ner, or as the com He had Byron's restive nature, his passion for the
more.
of a


64
[Feb. 1,
THE DIAL
erary form.
sea, and his tendency to regard all conventional
PATRIOTISM AND THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
morality as hypocrisy and to revolt against it. On
the other hand, he had much of Whitman's radi-
The late King Oscar of Sweden gave his sanction
calism and democracy, and of his disregard for lit-
and support to the establishment of Swedish circulat-
ing libraries in those parts of the United States most
Drachmann began life as a painter, and the sea largely settled by emigrants from his own kingdom.
was the favorite subject of his brush as afterwards
This was done in the hope of keeping warm in the
of his pen. In 1870 he settled in London for a
exile's heart the love of the mother country, her
time, painting and writing, lived with workingmen language and literature, and of thus inducing him
and nursed his scorn of priests and aristocrats and
to return some day to the land of his birth. These
the middle-class view of life. His delight in thiş Swedish libraries are said to have been in successful
period was to épater le bourgeois, and respectable operation in the middle West for a year past; and
Denmark looked askance at his writings. His first lately a consignment of books has been received at
book of poems appeared in 1872, and marked the
Worcester, Mass., the Swedish centre of New En-
formal entrance into literature of one of the most
gland. Each Swedish church there is to have its
prolific of modern Danish authors. In middle life
share of these books, which will be replaced by fresh
he made terms (of a sort) with society, and accepted sendings from Sweden as often as desired.
honors (which he still half-despised) from the This plan, excellent from a Scandinavian point of
classes whose sentiments he had outraged. But he
view, may at first strike one as of doubtful merit
could not remain long in the harness, and his later when looked at from this side of the Atlantic. That
years found him again a wanderer in many lands, the alien colonist of culture and means, and possessed
his sympathies always with the humble and the
of the valuable assets of character and success which
downtrodden, although he did not wholly forego these intellectual and material acquisitions stand for,
his friendly relations with the mighty. In the late
should be encouraged to withdraw his abilities and
nineties he spent two years or more in the United
his resources from the scene where they have been
States; and it was in an evening of the spring of chiefly developed or acquired, seems a little unfair.
1900, when he was dining in Chicago with the writer Having once renounced his allegiance to a land
of these lines, that he received the message from unable to satisfy his growing ambitions and desires,
King Oscar asking him to come at once to Stock should he not remain true to the adoptive mother
holm, that ended his American sojourn. Among his whose bounty he has been so willing to enjoy?
works we may mention, besides the
many
collections
Undoubtedly the spectacle of a returning emigrant,
of verse, his translation of Byron's “Don Juan" his pockets filled with American gold, hastening back
into Danish, his " Beyond the Border," his highly to the old country to enjoy his wealth amid the scenes
successful play "Once upon a Time," his “Pledged,"
of his youth, is to us not the most pleasing that could
a long and serious work of fiction, and his “ Sacred be imagined. The throwing away of a sucked orange
Fire," a book belonging to no particular class, is never a graceful gesture; and no country enjoys
written during his stay in this country. The only being treated like a sucked orange.
one of his books that has, to our knowledge, been But it is a question whether the effect desired by
translated into English is the idyllic tale called King Oscar will follow as a result of his generous
“Paul and Virginia of a Northern Zone," a slight act. At any rate, it will be interesting to note, if
but exquisite performance. In one of his most suc possible, whether these Swedish libraries really do
cessful lyrics this outcry occurs :
promote a return of literature-loving Swedish settlers
“Oh! had I command of a viking ship,
to the native land. Hitherto it has been the re-
With a hundred fighters on board!”
patriation of the less cultured and less desirable
It is a typical expression of his masterful personality, foreigners that has attracted attention. The Chinese
and those who knew by sight that giant frame sur laundryman's eagerness to get back to his fellow-
mounted by that magnificent head needed no more
celestials with a few hundred dollars earned in the
to imagine his wish fulfilled, and to picture him as sweat of his brow over the hot flatiron, is notorious.
the hero of some successful raid upon the coast of The Italian ditch-digger's or organ-grinder's dream
Normandy, or the Piræus, or the stronghold of of ending his days in the sunny land of abundant
Micklegarth itself.
macaroni and cheap sour wine a dream, too, that
is not seldom realized — is equally well known. That
Two important publications of the Hakluyt Society the impulse to re-knit the severed home ties increases
are at hand. One of them contains translations, by Sir
in strength with the intelligence and culture of the
Clements Markham, of Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa's
emigrant, has yet to be proved. More likely is it
“ History of the Incas ” and Baltasar de Ocampo's “The
Execution of the Inca Tupac Amaru.” The other, from
that superior mental endowments and acquirements,
the same translator, includes two narratives of the Friar
such as are not uncommonly indicated by the reading
Alonso de Espinosa: “ The Guanches of Tenerife" and
habit, beget increased appreciation of the larger
“ The Holy Image of Our Lady of Candelaria.” Mr. opportunity and the greater freedom of American
Bernard Quaritch, London, is the agent for the publica- life, and a disinclination to resume the narrower
tions of the Society.
existence that has been left behind.


1908.]
65
THE DIAL
our own.
are ill-
Whatever the truth of the matter, it would be determined by theories about language or race.”
interesting to have the opinion of public library And he goes on with further interesting but for us
officers in our cosmopolitan or foreign-settled cities not exactly pertinent reflections.
and villages as to whether the providing of foreign In the mere matter of language-growth and of rich-
literature for the aliens in our midst tends to make ness of vocabulary, the presence among us of many
them good and contented citizens of their adoptive that speak other tongues than ours is of advantage to
country, or the reverse. One likes to believe that
The unwisdom of legislation designed to
a broad and generous policy in this regard will discourage the use of a foreign idiom is too obvious
prove the wisest for all concerned. “ Give to the to need enlarging upon, its futility too abundantly
world the best you have, and the best will come proved in the past to remain longer in doubt. The
back to you,” is a noble sentiment, and we should Polish language and literature still flourish despite
be sorry to see it prove false in our treatment of the the efforts of three great powers to suppress them.
homesick foreigner visiting our public libraries in The Norman conquerors' helpless surrender to a
quest of a book endeared by early associations. As despised tongue is a matter of familiar history.
a matter of fact, what could more greatly aid in Throughout our great English-speaking country are
tiding the unhappy alien over his period of acute scattered families and communities that cling for a
nostalgia than a readily-accessible bookcase of his while to the mother tongue they have brought with
favorite authors, supposing him of sufficient intelli them from over-seas, but the assimilation by us of
gence to have such favorites ? Boston, a city of these alien elements is only a question of time.
very mixed population, provides for its public-library Attempts to discourage or to prevent the teaching
users a generous assortment of books in many for of this or that foreign language in this or that public
eign languages, and separate catalogues of these school, or to keep out of the public libraries books
collections are printed and all but gratuitously dis dear to the hearts of those who as yet know no
tributed. The list of Russian books, for example, | English - even where such attempts seek to justify
is a pamphlet containing about six hundred titles ; themselves under the name of patriotism
and the accessions since it was printed, twelve advised. Too much that styles itself patriotism is
years ago, would swell the number considerably nothing but magnified selfishness. Exclusion laws
Russian literature, too, is in far less demand than and tariff walls, whatever their necessity or merits,
the literatures of several other foreign countries, represent, in the large, a greedy boy's determination
which are
more abundantly represented. Yet to eat his big apple undiminished by a single bite.
with all this kindly consideration for the reading As the greater includes the less, so the love of man-
wants of her immigrant population, Boston is not kind includes the love of country, and more and
heard to complain of an exodus of her more de more, as the world emerges from its dark age of
sirable foreign-born citizens; and her experience is illiteracy, is it coming to be recognized that all
probably that of many other large cities similarly nations are members one of another, and whether
situated.
one member suffer, all the members suffer with it;
The relation of race and language to international or one member be honored, all the members re-
sympathies and antipathies is of course too vast and joice with it. With this principle in mind, even
too difficult a subject for treatment here. Historical if held as a theory of doubtful application in all
inquiry and philological research have played their cases, most persons will commend King Oscar's
part in producing effects not merely scientific and establishment of Swedish circulating libraries for
literary, but political and practical. As Freeman Swedish Americans. The English-speaking children
once observed, “the world is not the same world as and grandchildren of these settlers will be all the
when men had not dreamed of the kindred between heartier supporters of our own public-library system
Sanscrit, Greek, and English, when it was looked for the consideration thus shown to their elders. In
on as something of a paradox to hint that there was dealing with the adult immigrant of alien speech,
a distinction between Celtic and Teutonic tongues an impatient person is prone to forget, what Bacon
and nations.” The change that, by various agencies, has so well expressed, that “in languages the tongue
has been wrought in a comparatively short time, is is more pliant to all expressions and sounds, the
again noted by the same historian when he says that joints are more supple to all feats of activity and
"a hundred years ago a man's political likes and motions in youth, than afterwards; for it is true that
dislikes seldom went beyond the range which was late learners cannot so well take the ply, except it
suggested by the place of his birth or immediate be in some minds that have not suffered themselves
descent. Such birth or descent made him a mem to fix, but have kept themselves open and prepared
ber of this or that political community, a subject of to receive continual amendment, which is exceeding
this or that prince, a citizen — perhaps a subject - rare.” Finally, may it not be that many a foreign-
of this or that commonwealth. The political com born citizen loves his adoptive country so much only
munity of which he was a member had its tradi because he is permitted to love his native land still
tional alliances and traditional enmities, and by those more because he lives in a town or village or large
alliances and enmities the likes and dislikes of the city that helps to keep alive this love of the mother
members of that community were guided. But those country by generously providing books to read in the
traditional alliances and enmities were seldom mother tongue?


66
[Feb. 1,
THE DIAL
.
aging to read that eighty-one travelling libraries have
CASUAL COMMENT.
circulated in nineteen of the twenty-three counties.
THE DEATH OF LOUISE DE LA RAMÉE, far better Washington County is omitted from this list; but the
known as “Ouida,” brings to its close a career as im-
good work done by the library-wagon sent out by the
possibly romantic and extravagant as that of one of her Hagerstown Free Library, as noted nearly a year ago
typical heroines. Having published her first novel in in these columns, should not be overlooked.
1863 and reached the height of her popularity in the
late seventies, “Ouida" lived to see the passing of the
THE MISSION OF THE NEWSPAPER is the subject of a
age of sentimentality and the rise of a new school of recent newspaper article from the pen of a Baltimore
novel-writing that should conform to the more exact doctor of divinity. The daily paper, even the sensa-
ing standards of an increasingly sophisticated public.
tional Sunday paper, is praised in terms that glow to
Nevertheless, she continued to stem the tide with a the point of incandescence. A curious argument in
book or so a year, publishing her “Critical Studies
favor of the Sunday journal is that its reading supplies
and - The Waters of Edera” in 1900, and “Street occupation for the thousands who, in every large city,
Dust” in 1901. But while her novels have passed into
could not possibly find even standing-room in the
obscurity and are spoken of nowadays chiefly to be held churches. To this an opponent might urge that if there
up to ridicule, her stories for children - “ A Dog of
were fewer Sunday papers there would perhaps be more
Flanders,” “ Bimbi,” and “ Two Little Wooden Shoes” churches. The endless debate this might lead to is not
- are, oddly enough, almost classic. Herself a primi in place here. Let us instead quote a few of the rev-
tive nature, she was naturally at her best in writing of
erend doctor's rhapsodical sentences in praise of news-
peasants and children - simple, single-hearted, pas papers in general. « There is no literature for the
sionate creatures like herself, who live in a world where common people,” he declares, “like that of the news-
fact and fancy mingle and the boundaries between real paper. It is the daily companion alike of the prince
and ideal are often lost sight of. That was the only
and the peasant, the man who inherits and the man who
world “Ouida”knew. Equally impractical in managing
earns, of the millionaire in his mansion and the laborer
her personal affairs and the plots of her novels, she is
in his cot. It comes as regularly as the glow of the
said to have died in abject poverty, the fortune that her
lamplight, and finds a welcome at every fireside. If the
books had earned for her gone, and only a tiny pension night be fair, if the winter's storm beats madly at the
that the English government had provided between her
window pane, it does not matter — this messenger is
and starvation. And most of that, with characteristic present to entertain and instruct, to tell to willing ears
improvidence, she spent on her pet dogs. Undoubtedly
in that little circle what is going on in the great bustling
the explanation of her once tremendous vogue lies in
world without. A good paper, secular or religious,
the fact that her work was always sincere. She wrote, is a blessing in the home. . Oh, for the day when
at her best and at her worst, to please herself, and there-
these white-winged carrier doves shall be all and more
fore she often pleased other people.
than our highest and best ideal !” All this, and more,
appearing in a Baltimore paper at the same time with
LIBRARY PROGRESS IN MARYLAND is slow --slower the publication of the State Library Commission's report
than one would expect it to be in a State having such of Maryland's sad lack of interest in books and public
ready communication, through its sea-ports, its great
collections of books, as set forth in the preceding para-
rivers and bays, and its many railways, with the outside graph, might suggest some curious comment, from
world; holding almost in its embrace the capital of the which, however, we refrain. It is at least gratifying to
country; and counting among its educational institutions 'note that the newspaper whose Sunday issue prints the
the Johns Hopkins University and the United States clergyman's interesting contribution is one of the best
Naval Academy. The fifth annual report of the Mary in the city — and, in fact, in the country.
land State Library Commission, just issued, depicts a
dearth of public libraries, and a lack of popular interest PUBLIC LIBRARY
in libraries and literature that might far more naturally LEGISLATION has now been entered upon by Kansas; so
characterize a newer and less favorably situated State. that, whatever may still be the matter with that State,
Mr. Ross M. Diggs, field secretary of the commission, she is no longer to be reproached with inactivity in the
says in part: “I find that many large towns are without matter of public libraries. Mr. A. D. Dickinson, public
any library facilities at all, and such is the condition of librarian at Leavenworth, has been appointed temporary
most of the small towns and villages, with a few striking organizer for the State by the Kansas Library Associa-
exceptions. The mass of the people in our State are tion. The following is from an explanatory statement
not a reading people, and consequently there is little issued by him to libraries and citizens of Kansas: “ Many
demand among them for books. What books are read libraries are being established in this State to-day. The
consist mainly of the most recent light literature. library interests of Kansas require the immediate ser-
It is a difficult problem to get a non-reading public to vices of an organizer. Convinced of this, and having
build and maintain libraries; but it is possible to convert thus far been unable to secure the necessary legislation,
them gradually into a reading public which will demand the Kansas Library Association at its annual meeting in
books and, therefore, build libraries. It is the aim of October appointed one of its members to act temporarily
the Commission first to stimulate a demand for books, in that capacity, in order to demonstrate practically the
and next to help and guide the people to the attainment usefulness of such an officer. In performance of his
of the means for meeting their wants.” The starting of duties the organizer will consult with towns planning
a small collection of books by the villagers themselves the organization or reorganization of public libraries on
is regarded as the first and the important step; after all matters pertaining to the architecture, the adminis-
that, state aid and local support by taxation will be more tration, and the technical work of libraries; he will
successfully solicited. Here is a field for missionary assist in framing city ordinances for the maintenance
labor on the part of library workers. It is encour of libraries; and he will spare no effort which will help
ORGANIZATION
UNASSISTED
BY


1908.]
67
THE DIAL
to build up a public library system commensurate with THE CIRCULATION OF SERIOUS BOOKS is encouraged
the needs of the State. Funds to pay the immediate by all wise librarians, and a plan has been proposed in
office expenses of the organizer are being contributed London for increasing this circulation. Those who read
through the association by individuals, women's clubs, nothing but fiction, which in most cases means the worst
and libraries." Therefore the organizer's services are fiction, are to be required (if the plan is ever carried
rendered gratis, except for travelling and hotel ex out) to draw with every novel a work of soberer cast,
penses. Another illustration, this, of generous effort chosen either by themselves or by the attendant. The
for the public good, put forth without hope of material absurdity of it all is not entirely ignored by the author
reward, by those engaged in library work.
of the plan; but he argues that, although no one can com-
pel the reading of the serious book, it may be taken up
THE BOOK RECORD OF 1907 in England shows that by some member of the family and at least dipped into.
year to have been a prosperous or at least a busy one
Its presence on the sitting-room table is more conducive
with English publishers. They issued nearly ten thous to this than is its undisturbed repose on the library shelf.
and books or, more exactly, 9914, of which 7701 Although such an exercise of paternalism on the part of
were new, the remainder being new editions. In 1906 the library authorities would be of questionable wisdom,
the corresponding figures were 8603 and 6985, showing an intelligent and observant desk-attendant can always
gains of 1311 and 716, respectively. Thus it appears
accomplish something (if not overburdened with work)
that the manufacture of books increased 15 per cent. by gently and unobtrusively directing attention to the
The increase in readers that is, in population - could choice flowers of literature (not fiction) wasting their
not have been nearly so great; hence it must have been sweetness on the musty air of the stock-room. A desk-
a year of activity for readers as well as publishers, attendant of our acquaintance-one of the unintelligent,
unless an unusual proportion of books went unsold and unobservant sort - once showed great perplexity and
unread, which does not appear to have been the case. even consternation on being asked to recommend some
An encouraging sign in some respects is the falling off good book to an applicant whose literary yearnings were
in the publication of fiction, from 2108 to 1862, and of the vaguest. Such a request evidently struck this
the considerable increase in theology (who would have slave of routine and red tape as most irregular and be-
thought it?), history, and biography. It may be that
wildering
novel-readers turned in greater numbers than usual from A GROWING INTEREST IN LIBRARY NEWS appears
pure fiction to its next of kin, gossipy biography and from the increasing frequency with which such news is
reminiscences. But the serious bent indicated by the
printed in our daily and weekly papers. The Boston
unusual demand for (or supply of) works on religion is « Transcript". one of the few journals that as yet
difficult to account for in this opening twentieth century. maintain a regular library department, and one of the
Is it possible that the Christian world is already begin best in this respect — takes occasion to commend THE
ning to get itself into a fit frame of mind for the second
DIAL for publishing library notes. « THE DIAL," it
millennium, ninety-two years hence ?
says, “nearly always contains interesting library news,
preferring, as a rule, the human and generally interest-
THE NEEDS OF THE CHILDREN AS LIBRARY-USERS are ing side of library work to its statistical features." The
in some quarters receiving what a childless adult might same writer kindly corrects a false impression conveyed
think to be undue attention. Whether the English | by a recent paragraph in these columns. The paragraph
authority on library administration, Mr. James Duff contained a reference to the “ Letters of a Chinese
Brown, is unblessed with offspring, or has a quiverful, | Official,” and, says our courteous critic, “ gave the im-
we do not know; but in the revised edition of his pression that the reply to the book by Mr. William J.
“ Manual of Library Economy" he takes occasion to Bryan was suppressed before publication. If The
say : “When a public library has provided an adequate DIAL cares to look at the book in the Chicago Public
children's room, and reduced its age limit to a reason Library, it can find that Mr. Bryan says, in a prefatory
able and liberal degree, it has done all that is necessary note, that he wrote his reply believing the • Letters 'to
or desirable without trenching upon the work of the be the work of a genuine Chinaman. Before publica-
public schools or fostering this particular class of tion he learned that an Englishman was the real author,
youthful citizen at the expense of his seniors who have but he decided to publish his work without alteration."
to find the money. With all respect for the admirable
work in connection with children's libraries and the MAGAZINE MADNESS has never been more amusingly
cultivation of intimate relationship with the public displayed than in the current announcement of a new
schools, both in the United States and in Britain, there sensational periodical. In its illustrations the new pub-
is a very grave danger of this particular outlet for lib lication seems bent on rivalling the rainbow in poly-
rary enthusiasm becoming a damaging influence on the chromatic brilliance: it is, in fact, advertised as “the
interests of the general work of public libraries. Already hottest pictorial proposition that ever hit a news-stand.”
there are libraries in the United States and in England And further, “if this brand-new idea in magazine mak-
where everything is subordinated to the special cult of ing does not wake you up you are hopelessly asleep."
the child, and where the claims of adult readers are Therefore “get a copy next issue, and wake up! Its
being brushed aside in the pursuit of what is largely, in pages teem with smashing good fiction, irresistible humor,
many cases, a sentimental fantasy.” At the same time serials that grip the human heart, things that appeal to
with this protest there comes from the Examining the finer sensibilities, and special articles that will keep
Committee of the Boston Public Library a complaint you entranced, enthralled, and make you watch anxiously
that “too much is done for the child, not enough for the for the next issue -- which will be better still.” If the
adult,” with interesting particulars. There is little first number is to send the reader into such a delirium
doubt that sometimes libraries of enterprise and ambi of rapture, it is to be feared that the next, “ which will
tion engage in work that might better be left to the be better still," will fairly paralyze him — will produce
schools.
an effect so stunning as to be fatal. The very name of


68
[Feb. 1,
THE DIAL
.
the magazine — that of an electric appliance liable to ries the librarians spend perforce the largest part of
be deadly to the touch — might be taken as a warning their time in such work as cutting leaves, stamping books
to the intending purchaser.
and magazines, placing papers on the racks and books
on the shelves, charging and receiving books at the desk,
ACCESSIONS TO THE NATIONAL LIBRARY in the past writing catalogue cards, and doing simple bookkeeping
year swell its total volume of books and pamphlets to And this is hardly professional work. I have read
near a million and a half -- or 1,433,848, to be more of librarians who in addition to these duties, and some
exact — its pieces of music to 464,618, its prints to others that might be called professional, lured children
253,822, and its maps and charts to 98,483. In addi to the library building and then to good reading by
tion to books reaching it through the regular channels, beautiful stories, or enticed adult appetites jaded by bad
the library acquired, at so small a cost as almost to make fiction to try some more substantial food, and by their
the acquisition a gift, the Yudin Library (mainly in personal activities invigorated the intellectual life of the
Russian) of more than 80,000 volumes on Russia and entire community. But the small urban library, which
Siberia. The moving of this large collection from perhaps most needs such personalities, almost never can
Krasnoiarsk in Siberia to Washington took about three find them, even among those who are “professionally
months' time. Some nine thousand works on Japan trained.
were also secured for the library by Dr. Asakawa of The problem that confronts a multitude of small
Yale. Another evidence of the rapid growth of this
libraries with incomes from $1000 to $3500 is to save
vast collection of books is furnished by the superinten- enough money, after the running expenses are paid, to
dent's call for more shelving. He advises the roofing buy books. And it has seemed to more than one board
over of the southeast courtyard and its conversion into of trustees that it was not justified in paying the salary,
a bookstack, nine tiers high.
small though it is, of a graduate of a library school
for such service as is rendered. Many of these boards,
THE YEAR'S EVENTS IN THE LIBRARY WORLD, as having the best interest of the library sincerely at heart,
noted by “Public Libraries ” in reviewing the most
do not believe that the position of librarian should be
important happenings of 1907 in our library activity, filled by someone whose only qualification is that she has
were the discussion of the subject of permanent head failed at teaching school or that she needs the financial
quarters for the American Library Association; the help. That is not the alternative. There are in many
discontinuance of official relations between this associa communities men and women who, after short training,
tion and “ The Library Journal"; the Copyright or by the exercise of common sense and by private
League's opposition, apparently successful, to the study, can perform all the mechanical work of the
restriction of free importation of books for public libra library, and get other results fairly satisfactory to
ries; the beginning of state commission work for the community, even to those who are discriminating.
libraries in Missouri and North Dakota, with somewhat Although untrained in the schools, they after a while
similar activity in Kansas and Illinois; and the signal
learn the use of the few reference books that the small
growth and development of the Library of Congress. library affords; and if they are lovers of learning and
Our national library, we are told, has now “advanced of letters, they are of genuine help to the book com-
to third place among the great libraries of the world in mittee in the selection of new books.
size, while in the variety and extent of its activities it There remains the “classification according to Dewey."
probably ranks first.”
This is not the time to voice a complaint, which is as
widespread among book-lovers as are books, against the
“system”; it is now so generally used that we probably
must accept it. But when trained librarians classify
Trilby under French fiction, N. P. Willis under British
COMMUNICATION.
poets, widely separate two books by the same author on
the same subject, and are unable to agree on other
PROBLEMS OF THE SMALLER LIBRARIES.
classifications even after knowing what the books con-
(To the Editor of The DIAL.)
tain, — to illustrate briefly from personal observation,
As trustee of a village library, I was interested in a it is no longer any wonder that the untrained make errors.
note in a recent number of your journal, concerning So my practical suggestion is this : If some library
the professional status and pay of librarians. Were it school, some board, or, preferably, the Library of Con-
not for the occasional library notes in the pages of THE gress, would furnish upon application at a moderate
DIAL, I should begin to think that the old ideal of hav price the correct classification of books according to the
ing in the library a man or a woman who loves books Dewey Decimal System, to which most libraries here-
(and their contents) had passed away,—this type which,
abouts are committed, small libraries could then secure
professional or not, has been sought so eagerly by library service adequate to their needs and at the same time
boards among the graduates of library schools and else save enough money to buy some books with which to
where.
justify their existence. Even an enterprising book-
There is a pretty widespread feeling, I find, that supply house might satisfy this demand and incidentally
library schools do not inculcate this kind of profession enlarge its business. Of course the American Library
alism, but, rather, a spirit which is radically different. Association Catalogue and Monthly Book List do this in
Certain it is that, whatever the aim of the schools, some a partial way, and some of these classification numbers
trustees who have had experience with graduates of are copied on the Library of Congress cards; but so far
extended library courses have found them willing - as I have been able to learn from professional librarians,
shall I say eager?— to forget much of the instruction there is no source from which one may secure the cor-
that had been given them, or else so tired of the backs rect classification of all books that a library may care
of books that they could not care for their contents. to buy.
THOMAS H. BRIGGS.
This is hardly a professional spirit. In the smaller libra Jan. 21, 1908.


