, it was to
form the ideas which have made him so influ- empty benches. But, while sometimes the influ-
ential as a radical leader. In such chapters as ence of the speeches of the gifted orators passed
those on “The Value of Higher Education,” away with the dramatic triumphs of the moment
“The Scholar in the Community,” “The School of delivery, the words of Seward, widely scat-
and the State,” we have large, hopeful, and tered and translated for the benefit of foreign-
progressive ideas, set forth in the vigorous style born readers, had as great influence in molding
of an accomplished orator, and enlivened with the thought of the people during the years of
varied quotation, incident, and anecdote. Even his public life as any other force operating in
those who disagree fundamentally with Dr. Jor our history. In this connection it is necessary
dan's main positions will find much that is of to mention only the speeches in which he set
value. While the book is in no large sense an forth the “ higher law," the “ irrepressible con-
addition to pedagogical literature, it will yet be flict," and his views in opposition to the repeal
stimulating to teachers and others interested in of the Missouri Compromise.
education.
HIRAM M. STANLEY.
Seward was a man who often showed great
lack of tact in dealing with his fellows and in
discussing burning questions of the day. He
left the executive chair at Albany, sharing with
THE LIFE OF WILLIAM H, SEWARD.*
the public generally the feeling that his public
Rich in material illustrative of the early and
life was ended. His college essay, showing the
middle periods of the political history of the
Erie Canal an impossibility as well as a source
United States, the “ American Statesmen Se-
of financial ruin to the state, was a youthful
ries.” has contained but two volumes covering predecessor of later effusions of similar weak-
the important years between the Compromise of
He published an unfortunate letter at
1850 and the Civil War, these being the biog- the opening of Taylor's administration, de-
raphies of Lewis Cass and Abraham Lincoln. signed to exonerate the President from the
The story of William Henry Seward would be charge of using his personal influence for leg-
accep