1908.]
69
THE DIAL
The Mew Books.
Hunt was apparently the first celebrity to “take
up” the young poet, but intimate relations were
soon knit with Burne-Jones, Browning, Rossetti,
AN IRISH POET'S LITERARY FRIENDSHIPS.* Tennyson, Carlyle, and many others. So con-
Clearness, simplicity, and a modest charm
stant a visitor was he to the house in Cheyne
of their own are found in the poems, now ap-
Row that Carlyle's niece once told her uncle,
parently little read, of William Allingham of
People say Mr. Allingham is to be your
Ballyshannon— for there he was born, in 1824, Boswell"; to which the answer was, “ Well, let
and there he spent much of his early life, him try it. He's very accurate.'
cultivating his muse and sitting at the receipt
Taken from school at fourteen to go into a
of customs. His custom-house activities, much bank at Ballyshannon, whence he soon entered
earlier entered upon and longer continued than the customs service, Allingham was forced to
Hawthorne's, were not entirely suspended until educate himself in all branches higher than the
1870, when he settled in London and assumed rudiments of learning; and it speaks well for
the sub-editorship, under Froude, of “ Fraser's his industry and his good natural parts that he
Magazine. Meantime he had shifted from was able to stand on a footing of equality with
place to place, at one short period relinquishing contemporary English men of letters. A diary
his government position and trying a London extract, written in 1847, gives some interesting
literary life (which he speedily abandoned be- glimpses of Leigh Hunt as young Allingham
cause he would be no publisher's hack), and at
saw him when he first visited him in London,
all times writing, and occasionally publishing, “ Sunday Evening, June 27.-32 Edwardes Square,
verses that enjoyed a more or less pronounced and find Leigh Hunt at last. I was shown into the study
and had some minutes to look round at the Book-cases,
success in the world of letters.
In spite of
Busts, old framed engravings, and to glance at some of
his ambitious narrative poem in heroic metre, the books on the table, diligently marked and noted in
“ Laurence Bloomfield in Ireland,” which he put the well-known neatest of hand-writings. Outside the
forth in his prime and regarded as his most import- window climbed a hop on its trellis. The door opened
ant work, we think of him as an English rather
and in came the Genius Loci, a tallish young old man,
in dark dressing-gown and wide turned-down shirt-
than an Irish poet, and take far more pleasure in
collar, his copious iron-gray hair falling almost to his
his short and simple “ Day and Night Songs shoulders. The friendly brown eyes, simple yet fine-
than in that rather formidable social document toned voice, easy hand-pressure, gave me greeting as to
which exhibits the fortunes of his Hibernian hero. one already well-known to him. Our talk fell first on
In -- William Allingham: a Diary” is pre-
reason and instinct; he maintained (for argument's sake,
I thought) that beasts may be equal or superior to men.
sented a fairly complete account, in a necessarily He has a light earnestness of manner, and toleration for
disjointed style, of the poet's life. The first almost every possible different point of view from his
thirty-three pages of the book are written out in Of freewill he said, I would much rather be
autobiographic form, and bring Allingham's life
without it. I should like to feel myself taken care of
in the arms of beneficent power. . Browning - lives
down to his twenty-third year. At this point
At this point at Peckham, because no one else does! a born poet, but
in the text the purpose of leaving behind him loves contradictions. Shakespeare and Milton write
a full and formal autobiography seems to have plainly, the Sun and Moon write plainly, and why can't
been abandoned by the poet, and the rest of the Browning?' I suggested he was the Turner of poetry,
book, which extends to four hundred ample pages,
to which Leigh Hunt replied, “Now, you've said it! He's
a pleasant fellow, has few readers, and will be glad to
is made up of extracts from a very full but hastily find you admire him.' (!!) • I shall now be able to see
written diary, with occasional passages of connect my friends oftener, and will take an opportunity of ask-
ing narrative from Mrs. Allingham's pen, where ing Dickens, Carlyle, and Browning to meet you.'
the regular entries are for
any
(Gracious Powers!!!) •I would do so for few.””
intermitted.
Allingham's intimacy with Rossetti was The following, dated Oct. 4, 1863, shows
brought to notice by the appearance in “ The Tennyson in an unfamiliar (and involuntary)
Atlantic Monthly,” twelve years ago,
of the
pre-
attitude; it also contains one out of many illus-
Raphaelite's letters (considered the best he ever trations of Allingham's quickness of wit.
wrote) to the Irish-born poet. And this was “ T. takes me upstairs to his •den' on the top-story,
by no means the only literary friendship that and higher, up a ladder, to the leads. He often comes
Allingham formed in London: his diary shows
up here a-night to look at the heavens. One night he
him to have been a welcome guest at the homes hatchway, failing on the floor below, a height of at least
was watching shooting-stars and tumbled through the
of nearly all the writing folk of his time. Leigh ten feet I should say. The ladder probably broke his
A DIARY. Edited by H. Allingham
fall and he was not hurt. I quoted · A certain star shot
and D. Radford. Illustrated. New York: The Macmillan Co. madly from his sphere.'”
own.
cause
WILLIAM ALLINGHAM:


70
[Feb. 1,
THE DIAL
are the
A still further excerpt, referring to an earlier ping so soon the autobiography that he had begun
visit at the Tennyson home, is worth giving for its to frame out of his diary material. This too-
introduction of Edward FitzGerald as raconteur. short portion, indeed, does possess a very
read-
The story he tells is found somewhere in his letters, able quality. Mrs. Allingham and Mrs. Radford
but
may be not too stale for reproduction here. have done good editorial work; and the four
“ Returning to the drawing-room I found Mrs. portraits reproduced from Mrs. Allingham's own
Tennyson — sweet, pale, and kind; Mr. Frederick
water-color drawings - two of her husband and
Tennyson the eldest of the brothers, and Mr. Edward
FitzGerald (Omar Khayyam).
one each of Tennyson and Carlyle -- are inter-
Mr. FitzGerald
(Fitz’), an old and intimate friend, told droll stories esting Other illustrations, and an index pre-
with a quaint gravity, much amusing Mrs. Tennyson in pared by Miss Toulmin Smith, together with a
particular. One was about old Miss Edgeworth, whom list of Allingham's works, are also provided.
he knew, and her turban. She used to take it off for
PERCY F. BICKNELL.
coolness and resume it when visitors were announced.
One day by some mischance a strange gentleman came
into the room and found her writing with her almost
bald pate plainly visible. Miss E. started up with the
THE CASE AGAINST GOVERNMENT
greatest agility, seized her turban which lay close by, and
OWNERSHIP.*
darted through an opposite door, whence she quickly
reappeared with the decoration upon her head, but
Municipal Ownership in Great Britain”
unluckily turned wrong side foremost.”
and - The British State Telegraphs
Carlyle figures frequently in the diary, and titles of the second and third volumes in a series
many of his sayings are quoted — all character- of five books which Professor Hugo Meyer,
istic, but not often of any great moment. The formerly of the University of Chicago, has
following remarks are as quotable as any. undertaken to write on public regulation and
“C. spoke of Sydney Smith, to whom he was able to government ownership and operation of the
give no praise at all. • The nature of true Wit is very public-service industries – the railway, the tele-
much misunderstood. Sydney said nothing worth re-
membering: He said " it took a surgical operation to graph, the street railway, the electric light, and
get a joke into a Scotchman's head"; the thing is, that
the telephone.
The first volume, published
what Sydney presented was not a joke worth admitting more than a year ago, dealt with government
into any one's head, and the Scotchman refused to have regulation of railway rates, and attracted special
anything to do with it. The Scotch are a people with
attention on account of the author's strong
a large appreciation of fun very generally among them.
I remember seeing Sydney Smith setting himself opposition to such regulation.
to make a company laugh, and I left him there at it,
The volume on Municipal Ownership"
reflecting what a wretched ambition it was in any covers rather fully the industries of street rail-
man.' . . . He spoke of a debate long ago at the London
ways, gas, and electric light, and altogether con-
Library about the appointment of a Librarian. C. was
for one man, Gladstone for a certain Italian. C. said:
tains a formidable argument against the policy
· I discovered then that Gladstone had the art of speak-
indicated by the title. That policy, the author
ing. He and I were like Valentine and Orson. I laid maintains, has wellnigh paralyzed street-railway
about with a rough club, he got up in shining armour building in the United Kingdom and placed
and drew his sword. But all in vain, too; by no sleight the tramway industry on a losing financial basis.
of fence could he carry his point.''
Comparing English and American conditions,
Allingham died on the 18th November, 1889.
he reaches the conclusion that the people living
Shortly before he drew his last breath he said, in the cities and towns of the United Kingdom
“ I am seeing things that you know nothing of."
have at their service less than a quarter of the
By his express wish, his body was cremated, street-railway facilities enjoyed by people living
no funeral service being held, and only a few
in the towns and cities of the United States
relatives and friends being present at the crema (p. 91). Had the urban population of the
tion. Mr. F. G. Stephens, the oldest of the
United Kingdom, in January, 1906, been as
assembled friends, read aloud Allingham's own
well supplied with electric street-railways as
“ Poet's Epitaph,"
was the urban population of the United States
- Body to purifying flame,
in 1902, he affirms, the United Kingdom would
Soul to the Great Deep whence it came,
have had, not 3040 miles of electric street-
Leaving a song on earth below,
An urn of ashes white as snow."
railway track, but 14,000 miles (p. 301). Taking
In literary charm the book suffers from being
THE BRITISH STATE TELEGRAPHS. A Study of the Problems
of a Large Body of Civil Servants in a Democracy. By Hugo
so largely a rudis indigestaque moles — for Richard Meyer. New York: The Macmillan Co.
which, however, no one is to blame, unless we PUBLIC OWNERSHIP AND THE TELEPHONE IN GREAT BRITAIN.
Restriction of the Industry by the State and the Municipalities.
choose to quarrel with the dead poet for drop- | By Hugo Richard Meyer. New York: The Macmillan Co.


1908.]
71
THE DIAL
own
the much-discussed Glasgow system as a specific against state ownership of the telegraph is no
illustration, the author shows that this city and less strong than that against the municipaliza-
its suburbs, containing a population of upwards tion of the street railways. It will be remem-
of a million inhabitants, has less than 140 miles bered that the British government took over
of street-railway track (p. 74) -- facilities which the telegraph lines of the United Kingdom in
do not begin to compare with those of Amer 1870, paying therefor $40,000,000, which Mr.
ican cities. Moreover, he says, if the facilities Meyer thinks was excessive (p. 5).
The com-
were greater the people of Glasgow would be plaints against private ownership and operation
unable to use them, because the system of were that the charges were too high, a fact
graded fares, which for suburban residents which tended to check the growth of telegraphic
would be the equivalent of six, seven, or eight correspondence; that there were frequent de-
cents, would be practically prohibitive (p. 108). lays of messages ; that many important com-
The situation with regard to the gas and munities were unprovided with telegraphic facil-
electric-lighting industries, Professor Meyer in ities; and that in many places the telegraph
sists, is little if any better. Two hundred and office was inconveniently remote from the centre
eighty municipalities in the United Kingdom of business. It was pointed out that the expe-
their gas-plants, of which only forty per cent rience of Belgium and Switzerland with state
are on a paying basis (p. 174). Compared with ownership had been very successful, having
the United States, the electric light facilities of greatly stimulated the growth of telegraphic
the United Kingdom are grossly inadequate. correspondence by a substantial reduction of
In June, 1902, there were, he says, 3620 central charges. But, according to Mr. Meyer, the
electric stations in American cities as against expectations of the friends of state ownership in
457 in 1904 in British municipalities (p. 261). England have not been realized. The revenues
After British cities had “paralyzed individual have, with rare exceptions, fallen below the
initiative and private adventure” by municipal amount estimated, while the expenses of opera-
ownership, the cities themselves declined to step tion have been excessive (pp. 87, 386). On the
in and supply the needed facilities which other whole, he concludes that the verdict of British
wise would have been provided. The cities of experience under public ownership and operation
Great Britain, the author asserts, have thus far has shown the doctrine to be untenable. Instead
shown themselves incapable of utilizing fully of purifying politics it has corrupted politics by
the industries given them ready-made by the giving a great impetus to the “ insidious practice
American captains of industry. They have of class bribery” (p. 387). In one respect he
failed to “suburbanize” their populations by admits that nationalization of the telegraph has
means of adequate transportation facilities, and met the expectations of its advocates, — namely,
have thereby shown an “indifference to and a in the enormous extension of telegraphic corre-
disregard of the public health, physical as well spondence, though too often this relates to mat-
as moral, that for brutality have no parallel in ters the encouragement of which by the state may
the records of private industry.” Scarcely less well be open to question.
brutal, he contends, is the disregard by British
JAMES W. GARNER.
cities of the welfare of the hundred thousand
people who might find employment in the
electrical industries if the cities would but re-
EARL PERCY AND HIS DINNER-GUESTS.*
move their paralyzing hand (p. 324). Professor
Meyer's conclusions are as follows:
In “Earl Percy's Dinner-Table” Mr.
“ The upshot of thirty-five years of action upon the
Murdock has produced an unusual book
doctrine that the public service industries that make
historical monograph possessing both unques-
use of the public streets differ from ordinary trading tionable authenticity and rare distinction of
and manufacturing ventures, and must be made to share style. Its plan and the stately classicism of
their profits with the public at large, is that the people
its style suggest Landor's " Imaginary Conver-
of the United Kingdom have at their disposal about
sations ”; its method of research, Mr Austin
one-quarter the street railway facilities, one-third the
electric lighting facilities, and less than one-quarter
Dobson's “ Eighteenth Century Vignettes.” A
the telephone facilities, that they would have to have light touch, a vivid imagination, a gift for the
before they could be said to be as well supplied with illuminating epithet that shall paint a character,
these facilities as are the people of the United States." picture a scene, or produce an atmosphere,
Professor Meyer's third volume, like the
these are the qualities that distinguish Mr.
second, might well be styled “the case against
government ownership,” for his indictment
an
* EARL PERCY'S DINNER-TABLE. By Harold Murdock. Bos-
ton: Houghton, Mimin & Co.


72
[Feb. 1,
THE DIAL
63
o in the eyes
Murdock's little book. Already known as the cruel, and cowards," and its climate, which took
author of several important historical works, him to “ the Torrid and Frigid Zone frequently
he now shows that he can clothe dry bones and in the space of 24 hours.” In order that he
make them live, - not in the hackneyed form might enjoy the scenery of the suburbs he bought
of historical fiction but as a rare and refreshing riding-horse, for which he paid £450, and sent
bit of imaginative history. Issued as one of the to New York “for a pair of chaise horses that
Riverside Press special editions, the volume is were to his mind.” Then he rented a house,
printed and bound in a fashion that suits its pleasantly situated within its garden at the head
unusual quality. The only illustration is the of Winter Street, and was ready to play the host
frontispiece, which shows an engraved portrait " to the officers of the Line and occasionally
of Earl Percy by Sidney L. Smith, from a print the Gentlemen of the Country.”
in the author's possession, combined, within a It is pleasant to see him crossing the Common each
graceful border, with a modern vignette of the afternoon to do the honors of his mansion, and day by
Earl's dinner-table.
day and week by week it is interesting to watch his
Mr. Murdock has chosen the dinner-table in
guests passing in and out the great door. It opens to
officers in scarlet and gold, and to officers in the blue of
Earl Percy's Winter Street house as a conven the Royal Navy, to gentlemen in silk and brocade, and
ient vantage-point from which to survey the life to gentlemen in velvet and lace. Old Dr. Caner goes
of Boston in 1774. The episode falls into three up the path leaning upon his stick, the great coach of
parts: the first, opening with a vivid account Colonel Royall lumbers up to the garden gate, the chaise
of Judge Lee waits in Winter Street to carry his Honor
of the landing of Percy's regiment in Boston,
back to Cambridge. All those who love the King within
characterizes the Earl and a group of his officers, this stern old New England town rejoice in the polite
and relates, as an extract from the (non-existent) summons that brings them to Earl Percy's dinner-table."
journal of Captain William Glanville Evelyn At the particular dinner that Captain Evelyn
of “The King's Own," the conversation at one describes, the civilian element was ably repre-
of the Earl's dinners; the second is concerned sented by the Reverend Mather Byles, preacher,
with the battles of Concord and Bunker Hill poet, and wit, arrant Tory and so
and the dark days that followed, when, for
of the army the most sensible as well as the
obvious reasons, "dinner-giving was going out most delightful clergyman in Boston.” The
of fashion in Boston," and the evacuation of the
other places were filled by army and navy
town was only a matter of time; the third is in officers, invited to meet Lord Percy's boy friend,
the nature of an after-piece, sketching briefly young Roger Sheaffe, who is about sailing for
the future careers — in America, England, or
England to study for a commission.
India - of the gallant group of officers who had
“ The Earl has presented him to-night to his future
been wont to gather around Earl Percy's hos comrades of the army, and the radiant face of the boy
pitable board.
must be a pleasant sight in his lordship's eyes."
The chief authorities for the more original Pleasant banter over the boy's ambition to
features of the narrative are Earl Percy's own
“ wear the red coat" runs around the table.
letters, those of John Andrews, Mrs. Boscawen, Doctor Byles's witty sallies throw old Major
Lady Sarah Bunbury, and others, and the files Pitcairn into convulsions of mirth. Local
of the Boston newspapers of the day,
affairs, London scandal and literary gossip fur-
which are indicated in an appendix of notes. nish topics of conversation. The Earl, who
pre-
A complete bibliography would extend to alarm-
sides gracefully, asks Dr. Byles if he admires
ing proportions, and include every available
the verse of Dr. Goldsmith, lately deceased.
book, pamphlet, and document ; for it is evident
• Dr. Byles replied that he regarded Goldsmith as an
that the easy, unstudied manner of the narrative ingenious man of excellent promise, though not to be
is due to the author's perfect acquaintance not compared with his old friend and correspondent, Mr.
only with the episodes which his book touches Pope.”
upon but also with the entire history of the Then Earl Percy spoke of his family's connec-
period.
tion with the poet, and Captain Harry Fox,
In its main outlines, the story of the Boston Lord Holland's “only good son,” recalled his
siege is as familiar as any in our history; but brother Charles's acquaintance with him.
with the stately Earl Percy in the foreground, “ He feared that the poet's death had been hastened
in place of Paul Revere and the Concord minute-
by the burden of heavy debts. Here Gould muttered
men, it takes on a fresh interest. The Earl
in my ear to wonder whether, if Lord Holland had not
come to the financial relief of Charles Fox, that portly
wrote home of Boston, — its people, whom he gambler would have been crushed as easily as the
called " a set of sly, artful, hypocritical rascalls, Duke's scribbling friend from Grub Street.”
sources
66


1908.]
73
THE DIAL
;
It is all very courtly and care-free ; but when the opportunities of Reed — perhaps not in the
the time for work comes these leisurely diners- native ability or acquired knowledge of either
out prove themselves excellent fighters. As for to render to the country the enormous and vital
Earl Percy's scornful estimate of the colonists, services rendered by Fessenden during the eight
he was prompt to revise it on the evidence of years which remained to him after the outbreak
April nineteenth, in writing of which he paid of the Civil War. As one thinks of the long
high and generous tribute to their courage and train of evils which traces straight back to the
perseverance. Mr. Murdock describes the Earl sins and blunders of Civil War finance, it might
reviewing his brigade on the morning of that not seem propitious to recall the fact that Senator
fateful day.
Fessenden was Chairman of the Senate Finance
“And the expression on his Lordship’s face is not the Committee during the entire war period, except
one we find in Mr. Stuart's painting, nor that familiar for the few months when he held the Treasury
to guests at his dinner-table.”
portfolio after the resignation of Secretary Chase.
But the Earl and his friends were not yet The fact was, however, that his keen financial
discouraged. Dinner-giving went merrily on instinct scented the essential rottenness of every
in Boston, with the choice of guests greatly serious fallacy proposed, and these fallacies be-
augumented by the advent of many frightened
came a part of our law and practice only in
loyalists and the arrival of the frigate Cerberus.
cases where his wise advice went down before
“One is tempted to glance again into the old dining-
the unwisdom of superior numbers. The issue
room and mark the new faces that gather there, to hear
Colonel Saltonstall and Mr. Vassall lament the incon-
of legal-tender notes was against all his ideas of
veniences of the time, to hear Clinton tell his memories
financial good sense and national honor; and
of the fighting Prince of Brunswick, and listen to Bur- though compelled by the attitude of his Com-
goyne's graceful and racy recital of the gossip that is mittee to report the bill, he supported a motion
amusing high life in London."
to strike out the legal-tender clause on the floor of
But soon came the disillusionment of Bunker the Senate. During the months of his service as
Hill, and then, after a long cold winter enliv- Secretary of the Treasury, 1864–65, he success-
ened chiefly by Burgoyne's wit as a playwright fully resisted all demands for currency inflation,
the evacuation, and the scattering of Earl
not a dollar being added to the amount outstand-
Percy's dinner-guests to the four corners of the ing at his accession. It was his influence that
earth. It is the best possible evidence of Mr. secured the act of March 3, 1865, forbidding
Murdock's art that we read of their future careers
the further issue of legal tenders; and one of
with interest, and part from them, after so slight his first services on returning to the Senate was
an acquaintance, as from friends.
to lead through that body, against the opposi-
EDITH KELLOGG DUNTON. tion of John Sherman, a bill to hasten the
elimination of this dangerous element from our
financial system. By 1868, however, misguided
A MAN FROM MAINE.
public clamor swept the Senate from its moor-
In the political lingo of a few years ago
ings and Fessenden was one of but four who
had the moral courage to stand out against the
“ The man from Maine
was a very common
repeal of this wise provision. That much of
expression ; but it did not mean the man who
the financial folly and disaster of the past forty
is really best entitled to rank as Maine's prime years might have been spared but for the throw-
contribution to American statesmanship. The
name of William Pitt Fessenden has figured of praetically every well-equipped student of our
little in the press of the present generation, nor
financial history to-day.
have the writers of United States histories made
But the crowning display of Senator Fessen-
it familiar to the children of the public schools.
den's sound sense and moral courage was his
The appearance of his biography, however, will
defeat — for it was essentially his — of the ill-
awaken very vivid recollections in the minds of advised movement to get rid of a politically
men who lived through the Civil War and the
obnoxious President by impeachment. The case
troubled era of Reconstruction. Blaine and
is all the more striking in that Fessenden, though
Thomas B. Reed come most readily to mind
a thoroughly kind man at heart, was by tem-
to-day, when the State of Maine is mentioned ; perament extremely irritable under the stimulus
but it lay not in the character of Blaine nor in
of just such foolish conduct as President John-
son was continually perpetrating, and there was
By his son, Francis Fessenden. In two volumes. Boston:
Houghton, Mifflin & Co.
really no more effective opponent of all the
LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES OF WILLIAM PITT FESSENDEN.


74
[Feb. 1,
THE DIAL
an
President's distinctive policies in the entire nor is his quiet and unassuming style of virtue
Senate than Fessenden himself. As one reads exactly that which appeals to the popular taste in
his private letters during this trying period, as age
which admires men who do things” more
well as his public utterances, it is clear that his noisily than he, if not always more successfully.
merely human impulses were urging him all the It is unfortunate, therefore, that his biography
time toward conviction, not because conviction could not have had the benefit of competent
was the thunderous demand of his party, but literary training as well as filial affection. Still,
because the President's course was in almost after shortcomings on that score are discounted,
all its essential features utterly repugnant to one finds in this story of a public man who never
his ideas of right and of the country's welfare. “put his ear to the ground" to listen for the
But over against all this was the one fact of his voice of duty, never “climbed into the band-
sworn obligation as an honest man to decide wagon " in search of office, never chose to go
the case before him in rigid accordance with the against his conscientious judgment a hair's
law and the evidence. It would be hard to find breadth rather than " get left," a piece of biog-
a more temperate, dignified, and utterly crush- raphy so morally invigorating as to deserve, in
ing rejoinder, than his reply to a clamorous its own very different way, a place alongside
letter from Neal Dow, demanding that he should the reminiscences of Carl Schurz.
hang Johnson up by the heels like a dead
W. H. JOHNSON.
crow in a cornfield, to frighten all his tribe.”
“ Eternal infamy, 'roared Ben Butler, “ unless
you vote to convict!'"
And perhaps four-
fifths of Fessenden's constituents were suffi-
RECENT POETRY.*
ciently carried away by the excitement of the The “ New Poems” of Mr. Stephen Phillips will
moment to echo Butler's words. Forty years not add materially to his reputation, but they main-
have passed since then. Blaine long ago apolo- tain a fairly high level of performance. Always
gized at length, in his “ Twenty Years in Con- serious, and a master of the note of tremulous pas-
gress,” for the part that he had taken in the sion, this poet knows how to impart his mood to
Impeachment movement, and his change of others, and bear them away upon the wings of his
heart was shared by many another after passion imagination. This power may be illustrated by a
had time to cool. The moral consciousness of
passage from his 66
Endymion the passage con-
veying Selene's invitation to the shepherd.
Maine had largely righted itself towards its
li Wilt thou come,
greatest and purest statesman within the one
And drift upon this bosom through the deep ?
short year of life which remained to him after Say, wilt thou lead a life which, though less bright,
the famous trial closed, and it would be hard
Is beautiful to those of noon aweary,
The rarer day of spirits exquisite ?
to find a sane man in the land to-day who would Is it so little ocean to allure,
not be willing to have the career of William Or rise in silence on the battle-field;
Pitt Fessenden held up to his sons as a worthy
To soothe the spires and steeples of the world,
Or the blue-darting pyramids; to clothe
example of upright, intelligent, and patriotic In lovely raiment even the starkest crag;
manhood. As for Butler, dealing out his
Make the Sahara like a lily bloom,
A huge and delicate flower; to reconcile
thunderbolts of eternal disgrace to those who The coldest hills; to fill the gaps of stone,
would not fall in with a programme of pas To glaze with glory intervals of Time;
To breathe into the bones of cities dead
sionate partisanship of which he may now be
An argent soul, reweave the passionate halls
recognized as a thoroughly fitting leader — what
Where waves the grass, and prostrate empires old
better fate than silence can his great misuse of Raise into trembling immortality ?”
great talents ever hope for? As one reads over This fine appeal offers several examples of verbal
Fessenden's recorded opinion in this historic infelicity, and one verse sets us wondering what
case, together with the extracts which his biog *New POEMs. By Stephen Phillips. New York: The John
rapher includes from that of Sumner, he is forced
to the conviction that here is a moral height
which even Sumner, through his inability to IN GRASMERE VALE, and Other Poems.
control some of the prejudices and weaknesses
POEMs. By M. Compton Mackenzie. Oxford: B. H. Blackwell,
which fastened themselves upon one of the great THE FIRE DIVINE. By Richard Watson Gilder. New York:
est minds and hearts of the age, was unable to
BLANK VERSE PASTELS, By Clinton Scollard. Clinton, N. Y.:
reach.
George William Browning.
Fessenden's name, as has already been said,
THE PASSING OF TIME. By William de Forest Thomson.
New York: Robert Grier Cooke.
is not a part of the mental furniture of to-day,
Lane Co.
SONGS FR
CLASSICS. By Charles F. Grindrod. Second
Series. London: David Nutt.
By James A.
Mackereth. London: David Nutt.
The Century Co.
SEMITONES, By A. A. C. New York: Brentano's.


1908.]
75
THE DIAL
Selene could have known of “spires and steeples," And be glad with the winds and the waters, with the birds
but it is an impressive passage for all that, and con-
and the trees and the flowers,
And taste yet again with delight the munificent hours.
tains the essence of poetry. Mr. Phillips, as we
have long since learned, has the power of re-stating
“I will take the glad earth to wife,
the themes of old-world history and legend in terms
Will claim her green bosom for bed,
that have just the touch of modern imagination
I will drink at the freshets of life,
needed for the renewal of their freshness. Other
And beauty shall be to me bread.”
examples in this volume are the poems on Orestes,
Thus the slow gravity of the Wordsworthian concep-
on Guenevere, on the Lady Edith seeking Harold's
tion of nature is quickened by the modern spirit of
body at Senlac, and the one-act Corinthian tragedy the joy of living, and that which was to the older
that rounds out the book. Left entirely to his own
poet a refuge becomes to the younger one an ani-
resources, Mr. Phillips does not seem to us a verte-
mated and responsive personality. We even get an
bratė poet, but he can drape the limbs of old romance echo of Mr. Swinburne in the stanzas on Man and
in very graceful folds.
the Sea," the last of which is this :
A second series of Mr. Charles F. Grindrod's
“O to be one for the space of an hour with thee, breath of
“Songs from the Classics ” includes poems upon thy breath,
a number of Greek myths — Edipus, Tithonus,
Wild with the might of thy joy, and tempestuously hurled,
Hermes, Iphigenia, and half a dozen others. They
One with thy wonderful waves, proud scorner of death,
Queen-bride of the world!"
are narratives rather than songs, although they con-
tain an element of philosophical lyricism. This may
In fact, Mr. Mackereth sometimes seems to scorn
be illustrated by a stanza from the Edipus poem.
the Wordsworthian temper that he elsewhere lauds,
and to repudiate the very thought of resignation.
"Life's book is still a wonder to our wit-
Here torn, there faded, blurred its lettered gold.
The following lines, addressed to the poet (generi-
Fainter the writing on the scroll
cally speaking), might have been penned by Henley.
Shows as the parchment we unroll;
“ For thee the elevation and the calm,
And what we read is like a tale half-told,
The aloofness that, not unallied to pain,
Lost the beginning, and the end unwrit."
Feeds on supernal sorrows, and drinks deep
This is not much more than commonplace, and we
Of joys denied to mortals. Hence for thee
The far-off acclamations of the stars,
quote it mainly as an example of a peculiar stanzaic
And spiritual benedictions, and soft peace;
form. Another form affected by the author is em For me the tramp, the tumult, and the cry,
ployed in the Iphigenia poem, and is illustrated by The curse from loud lips flung, the tyrant's rage,
this stanza of the maiden's plaint.
The smile from frailty foully overborne.
For thee the ethereal pomp and proud repose ;
“O star-crowned Artemis! O purest light
For me the laughter of comrades, tear and toil,
That burns in heaven! Whose rays divine
The inspiring clasp of life-warm human hands,
Ever on hapless maidens shine!
Hope, hate, strong love — the throbbing whole of life,
Thou who dost sail the flame-fringed sky
The blow, the sting, the rush magnificent,
Cloudless in thy virginity!-
Toward that one breach, piled with God's vehement dead,
Stoop from thy silver car that climbs the night,
Where Death the archer waits behind the wall !"
And let my grief be gladdened with thy sight!”
Mr. M. Compton Mackenzie, in his “Poems,"
“In Grasmere Vale, and Other Poems,” is a
affects the pastoral convention.
small volume of verse by Mr. James A. Mackereth.
“Come, my Corinna, come with me and live
The titular poem suggests Wordsworth, and yields
Away in some far-hidden pastoral nook ;
these sympathetic stanzas of tribute and invocation. Stay not, Corinna, you and I could give
"Spirit! of passion all unblown,
The very scythe of Time an easeful look.
And eminent o'er things that cloy,
I have a grey house set beside a stream,
With casements opening on the West and East;
Oh, teach us something of thine own
Tranquillity and joy !
There may you live and there forever dream
Till swallows flit no more and flowers have ceased."
“Teach us our souls to guard and keep,
To feel when onward rudely hurled
Thus pleasantly does the volume open, inviting the
Through cities, when we laugh and weep,
reader no less than Corinna to its pages. The alter.
The gladness of the world.
nate rhyme is Mr. Mackenzie's favorite mode of
- Lead us by paths that folly flies,
expression, varied now and then by terza rima, or
From random gauds that daze our youth the more complicated arrangements of the sonnet.
To that simplicity that lies
We are greatly taken with the stanzas on “Love in
Upon the breast of Truth!”
November."
This is of a piece with the utterance of such latter "To-day the world is chill with stagnant breath,
day Wordsworthians as Arnold and Mr. Watson. Life is a web of half-forgotten dreams,
But we find also in the new poet the Meredithian
The year a way-worn traveller nigh to death :
The winter-weary winds, the sighing streams,
note of rapture.
Are like the voices of the thin moonbeams;
" I will get me again to clean-smelling moorlands and fells, The haughty sun is now no longer king.
And gather the wisdom I squandered far off in my youth,
Love is the only constant thing, it seems;
And gaze in the fond tender faces where innocence dwells,
We two who love may still remember Spring.
And kindness and truth;
66


76
[Feb. 1,
THE DIAL
AL
the memorial poems now published. We extract
two of the fourteen stanzas.
“ Ye stars ; all music to the spirit's ear!
Before the imperial music-masters knelt
This master of an art sublime, austere ;
The very soul of music in him dwelt,
So in his lines the haunting strains of lyres,
From gracious forms deep tones symphonic spring ;
Once more we hear the sound of heavenly wires,
Again the stars of morn together sing.
verse.
66
“And yet how long it is, since you and I
Went, hand in hand, to watch for one fair hour
The river's silver shadows sweeping by.
For us a moment's sadness was a shower,
A moment's joy the beauty of a flower.
Ah, sweet! can you remember that lost kiss
When we were lord and lady of Love's tower,
So high we seemed above the world's abyss ? "
Ease and amplitude, picturesqueness and imagina-
tion, are the qualities of Mr. Mackenzie's exquisite
His taste is wellnigh faultless, and his feel-
ing for rhythm leaves little to be desired. The seri-
ous note prevails, but is occasionally forgotten, as
in these stanzas to the memory of a favorite bulldog.
“Thou need'st not any longer fear the snow,
And howl despondent when the driving rain
Bids thee frequent the rug and fireside-glow,
Or draws thee hopeless to the window pane :
For thee all Winters have long gone before,
And endless Springs await thee evermore.
" For now across an amaranthine field
The spirits of bad rabbits flee thy bark,
And haply some dread fox, sent unannealed
Below, is chased into the outer dark,
Where spectral traps and ghostly gins abound,
And through the gloom the hostile horns resound.
own ideals.
1
66
“And when we shiver by the Stygian mere
Above the lamentations through the dark,
Upon the bank remote, shall we not hear
A hollow and attenuated bark ?
Then with the hero-dogs we 'll see thee stand
Alert to greet us on the murky strand.”
Mr. Mackenzie's sonnets number hardly more than
a dozen, but each is a gem.
“ The Lilies of the
Field ” shall be our selection, reluctantly leaving the
beauty of the others to be inferred.
Thy soul is not enchanted by the moon;
No influential comet draws thy mind
To steeps intolerable where all behind
Is dark, and many ruined stars are strewn.
But thou, contented, canst enthrall the tune
That haunts each wood and every singing wind ;
Thou, fortunate philosopher, canst find
The dreams of Earth in every drowsy noon.
* Match not thy soul against the seraphim ;
They are no more than moths blown to and fro
About the tempest of the eternal Will.
Rest undismayed in field and forest dim
And, childlike, on some morning thou shalt know
The certain faith of a March daffodil."
*O fateful stars ! that led the climbing way
Of that dear, martyred son of fate and fame, -
The supreme soul of an immortal day,
Linked with his name is our great sculptor's name;
For now in art eternal breathes again
The gaunt, sweet presence of our chief of men, -
That soul of tenderness, that spirit stern,
Whose fires divine forever flame and burn."
Among the brief tributary poems we may mention
those inscribed to Schurz, Aldrich, Mrs. Josephine
Shaw Lowell, and Mr. Edward McDowell. Each
of these strikes exactly the right note, and at the
same time indicates how fine and high are the poet's
Now and then, irregular rhythms are
essayed in this volume, and even poems
in
prose,
but these experiments we cannot regard as upon the
level of the work done in accordance with the rules
of the poetic art.
Another of the small volumes that Mr. Clinton
Scollard modestly puts forth from year to year has
come to hand. It is called “Blank Verse Pastels,"
which indicates that it invites the severest of tests,
for the poetic gift may be most certainly measured
when the poet renounces the adventitious aid of
rhyme.
We can pay
Mr. Scollard no better tribute
than to say that he' seems to us more of a poet than
ever in the pages of this little book. There are
about thirty poems, few exceeding a single page in
length. We select “Sleep, the Almoner for
quotation.
“ Adown the voids and vastnesses of night
Haste thou to me, O almoner of Rest!
Come with thy fardel full of fairest dreams,
And strew them round about me, as the spring
Scatters the cloistral wake-robins in May;
For I am over-weary, and would dwell
Only with fantasy; would droop and drowse
Lulled as with lutes: would lie on blossom-beds
Scented with savors of oblivion ;
Down paradisal streams would glide 'neath sails
Tinted like golden gonfalons ; would taste
Honeys more luscious than are those that ooze
From the bruised cells of Hymettean combs!
All this for gift is thine, O almoner;
Then speed thee on thy pinions, snow-fall soft,
Adown the voids and vastnesses of night!”
Mr. Scollard shifts from iambics to trochaics and
anapæsts now and then, thus giving no little variety
to the collection, despite its lack of rhyme.
A pensive mood, expressing itself now by means
of the conventional imagery, now with touches of
harsh realism, is found in “ The Passing of Time,”
by Mr. William de Forest Thomson. Irregular
name.
Mr. Gilder's volumes are small but numerous,
and “The Fire Divine" is the ninth to bear his
The contents are occasional pieces for the
most part, and Mr. Gilder is one of the happiest of
our poets when it comes to the penning of a suitable
tribute to an event or a person. It may perhaps
be said that his tendency in this species of composi-
tion is to let emotion get the better of thought, or
to allow the idea to become obscured in a mist of
sentiment. But better this defect (if it be one)
than the fault of viewing the subject in too dry a
light. Mr. Gilder's "Under the Stars,” which is a
requiem for Saint-Gaudens, is the most elaborate of


1908.]
THE DIAL
77
funeral pyre.
ing year.
Here is a poem, perhaps. not more serious, of graves published in ten volumes, the first five of which
unrhymed measures are the rule, as may be seen
There is the land that lured thee to delight,
in the lines entitled “Ashes."
Stretching away beyond those luminous spires;
Enchanted river, wood and waterfall,
“Clouds of soft grey and whitened smoke arise
All vanishing upon the verge of night:
From the rieh pasturage and fertile meadow land
Behold the home of all thy lost desires !
Where the sere grass and wreckage of the Winter lies Look upon Lethe flowing by the wall!”
aflame,
Ascending to the sun in holocaust of glory
There is a ripeness about these pieces that betokens
That new glory should appear out of the ashes of the maturity of reflective thought, and the fact that one
of the poems, by admission, was written more than
"Strange mystery of nature's power,
forty years ago, shows that the distillation of a long
One dying that another should be born,
life is contained in the slender vial now offered us.
One born to bring another death,
WILLIAM MORTON PAYNE.
Death after life, and life from death,
Winter to dissolution sinks; and Spring is born.”
This verges upon platitude, and yet is not without
its charm. In this minor key, Mr. Thomson sings
BRIEFS ON NEW BOOKS.
the phases of the day and the seasons of the chang-
The man who could hold his position
The memoirs of
A sheaf of lyrics and sonnets called “ Semitones,"
Monsieur Claude, as commissary of police and after-
French detective. wards as chief of police through the
by “ A. A. C.,” is marked by graceful sentiment and
tender feeling. What could be prettier, in their way, Philippe, the short-lived second Republic, the Second
kaleidoscopic changes of government under Louis
than these simple stanzas :
Empire, and the Commune must have been either
“So many things I longed to say
very flexible or very fortunate; at all events he
To her who is my heart's delight,
I said them over day by day,
was very much of a personage, and could utter his
I held them in my mind at night.
quorum pars magna fui with something more than
poetic approximation to truth. Such a personage
“But, when at last the moment came
That I so long had wished might come,
was Monsieur Claude, whose memoirs, published in
Before Love's burning altar-flame
1881, attracted considerable attention throughout
My tongue was mute, my lips were dumb." Europe, and added much surprising material to the
history of those troublous times. The memoirs were
import.
bring the story down to the Siege of Paris and the
" Thine ear is deaf, no errant word,
In all the ages that are gone,
Commune of 1871. The contents of these five
Of all our praying hast Thou heard ;
volumes have now been condensed and translated
Of all our mournful cries, not one.
into English by Miss Katharine Prescott Wormeley.
“Thy lips are dumb, no voice of Thine
The result is a handsome volume of over 300 pages,
The endless, envious years have known;
entitled “ Memoirs of Monsieur Claude” (Houghton,
Unto our sight has come no sign,
Mifflin & Co.). The author entered the public service
Unto our waiting ears no tone.
in 1830 as a clerk in the Tribunal of the Seine; and
“ Thine anthem priest and pagan sing ;
his rise, aided by his tact, shrewdness, good-nature,
They gather round Thine altar-flame;
and what he modestly calls his flair for tracking
They worship, to whose worshiping
No benediction ever came.
criminals, was rapid. At the time of Orsini's
murderous attempt on the Emperor's life (1858)
They name with awe Thy dread abode ;
Claude's promptness of action, based on private
Thy dwelling they decree so far
That all must perish by the road
information, was rewarded by his appointment as
In Thought that leaps from star to star."
chief of the criminal and detective police. This
But with the “ Anthem” comes the “ Antiphone.” position he held during the rest of Napoleon III.'s
ill-starred reign; and he rendered signal service to
“ They search too far who seek Thee there,
the Emperor at several critical junctures. Of his
When Thou art near in flower and sheaf;
Thou art the answer and the prayer,
various adventures --- worthy of Vidocq and Javert
Alike believer and belief."
combined — when pursuing criminals of high or low
degree, he speaks with a cheery self-appreciation
The sonnets in this collection are singularly fine,
which is quite infectious; and we find him in every
and perhaps the finest of them all is the “ Atlantis.”
episode occupying the centre of the stage. Cer-
“Who has not seen it, high in heaven set,
tainly there are no other heroes in these picturesque
Cutting the skies in lines as clearly drawn
pages : “I have seen, after the events of June,
As when, from Bordighera's grove at dawn,
Far Corsica is seen in silhouette!
1848, I have seen with my own eyes Prince Louis
Napoleon Bonaparte, at that very time aspiring
Vision of purple cloud and parapet ;
to the imperial purple, appear in the box of the
Look well upon it ere the light be gone,
For there thy dearest hope is held in pawn;
theatre with his face and hands dirty, to curry favor
It is the palace of thine own regret.
with the sovereign people in the gallery. I have


78
[Feb. 1,
THE DIAL
Milton and
Mary Stuart.
seen Victor Hugo, standing on one foot, refuse a quacy is explained by their development upon the
stool offered him from below by the malicious tragic rather than upon the epic model. Tbese are
Béranger, that he might continue the cynosure of Grotius's “ Adamus Exsul," Vondel's “Lucifer”
all the eyes of the adoring crowd that acclaimed him and “ Adam in Ballingschap," and Andreini's
from the gallery. I have seen Rachel, the greatest “L’Adamo.” From the analyses given of these
tragedienne of modern times, who had had for her plays, the contention is well sustained that tragedy
Mæcenases the courtiers of the most liberal of as such is too concrete, too limited in background and
monarchies, sing the · Marseillaise' before the foot conception, for the successful handling of an abstract
lights, and then drive off in the carriage of the theme like that of the origin of evil on the earth.
Cæsars to the imperial palace." There are here In the tenth essay a study is made of epical pas-
related — and probably authentically — the details sages in Tasso's “Jerusalem Delivered,” Marino's
of some of the great crimes that shocked the middle Sospetto d' Herode,” and in certain dramas of
of the nineteenth century; and the detective work Beaumont and Fletcher, to show that these “were
by which many of them were uncovered and their of more direct aid to Milton " than were those
perpetrators captured would have done credit to tragedies which are commonly supposed to have
the deductive processes of Mr. Sherlock Holmes. influenced him. In the twelfth essay, which closes
The translation, as might be expected from Miss the volume, Miss Woodhull presents the results of
Wormeley, is spirited and idiomatic; and the book is her investigation of the epical source of Milton's
illustrated with portraits of Napoleon III., his family, lyrics and the Miltonic influence on the lyric work
Thiers, De Morny, Béranger, and other notabilities. of Coleridge, Wordsworth, Shelley, and Byron.
It is a curious fact that almost all of
A Scotchman's
The fate of Mary Stuart is a subject
a study of
the critical literature on Milton's special plea for of perennial interest. Tragedy and
the epic form.
poetry is of the general essay char-
mystery have always appealed to the
acter. The work of the poet of Puritanism has nature of man, and Mary's career was both tragic
called forth comparatively little of that form of liter and mysterious. Just to what extent she was respon-
ary investigation which one may call specialized sible for the criminal plottings that have darkened
studies. Those who have observed this lack in the her fame, is a much debated question. Especially
literature on Milton will be interested in Miss is it difficult to determine how far she was involved
Marianna Woodhull's new book “The Epic of in the plots against the life of the English queen.
Paradise Lost” (Putnam). The volume contains The most recent work dealing with this problem is
a series of twelve essays, which embody the results a volume by Mr. Samuel Cowan entitled “The Last
of scholarly investigation as well as a good deal of Days of Mary Stuart” (Lippincott). The author is
original thinking. The author's purpose is to resident of historic Perth, and has devoted a large
establish the thesis that Milton's treatment of Adam's part of his time and energies to the study of Scottish
fall was demanded by the principles of the art-form history in the sixteenth century. The work before
he chose, and that his abandonment of the tragic us is, however, not so much a history as a lawyer's
form which he at first proposed to himself, grew out and the brief is remarkable neither for lucid-
of his recognition of the “ inevitable " distinction that ity nor for strength. Mr. Cowan assumes that the
separates the epic poem from the tragedy. “Paradise documents used in convicting Mary have been
Lost,” therefore, is not to be explained on the proved to be forgeries; there remains, therefore,
ground that Milton had an epic type of mind. What nothing but the task of explaining certain suspicious
these principles of the epic are
to which the poet
circumstances and utterances that have been used
makes reference in the ninth book of “Paradise against Mary, and this he has accomplished to his
Lost” — is interpreted by Miss Woodhull in her first own evident satisfaction. He is equally facile in
two essays on “What is an Epic ?” and “The explaining the motives of the queen's enemies.
Christian Epic.” The distinction between the epic Elizabeth hated Mary because she was the nearest
and the tragic theme is found to lie not only in the heir to the crown of England, and greatly her
largeness of the epic's scope and background, but superior in every human accomplishment.” Burleigh
also in its superiority as a medium for presenting compromised himself with a scheme for the de-
such philosophical subjects as the problem of evil, struction of a defenseless and innocent woman for
free-will, and the plan of salvation for man. In her no other reason than to please Elizabeth.” Walsing-
third essay the author presents in a scholarly and ham was the greatest villain of all; he executed
satisfactory way the parallelism of thought between Babington and his eleven confederates, not for
the poet's prose essay, “A Treatise on Christian plotting in favor of Mary or against Elizabeth, but
Doctrine," and his epic of “Paradise Lost.” The because they were in position to prove Mary's in-
artistic insight which led him to discard the tragic nocence. To the discussion of the supposed for-
treatment of his theme, and which prevented geries, Mr. Cowan has added very little; he shows
Shakespeare from ever attempting it, was not shared clearly how it was possible to intercept and inter-
in the same degree by other writers. This fact leads polate Mary's correspondence, and indicates what
the author into an examination of four other seven changes are thought to have been made, but fails
teenth century versions of man's fall, whose inade to produce a convincing argument. The matter
brief;


1908.]
79
THE DIAL
a
animal life.
battles and
debates of
remains where it was left by such sympathetic his a German attack, the fears of France were excessive,
torians as Dr. Lingard and Mr. Andrew Lang, and that the international “scare” was heightened
charge supported by certain suspicious circumstances, by the French minister Decazes in order to place Ger-
but not yet proved. The value of Mr. Cowan's many, and particularly the diplomacy of Bismarck,
history. lies in the documentary materials that he has at a moral disadvantage.
introduced ; more than half of the volume is given
over to letters, journals, and proclamations. Of
Few fields of scientific investigation
The history and
these, the most important is the journal of Burgoyne, distribution of combine fact and hypothesis to the
who was Mary's physician ; this records from day to
degree that is necessitated in a study
day the events that occurred from August 11, 1586, of the geographical distribution of animals. The
to February 8, 1587, the day of the execution. In facts are most diverse, coming as they do from vari-
publishing this narrative the author has done a real ous departments of knowledge; and in each field,
service to history.
Some of the letters included are moreover, critical discernment of significant data and
also of great interest.
of the accuracy of sources is essential. In the field
of systematic zoology and botany, the investigator
Parliamentary M. Hanotaux has suggested the crit must have a wide knowledge of range of distribution
icism of his third volume on “ Con- of many species over large areas and a keen appre-
modern France. temporary France” (Putnam) in the ciation of specific differences and relationships. He
words with which he opens his second chapter : must not only have this familiar acquaintance with
“M. Thiers used to say, 'We have too much politics the living fauna and flora, but he must also have an
in this country. There is always a fear lest history equally wide grasp on the more fragmentary data
should fall into the same error, and allow itself to
from the fossil world, both of the region under
be invaded by the facile abundance of parliamentary investigation and of adjacent and perhaps even of
papers.” With the exception of half a chapter on far distant countries. To this must be added a
the war-scare of 1875, the volume is filled with critical and constructive knowledge of the geological
accounts of the parliamentary battles which resulted
evidence of the changes in the coast-lines and boun-
in the passage of the constitutional laws, and with daries of continents and islands in ages past, and
the skirmishes in the new senate and chamber of probable climatic conditions which have accompanied
deputies which led to the Sixteenth of May. This those elevations and depressions of the earth's crust.
statement is not intended as a reflection of the sort
It is a high grade of constructive imagination that is
which would condemn the work as tedious or unin- | required to draw from this huge mass of details,
structive; such a reflection would be unjust. Indeed, from these diverse and often imperfect and even
there can be few pages of French history more inter conflicting data a logical, defensible, and consistent
esting than the remarkably sympathetic narrative
presentation of the causes which underlie the dis-
which M. Hanotaux has written of the
way
in which
tribution of animals and plants as they exist to-day
the National Assembly, a monarchical body, was
upon the globe, or even in a limited part of it, as, for
forced, partly by public opinion skilfully interpreted example, in Europe or the British Isles. It is for
by such men as Laboulaye and Wallon, and partly these reasons lack of data, and primarily the need
by the sheer impossibility of doing anything else, to of the rare combination of wide knowledge and con-
create the constitution of the Third Republic. The structive imagination, - that the work of Wallace
account of the interposition, at successive crises has stood for so many years with so few rivals in
of discussion, of the gentle but clear-ininded M. this field of biology. Dr. Scharff's “European
Wallon, with a formula of action which accom Animals, their Geological History and Geographical
plished indirectly what the monarchist majority
Distribution” (Dutton) is noteworthy for the wide
could not be persuaded' to do more frankly, brings range of data drawn from these various fields and
every element of an extremely complex situation
for a logical and consistent presentation of the salient
before the reader. And yet, taking the volume as facts. No treatise on the European fauna approaches
a whole, M. Hanotaux has imposed too serious a it in the completeness and variety of its illustrative
burden upon the reader's powers of sustained atten material, or compares with it in the grasp of the
tion. This difficulty would have been obviated had subject in its many-sided aspects. The combination
he not descended into minute details in dealing with
of a figure of the animal or plant and a map of its
less critical debates. Such full information
upon
the
distribution, which the author uses frequently, not
attitude of persons of secondary importance is to be
only saves space but is very effective. The book
looked for, rather, in a volume of personal memoirs. has a full bibliography and a good index.
It would have been a relief to the attention, also, if
more information had been given in regard to other
A study
“No doubt the subject is a morbid
phases of the history of these three years between
one,” confesses Mr. Arthur Christo-
1874 and 1877. The story of the war-scare serves
pathology.
pher Benson in his preface to “ The
the purpose in
a measure, and is, besides, a valuable Altar Fire" (Putnam), “ because the book deliber-
analysis of all the evidence in the case. In reference ately gives a picture of a diseased spirit. But a
to this affair, one cannot escape the feeling that pathological treatise, dealing with cancer or paraly-
although there may have been some real danger of sis, is not necessarily morbid, though it may be
in mental


80
[Feb. 1,
THE DIAL
studied in a morbid mood.” And as to the benevo aroused by the question of possible intelligent life, in
lent purpose of this picture of a suffering soul : the past or at present, on our satellite ; and though
“There are multitudes of people in like case ;
the her ardor in this respect is continually checked by
very confession of the fact may help others to endure, her instructor, she determines to buy a small tele-
because one of the darkest miseries of suffering is the scope and hunt for evidence of the existence of
horrible sense of isolation that it brings.” The hero, present-day lunarians. While feminine character-
and in truth the rather unheroic hero, of Mr. Benson's istics are very obstrusive in the conversations, the
quiet tale, is a written-out novelist (we are not told reader may judiciously skip these, and find a wealth
his name) in the pages of whose diary, from Sep- of accurate descriptive matter concerning the promi-
tember, 1888, to October, 1891, we have the record nent features of the lunar landscape. The twenty-
of his deepening gloom and his final calm submission six excellent full-page plates of the moon are made
to the divine will. The consciousness that creative from photographs taken at the Yerkes Observatory.
power is no longer his, that the fire from heaven will A good index enables one to find the description of
nevermore descend upon him, is of course extremely any particular lunar feature.
painful to the diarist, and is not very cheerful in its
effect on the reader. But as there are moods in
While Dr. Edward Caird's philo-
Sunday talks
which one finds Obermann a congenial spirit, so to students.
sophical writings are rather stiff
there are states of mind in which “The Altar Fire”
reading to some of
us,
his «
Lay
may be read with a kind of melancholy pleasure.
Sermons and Addresses, Delivered in the Hall of
The book teaches, among other things, the insuffi Balliol College, Oxford” (Macmillan) are simple
ciency of art when the evil days overtake one. It and clear in style and entirely free from knotty
also is full of details autobiographically interesting problems of Kantian or Comtist or Aristotelian
to the Benson-lover. Here, as in his other works, philosophy. Succeeding Jowett as Master of Balliol,
the author evidently draws on the accumulated but perhaps better remembered as Principal Caird
treasure of well-filled note-books; and as he writes of Glasgow University, he followed the example of
with a considerable experience of successful author his predecessors at the Oxford college in delivering
ship to look back upon, he is able to touch, lightly a sermon or address at the opening of each academic
and in passing, on some of the annoyances and vani year.
“A number of these discourses are preserved,”
ties that attend this kind of popularity. The more he tells us in a preface to his volume, “and they are
serious ills that befall his patient hero, in the way published at the desire of some of those who heard
of bereavement and pecuniary loss, are presumably
them.” Twelve in number, these lay sermons, with
more purely fictitious than the mental and moral two exceptions, deal with subjects of permanent
tribulations he is made to undergo. The aching spiritual interest, the departures from the rule being
sense of literary barrenness, after a period of fertile an address on Queen Victoria's jubilee and one after
productivity, may very well be one with which Mr. her death. Free from cant and full of wholesome
Benson is not unfamiliar. Possibly there are some counsel for daily life, especially student life, each of
pages of the book that attest this more unmistakably these homilies contains quotable passages of practical
than the author had intended. But as a whole the wisdom. Their general tone may be indicated by a
volume has the wonted charm of its writer's quietly brief closing extract.
brief closing extract. “We forni," says the speaker,
reflective and genially discursive manner.
treating of salvation, “ an ideal picture of some better
state of the world, in which the commonplace and
Mr. Garrett P. Serviss, one of the
An astronomer's
secular aspects of life have no longer any room and
best American popularizers of astron duties are at once more heroic and more easy, for-
omy, has been sojourning in France, getting that there is no act but derives its character,
and has just produced a book on the Moon
its greatness or its pettiness, from the spirit which
(Appleton) which bears decided marks of French
manifests itself in the doing of it. The only world
influence. The author frankly states in the preface worthy of being regarded as ideal is that which
that he has admired Fontenelle's “ Conversations on
carries within it the present world with its meaning
the Plurality of Worlds.” As one reads, he is
understood, and its worth deepened.”
reminded also of the style of Flammarion. Mr.
Serviss represents himself as talking with a lady of
The series of American history and
A new portrait
refinement and leisure, who lives by a beautiful of one of our biography which takes the title of
private park from which there is a fine view of the national heroes. «True” has received an addition in
sky. On the first “conversation” evening, the full “The True Patrick Henry," written by Mr. George
moon attracts the lady's attention, and gives rise to Morgan. As compared with the famous old book
various questions and explanations, the interest of of Wirt, the title is justified; for Wirt had access
which is heightened by a timely eclipse. The series to but little of the historical material that is now
of conversations about our nocturnal luminary is available, and he lived too close to the times of
illustrated by fine photographs of its various phases ; which he wrote. The old-fashioned biographer felt
and afterwards large scale photographs of certain that he was under obligations to dress up his subject
striking lunar formations are explained by the where he came short of the ideal and showed the
teacher to his fair pupil. Her interest is especially | frailties of our common humanity: but this method
con l'ersations
on the Moon,
.


1908.]
81
THE DIAL
of writing biography has been long out of fashion, and yet manages to avoid technicalities and burdensome
and every well-trained writer now strives to tell the detail. Over a hundred and twenty excellent illustra-
truth about his subject. Mr. Morgan has made a
tions, many of them made from articles in fine private
careful study of Patrick Henry, and has written
collections, add materially to the value and interest of
with an enthusiasm that would perhaps communicate
the text. Mr. Wyllie explains how Sheffield Plate was
itself more strongly to the reader but for the too
discovered, how it was made, and in what its unique
value consists. He warns collectors against the fraud-
evident purpose to be sprightly and vivid; the author
ulent practices of unscrupulous dealers, furnishes lists
also brings in many details of persons and events that of the marks used by the makers of old Sheffield, and
distract attention from the main current of the nar gives full accounts of the periods and the designs most
rative. Perbaps this discursiveness is due to the prized by connoisseurs. An enthusiastic collector him-
previous literary experience of the author as a writer self, he avoids the dry, statistical tone that discourages
of historical fiction. However, the book is one of
the beginner, and he possesses a happy faculty - some-
of saying clearly
interest and value as presenting anew a full-length what rare in students of the antique
portrait of one of our ational heroes, and it should
and exactly what he means.
be widely read. Of especial interest are the chap- merchant-philanthropist, not one of the aristocratic-
An account of the career of an old-time Boston
ters on Patrick Henry's early life, his power as
conservative type, but a man of democratic spirit, an
a lawyer and as an orator, and his private life.
abolitionist, a friend and supporter of John Brown, is
Twenty-four excellent illustrations add much to the
given in “ The Life and Public Services of George Luther
value and interest of the book. (Lippincott.) Stearns" (Lippincott), by his son, Frank Preston Stearns.
The personality of the subject is interesting, and there
are in the book glimpses of notable public men,
Sumner, Stanton, Governor Andrew, and others. But
BRIEFER MENTION.
the main value of the work lies in its presentation of two
leading interests in the life of Mr. Stearns, - his sup-
“The Months,” by Mr. J. V. Blake (the James H.
port of John Brown throughout his Kansas career, which
West Co., Boston) is a little book of songs and lyrics
was constant and invaluable to the carrying out of the
picturing the changing delights of the seasons. Mr.
New England plans, and his services in recruiting negroes
Blake's year begins in April, with the coming of the
for the Union armies. The account of these activities
first flowers, and ends with a tribute to the blustering
is full and of permanent value. The tone of the book
promise of March. There is nothing strikingly original
is belligerent where differences of opinion and method
about his sentiments, but his imagery and the rhythm
are discussed, and many violent prejudices make them-
of his verse are generally pleasing. A graceful fore-
selves manifest. These features detract from the reader's
word in prose introduces the verses descriptive of each
pleasure, but they are themselves, as it were, foot-notes
month.
to the history of the time.
To the “Oxford Edition" of the poets, published by
Mr. Henry Frowde, three volumes have just been added.
“The Complete Poetical Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley,”
edited by Mr. Thomas Hutchinson, makes a volume of
NOTES.
over nine hundred pages. “ The Complete Poetical
Works of Thomas Campbell” are edited by Mr. J.
The Macmillan Co. are the publishers of a new edition
Logie Robertson. Palgrave's “Golden Treasury” is
of “Silas Marner," charmingly illustrated in color by
the third volume, and includes the hundred poems added
Mr. Hugh Thomson.
by a later hand to the collection, bringing it down to the
A small book of “ Laboratory Exercises in General
end of the nineteenth century. Mr. Swinburne, happily Zoology," by Professor Glenn W. Herrick, has just been
being still alive, is not represented, although it seems
published by the American Book Co.
as if an exception to the rule of the volume might have
“ The Poems of William Collins," edited by Mr.
been made in his case.
Christopher Stone, are published in a neat and inexpen-
The New York Metropolitan Museum of Art has done
sive pocket edition by Mr. Henry Frowde.
students of Chinese ceramics a service by issuing an illus-
“ Ignaz Jan Paderewski,” by Mr. Edward Algernon
trated “Catalogue of the Morgan Collection of Chinese
Baughan, is a new volume in the “Living Masters of
Porcelains,” revised from the original privately printed
Music” series, published by the John Lane Co.
edition. Dr. Stephen W. Bushell, the eminent Oriental The Cambridge University edition of Beaumont and
scholar and sinologue, has revised the book and added Fletcher, edited by Mr. A. R. Waller, has reached its
an introduction discussing the history and progress of
fifth volume, now published by the Macmillan Co.
the porcelain industry in China from the earliest times The next important addition to the “ English Men of
to the present, with a full account of the marks and seals. Letters " series is to be a life of James Thomson, by
The public is thus afforded an opportunity to study the G. C. Macaulay, late Fellow of Trinity College, Cam-
most comprehensive collection of its kind in the world bridge.
in the light of the latest research. The body of the A charming edition of Jane Austen’s “Northanger
catalogue, originally prepared by Mr. William M. Laffan, Abbey,” with colored illustrations, appears with the
is clear, succinct, and as far as possible non-technical. Dent-Dutton imprint as one of a “ Series of English
It is fully and beautifully illustrated.
Idylls."
“ Sheffield Plate " is the subject of the new volume Among the recent issues of the “Bulletin of the
in the Newnes « Library of the Applied Arts,” which University of Wisconsin we note two of special inter-
Messrs. Charles Scribner's Sons issue in America. The est to our readers: “Lincoln's Suspension of Habeas
author, Mr. Bertie Wyllie, treats his subject thoroughly, Corpus as Viewed by Congress," by Professor George


82
[Feb. 1,
THE DIAL
Clarke Sellery; and “The Indebtedness of Samuel The first of these volumes is now sent us, containing
Taylor Coleridge to August Wilhelm von Schlegel," speeches from the colonial period of our history, and
by Miss Anna Augusta Helmholtz.
representing ten public men. The editor has provided
A third edition of the “ Practical Physiology of
with historical notes, and is deserving of a
Plants," by Francis Darwin and E. Hamilton Acton, is less limited form of publication.
published by the Messrs. Macmillan at the Cambridge “ Select Poems of Alfred Tennyson,” edited by Pro-
University Press.
fessor Archibald MacMechan, is the latest accession to
Volume II. of Dr. Augustus H. Strong's “Systematic the “Belles Lettres” series of Messrs. D. C. Heath & Co.
Theology” has just come from the Griffith & Rowland From the same publishers we have a “ Handbook of
Press, Philadelphia, and has for its special subject “The Composition,” by Dr. Edwin C. Woolley, which is a very
Doctrine of Man."
practical compendium of the rules that every writer
A volume containing a dozen of Emerson's earlier
should know.
essays, edited for school use by Miss Edna H. L. Turpin, A new edition of Dr. John Kells Ingram's “ History
is now added to the series of English texts published by of Political Economy” is published by the Macmillan
the Charles E. Merrill Co.
Co. The preface for American readers is written by
Sidney's “ Apologie for Poetrie,” edited, with intro Dr. E. J. James, and, singularly enough, is dated from
duction, memoir, and notes, by Professor J. Churton the University of Pennsylvania, an institution with which
Collins, is a welcome reprint of a noble work, now pub-
the editor has had no connection for more than ten years.
lished by Mr. Henry Frowde.
This means, of course, that the new edition is a reprint
Volume VI. of “ The Jatoka; or, Stories of the only.
Buddha's Former Births," as translated from the Pali Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Co. announce for early
by the late Professor Cowell and Mr. W. H. D. Rouse, spring publication, a new book of essays by John
is now published at the Cambridge University Press Burroughs entitled “Leaf and Tendril”; a volume by
(Macmillan).
Professor Irving Babbitt, of the Harvard Faculty, on
“ The Distribution of Ownership,” by Professor
“ Literature and the American College "; and a collec-
Joseph Harding Underwood, and “The Legislature of
tion of New England salt-water tales, entitled “The
the Province of Virginia,” by Professor Elmer I. Miller,
Rose," by George S. Wasson, author of “ The Green
are two monographs recently issued from the Columbia Shay,” “Cap'n Simeon's Store," etc.
University Press.
Messrs. Ginn & Co. now publish, in two parts, “A
Syllabus for the History of Western Europe,” by Pro TOPICS IN LEADING PERIODICALS.
fessor Norman Maclaren Trenholme, designed for use
February, 1908.
in connection with Professor Robinson's well-known
Alaskan, Awakening of the. W. A. DuPuy. Review of Reviews.
text-books of the subject.
American Art, Concerning our Ignorance of. A. Hoeber. Forum.
Mr. Henry B. Damon of Katonah, New York, has
American Finance: Currency Problem. J.P.Ryan. Metropolitan.
ublished a booklet of quotations entitled “Gems of
American Music, Society and. Arthur Farwell. Atlantic.
American Painters, Younger, - Are they Creating a National
Thought." The book is hand printed from script letter-
Art ? Giles Edgerton. Craftsman.
ing, tastefully bound in heavy paper covers, and enclosed American Teaching around the World. E. A. Forbes. World's
in an artistic wrapper, ready for mailing.
Work.
Anglo-American Polar Expedition. V. Stefánsson. Harper.
Messrs. Duffield & Co. will publish next month a Anti-Vagrancy Campaign, New. F. M. Björkman. Rev. of Revs.
posthumous work of the late Richard Hovey, entitled Architect, The, and the Critic. Russell Sturgis. Scribner.
“ To the End of the Trail.” This collection of
Art Treasures of the U.S. Capitol. Abby G. Baker. Munsey.
poems
Ballad, The Popular. George L. Kittredge. Atlantic.
will form a companion volume to “ Along the Trail,”
Battleships of the Future. Daniel T. Pierce. World To-day.
of which a new edition was recently issued.
Beyle-Stendhal, Henry. James Huneker. Scribner'.
“ A Pocket-Book of the Early American Humorists,"
Black Fog, The. Herman Scheffauer. Atlantic.
Bonds as Investments. N. W. Harris. World To-day.
in two small volumes, is published by Messrs. Small,
Book-binding, Practical. Morris Lee King. Studio.
Maynard & Co. The range is from Franklin to Holmes, Bookishness and Statesmanship. Earl of Rosebery. No. Amer.
and the old-timers Mrs. Partington, Orpheus C. Kerr,
Books Worth While, Talks about - VII., Gaboriau's "M.
Artemus Ward, Josh Billings, and Petroleum V. Nasby
Lecoq.” Harry Thurston Peck. Munsey.
Boosboom, Johannes. Philip Zilcker. Studio.
are all liberally represented.
Boston, A Short Cut to. Charles C. Perkins. Appleton.
Messrs. P. Blakiston's Sons & Co. are the publishers
Brittany, The Byways of. Frank Presbrey. Outing.
of an important work by Professor William Chase
Building. Coming of the Fifty-Story. Jos. Thompson. Munsey.
Burridge, Fred V., Etchings of. Frank Newbolt. Studio.
Stevens, entitled “ Plant Anatomy from the Standpoint Business Methods, Better, for Cities. W. H. Allen. Rev.of Reve.
of the Development and Functions of the Tissues and Busy Man, Play Confessions of a. J.G. Frederick. Craftsman.
Handbook of Micro-Technic." The work has many
Camp-fire Light, By the. Raymond L. Bridgman. Putnam.
China and the Language Question. Howard Swan. Rev.of Revs.
illustrations from original drawings.
China, Law Reform in. C. S. Lobingier. Review of Reviews.
The literary legacy of the late George Henry Miles is Christian Science in England. Frederick Dixon. World To-day.
now made complete by the republication of " Christine,"
Churchill, Lady Randolph, Reminiscences of -IV. Century.
Closet Drama, Legitimacy of the. Brander Matthews. No. Amer.
his early volume of poems. Like the posthumous vol-
Coal, One Ton of, to Do Work of Two. A.W.Page. World's Work.
ume of poems, recently reviewed by us, and the sug Coal Pit, Human Toll of the. Edgar A. Forbes. World's' Work.
gestive study of Hamlet, this volume bears the imprint College-Bred, Social Value of the. William James. McClure.
of Messrs. Longmans, Green, & Co.
Colonialism: How Could the United States, if Necessary, Give
Upits Colonies? William Jennings Bryan. World To-day.
“The Lakeside Classics,” published for private dis Color, Relation of. to Chemical Constitution. W. J. Hale.
tribution as examples of tasteful and inexpensive book-
Popular Science.
Color Line in the North, The-1. Ray S. Baker. American.
making by the R. R. Donnelley & Sons Co., Chicago,
Congress, The New, and the Presidency. Henry L. West. Forum.
are to include a group of volumes of “Memorable Amer-
Country Banker, The. Charles M. Harger. Atlantic.
ican Speeches," selected by Mr. John Vance Cheney. Crisis, The Present. Charles B. Macdonald. North American.


1908.]
83
THE DIAL
Cuba: Land of Promise. C. H. Forbes-Lindsay. World To-day.
Currency, Our, and Banking System. W. B. Ridgely. No. Amer.
Curry, Silas S. Shailer Mathews. World To-day.
D'Annunzio, Gabriele. Pietro Isola. Poet Lore.
Death-Feigning. Instinct of. S. J. Homes. Popular Science.
Disgraces. Ellis 0. Jones. Lippincott.
Dramatic Sense, The. Arthur C. Benson. Putnam.
Dramatists of the Current Season. Clayton Hamilton. Forum.
Drinking, The Art of. Louis Windmüller. Forum.
Drummond, William Henry. Frederick James Gregg. Putnam.
Eaton, Wyatt, The Friendships of. Charlotte Eaton, Craftsman.
Eddy, Mary Baker G. Georgine Milmine. McClure.
Egypt, The Spell of, as Revealed in Monuments - 1. Robert
Hichens. Century.
Entomology, Economic, Future of. H. T. Fernald. Pop. Sci.
Europe, Beginning of Better Relations in. A. M. Low. Forum.
Evangeline's Town: The True Story of Longfellow's Romance.
Campbell MacLeod. Craftsman.
Federal Service as an Occupation. Joseph M. Rogers. Lippincott.
Fight for the People, Why I Gave Up the. Thomas W. Lawson.
Everybody's.
Financial Grip, Present-day. Shailer Mathews. World To-day.
Financial Panic in the United States. The. A. D. Noyes.iForum.
Five Acts, Why? Brander Matthews. Forum.
Fletcherism, A Practical Experiment in. Frances M. Björkman.
World's Work.
Flying-machines and their Inventors. G. K. Turner. McClure.
Florida Everglades, An Air-line Across the. William A. DuPuy.
World's Work.
Florida Keys, Over the, by Rail. Ralph D. Paine. Everybody's.
Flour-milling and Bread-making. Harry Snyder. Harper.
Forests, Practical Value of Saving the. Caspar Whitney. Outing.
France, Second Motor-Flight to – II. Edith Wharton. Atlantic.
France, Château and Country Life in - III., Winter at the Cha-
teau. Mary King Waddington. Scribner.
Frontier Cities, Coming of Law to our. Allen True. Outing.
Gardens, Professor Lauger's, at Manheim. Studio.
German Writers, Among the. Amelia von Ende. Poet Lore.
Germany, - Lessons from. R. H. Schauffler. World's Work.
Ghost Bouquets. Grace E. Ward. Craftsman.
Good Out of Evil. Henry Lee Higginson. Appleton.
Grand Opera in America. Jackson Cross. Metropolitan.
Grieg: An Estimate. Lawrence Gilman. North American.
Habitant Village, In a. Howard E. Smith. Harper.
Hanchow Bore, A Visit to the. C. K. Edmunds. Pop. Science.
Hard Times, Mr. Dooley on. F. P. Dunne. American.
Hart, Sir Robert. Willard Straight. Putnam.
Harvard University, The Founder of. Lyndon Orr. Munsey.
Hewlett and Hearn: Orientalists. Eugénie M. Fryer. Poet Lore.
Holland: "The Hollow Land." R. H Russell. Metropolitan.
Hornby, Lester G., Leaves from bis Sketch Book. Studio.
Horses of Mexico, The. Henry F, Osborne. Outing.
House Dignified, The-V. Lillie Hamilton French. Putnam.
Hughes-Stanton, H., Landscapes of. Marion Hepworth. Studio.
Humor under Sundry Skies. C. B. Brewster. North American.
Hunt, Leigh, The Poetry of. Arthur Symons. Atlantic.
Immigrant Women, Protection of. F. A. Kellor. Atlantic.
Industrial Reform, Government Aid for. Craftsman.
Industries, Infant. T. D. A. Cockerell. Popular Science.
International Speech. Anna M. Roberts. Popular Science.
Ireland, The Crisis in. T. W. Rolleston. North American.
Island, Two Books on an. Gerald Stanley Lee. Putnam.
Japan and the United States. John R. Winchell. Metropolitan.
Jew, The Twentieth-Century. Ezra Brudno. Lippincott.
Journalistic Inerrancy, Dogma of. Munroe Smith. North Amer.
Keats and Shelley in Rome. Raffaele Simboli. Putnam.
Keep Commission, Work of. C. H. Forbes-Lindsay. Rev.of Revs.
Kelvin, Lord, America's Estimateof. J.F.Springer. Rev.of Revs.
Kipling, Rudyard. W. B. Parker. World's Work.
Kipling in French. Louis Fabulet. World's Work.
Languages, Great, Geography of. World's Work.
Latin America, German Influence in. A. F. Sears. Pop. Science.
Life, The Evolution of. Percival Lowell. Century.
Lincoln's Boyhood. Eleanor Atkinson. American.
Literary Lady, The. Agnes Repplier. Atlantic.
Literary New York in the Sixties. W. L. Alden. Putnam.
L'Olonois, François: Buccaneer. J. R. Spears. Outing.
London, The American in. S. G. Blythe. Everybody's.
Lyceum, First Nights at the. Ellen Terry. McClure.
Man's Image and Likeness, In. Agnes Repplier. Putnam.
Melba: Australian Prima Donna. W. G. FitzGerald. Munsey.
Meredith, George, at Eighty. G. W. Harris. Rev. of Revs.
Metal Work at Boston. F. W. Coburn. Studio.
Michelson, A. A., Scientific Researches of. Henry Crew. World
To-day.
Microscope, The Ultra-Violet. Hollis Godfrey. Atlantic.
Midsummer's Night Dream. Catherine Postell. Poet Lore.
Minneapolis as a Market. James L. Nash. World To-day.
Minute Men, Training our Future. D. A. Willey. Outing.
Modernism, The Encyclical against. C. A. Briggs. No. Amer.
Moose, The, and the Polar Bear. Louis Rhead. Metropolitan.
Morgan, Why Mr.? W. C. Cornwell and K. Wolff. Appleton.
Mother Bird, Days with a. Jennie Brooks. Harper'.
Municipal Research Bureau of New York City. Rev. of Revs.
Music in America, Status of. W.J. Henderson. Everybody's.
Music in America, Debasement of. Mary Garden. Everybody's.
National Academy of Design: Winter Exhibition. N. Laurvik.
Studio,
National Society of Craftsmen: Annual Exhibition. Studio.
Nature Study and Nature Fakers. Bonnycastle Dale. Lippincott.
New York Society, Extravagance of — II. Upton Sinclair. Amer.
New Zealand Dominion, Creating the. A. Ford, World To-day.
North Pole, Routes to the. R. E. Peary. Outing.
Northwest, Development of the New. A. Reed. World To-day.
Norwegian Life. H. H. D. Pierce. Atlantic.
Old Salem Ships and Sailors - II. Ralph D. Paine. Outing.
Opera, A Prologue to the. Robert Gilbert Welsh. Lippincott.
Oriental Rugs, In Quest of. Franklin Clarkin. Everybody's.
Palmer, Gen. William J.: Builder of the West. World's Work.
Panama Canal, Soldiers who are Building the. W. J. Abbot.
Munsey.
Panic, Lessons of the. Charles A. Conant. North American.
Panic, - How it Was Arrested. Alexander Gilbert. Appleton.
Panic, Newspapers and the. George C. Lawrence. Appleton.
Panic, The, and the Banks. Fred Sumner Mead. Atlantic.
Parts of Speech, Aristocracy of the. T.R. Lounsbury, Harper.
Pascoli and Recent Italian Poetry. G. E. T. Slaughter. Poet Lore.
Philadelphia Commercial Museum. W. 8. Harvey. Appleton.
Photography, Progress in. Charles H. Caffin. Century.
Pioneer, The Modern. A. E. Dickey. World To-day.
Pliny's Authors.. G. S. Bryan. Poet Lore.
Poetic Drama, Revival of the. Brander Matthews. Atlantic.
Political Parties, Significance of. A.C. McLaughlin. Atlantic.
Pony, Possibilities of the. Francis M. Ware. Outing.
Poverty, Prevention of. Arthur B. Reeve. World's Work.
Prosperity, The Cycle of. Alexander D. Noyes. Century.
Railroad Signalman, Confessions of a-II. J.O.Fagan. Atlantic.
Railway, Taking the, to the People. Earl Mayo. Appleton.
Reading, In the Matter of. Edith L. Hodge. Putnam.
Reaper, Romance of the-III. H. N. Casson. Everybody's.
Red Cross" for Industrial Workers. A.B. Reeve. Rev.of Rev.
Religion, What Constitutes? F. S. Hoffman. North American.
Rhodes Scholarships, Americans and the. 8. Peer. Putnam.
Rodin and Bernard Shaw. Mrs. John Van Vorst. Putnam.
Roger:"a Performing Dog. Century.
"Roger," The Behavior of. Robert M. Yerkes. Century.
Roosevelt and Prosperity: A Symposium. World To-aay.
Roosevelt vs. Rockefeller - III. Ida M. Tarbell. American.
Saint-Gaudens, Augustus. Talcott Williams. Studio.
Salton Sea, A Voyage below Sea-Level on the. D. T. Macdougal.
Outing.
Santiago: Metropolis of the Andes. Arthur Ruhl. Scribner.
Sense and Sensibility” -I. Helen Keller. Century.
Shakespeare's Birthplace, My Visit to. T. Salvini. Putnam.
Shore Line, Defenders of our. Francis J. Dyer. World's Work.
Sleeplessness. George Lincoln Walton. Lippincott.
Snow, - When it comes. E. P. Powell. Outing.
Songs and Song Writers. Brian Hooker. Forum.
Spreckles, Rudolph. Lincoln Steffens. American.
Steel Corporation, Humanizing the. G. W. Perkins. Appleton.
Stencil Cutting. Norman Garstin. Studio.
Swinburne, Lyric Origins of. Van Tyne Brooks. Poet Lore.
Taft, Lorado: Sculptor. Charles F. Browne. World To-day.
Tiffany, Louis C., Country Home of. Samuel Howe. Studio.
Tobacco War in Kentucky, The. M. M. Williams. Rev. of Revs.
"To the Stars”: A Drama. Leonid Andreieff. Poet Lore.
Tramps, How Poughkeepsie Deals with. Review of Reviews.
Treasury, The, and General Finance. L.J. Gage. North Amer.
Trust Companies, Safeguarding the. C. M. Keys. World's Work.
University of Paris, The. Charles F. Thwing. Harper.
Violin Makers' Village, A. J. M. Flagg. Scribner,
“ Virginia, Old, In Memory of.” La Salle C. Pickett. Lippincott.
Volcanoes, On the Chase for -- II. Robert Dunn. Outing.
Washington as Colonial Magnate. E.N.Vallandigham. Putnam
Washington, New Business Standards at. C. H. Forbes-Lindsay.
Review of Reviews.
Water-supply and its Menaces. E. Wegmann. Metropolitan.
West in the Orient, The--- II., Electricity: The New Force in Old
Lands. Charles M. Pepper. Scribner.
Wharton, Edith. H. G. Dwight. Putnam.
Wild Animals, Psychology of. W.T. Hornaday. McClure.
Wing Shooting. Charles H. Morton. Outing.
Winter, A Cure for. Dallas Lore Sharp. Atlantic.
Wooden Dwellings in California. Craftsman.
York, England, A Nine Days' Visit to. W. D. Howells. Harper,
Yosemite Waters, The. Harriet Monroe. North American.


84
[Feb. 1,
THE DIAL
LIST OF NEW BOOKS.
[The following list, containing 83 titles, includes books
received by THE DIAL since its last issue.]
BIOGRAPHY AND REMINISCENCES.
Mirabeau, the Demi-God: Being the True and Romantic Story
of his Life and Adventures. By W.R. H. Trowbridge. Illus.
in photogravure, etc., 8vo. gilt top, pp. 404. Charles Scribner's
Sons. $3.75 net.
The King over the Water. By A. Shield and Andrew Lang.
Illus. in photogravure, etc., 8vo, pp. 499. Longmans, Green,
& Co. $4.20 net.
Leaves from the Journals of Sir George Smart. By H.
Bertram Cox and C. L. E. Cox. With photogravure portrait,
8vo, pp. 355. Longmans, Green, & Co. $3. net.
Abraham Lincoln. By Henry Bryan Binns. Illus. in photo-
gravure, etc., 12mo, gilt top, pp. 378. "Temple Biographies."
E. P. Dutton & Co. $1.50 net.
Henrik Ibsen. By Edmund Gosse. With photogravure por-
trait, 12mo, pp. 244. "Literary Lives." Charles Scribner's
Sons. $1. net.
General Kirby-Smith. By Arthur Howard Noll. With
photogravure portrait, 12mo, pp. 293. Sewanee, Tenn.: Uni-
versity Press.
FIOTION.
The Ancient Law. By Ellen Glasgow. 12mo, pp. 485.
Doubleday, Page & Co. $1.50.
Dr. Elen. By Juliet Wilbor Tompkins. With fron
spiece in
tint, 12mo, pp. 280. Baker & Taylor Co. $1.50.
The Black Bag. By Louis Joseph Vance. Illus., 12mo,
pp. 441. Bobbs-Merrill Co. $1.50.
The Vanishing Fleets. By Roy Norton. Illus., 12mo, pp. 850.
D. Appleton & Co. $1.50.
Deborah of Tod's. By Mrs. Henry de la Pasture. New
edition ; 12mo, pp. 340. E. P. Dutton & Co. $1.50.
For Jacinta By Harold Bindloss. With frontispiece in color,
12mo, pp. 332. Frederick A. Stokes Co. $1.50.
A Shepherd of the Stars. By Frances Campbell. Second
edition; with photogravure frontispiece, 12mo, pp. 306.
E. P. Dutton & Co. $1.50 net.
The Magnet: A Romance of the Battles of Modern Giants.
By Alfred O. Crozier. Illus., 12mo, pp. 497. Funk & Wagnalls
Co. $1.50.
Travers: A Story of the San Francisco Earthquake. By Sara
Dean. Illus. in color, 12mo, pp. 287. Frederick A. Stokes
Co. $1.50.
The Forest Playfellow. By E. K. Sanders. 18mo, pp. 208.
E. P. Dutton & Co. $1.25.
Kedar Kross: A Tale of the North Country. By J. Van der
Veer Shurts. 12mo, pp. 430. Boston: The Gorham Press.
$1.50.
The Veil. By Mary Harriott Norris. 12mo, pp. 311. Boston:
The Gorham Press. $1.50.
The Yellow Face. By Fred M. White. 12mo, pp. 373. R. F.
Fenno & Co. $1. net.
The Borrowed Baby. By Lillian Brock. Illus., 12mo, pp. 40.
Boston: The Gorham Press. 75 cts.
The Evolution of Rose. By Ellen Snow. 12mo, pp. 74.
Boston: The Gorham Press. 50 cts.
Another Three Weeks. Not by El-n-r Gl-n. 12mo, pp. 63.
Life Publishing Co. Paper, 26 cts.
HISTORY
England in the Seven Years' War: A Study in Combined
Strategy. By Julian 8. Corbett. In 2 vols., with maps, large
8vo. Longmans, Green, & Co. $6. net.
Ancient Italy: Historical and Geographical Investigations
in Central Italy, Magna Græcia, Sicily, and Sardinia. By
Ettore Pais; trans. from the Italian by C. Densmore Curtis.
Illus., 8vo, pp. 441. University of Chicago Press. $5. net.
GENERAL LITERATURE.
The Poets, Chaucer to Tennyson (1340-1892). Impressions
by William Stebbing. In 2 vols., 12mo, gilt tops. Oxford
University Press.
The Genesis of Hamlet. By Charlton M. Lewis. 12mo, gilt
top, pp. 132. Henry Holt & Co.
Memorable American Speeches. Collected and edited by
John Vance Cheney. Vol. I., The Colonial Period. With
photogravure portrait, 16mo, gilt top, pp. 302. Chicago:
R. R. Donnelley & Sons Co.
The Delicious Vice: Pipe Dreams and Fond Adventures of an
Habitual Novel-reader among Some Great Books and their
People. By Young E. Allison. 18mo, pp. 48. Cleveland:
Privately printed.
TRAVEL AND DESCRIPTION.
Through Italy with Car and Camera. By Dan Fellows
Platt. Illus. in photogravure, etc., 8vo, gilt top, pp. 486.
G. P. Putnam's Sons.
Syria, the Desert and the Sown. By Gertrude Lowthian Bell.
Illus. in color, etc., 8vo, pp. 347. E. P. Dutton & Co. $3. net.
John Chinaman at Home: Sketches of Men, Manners and
Things in China. By E. J. Hardy. New popular edition;
illus., 8vo, pp. 332. Charles Scribner's Sons. $1.50 net.
A Tenderfoot Abroad. By Justine Grayson. 12mo, uncut,
pp. 100. Boston: W. A. Butterfield.
04
NEW EDITIONS OF STANDARD LITERATURE.
Shakespeare's Sonnets and A Lover's Complaint. With
Introduction by W. H. Hadow. 12mo, uncut, pp. 103.
"Tudor and Stuart Library.” Oxford University Press. $1.75.
Plays and Poems of Beaumont and Fletcher. Edited by
A. R. Waller. Vol. V., 12mo, gilt top, pp. 399. Cambridge
English Classics.” G. P. Putnam's Song.
Poems. By Giosue Carducci; with Introduction and Trans-
lations by Maud Holland. 12mo, gilt top, pp. 173. Charles
Scribner's Sons. $1.25.
Collected Works of Henrik Ibsen. Copyright edition.
Edited, with Introduction, by William Archer. Concluding
vol.: Lady Inger of Östrat, The Feast at Solhoug, Love's
Comedy. 12mo, pp. 464. Charles Scribner's Sons. $1.
Oxford Editions of Standard Authors. New vols.: Poetical
Works of Shelley, edited by Thomas Hutchinson; Poetical
Works of Campbell, edited by J. Logie Robertson; Palgrave's
Golden Treasury. Each with portrait, 12mo. Oxford Uni-
versity Press.
The World's Classics. New vols., Poems of Samuel Taylor
Coleridge, with Introduction by A.T.Quiller-Couch; Carlyle's
Life of John Sterling, with Introduction by W. Hale White.
Each 18mo. Oxford University Press.
My Winter Garden. By Charles Kingsley. With portrait,
16mo, pp. 57. "The Golden Books." Outing Publishing Co.
75 cts.
BOOKS OF VERSE.
Tone-Poems. By Margaret Ullmann. 24mo, pp. 24. Chicago:
The Lakeside Press. Paper. 50 cts.
Pictures Framed in Song. By Julia Harris May. Illus.,
12mo, pp. 99. Boston: Mayhew Publishing Co.
RELIGION AND THEOLOGY.
Old Testament and Semitic Studies. In Memory of William
Rainey Harper. Edited by Robert Francis Harper, Francis
Brown, George Foot Moore. In 2 vols., with photogravure
portrait, 4to, gilt tops. University of Chicago Press. $10. net.
The Philosophical Basis of Religion: A Series of Lectures.
By John Watson. 8vo, pp. 485. Macmillan Co. $3. net.
The New Theology and the Old Religion : Being Eight
Lectures, together with Five Sermons. By Charles Gore.
12mo, pp. 311. E. P. Dutton & Co. $2. net.
God and Music. By John Harrington Edwards. New edition;
12mo. Baker & Taylor Co. $1.25 net.
Studies in the Gospel of John. By George P. Eckman. 12mo,
pp. 303. Jennings & Graham. $1. net.
Fragment of an Uncanonical Gospel. Edited, with trang-
lation and commentary, by Bernard P. Grenfell and Arthur
S. Hunt. 12mo, uncut, pp. 22. Oxford University Press. Paper.
80
POLITICS.- ECONOMICS.-SOCIOLOGY.
The Tragedy of Russia in Pacific Asia. By Frederick
McCormick. In 2 vols., illus., large 8vo. Outing Publishing
Co. $6. net.
Munioipal Ownership: Four Lectures Delivered at Harvard
University, 1907. By Leonard Darwin. 12mo, pp. 149. E. P.
Dutton & Co. $1.25 net.
West Ham: A Study in Social and Industrial Problems, being
the Report of the Outer London Inquiry Committee. Com-
piled by Edward G. Howarth and Mona Wilson, 8vo, pp. 423.
London: J. M. Dent & Co.


1908.]
85
THE DIAL
A Selected List of Plays for Amateurs and Students of
Dramatic Expression in Schools and Colleges. Compiled by
Elizabeth A. McFadden and Lilian E. Davis. 8vo, pp. 96.
Cincinnati: E. A. McFadden.
Counterpoint Simplified. By Francis L. York. 12mo, pp. 149.
Boston: Oliver Ditson Co. $1.25.
Optimism: A Real Remedy. By Horace Fletcher; with a
Foreword by William Dana Orcutt. With portrait, 16mo,
pp. 78. A. C. McClurg & Co.
BOOKS. ALL OUT-OP: PRINT BOOKS SUPPLIED,
no matter on what subject. Write us. We can get
you any book ever published. Please state wants. Catalogue free.
BAKER'S GREAT BOOK SHOP, 14-16 Bright St., BIRMINGHAM, ENG.
pp. 117.
ART AND ARCHITECTURE.
In English Homes : The Internal Character. Furniture, and
Adornments of Some of the Most Notable Houses of England
Historically Depicted from Photographs Specially taken by
Charles Latham; letterpress edited, with introduction, by
H. Avray Tipping. Vol. II., illus., 4to, gilt edges, pp. 434.
Charles Scribner's Sons. $15. net.
Enamolling : A Comparative Account of the Development and
Practice of the Art. By Lewis F. Day. Illus., 8vo, gilt top,
pp. 222. Charles Scribner's Sons. $3. net.
Drawings of Michael Angelo. With Introduction by E.
Borough Johnson. Illus., 4to. “Drawings of the Great Mas.
ters." Charles Scribner's Sons. $2.50 net.
Etchings of Rembrandt. With Introduction by A. M. Hind.
Illus. in photogravure, etc., 4to. “Great Etchers." Charles
Scribner's Sons. $2.50 net.
Sheffield Plate. By Bertie Wyllie. Illus., 12mo, gilt top,
Newnes' Library of the Applied Arts." Charles
Scribner's Sons. $2.50 net.
Atheniani Lekythoi, with Outline Drawing in Glaze Varnish
on & White Ground. By Arthur Fairbanks. Illus., 4to.
Macmillan Co. $. net.
Leon, Burgos, and Salamanca: A Historical and Descriptive
Account. By Albert F. Calvert. Illus., 12mo. "Spanish
Series." John Lane Co. $1.25 net.
What Rome Was Built With: A Description of the Stones
Employed in Ancient Times for its Building and Decoration.
By Mary Winearls Porter. 16mo, gilt top, pp. 108. Oxford
University Press.
SCIENCE AND NATURE.
Fishes. By David Starr Jordan. Illus. in color, etc., 4to, gilt
top, pp. 789. American Nature Series.” Henry Holt & Co.
Alpine Flora of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. By
Stewardson Brown; illus. in color, etc., by Mrs. Charles
Schäffer. 12mo, pp. 353. G. P. Putnam's Sons.
Some Winter Days in Iowa. By Frederick John Lazell.
Large 8vo, pp. 83. Cedar Rapids, Ia.: The Torch Press.
$1.50 net.
Physiology of Plants. By Francis Darwin and E. Hamilton
Acton. New edition; illus., 12mo, pp. 340. Cambridge
Biological Series." G. P. Putnam's Sons.
STORY-WRITERS, Biographers, Historians, Poets - Do
you desire the honest criticism of your
dook or its skilled revision and correction, or advice as to publication?
Such work, said George William Curtis, is "done as it should be by The
Easy Chair's friend and fellow laborer in letters, Dr. Titus M. Coan."
Terms by agreement. Send for circular D, or forward your book or MS.
to the New York Bureau of Revision, 70 Fifth Avenue, New York.
OCCULT LITERATURE
SEND FOR MY CATALOGUE NO. 7
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED.
GEO. ENGELKE, 280 N. Clark St., CHICAGO
BROWNE'S
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or
BOOKS FOR SCHOOL AND COLLEGE.
Oxford Higher French Series. New vols.: Barbier's Iambes
et Poèmes, edited by Ch. M. Garnier; Hugo's La Légende des
Siècles, edited by G. F. Bridge. Each with portrait, 12mo.
Oxford University Press.
The Short-Story: Specimens Illustrating its Development.
Edited by Brander Matthews. 12mo, pp. 810. American
Book Co. $1. net.
Plane and Solid Geometry. By Edward Rutledge Robbins.
12mo, pp. 412. American Book Co. $1.25.
Spanish Prose Composition. By G. W. Umphrey. 12mo,
pp. 175. American Book Co. 75 cts.
A Syllabus for the History of Western Europe, with
References and Review Questions. By Norman M. Tren-
holme. In 2 parts, each 12mo. Ginn & Co. Per vol., 45 cts.
Selections from Irving's Sketch-Book. Edited by Martin
W. Sampson. With portrait, 16mo, pp. 315. American Book
Co. 45 cts.
Sidney's Apologie for Poetrie. Edited by J. Chrurton
Collins. 12mo, pp. 111. Oxford University Press.
Die beiden Freunde. Edited, with Introduction, by Karl
Detlev Jessen. With frontispiece, 16mo, pp. 140. Henry
Holt & Co.
Schilling's Don Basilio: A Guide to Spanish Conversation
and Correspondence. Trans. and edited by Frederick Zagel.
12mo, pp. 156. Henry Holt & Co.
Selections from Chaucer, Edited by Edwin A. Greenlaw.
16mo. pp. 316. Chicago: Scott, Foresman & Co.
Bazin's Contes Choisis. Edited by Victor E. François. 16mo,
pp. 142. D. C. Heath & Co. 35 cts.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Who's Who (English) 1908. 12mo, pp. 2040. Macmillan Co.
$2.50 net.
The California Earthquake of 1906. Edited by David Starr
Jordan. Illus., 8vo, pp. 370. San Francisco: A. M. Robertson.
$3.50 net.
The Peter Pan Picture-Book. By Daniel O'Connor; illus.
in color by Alice B. Woodward. New edition; large 8vo,
pp. 62. Macmillan Co. $2. net.
NY book advertised
mentioned in this issue
of THE DIAL will be mailed,
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of price, except “net” books,
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86
[Feb. 1,
THE DIAL
The Hibbert Journal
A Quarterly Review of Religion,
Theology, and Philosophy
The January issue, an especially notable
number, is now ready
VOLUME SEVEN
OF THE OLD SOUTH LEAFLETS
Comprising Nos. 151 to 175 inclusive, is now ready. It
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THE PAPAL ENCYOLICAL: from a Catholic's
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THE IMMORTALITY OF THE SOUL. By Sir
OLIVER LODGE.
THE PAPACY IN ITS RELATION TO AMER-
ICAN IDEALS. By the Rev. L. HENRY SCHWAB.
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH; What is it? By the
BISHOP OF CARLISLE.
THE RELIGION OF SENSIBLE SCOTSMEN.
By WILLIAM WALLACE.
THE SOURCES OF THE MYSTICAL REV.
ELATION. By Prof. GEORGE ALBERT COE.
THE MAGIC AND MYSTICISM OF TO-DAY.
By Mrs. STUART MOORE.
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1908.]
87
THE DIAL
Poet Lore
Is the only American periodical publishing
an unabridged translation of some notable
foreign play in each issue. In 1907 appeared
D'Annunzio's The Daughter of Jorio; Bracco's
The Hidden Spring; Hauptman's And Pippa
Dances; Andrieff's To the Stars.
The Spring number will contain Echegaray's
The Madman Divine.
In addition to these plays, each number con-
tains much other matter of first importance to
those seriously interested in pure literature.
Poet Lore is published quarterly, at $1.25
a number and $4.00 a year.
If
you
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will be sent for $1.00.
No free samples are distributed, but a descrip-
tive booklet may be had on request. Poet Lore
must, however, be seen to be appreciated.
THE POET LORE COMPANY
194 Boylston Street, Boston


88
[Feb. 1, 1908.
THE DIAL
TO APPEAR FEBRUARY 8
A New NOVEL BY WILLIAM DE MORGAN, AUTHOR OF ALICE-FOR-SHORT
SOMEHOW GOOD
After years of separation from his wife, the hero, during a complete suspension of memory and loss of
identity, accidentally finds shelter in her home. This situation seems very simple, but the developments are
far from simple, and form a story of complicated motives and experiences which holds the reader closely.
An almost grown-up daughter, ignorant of the situation, heightens the tension of the plot, and furnishes
her share of two charming stories of young love.
That this third volume by Mr. De Morgan appears within less than a year and a half of his first, may
arouse anxiety on the part of his admirers lest he be overproducing. But before he published his first novel,
he had several completely written, and several others carefully sketched out. So far from “Somehow Good”
being diluted work, it is, in the unanimous opinion of the publishers’ readers, an advance upon anything of
Mr. De Morgan's yet published. (12mo, 565 pp., $1.75.)
SOME IMPORTANT RECENT BOOKS
A New Volume by WILLIAM MORTON PAYNE of THE DIAL
GREATER ENGLISH POETS OF THE XIX. CENTURY
With extracts from their works and those of their critics. ($2.00 net. By mail, $2.10.)
The Living Age : "Its very publication ... is a subject for devout thankfulness ... the critical matter alternating in
the good old way, with citations from the author criticised ... and here are not those catchwords of the criticaster which
have done so much to make the younger generation averse to the very name of criticism. .. Mr. Payne's book will have a
hearty weloome from all teachers and lovers of poetry.”
Charlton M. Lewis's THE GENESIS OF HAMLET
An attempt by Prof. Lewis of Yale to solve the Hamlet problem by a clear discrimination between Shakespeare's original
contributions to the story and the legendary materials that he inherited. The contents include: The Theory of Coleridge,
Werder's Theory, The First Quarto-Kyd and Belleforest, The German Hamlet, Kyd's Hamlet, Shakespeare's Hamlet, Ophelia,
and a Summary. ($1.25 net. By mail, $1.33.)
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90
[Feb. 16, 1908
THE DIAL
Important New Macmillan
Books
on life.”
JUST READY
Confessio Medici
Dark red cloth, 12mo, $1.25 net; by mail, $1.35.
The author confesses among other Confession is not always of sin; it may be of faith or of love. It is not vanity
matters that he has looked with
longing on the titles of two of his
but the natural human sympathy of a wise and kindly personality which
old books - Gower's Confessio expresses itself in this book in a quaint genial welcome of friendliness, free
Amantis and the more generally from the self-consciousness of either teaching or learning, confessing only
read Religo Medici by Sir Thomas
Browne. Hence the title.
what he has learned of life. It is the gift of gifts for a young doctor.
H. Fielding Hall's
Dr. Henry C. Lea's
The Inward Light
The Inquisition of the
"It is in no sense argument, it is simply a superb
Spanish Dependencies
expression of . . . what even the most skeptical can
not but admit to be a rational and beautiful outlook
A notable work which is attracting attention the
Cloth, cr. 8vo, $1.75 net; by mail, $1.86.
world over is completed with the issue of this vol-
ume which supplements The Inquisition of the
The Works of Alfred Lord
Middle Ages (in three volumes) and The Inquisi-
tion of Spain (in four volumes).
Tennyson in the new Eversley edition.
Cloth, 8vo, 564 pages, $2.50; by mail, $2.70.
Annotated by Himself. Edited by his Son. Prof. Hutton Webster's
To be complete in six volumes. Volume I. now
ready. $1.50 net; by mail $1.64. Volume II. in
interesting work on
press.
Primitive Secret Societies
Psychology and Pedagogy of
A great deal of interesting material has been col.
lected during recent years touching the rites, cere-
Reading
monies, conditions of membership, etc., in the curious
secret societies of savage peoples. Professor Web-
By Prof. Edmund B. Huey
ster's book is an attempt to arrive as near as may be
at its significance.
With a review of the history of reading and writing,
Cloth, 8vo, $2.00 net; by mail, $2.24.
and of methods, text, and hygiene in reading.
Cloth, 469 pages, 12mo, $1.40 net. Prof. John A. Fairlie University of
Michigan
Essays in Municipal
NOTABLE BOOKS IN PRESS
Administration
By Agnes and Egerton Castle The knowledge of actualities displayed in his books
on * Municipal Administration" and National
Flower o' the Orange
Administration" vouches for the value of these sug-
gestive papers. Cloth, 8vo, $2.50 net; by mail, $2.68.
Charm of atmosphere and a spirit of romance both
wholesome and alluring are characteristic of the
Castles' tales of bygone days. Ready next week. Modern Egypt In two volumes
By Jack London The Iron Heel
By the Earl of Cromer
The author's remarkable personality, his abilities as
Mr. London has described the primitive past "Before
a modern political administrator. and his peculiar
Adam"; the bitter lot of The People of the Abyss
position as for so long the most influential official in
to-day; and here gives us the fair future and the
Egypt, unite to place the book among the most
drama of its attainment.
Ready nert week. notable of the year.
Ready early in March.
By H. G. Wells
England in two volumes
New Worlds for Old
By A. Lawrence Lowell
Mr. Wells claims the name of socialist without
A comprehensive survey of the English political
blindly subscribing to the programme of any present system, comparable in value only to the Hon. James
form of socialistic theory. He aims in this book
Bryce's The American Commonwealth, and likely
(which is not a novel) to set forth the principles
to become equally indispensable in the study of pop-
upon which socialism rests. Ready early in March.
ular government. Probably ready in March.
Rambling Recollections
JUST READY
By the Right Honorable SIR HENRY DRUMMOND WOLFF
One of three uncommonly interest Two volumes full of good stories, of intimacy with people of political place
ing books of personal recollections,
which showthe England of the past
and power — an inside view of all the international events of any importance
fifty years as it seemed to a diplo during the last sixty years - - a fascinating book, rich in interest as only the
mat. a lady of high social rank, and
reminiscences of a British diplomat (late Ambassador in Spain) can be.
an eminent literary man - amaz-
ingly interesting points of view.
In two volumes, red cloth, 8vo, $7.50 net.
PUBLISHED
BY
THE MACMILLAN COMPANY
64-66 5th Ave.,
NEW YORK


THE
DIAL
A Semi-Monthly Journal of Literary Criticism, Discussion, and Information.
PAGE
.
THE DIAL (founded in 1880) is published on the 1st and 16th of
each month. TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION, $2. a year in advance, postage
THE APPRECIATION OF LITERATURE.
prepaid in the United States, and Mexico; Foreign and Canadian
postage 50 cents per year extra. REMITTANCES should be by check, or A great deal of printed matter, intended for
by express or postal order, payable to THE DIAL COMPANY.
the admonition and guidance of young people, is
Unless otherwise ordered, subscriptions will begin with the current
number. When no direct request to discontinue at expiration of sub-
put forth every year upon the subject of books
scription is received, it is assumed that a continuance of the subscription
is desired. ADVERTISING RATES furnished on application. Al com and reading. Sometimes it takes the futile
munications should be addressed to
form of an annotated list or course of study ;
THE DIAL, Fine Arts Building, Chicago.
sometimes it consists of mere rhetorical vaporing;
Entered as Second-Class Matter October 8, 1892, at the Post Office
at Chicago, Illinois, under Act of March 3, 1879.
occasionally it combines instruction with counsel
in a really helpful and inspiring way. But this
No. 520. FEBRUARY 16, 1908. Vol. XLIV.
aim is not to be reached either by pretentious
twaddle or by rigorous prescription, for the
CONTENTS.
former is rarely imposing and the latter is rarely
THE APPRECIATION OF LITERATURE
91 practical. The fundamental difficulty of the
CASUAL COMMENT
problem is to be met only by a clear recognition
Proof-sheet marginalia. — The poet's beatific vision. of the fact that literary appreciation is an indi-
- The claims of Greek literature. An "author-
vidual concern, and that, while standards of
itative ” life of Henry Irving. — Uniformity in
catalogue cards and cataloguing. - A prize compe-
taste undoubtedly exist and their acquisition
tition of poets. — A quaintly interesting annual. - should be the ultimate goal of every reader, they
The transplanting of words. — A handbook to the
public documents of the United States.
are attained to by many paths, and it would be
a wise man indeed who should know how to mark
COMMUNICATIONS
95
The Old-Fashioned Librarian. Arthur L. Bailey.
out the course best fitted for another's steps.
Library Circulation in England and America.
The best of all agencies for the inculcation of
James Duff Brown.
a sound literary taste is the home library, well
Principal Caird of Glasgow - A Correction.
Thomas Kilpatrick.
stocked with books new and old (especially old),
A TRUE STORY OF A STRANGE BOYHOOD.
accessible to the child from the days of his early
Percy F. Bicknell .
96 toddlings, and offering him its unaffected wel-
IMPRESSIONS OF A CORRESPONDENT IN THE
come. But the old-fashioned home library, in
RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR. Frederic Austin
the sense in which we read of it in the literature
Ogg
97
of memoir and autobiography, hardly exists
TWO HISTORIES OF MUSIC. Josiah Renick Smith 99
to-day; and even in families where it is found,
THE ANATOMY OF DIFFIDENCE. John J.
Holden
101
the tranquil delights which it offers to the young
DUTCH HISTORY FROM THE SOURCES 103 people of the household are forced into too sharp
NEW BOOKS ABOUT OLD LANDS. H. E. Coblentz 104
a competition with the exciting allurements of
Huntington's The Pulse of Asia. — Baillie-Groh the outside world. These distractions, for the
mann's Tyrol, the Land in the Mountains.
most part trivial if not unwholesome, enlist the
Barzini's From Pekin to Paris. — Miss Herbert's
Two Dianas in Somaliland. - Williams's Across
energies that might easily have been turned into
Persia. — Lorey and Sladen's Queer Things about bookish channels, and the precious years of
Persia. — Hale's Story of the South American
childhood - the only years in which the best
Republics. — Enock's The Andes and the Amazon.
-Platt's Through Italy with Car and Camera. foundations of the intellectual life may be laid
BRIEFS ON NEW BOOKS .
108 are frittered away in external frivolities, sacri-
The latest biographer of Ibsen. — Further advices ficed to the mischievous sentiment which permits
from the Burbank gardens. — Commencement ad children to run wild because they enjoy it, and
dresses of the right sort. - A short treatise on
a large theme. – Earthquakes: their causes and
because their parents like to see them happy.
results. — Chapters in the history of Culture. –
The influence of the home library failing us,
Pioneers of American literature. — Child-life of
an Italian household. — The “Urne-Buriall” in
we must look to the agencies of the public library
sumptuous dress.
and the school to unfold for our young people
BRIEFER MENTION
the joys of reading, which are also much more
NOTES
112
than present joys, since they have the lasting
LIST OF NEW BOOKS
113 effect of enlarging the contracted life of the
.
.


92
[Feb. 16,
THE DIAL
ciation of Literature " were taken to heart by :
individual until it coincides with the sphere of appealing to such sympathies and imaginative
all human experience. Of these two agencies, resources as it already exhibits, and at the same
we are bound to say that the public library has time slightly anticipating the emergence of
risen more completely than the school to the true powers now latent, but on the point of becoming
conception of their common task. The reason active. For, as our author further says, every
is simple enough. The library, with its enlight- reader, young or old, “ is at last thrown fairly
ened modern methods and the realization of its back upon his own experience, or the kind and
educational function, treats the young reader as quality of the life he has lived, for his apprecia-
an individual; the school, shackled by system, tion of literature. ... If the light is not in him,
treats him as a member of a regiment. And he cannot see.”
this makes all the difference between measur The fundamental lesson of all this is that, in
able success and certain failure. Prescribed dealing with the child, we must keep pretty close
books and courses and methods have their uses to the child's level.
in some departments of educational activity, but « The natural introduction to literature for the very
their effect is absolutely pernicious when they young is by means of that universal sort which is
are applied to literature as a school subject. And
selected from all ages and requires no study, such as the
stories of Scripture, short legendary tales of history,
yet this obvious truth seems to make no impres- beast and bird fables, fairy tales and the like. They
sion upon the type of mind that somehow con have, besides their intelligibility, the advantage of
trives to exercise educational authority in our accustoming the mind to a make-believe world, natural
schools, and the sort of teaching that makes
to childish fancy, and so laying the foundation for that
literature hateful to young minds remains the
principle of convention which is fundamental in art and
indispensable in its practice, and also of making the
only sort to receive the sanction of our peda- contemplation of imaginary experience habitual so that
gogical pundits.
there is no shock between it and truth."
If only such a book as that recently pub- Even “nature-faking” gets a good word from
lished by Professor Woodberry on “The Appre- | Professor Woodberry.
“ The transposition by which human experience is
the framers of our educational programmes, placed in the bird and beast world is a literary fiction; as
there would quickly be an end of all teaching ticity to the world of fact which is essential to the artistic
of the subject according to schedule, with marks
interpretation of life and the imaginary habit of mind."
and examinations as final causes. The author
If a few of these ideas were once fairly lodged
says:
in the pedagogical cranium, we should witness
“ Without setting limits to study of whatever sort,
for all modes of study have possible uses, it is to be laid
an amazing reform in educational methods, and
down in general that all study of literature in the way
we might save for other objects the sympathies
of preparation to grasp and understand, whether it be we now have to lavish upon hapless boys and
linguistic, historical, or æsthetic, exists to be forgotten girls engaged in studying (in the name of liter-
and laid off as soon as it is completed; its end is to with ature !) such productions as Addison's Essays,
draw one by one the veils, and leave the reader alone
with the spirit of the book, which then speaks to him
and Burke on Conciliation, and Defoe on the
face to face."
London Plague.
This is absolutely true; and yet, in spite of it,
We have taken these illustrative texts from
our teachers continue to treat the scaffolding
Professor Woodberry's opening chapter on
as if it were the building itself, and offer to eager
“ First Principles.” We might find others no
young
minds the sawdust of information as if it less suggestive in the succeeding chapters, which
were the food for which the spirit craves.
discuss the appreciation of the several literary
The most contracted of minds may undoubt species — of lyrical, narrative, and domestic
edly be enlarged by the mere process of accre-
poetry, of the novel, the history, and the essay.
tion, but this is not organic growth. Rather
The whole treatment is so admirable and so vital,
does it stifle growth by encasing the developing
so closely in touch with the essentials of the sub-
faculties within a hard shell of fact, excluding ject, that we wish for it the widest possible in-
the light and air they most need. If we are to
fluence. And it would be difficult to sum up
strengthen the feeling for literature in the imma-
the entire matter with more truth and effective
ture mind, we must first of all realize that study eloquence than we find in the closing sentences
of the book.
is only subsidiary to our purpose, that our real
aim is to take the individual mind as we find it,
Study has great deadening power over life; and
when the reader finds this deadening influence in his
selecting our means with reference to the par-
pursuit of literature, when personality begins to fade
ticular stage of development it may have reached, from the page, and the abstract, the parasitical, the fact


1908.]
93
THE DIAL
encroach, and literature becomes rather a form of know with these reminiscences. Thompson had reviewed
ledge than of life, then he is losing the proper good of Henley's “Collected Poems," and Henley had asked
literature; and he should seek again in himself and his Mr. Hind to bring the younger poet to see him. « That
authors the vitality of a personal touch, the connection was a memorable afternoon, but it did not begin auspi-
of life, the power of human truth. The great thing is ciously. Thompson was an hour late in calling for me
to remain alive in one's reading, and nowhere should the at the office; when we reached Muswell Hill railway
principle of life be more sacredly guarded than in its station he complained of hunger, ate a vast quantity of
most immortal presence - imaginative literature and cold beef, aud then alarmed me by gliding into a trance.
those other forms that take their color from its human Suddenly he became rigid, his body swayed, and a film
methods."
came over his eyes. It seemed as if his soul had flitted
temporarily from his body.” Instead of a trance, was
it not rather an attack of acute indigestion, or stomach-
ache, after all that cold beef ? But whatever the seizure,
CASUAL COMMENT.
it passed off, and the two poets held high converse
PROOF-SHEET MARGINALIA offer, as a rule, even less
together.
of literary attraction than does the dictionary; but some
THE CLAIMS OF GREEK LITERATURE will not be
of De Quincey's corrections of proof (and of printer)
silenced by any Harrovian head-master's pronounce-
have a certain vituperative emphasis and vigor that ment, such as that recently uttered. Educational
make them lively reading. A few of his vehement and waste may be, and ought to be, diminished by ceasing
pithy remarks, culled from his proof-sheets, have lately to impose the reading of Æschylus on a youth who can-
found their way into print and are worth passing along. not even make anything out of Shakespeare. Individ-
The little opium-eater was emphatically of the genus ual aptitudes are receiving, in these days of rapidly
irritabile, put into a passion by a misspelt word or a mis- multiplying “electives," more careful attention; but
placed comma, and making life miserable for his printers.
that the human mind is ever likely to undergo such a
The word “aerial” set up with initial diphthong called change as to render it incapable of reaping profit from
forth the following objurgatory apostrophe: “Oh, thou the study of the Greek and Latin languages and litera-
unknown compositor, dost thou mean to drive me to an tures, is almost unthinkable. So long as man has a wit
early grave, dost thou not know that aerial was a word to be sharpened, an intelligence to be broadened, a
of four syllables in the times of the Greeks and the power of self-utterance to be developed, the most per-
Romans, was then, is now, and ever shall be, world with fect medium of literary expression, as displayed in the
out end, Amen !” In another instance, correcting the masterpieces of Greek history and philosophy, drama
omission of a letter, the incensed author told the com and oratory, should be to him an educational instrument
positor, in language far from polite, that the missing
and an intellectual solace. That the ancient classics
letter was a necessary part of the word, and would should ever again dominate the school curriculum, as
remain so “ when you are damned, or hanged for for they once did, is not to be expected any more than that
gery.
7." Proof-correctors are of many and unaccount this modern life of multifarious interests and activities
able kinds. Leslie Stephen groaned over the frequent should yield to a return of mediæval narrowness of
and outrageous misprints in his books, but declared him outlook and slowness of movement. It is unnatural for
self unable to hold his mind down to the proof-reader's the present-day American to regard facility in speaking
level. Evidently he should have employed a less lofty- and writing Latin as the one indispensable mark of a
minded person to act for him. Walter Pater, on the gentleman and scholar, just as it is unnatural for the
other hand, who certainly lived on no low plane, was twentieth-century Dutchman to look upon tulip-culture
never weary of correcting and re-correcting his proof as the most important and most delightful of human
sheets; in fact, he used to order a preliminary printing, occupations.
at his own expense, solely for the purpose of seeing what
An “ AUTHORITATIVE” LIFE OF HENRY IRVING,
corrections the types suggested that the manuscript did
not. A somewhat similar passion on Balzac's part is
following with due deliberation after the two somewhat
known to all.
precipitate biographies by Mr. Bram Stoker and Mr.
Percy Fitzgerald, is promised by Messrs. Longmans,
THE POET'S BEATIFIC VISION can induce oblivion of Green, & Co. The satisfactory and final account of
pelting rain, clinging mud, deafening roar of city streets, Irving and his art this journal has already declared to
and all the nerve-racking accompaniments of urban be among the books still to be desired, and it gives us
existence. Witness this remembrance of the late Francis pleasure to quote the publisher's announcement: “We
Thompson (already regretfully mentioned by us as one beg to inform you that the authoritative Life of Henry
whose early promise had inspired hopes of memorable Irving is in preparation, and will be published by us next
achievement still to come) from the pen of Mr. C. Lewis autumn. The biography is being written by Mr. Austin
Hind: “The roads were ankle-deep in slush; a thin, icy Brereton, an old and intimate personal friend of the
rain was falling; the yellow fog enwrapped the pedes- great actor, who was supplied with much valuable and
trians squelching down the lane; and, going through unique material for the work by Sir Henry Irving him-
them in an arrow-path, I saw Francis Thompson, wet self. Sir Henry's sons, Mr. H. B. Irving and Mr.
and mud-spattered. But he was not unhappy. What Laurence Irving, who are the executors under their
is a day of unpleasant weather to one who lives in father's will, have given their cordial consent to Mr.
eternity ? His lips were moving, his head was raised, Brereton's undertaking, and have supplied him for the
bis eyes were humid with emotion; for above the roof purpose of this book with all the records and other
of the Chancery Lane Safe Deposit Company, in the documents relating to their father which they possess.
murk of the fog, he saw beatific visions.” But we are As this will be the authorized biography of Henry
all human, and one touch of nature makes the whole Irving, it is desirous that it should be as comprehensive
world kin; therefore we must proceed a little further as possible, and all owners of letters of public interest


94
[Feb. 16,
THE DIAL
in regard to the subject, whether written by the deceased never be tempted to burn his books, because he has no
actor or others, are requested to be kind enough to send books to burn, so far as may be judged from his frank
them for perusal —— and, if considered desirable, pub account of his business methods. These methods have
lication - to Mr. Austin Brereton, 26 Suffolk Street, built up a large and prosperous trade, which now in his
Pall Mall, S. W., London, who will be responsible for eightieth year
the head of the house hands over to the
their safety and immediate return."
care of his son, “who has served an apprenticeship
of half a century to the calling.” Assured that the
UNIFORMITY IN CATALOGUE CARDS AND CATALOGU younger man will continue the older's policy of dealing
ING CODES is being rapidly effected by the increasing use with others as he would have them deal with him,
of the cards printed and sold by the Library of Congress.
the father thus concludes his preface to his patrons:
In the past year 952 subscribers, chiefly public libraries, “ Should mankind, as individuals or nations, but accept
were supplied an increase of 188 over the preceding this as a rule of life, we should need no Hague confer-
year. The whole amount paid by these 952 institutions ences, and State prisons might be turned into brick
for cards purchased during the twelve months was quarries. In these days, when so many of our fellow-
$19,222; and as the saving effected through the use of men in other callings are overweighed with heavy busi-
these cards is estimated at from four to seven times ness responsibilities, my brother farmers, we make up
their cost, the cataloguing bureau at Washington would that fortunate class which, affiliating with neither
appear to set free from $76,000 to $134,000 annually poverty nor riches, can enjoy a freedom controlled by
for the purchase of library books and the supplying of no man, and the wholesome pleasure which crowns the
other important library needs. The total number of Simple Life.” Verily, there are tongues in trees, books
titles now covered by these cards is 280,000, of which in the running brooks, and sermons in seed catalogues.
55,000 represent the past year's additions. It is pleas-
ant to think how much pen-scratching, or type-writer THE TRANSPLANTING OF WORDS, and their frequent
thumping, is saved to these 952 libraries throughout vigorous growth in the new soil long after the parent
the land. How many cases of writer's cramp may have stock has withered away, is a subject of unfailing interest
been thus prevented, and how much human energy and to dabblers in philology. One who is not a dabbler,
intelligence released for less grinding and machine-like however, Colonel T. W. Higginson, contributes to a
toil than this dreary and never-ending manufacture of current newspaper some interesting observations on
author-cards, title-cards, subject-cards, cross-reference “ The Migration of Words,” and incidentally shows
cards, and so on, through all the subordinate varieties! what a surprising amount of supposed American slang
In a mild degree, it is as if the problem of pain had is to be found in the “ Diary and Letters ” of Madame
been rendered a little less heart-breaking by the substi d'Arblay (Frances Burney), the admired author of
tution (let us say) of one central toothache for fifty « Evelina ” and “Cecilia." In the memoirs above
thousand separate and independent toothaches.
named — published in 1842, twelve years earlier than
the date given by Mr. Higginson
appear such modern
A PRIZE COMPETITION OF POETS is “on” in England. terms and phrases as “cute," "hang it,” “ downed,”
A great tobacco-house, recognizing that music hath “trembled a few," "snigger," "a most elegant dessert,"
charms to soothe the smoker's breast, has offered a prize “a high treat,” and many others. In Francis Grose's
for the best lay that shall sing the praises of the firm's “ Provincial Glossary” (1814) occur still more numerous
nicotine products. And such a prize! “A freehold and surprising “ Americanisms.” Colonel Higginson
furnished country house, with pony and trap, stabling, recalls the quaint dialect of old Marblehead, and says
bath, electric light, and £2 per week pension for life.” that there only on our coast could be heard the uncouth
Who would not be a rhymester, with such a reward of word “gawming" (awkward, lubberly) which Grose's
merit before his eyes! Edward FitzGerald used to aver dictionary contains as a North-of-England term. From
that everyone could, once at least in a lifetime, turn out it, we conjecture, may have come the form “ gawmed ”
a copy of occasional
verses; and surely here is an (or “ gormed ”), heard in rural speech; as "you gormed
occasion well worth rising to -- worth £104 per annum,
idiot!” This migration of words is ever in progress,
and house and stable, bath and pony and electric light,
and will always furnish a pleasant subject of study to
besides. But to compete with any chance of success one the philologically curious.
ought, in the poetic fitness of things, to be an impas-
sioned smoker and write under the immediate influence A HANDBOOK TO THE PUBLIC DOCUMENTS OF THE
of the great tobacco firm's choicest brand of Havana UNITED STATES is a work the need for which has long
cigars; and as not all of us are smokers (far less chewers been recognized, but which no one has hitherto had the
or snuff-takers) we cannot, alas, all hope to win the courage to undertake. Now we
are told that the
“two pound per” and accompanying etceteras. But we manuscript of this exceptionally useful, and indeed
could n't all hope to win, anyway; so there is still con indispensable, library tool has been completed. The
solation for our disappointment.
compiler is Miss Elfrida Everhart, Reference Librarian
of the Carnegie Library of Atlanta, and instructor in
A QUAINTLY INTERESTING ANNUAL, but of a very the Southern Library School. One who has had an
different quaintness from that of our grandparents' opportunity of reading the manuscript describes Miss
annuals — those prim posy-beds of sentimental poetry Everhart's work as admirably clear, concise, well-
that used to grace the marble-topped drawing-room arranged, and, above all, accurate. It is expected that
table — makes its new year's appearance from historic the Handbook will appear some time in the spring,
old Marblehead, in Massachusetts. Like the blessings probably through one of the New York publishers. It
of fresh air and pure water and genial sunshine, it will undoubtedly be a boon to everyone who has occa-
is dispensed without money and without price. The sion to consult the public documents of the United
Marblehead business man who issues this welcome States, and who therefore appreciates the need of a
annual — it is, in plain words, a seed catalogue — will trustworthy key to that labyrinthine mystery.


1908.]
95
THE DIAL
the library other than for reference or purely recreation-
COMMUNICATIONS.
ary purposes. This experience, and the experience of
the years before I was at the head of a library, or even
THE OLD-FASHIONED LIBRARIAN.
before I was interested in library work at all, lead me to
believe that the real book-lover is an exceedingly scarce
(To the Editor of THE DIAL.)
The complaint voiced by Mr. Thomas H. Briggs in
person. If all the real book-lovers were engaged in
library work, there would still be room for many others,
the last number of THE DIAL, that it is not possible to
and Mr. Briggs, as well as other library trustees, would
get librarians who love books and their contents, is one
have to employ many who have little more than a library
that has been frequently made of late, and it must be
school training and a missionary spirit to recommend
admitted, even by librarians themselves, that it is not
them.
ARTHUR L. BAILEY,
without some foundation in fact. It is true that many,
Wilmington Institute Free Library,
perhaps most, of the men and women employed in libra-
Wilmington, Del., Feb. 7, 1908.
ries are not book-lovers in the old-fashioned way which
Mr. Briggs thinks desirable. Far too many, even of
LIBRARY CIRCULATION IN ENGLAND AND
those who are at the head of libraries, have not a real
AMERICA.
love of books, and their knowledge of them is sometimes
(To the Editor of THE DIAL.)
not much more than that gained in an ordinary college
education. It must even be confessed that the graduates regarding the Public Libraries of this country, based
I have just seen a paragraph in your January issue,
of library schools do not always have that wide and va-
ried knowledge of the contents of books that the public
upon some figures taken from my “Manual of Library
Economy." There is one mistake which I think ought
(and library trustees) are justified in desiring, if not in
demanding
to be corrected, and that is the statement that the
Having admitted this, if your space permits, I wish
average number of books drawn annually by each bor-
rower is 3” This quotation refers to the number of
to point out one or two facts that account for the con-
volumes stocked per borrower : the number of books
dition in which Mr. Briggs finds himself. In passing,
read annually is 30 per borrower. I may state that a
however, one might question whether the old-fashioned
more recent investigation shows that in the Municipal
book-loving librarian was as efficient as a few critics of
Libraries of the United Kingdom no fewer than
present-day librarians would like us to believe. Tradi-
60,000,000 volumes are annually circulated for home
tion tells us that his love of books was so great that he
reading, and that over 11,000,000 books are issued for
wanted all the books to stay in the library all the time.
A worn-out book was an unfamiliar object to his eyes.
reference use, without counting the enormous number
of consultations at the open shelves of such Libraries.
Both his lack of system and iron-clad rules tended to pre-
vent those who would really be most benefitted by books
There is just one important point which, to a very
great extent, I think, must be held to qualify any com-
from ever obtaining them. The motto of the American
Library Association, “ The best reading for the largest parisons which are made between the Library work of
the United States and the United Kingdom. It must
number at the least cost,” would not have appealed to
him. He was a book-lover, but he was not a lover of
always be remembered that British Public Libraries
labour under the serious disadvantage of a Rate limita-
humanity. The public had to seek him; he never sought
tion, which brings the average income for all purposes
the public. Whatever the faults of the modern librarian
down to about one-third of the average income enjoyed
may be, it must be admitted that he has plenty of mis-
by American Libraries. For example, the Boston Public
sionary spirit which leads him to go out into the high-
Library has an income of £68,000, against £26,410
ways and byways, and to try to make the library an
which Manchester expends for all purposes. The
influence for good in the life of his community. And
annual circulation from Boston is 1,461,000 volumes
this missionary spirit will be found most firmly im-
issued from the Central Library, 10 branches, 23 deliv-
planted in those who have graduated from library
ery stations, etc., while at Manchester the annual cir-
schools. For I firmly believe, that, in addition to the
culation is 1,957,475 volumes issued from 19 branches
technical training which students receive, they also be-
and delivery stations.
come thoroughly imbued with the idea that the public
I think there is no doubt that the Library systems
library is an educational force in the community, and
of both countries, under varying conditions, are doing
that it is their duty to augment its efficiency and to
splendid work, and that the Public Library in any town
bring an ever-increasing number of persons within the
would be one of the last of the municipal services which
circle of its influence.
the inhabitants would care to see abolished.
The principal reason, I believe, for Mr. Briggs's
JAMES DUFF BROWN.
failure to find book-loving librarians is that there is not
Central Library, London, Jan. 31, 1908.
a sufficient number of real book-lovers such as he wants,
to supply even approximately the demand for library PRINCIPAL CAIRD OF GLASGOW-A CORRECTION.
workers. As a librarian myself, I am thrown in contact
(To the Editor of THE DIAL.)
more or less with many kinds of users of the library. In THE DIAL of February 1, on page 80, you speak
There are professional men who use the library in their of Dr. Edward Caird “ succeeding Jowett as Master of
work. There are the club women who prepare essays Balliol, but perhaps better remembered as Principal
and do prescribed reading. There are the workingmen Caird of Glasgow University." This appears to be a
who use the technical books to increase their knowledge slight mistake on your part, as the Principal of Glasgow
of their trade. There are the teachers, and there are University was John Caird, the famous Scotch preacher
the countless thousands of novel readers. Among all who published by command of the Queen his great ser-
those who use the library more or less constantly, I mon on “ The Religion of Common Life.”
If I am
have found in the last three years not over five who correct, he was the brother of Dr. Edward Caird.
would fulfill Mr. Briggs's ideal (and mine). Not over
THOMAS KILPATRICK.
five have revealed in any way whatsoever that they use Omaha, Neb., Feb. 8, 1908.


96
[Feb. 16,
THE DIAL
those of the so-called “ Plymouth Brethren.”
The Mew Books.
Each parent “ was prominent before the eyes
of a public of his or her own, half a century
THE TRUE STORY OF A STRANGE ago," and it is largely because their minds
BOYHOOD.*
were vigorous and their accomplishments dis-
It was unnecessary for the author of Father tinguished that the contrast between their
and Son ” to assure the reader in his preface spiritual point of view and the aspect of a
that his narrative was not fiction in disguise, similar class of persons to-day is interesting,"
but a true history faithfully recorded. Its and, the author hopes, instructive. The mother,
reality speaks in every line of the simple, it should be noted, was intellectually gifted to
restrained, unrhetorical setting forth of the such an extent that she became a fair Greek
anonymous writer's rigorous upbringing under and a still better Hebrew scholar, besides writ-
the severe rule of a religiously and morally strict ing and publishing devotional poems that met
father and mother, the sole object of whose
with considerable acceptance. The father's
parental care it was his lot to be.
The rigors
talents as a naturalist, his power of close
of John Stuart Mill's training at the hands of scrutiny and accurate observation, won for him
his father almost take on a sybaritic softness from Huxley the doubtful compliment of being
when compared with the austerities of the called the “ honest hodman of science." Both
Calvinistic household in which the boyhood of father and mother were zealous workers in the
this other paternally educated child was passed. church, indefatigable seekers after lost souls,
As the author himself says, the peculiar value and insistent that their son should be equally
of the book is in its being " a record of educa active, in season and out of season, in the work
tional and religious conditions which, having of testimony and conversion. But let the author
passed away, will never return.” It is the speak for himself.
diagnosis of a dying Puritanism," and as such “The peculiarities of a family life, founded upon
it will gain in curious interest, especially to the
such principles, are, in relation to a little child, obvious;
student of religious history, as time passes.
but I may be permitted to recapitulate them. Here was
perfect purity, perfect intrepidity, perfect abnegation;
Let it not, however, be thought that a warmer
yet there was also narrowness, isolation, an absence of
human interest is lacking to the story. Even perspective, let it be boldly admitted, an absence of
spiritual struggles have their humorous aspects,
humanity. And there was a curious mixture of humble-
and there is laughter as well as weeping in this
ness and arrogance; entire resignation to the will of God
and not less entire disdain of the judgment and opinion
eminently human narrative. Its appeal is made
of man. My parents founded every action, every atti-
all the stronger by the easy identification of
tude, upon their interpretation of the Scriptures, and
its two leading characters, father and son, as a upon the guidance of the Divine Will as revealed to
once well-known naturalist of the anti-Darwinian
them by direct answer to prayer. Their ejaculation in
the face of any dilemma was, Let us cast it before the
school, and a prominent author of our own time,
Lord !!”
respectively. Or, to be more specifie, the father
But it was this very habit of carrying every-
is Philip Henry Gosse, best remembered for his
“ Romance of Natural History,” though he wrote
thing to the Lord in prayer that first occa-
many other popular text-books of a similar sort;
sioned, in the son's restlessly inquiring mind, a
doubt of the parental infallibility. Just how
and the son, of course, is Mr. Edmund Gosse,
who needs no further introduction. Any possible
this first germ of skepticism was planted and
doubter may easily convince himself by turning book.
nourished is vividly and humorously told in the
to Mr. Gosse's brief account of his father in the
“ The question of the efficacy of prayer, which has puz-
“ Dictionary of National Biography" and com-
zled wiser heads than mine, began to trouble me. It was
paring that record with the book. The latter
The latter insisted on in our household that if anything was de-
shows no attempt at concealment except in cer sired, you should not, as my Mother said, “lose any time
tain very natural suppressions or alterations of in seeking for it, but ask God to guide you to it.' In
personal names.
many junctures of life, this is precisely what, in sober
fact, they did. I will not dwell here on their theories,
No outline of the book can do it justice, but which my mother put forth, with unflinching directness,
a few selected passages may quicken the reader's in her published writings. But I found that a difference
interest and inspire him with a desire to possess
was made between my privileges in this matter and
himself of the story in full. The peculiar re-
theirs, and this led me to many discussions. My parents
said: "Whatever you need, tell Him and He will grant
ligious beliefs of the father and mother were
it, if it is His will.' Very well; I had need of a large
* FATHER AND SON. Biographical Recollections. With por-
painted humming-top which I had seen in a shop-window
trait. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons.
in the Caledonian Road. Accordingly, I introduced a


1908.]
97
THE DIAL
was
me.
a
supplication for this object into my evening prayer, care father's hands must here be noted. The
fully adding the words: •If it is Thy will.' This, I
mother's early death and the father's second
recollect, placed my Mother in a dilemma, and she con-
sulted
my Father. Taken, I suppose, at a disadvantage, marriage, to Miss Eliza Brightwen, have a
my Father told me I must not pray for things like bearing on the incident.
that.' To which I answered by another query, "Why?' “ At the age of eleven, I knew a great deal more of
And I added that he said we ought to pray for things maps, and of the mutual relation of localities all over
we needed, and that I needed the humming-top a great the globe, than most grown-up people do. ... I
deal more than I did the conversion of the heathen or now greatly taken with the geography of the West
the restitution of Jerusalem to the Jews, two objects Indies, of every part of which I had made MS. maps.
of my nightly supplication which left me very cold.” There was something powerfully attractive to my fancy
The father was plainly cornered, especially as
in the great chain of the Antilles, lying on the sea like
the son had been expressly taught that “no
an open bracelet, with its big jewels and little jewels
strung on an invisible thread. I liked to shut my eyes
things or circumstances are too insignificant to and see it all, in a mental panorama, stretched from Cape
bring before the God of the whole earth.” In Sant Antonio to the Serpent's Mouth. Several of these
the end, therefore, the elder simply refused to
lovely islands, these emeralds and amethysts, set on the
Caribbean Sea, my Father had known well in his youth,
argue the question, and flatly told the boy it
was wrong
and I was importunate in questioning him about them.
to for things like humming-
pray
One day as I multiplied inquiries, he rose, as I did so,
tops, and he must do it no more. The fatal
in his impetuous way, and climbing to the top of a book-
suspicion was left in the infant mind that a case, brought down a thick volume and presented it to
traceable connection existed between this per-
“You'll find all about the Antilles there,' he said,
and left me with Tom Cringle's Log’in my possession."
emptory prohibition, the cost of the coveted toy,
and the state of the family exchequer.
The story of the youth's growing differences
A further and more fatal shaking of the
with his father in matters of religion, of his
child's faith in the God of his parents came a
breaking away from home and insisting on
little later. Having obtained from his father
living his own life a course in which he was
categorical statement that idolatry consisted in rather aided than opposed by his kind step-
praying to anyone or anything but God him-
mother — has a peculiar though a painful inter-
self, and also that God would be very angry and
est that holds one's attention to the end of the
would show his wrath if anyone in a Christian
book. We take leave of the narrator in his
country bowed down to wood or stone, the still early manhood, his mind powerfully stirred, and
skeptical child took advantatage of a moment providentially stirred, with the conviction that
when he was alone in the house to put the matter - either he must cease to think for himself ; or
to a decisive test. Placing a small chair on a
his individualism must be instantly confirmed,
table, he knelt before it and repeated his daily
and the necessity of religious independence must
prayer, only substituting the address Chairs
be emphasized." No book could better show
for the usual one.
But the sole result was a
the vast difference between plausible but wholly
quickening of the young idolater's heart-beat as
imaginary biography and autobiography (of
he waited to be consumed by the wrath of heaven.
which we have had many graceful specimens
After that the boy had less confidence than ever
of late) on the one hand, and the actual record
in his father's knowledge of the divine mind.
of a human soul on the other, than this detailed
Cut off from the world of boyish sports and
account of the warring of two discordant tem-
PERCY F. BICKNELL.
games, from the world of literature and art, and peraments.
from almost everything necessary for a boy's
healthy development, this lonely child was taught
to regard himself as marked out for peculiar
IMPRESSIONS OF A CORRESPONDENT IN
THE RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR.*
service in the vineyard of the Lord, and as the
early recipient of extraordinary favors from on During the late war in the Far East Mr.
high. He was among the “saved,” and was
Frederick McCormick, in the capacity of
not to associate too intimately with the chil-
Associated Press correspondent, supplied the
dren of the ungodly. What a marvel that the English-speaking world with what usually
little prig—for such he acknowledges himself to proved to be the most authentic information to
have been ever recovered from so pernicious be had, especially from the Russian side, con-
a training! One's respect for his later achieve cerning the course and character of the struggle.
ments in the world of letters is greatly heightened After the war was over Mr. McCormick, like
by this account, almost painfully minute, of his
more than one of his fellow-correspondents, was
starved, strait-laced, self-conscious childhood. * THE TRAGEDY OF RUSSIA IN PACIFIC ASIA. By Frederick
McCormick. In two volumes. Illustrated. New York: The
One unexpected indulgence, however, at his Outing Publishing Co.


98
[Feb. 16,
THE DIAL
moved to bring together his scattered papers, they have uniformly showed their worst side in
revise and enlarge them, and put them before the Orient, it has come to be conceded by all
the public in more durable form. The two Eastern peoples that the Muscovites are a potent,
stout volumes which have lately come from the and not necessarily an altogether baleful, force
press, under the somewhat lugubrious title of in the modern world. The Japanese were among
“ The Tragedy of Russia in Pacific Asia," com the first to awake to the fact. The disheartening
prise the result. It is safe to say that to the exigencies of an unsuccessful war were certainly
rapidly growing library of books upon Far calculated to put the Russian character to the
Eastern subjects they will constitute a note test. The results of this test Mr. McCormick
worthy, even if not an indispensable, acquisition. undertakes, at much length, to describe. It is
The value of Mr. McCormick's work arises his judgment that, despite occasional outbreaks
wholly from the intimacy with which the author of treachery and cowardice, the virtues of valor
was acquainted with the conditions, the per and humanity were as strongly in evidence in
sonalities, and the events of the war. Mr. the Russian trenches as in the Japanese. Russian
McCormick is
very far from being an historian. preparations for war were pitiably inadequate,
He does not appeal to one as a profound student
and from first to last the difficulties to be over-
of contemporary world-politics — if, indeed, it come were essentially insuperable ; but the fight
is possible for one to be such a student without was a brave one, and, on the whole, one of which
being also a pretty respectable historian. He no people need be ashamed.
is not even a wholly satisfactory writer of the None the less, the impressions of the Russian
English language; at least, the happy-go-lucky military that one gets from Mr. McCormick's
newspaper style above which he seldom rises narrative are far from roseate. In fact, while
scarcely commends itself in a work of the striving manifestly after impartiality, the author
present pretensions. Yet, despite these more
finds himself obliged to devote a really startling
or less serious limitations, a perusal of his vol proportion of his space to the faults and weak-
umes is sufficient to give the assurance that they nesses (not to mention crimes) which he had
contain much that is essential to a full knowl. ever before him in the Russian
camps.
edge of the war, and a good deal that one may
“The virtues of the Russian are incomparable, . .
never be able to lay hold of elsewhere.
but they are insignificant beside his incomparable de-
fects. The complicated, futile, and useless labor of secret
Practically all of the first, and about half of
agents, intelligence officers, gendarmes, police advisors,
the second, volume is taken up with a running and censors in the Russian military organization in itself
sketch of the operations of the war from the represented enough energy to win a battle. The energy
attack on Port Arthur to the capture and de-
wasted in flirtations was sufficient to plan a campaign or
struction of the Russian mobile
take a city; while the talent and energy spent in dissi-
navy. Extended
pation and graft, were enough to have won the war twice
comment upon this portion of the work is per-
The battles of the war show an over-reliance on
haps hardly necessary. In a succession of some organization, which fed the army well, mobilized it in a
forty chapters, accompanied by a number of marvellous manner, cared for its retreats, but could not
useful drawings and photographs, the plans of
advance it, nor maneuver it in battle, nor bring it along-
side victory.
In Manchuria the Russian military
campaigns, descriptions of tactics, battle-scenes,
presents an undignified and demoralized appearance.
and personal episodes follow one another in a
Among no military, perhaps, were boots and buckles and
gossipy but fairly luminous narrative. It is not big clothes held in such awe. There was an unnecessary
a formal history, but such material as will be of number of overtrained militaires, exceedingly sensitive
large service when the time comes for the writ-
of their dignity, and more afraid of their reputations for
nicety and savoir faire than of defeat. .. Militarism
ing of a formal history of this epoch-marking war.
appeared to be their vanity. They lacked one at least
After covering thus in detail the course of of the essential elements of warriors — military aggres-
the conflict itself, Mr. McCormick turns to an
siveness.
Their disposition was to hibernate and grow
estimate of the combatants, and finally to some
fat. Their disposition was peaceful. For this reason
consideration of the effects of the Japanese humanly assailed, and outrageously insulted.”
Russians felt much aggrieved and warred upon, in-
victory upon the Occident, and more particu-
That the Russians sadly underestimated the
larly upon the United States. There is vastly
formidable character of their opponents, and
more upon the Russians than upon the Japanese,
generally misconceived the whole situation, is
for the author was with the Russian armies
well enough known to followers of Far Eastern
throughout, and naturally writes more fully, as
affairs.
well as more authoritatively, upon them than
“The general conception of the war was that Russia,
upon their opponents. With respect, then, first
in the form of a peaceful genius, holding a lily in one
of all, to the Russians, we are assured that though hand and a dove in the other, was sprung upon in the
over.
.


1908.]
99
THE DIAL
;
night by a naked savage, armed with a villainous knife, vices to the cause of the open door' and the preserva-
bent
upon murder. The figure of this peaceable Russian tion of Chinese integrity in particular, have not availed
female genius, with a sheathed sword entwined with bay against a combination of really mean circumstances, and
and a proclamation of peace and good-will from Nicholas are little more than a name. Her prestige gained from
in her lap, and on her head a cap bearing the cross of meritorious acts dissolved, and positive misfortune has
Christ, is represented in the illustrated press enthroned overtaken her through Chinese commercial hostility."
upon the rock of Port Arthur, gazing innocently upon Mr. McCormick's second volume contains a
the world, invested by beasts and ogres from the deep, documentary appendix of considerable value
and about to be assassinated by a half-naked Japanese
figure coming out of the sea.
also a very useful chronological table of events
As the war progressed, however, there was dis-
in the Russian “tragedy" from the Treaty of
illusionment, and “ it can be said with justice
Nerchinsk in 1689 to the ratification of the
Peace of Portsmouth.
that the conviction that the war was a national
FREDERIC AUSTIN OGG.
crime rapidly grew among them, so that toward
the last the justness of their cause was generally
denied among themselves." Elsewhere Mr.
McCormick, writing of the low ebb reached by
Two HISTORIES OF MUSIC.*
the discipline among the Russian troops, asserts
In the recent great access of books dealing
that toward the end at least one-third of the
with musical subjects there has been a plentiful
army regarded the war as a crime, and were
lack of informational works covering the whole
disposed to surrender to the enemy.
field or any large portion of it. Impressions
Rarely indeed has there been put in print a
that do not always impress, opinions that do
more striking arraignment of the Russian in
little more than opine, we have had in abund-
arms. Allowing for more or less exaggeration,
ance; but the way was still suggestively open
in these days, of the virtues of the opposing
for any broad and comprehensive survey.
Japanese, it is still inconceivable that the out-
come of the war should have been other than England the “ History of Music” of Rowbotham
(1885–7), and that of Rockstro (1886) left
what it was.
much to be desired ; and in America, Professor
In a not altogether convincing, but none the
Dickinson's scholarly “Study of the History of
less suggestive, chapter on “ The Elimination of Music” (1905) was necessarily quite concise. It
the West and the Position of America," the
is a coincidence that two books by American
author presents what, from the Occidental
standpoint, must be adjudged a pessimistic almost simultaneous appearance, which are of
musical scholars should just now have made
picture. He expresses the conviction that as
a result of the signal triumph of the Japanese attention.
enough serious importance to deserve special
and the revivification of China the hold of
The desideratum of a treatise which should
European powers — especially of France and
especially of France and be a hand-book and guide, which should attain a
Germany – upon Far Eastern affairs has been
certain degree of encyclopædic fulness, and yet
greatly relaxed. Even more confidently is it
by its precise and systematic arrangement should
declared that there has been a marked falling- help the student without hindering him — and
off in American influence in the Orient.
which should achieve these ends within the com-
“ The main political figure in the West in the struggle
for the integrity of China is that of John Hay, but John
pass of a single volume— has been satisfactorily
Hay's work, which in the end was inadequate, is about
met by Professor Waldo Selden Pratt's “ His-
the only asset left to America in the East. The Amer tory of Music.” The author's long and fruitful
ican people did not know how to turn it to account or to labors at Hartford Theological Seminary, sup-
back it up, and have receded from the position of respect plemented by lectures at Smith College and
which he achieved for them. Russia, the greatest enemy
elsewhere, have been creditable to American
of the principles for which he contended, and of the
reconstructed East Asia with which America is now musical scholarship; and in the book before us
forced to compromise, regards this with open satisfac he has increased the literature of music by a
tion and anticipates a change of American policy, even contribution of permanent value.
more satisfactory from being in conformity with the
principles of her own. . America's position in the
East has been changed. Events have reduced her in commendation is the excellent topical arrange-
two years to a position of comparative unimportance in
ment in divisions and subdivisions, which makes
Peking. Of all the pro-Japanese open-door and the book immediately useful to the hurried
Chinese integrity nations it is America that stands low-
THE HISTORY OF MUSIC. By Waldo Selden Pratt. Illus-
est there. Traditional friendship, sympathy understood
and expressed upon every occasion when it could be of
any value, gifts of charity, moral aid and repeated ser-
Escorteril of the fire merits of the work to deserve
trated. New York: G. Schirmer.
THE HISTORY OF MUSIC TO THE DEATH OF SCHUBERT. By
John K. Paine. Boston: Ginn & Co.


100
[Feb. 16,
THE DIAL
cuss
searcher after facts. The eight great epochs of The last of the book's great divisions is called
musical history are presented in thirty-seven - a brief sketch of the later nineteenth century";
chapters and 234 sections. Important move and here alone, and very wisely, Professor Pratt
ments and composers are given the dignity of refrains from fulness of treatment or any attempt
large type; an ample though not exhaustive
at finality of judgment. Its five sections dis-
bibliography is appended to each chapter ; cross “ The Wagnerian Triumph," the various
references are not forgotten ; and two carefully- national “groups,” and “Music in the United
made indexes complete a hand-apparatus which States.” Its up-to-date scope may be seen in
will not disappoint either the student or the the fact that Grieg's death is recorded (Sep-
general reader. This adherence to topical sys-tember, 1907). To these summaries is appended
tem has made it necessary sometimes to speak a concluding section, entitled “Some Final
of the same composer at some length in two or Words," in which the breadth of vision and
more widely separated passages ; as where, for the well-tempered criticism of the entire work
example, Liszt and the orchestral style of pian- are finely condensed. He urges the solidar-
ism are discussed on pp. 539-540, Liszt and the ity of the art from a historical view-point and
Weimar circle on pp. 574–575, and Liszt and the organic association of the many aspects of
the symphonic poem on pp. 581-585.
music:
Another good feature is the unerring sense “No just view of music or musicianship can afford
of proportion which pervades the work. Pro to disdain or ignore any side of the subject, however
fessor Pratt sees the field steadily and sees it
distant from the standpoint of the observer himself.
The instrumentalist cannot say to the vocalist, • I have
whole. He seems constantly to have in mind
no need of you,' nor the operatic singer to the critic,
the end from the beginning ; and there is no nor the theorist to the maker of instruments, nor the
evidence of prejudice expanding a favorite genius in composition to the promoter of interest among
theme, or lassitude abridging the concluding amateurs.”
chapters. An illustration of this is his admir The numerous illustrations of musical instru-
able treatment of Mendelssohn — whose almost ments are extremely interesting ; so much can
total elimination from modern orchestral concert- hardly be said of the likenesses of composers,
programmes is a real misfortune. Professor which are conventional drawings from tradi-
Pratt recognizes the spontaneity and charm of tional portraits. An unusual feature in a work
his music, its perfection of form, its happy com-
of this kind is the addition of three
maps
show-
bination of the classic and the romantic ; but ing those regions of Europe in which music has
justly lays more stress on the signal services been chiefly developed.
which he performed by his social and profes-
sional influence, to which he added the massive In Professor Pratt's notices of native-born
and continued power of the several organizations American composers occurs the following par-
and institutions with which he was connected ; agraph :
so that the effectiveness of his ideas was larger “ John Knowles Paine (d. 1906), from 1862 teacher
and more lasting than through his work as an and from 1896 professor (of music), was not only an
individual.” This is just and true ; and is in
expert organist, but an abundant and striking composer,
wholesome contrast to the disproportionate im-
with two symphonies, two symphonic poems, chamber
music, the oratorio St. Peter, incidental music to
portance assigned to Mendelssohn in Grove's Sophocles' (Edipus Tyrannus, a mass, several choral
Dictionary of Music," where he has 58 pages cantatas, and many shorter works."
as against 47 for Beethoven, 40 for Schumann, This compact statement presents the barest
and 28 for Wagner.
outline of a long and useful career.
As a com-
Professor Pratt's historical erudition is per poser, it is probably true that Professor Paine
haps best seen in his treatment of the early made no such impress on his generation as, for
periods of this most ancient and most modern of instance, MacDowell has done ; but as teacher
the arts. His chapters on
His chapters on “ Uncivilized and and lecturer he has inspired hundreds of men
Ancient Music
range over the whole world who came under his influence at Harvard, many
of antiquity, and present in readable schemata of whom have achieved distinction in their
what is probably the sum of our information on chosen art. Something of the effect of the
an obscure subject. With the sixteenth cen spoken word must persist in the printed and
tury — “the meeting place of mediæval and published lectures; and the volume which has
modern life," the material rapidly multiplies, now appeared, called " The History of Music to
and the author must exert to the utmost his the Death of Schubert," will appeal, not unsuc-
powers of comparison and perspective.
cessfully, to a wider circle than that for which


1908.]
101
THE DIAL
» shall pre-
they were originally prepared. It seems that it did of Melancholy; and it might almost be said
was a cherished wish of Professor Paine to have that he has done it with equal charm. Indeed
his lectures on the History of Music published ; his book seems, to one reader at least, to sur-
and he had prepared, in type-written form, the pass in beauty and distinction of style any other
material covering the period to the death of prose work of the past few years. Its charm
Schubert. Since his death, this part of the is akin to that of Mr. A. C. Benson's earlier
lectures has been revised and put through the books, yet Mr. Benson at his best has never
press by his colleague, Professor Albert A.
equalled this.
Howard.
An acute sufferer throughout a lifetime from
Though in a sense unfinished, the work is no the disease of which he writes, the author has
mere torso. It is a dignified, lucid, and
sym-
yielded in later years to that insatiate hunger
pathetic account of the great steps in the devel for utterance and self-justification so marked in
opment of the art, from the earliest music of the the afflicted of his kind ; and in these pages he
Greeks and Romans down to 1828, the year of has set down such data as he could, for possible
Schubert's death. As Professor Paine was con use when the “ inevitable German
servative in taste, it is probable that his opinion pare his Wissenschaftliche Untersuchung der
of the modern schools would not command the Ursache und Entwicklung der Schüchternheit.
general assent which will greet his estimate of The result is a human document as striking as
the great classics. As suitable to the plan of it is unusual. “As I reflect upon what I have
the lectures, the treatment of the subject is written,” says the author, “ and try to imagine
broad, and no attempt is made to register every it read by some brisk person utterly content
name — major or minor; consequently consid with life, I can well understand that the whole
erable fulness is possible in the consideration thing would appear to him incredible, too pre-
of the masters, the chapters on Bach, Handel, posterously strange for belief, a rigmarole of
Haydn, Gluck, Mozart, Beethoven, and Schubert sick fancies beyond the power of hellebore.” So
being symmetrical monographs.
doubtless it would; but to those who have known
Professor Howard's task as editor has been
the scourge of this affliction, or of another as
carried out with discrimination and loving care; great, the impress of truth and wisdom lies deep
and his part in the work is probably a larger upon every page.
one than his modesty will allow him to admit. Lest any might suppose that the disorder here
He will certainly share in the gratitude with dealt with is a matter no more serious than that
which Professor Paine's book will be received awkward timidity which most of us have known
by his old pupils and the musical public. in youth, we subjoin this paragraph:
JOSIAH RENICK SMITH. “ At the outset I would make it clear that for me the
only shyness that counts, is that which is so deeply
ingrained as to have outlasted youth. It may, indeed,
be physically related to that transient bashfulness which
haunts so many of us in our younger days only to vanish
THE ANATOMY OF DIFFIDENCE.* at maturity, swift as the belated ghost at cockcrow.
But unlike this common accident of growth, it is no
That strange malady known as diffidence or
surface-defect, but an inward stain which dyes the very
shyness or bashfulness is an affair about which
fibres of the being. It may, indeed, be somewhat
men seldom talk. Those who are its victims are bleached and diminished by a timely and skilful treat-
reticent in this as in all else ; and to the rest of
ment, but is become too much a part of life to be ever
the world the thing is either incomprehensible wholly washed away. And the unhappy step-children
of nature whose inheritance it is, seldom find a deliverer
or riduculous or both. Except in its mildest
good at need; for as the world draws no distinction
form, as a passing symptom of adolescence, it between their grave affliction and that other remediable
has received scant attention from psychologists misery of youth, it will sanction no other treatment
or physicians. Yet it has been and is the most
than banter or mockery, which does but infuse yet more
deeply the mournful dye. When this fails, it leaves its
potent and painful fact in hundreds of lives;
victims to the desolation which according to its judg-
and many of the world's finest intellects have
ment they have wilfully chosen; for the most part
been molded irresistibly in its influence. ignoring their existence, but often chastising them with
It has remained for an English writer hitherto scorpion-stings of disdain. Yet the subjects of this
quite unknown, Mr. W. Compton Leith, to for-
scorn, sufferers as I believe from a hereditary tendency
matured by neglect into disease, deserve a more merci-
mulate the Anatomy of Diffidence, as Burton
ful usage than this, and their plea for extenuating cir-
* APOLOGIA DIFFIDENTIS. By W. Compton Leith. New York:
cumstances should not be too impatiently rejected. For
John Lane Company.
in them what is to most men a transient ailment has


102
[Feb. 16,
THE DIAL
99
thrown down permanent roots to draw a nourishment “ There is a place in every heart which must be
from pain: and he who is fortunate enough to be whole filled by adoration, or else the whole will grow hard
should think twice before he makes sport of those who and wither like a garden whose central fountain is
pine in this distress."
grown dry. And though the affection of mortal man
The malady has its cause, we are told, in “an
or woman may abandon it, there remains yet this other
love which by pure and strenuous invocation may be
antinomy between the physical and intellectual
drawn to it, and dwell in it, to the ennoblement of life;
elements of the personality, from an unhappy so great is the care of providence for mortal need.
marriage of mind and body, suffering the lower Love is our need, and it is given, if we despair not of
of the two partners to ruin the life of the higher it, even to such as have rarely felt the glow of earthly
by the continual friction of a hateful but indis-
passion. For love is of many kinds; yet the palest and
most subtle of its forms are made real to those who
soluble union.” It is found more commonly in believe, and may become the guiding influences of their
men, and among those classes where the outward lives. Such are the visions of the ideal love to which
refinements of life are more or less compulsory.
those glad natural sympathies now led me, leaving me
It is climatic also, having its haunts chiefly in
alone awhile that I might worship the orient light. And
the north and west of Europe, -as no less an
when I came out from that presence I rejoiced indeed,
for the path was clear for my return, and life was now
authority than M. Taine has previously borne glad with promise like an orchard burgeoning with
witness. And as it is climatic and geographic, white blossoms. Old memories crowded back on me of
so are its birth and growth conditioned by his-
hours beneath the cedars with the Phædrus and the
toric causes. “ Just as it is the peculiar failing æsthetic delights. But now the joy was other than
Vita Nuova, hours made happy with intellectual and
of northern and western peoples, so it is the intellectual, though significant tenfold, for then in
creation of comparatively modern times ; it had untried youth I had wondered at the beauty of an
no place among the classified weaknesses of men imaginary world; now with eyes that had looked on
until these peoples began in their turn to make
desolation I perceived that these visions were true. For
had they been no more than aërial fancies, they surely
history.”
had not endured throughout these long ages in our laden
But, valuable as these facts and theories may and mortal air."
prove to the “ inevitable German ” above re-
From these heights of the spirit one might indeed
ferred to, it is in the author's record of his own
look out upon life without bitterness. Though
inner life that the real charm and interest of
the chance for happiness had long since withered,
the book lie, — the pages wherein
yet something of serenity was still possible ; and
“ His store of sad experience he
the old enemy, if not wholly vanquished, was
Layg bare of wretched days;
yet disabled and subdued.
Tells us his misery's birth and growth and signs,
And how the dying spark of hope was fed,
From a volume distinguished on every page
And how the breast was soothed, and how the head, for beauty of style, it is difficult to detach for
And all his hourly varied anodynes.”
quotation one or two paragraphs of particular dis-
The first awakening, after an embittered boy- tinction. Yet perhaps the two we have chosen
hood, “ to the dread thought that though other
will serve as well as any.
This first describes
clouds might drift westward and dissolve, one
the initial onslaught of an Indian monsoon :
would impend over me forever ” brought with it “One year I was witness of the first onset, which
an insistent desire for flight; and the environ-
came in the late afternoon -- an immediate shock of
ment of London was forthwith exchanged for a
massed clouds without throwing forward of skirmishers
or any prelude of the vanguard. Our home looked
lonely plantation in the mountains of India.
down upon a gentle incline of open grassy land to a
Three years of peaceful meditation in this old broad belt of jungle in the middle distance; here the
world atmosphere were effective in lulling the undergrowth and small trees had been newly cleared
pain ; then came an attack of fever, and with
away, opening a perspective receding across an uncum-
bered leaf-strewn floor into the backward gloom of the
convalescence a revulsion of feeling toward the
forest. I sat with my eyes fixed upon the trees, draw-
slumbrous Oriental existence and a determina- | ing the rain on with the whole strength of desire to the
tion to meet the old foe, if need be, on the home parched country lying there faint with the exhaustion
field. Plunging once more into the roaring life
of three months of drought. While I watched, the
of London, he summoned to his aid every along which it came rolling, insensibly merged with the
deep line of cloud, at first distinct from the forest-top
resource of nature, literature, art, and phil- foliage, until every contour was lost in a common gloom,
osophy that might enable him to endure and only the great bare stems below standing pale against
outbrave the torment; until gradually, step by
the gathering darkness. There was an intense stillness
step, he was led by their ministries to the goal everywhere like the silence of expectation which falls
that held permanent assuagement --“the pres-
upon an awestruck crowd; the very insects had ceased
their usual song. And now the ear caught a distant
ence of the Ideal Love."
sound, vague and deep, coming up out of the mid dark-


1908.]
103
THE DIAL
ness, and growing to a mighty volume as a sudden wind
DUTCH HISTORY FROM THE SOURCES.*
swept out from the sounding foliage into the open land
and searched every cranny of the house as it passed. Simultaneously with the fourth instalment
Then, as if drawn by the wind, there came into view
of the projected set of five volumes, in English
among the nearest tree-stems a moving grey line
advancing with a long roar until it hid the whole forest
translation, of Dr. Blok's “ History of the Peo-
from sight: it was the wave of battle about to break ple of the Netherlands," there comes to the
upon us. It came on like a wall, enormous, irresistible; reviewer Volume VIII. of the original Dutch,
one instant, and it had devoured the intervening space;
another, and we were lost in the deluge, and the great also the history of the kingdom from the time
which, finishing the fourteenth book, completes
rain-drops were spilled upon the roof with the noise of
continuous thunder. As the deep sound reverberated
- The Dutch took Holland ” after Waterloo, to
through the roof above me, I went in exulting to a the revision of the Constitution in 1887. The
hearth piled with blazing logs, glad in the prospect of end crowns the work, for it rounds out the great
renewing for many weeks old and quiet habitudes of
life-task of the professor of Dutch history in
indoor life, rich with solace of books and tranquil med-
itation."
Holland's noblest university. Dr. Blok, born at
And in the following is set down a subtle experi- the Helder in 1855, took his degree of Doctor
of Letters at Leyden. After fifteen years spent
ence that must have come to every sensitive
being that ever made his bed beneath the open
in the teaching of history and in researches
sky. Stevenson has described a similar incident among the archives of more countries than one,
not more finely.
on the death of Robert Fruin he was called
from the same chair at Gronigen University to
“ The exuberant sun of noon distracts, and the mul-
titude of his beams is troublous, for what does sight
the professorship of Dutch history at his Alma
avail if the things of the heart's desire are lost in im-
Mater. Previous to the first issue of his initial
measureable perplexities of light ? For in the high day volume of the “ History of the Dutch People,”
the quivering bright air is more opaque than the dim in 1892, his monographs had shown great
spaces of night, so tranquil and severe, or the glowing
powers of research and correlation of facts,
kingdoms of the morning. At the springing of the day
the eyes open upon awakening flowers, giving filial heed besides giving some indications of ability to
to the marvellous earth which waits in patience for a produce a history that should be a work of lit-
human greeting. I like the passage in which Chaucer erature as well as of learning. Now that the
tells how in May-time his couch was spread in an arbour
reader of English has already the bulk of the
upon the margin of the grass, that he might wake to see
the daisies unfold their petals. Sleeping thus, he also
story before him, it is possible to judge fairly
must have known those intervals of slumber when a sense
the outcome of the work of a man who may
of some impending wonder grows too strong for sleep, indeed in outward guise have grown old in un-
and all nature seems calling you to a vision. Often I
ceasing labors and profoundest erudition, but
have been thus awakened, not by noise or movement,
but as it were by some strange prescience of beauty
whose every page shows the enthusiasm and
constraining me to rise and look. Once I was drawn
fire of youth, and a positive delight in making
some distance round the corner of a copse, and there, truth as beautiful as her own imperious limita-
low in the sable-blue of the sky, in a rivalry of intense tions will allow. Dr. Blok is neither a Motley
but dazzling light, the crescent moon hung splendid over
nor a Macaulay, but for trustworthiness he is
against a great constellation which glittered like a car-
canet of diamonds. They seemed to speak together as if
a leader beyond these masters of rhetoric and
in some scene or passage of celestial drama, nor did I erudite scholarship. Happily, too, Dr. Blok’s
know which was the diviner speech, the moon's unwaver decidedly modern Dutch style is strongly and
ing effulgence or that leaping coruscation of the stars. felicitously rendered by the translator, Mr.
Nothing stirred on the right hand or the left, but earth
Oscar A. Bierstadt, who, with his former col-
and air were hushed, as if before that colloquy all sound
and motion were miraculously holden. Tall trees
laborator, Miss Ruth Putnam, deserves very
brown with densest shadows were massed upon one
high praise.
side, obscuring half the heaven, and lending by their The foregoing should not be taken to mean
contrasted gloom that sense of wizardry in natural that the average American reader will find
things which enchants the clear summer nights when
Blok's "History of the Netherlands" thrilling.
the air is still."
Unfortunately for the work done by Washing-
The shy fraternity will need no word of ours
to lead them to this book. But we hope that
ton Irving, and the perpetual object lesson
afforded by the bric-a-brac mongers and curio-
what has been said here will turn the lover of peddlars, helped by not a little after-dinner
literature to the volume also, knowing as we do
rhetoric from the kind of Dutchmen who can
that it holds for him a pleasure not often vouch-
safed in these days of universal scribbling.
HISTORY OF THE PEOPLE OF THE NETHERLANDS. By Petrus
Johannes Blok. Part IV., Frederick Henry, John De Witt,
William III.; translated by Oscar A. Bierstadt. New York:
JOHN J. HOLDEN.
G. P. Putnam's Sons.


104
[Feb. 16,
THE DIAL
eat magnificent dinners and be voluble in colored map of the ever-changing area of the
rhetorical praise of their fathers who came to Netherlands, in the era described, and a good
America nearly three centuries ago (while the index. We shall look with pleasurable expecta-
equally heroic Dutch Pilgrim Fathers in Michi tion for the fifth and concluding volume of the
gan and Iowa of 1840 are too near for glory), English translation of this notable work.
the contrast of sober facts is too great. It is
undoubtedly true that the kind of American
history that gets written in or near Boston and
NEW BOOKS ABOUT OLD LANDS.*
very handsomely published on Manhattan Island
virtually ignores the part which the Dutchmen When the writer of a book of travel sets himself
of New York, from 1664 to 1776, played in the the task of describing an old land -a land made
development of American liberties, so that we familiar in song and story, in history and legend
have the most shocking mistakes and omissions he
he must, in order to arouse our interest, appeal to
in the average popular historian concerning the
us from some new point of view. However hack-
Dutch in America ; yet one must not suppose
neyed his theme, however commonplace his style,
and however lacking his aptitude as a traveller, if
that to the historian of the old Netherlands the
he possess the faculty of seeing and describing the
fortunes of New Netherland are anything more old scenes from a new standpoint he may stimulate
than a trifling episode. Avoiding the tempta our jaded senses into something resembling first
tion to expatiate on this point, we may add that impressions. Much more, indeed, we cannot ask
it is difficult to get a clear understanding of
of him. In our present list there are such books.
the early history of our own Middle States Central Asia is shown to us as a most interesting
without a knowledge of the background in the ground for the study of climatic influences on char-
Dutch Fatherland, as shown in the lights and
acter; Tyrol is seen through sympathetic modern
shadows on the pages of the present volume.
eyes as a mediæval land ; Persia is presented to us
by the unique method of one man's seeing it and
Amid the currents of thought and opinion, the
another man's writing about it; Somaliland, that
movements of society and politios, Dr. Blok
paradise of big-game hunters, is visited by two
leads his readers with a minute knowledge that modern Dianas; and the other books are not un-
reminds us of the wealth and consummate classi worthy of their company.
fications of the Rijks Museum. He draws per Four years of travelling and living in Asiatic
fectly clear portraits of the great men, who, Turkey and three years of travel in Central Asia
with astonishing frequency, were produced in
make the basis of Mr. Ellsworth Huntington's excel-
the Netherlands. Indeed, one discerns a very
lent book entitled “The Pulse of Asia." The main
miracle of history in the mere existence of
theme of the volume, however, recounts the author's
republic, positively contemptible as to size, in
journey, made in 1905, through Chinese Turkestan-
the midst of the monarchies on all sides which
from India through Kashmir, thence along the Kwen
Lun mountains to the ancient Lop Nor lake bed, and
sought again and again to overwhelm it. In
around the eastern slope of the Tien Shan mountains
this fourth volume we have the story of calm to Siberia. Such a route suggests the typical ex-
after storm, when the great conciliatory states plorer's itinerary; but Mr. Huntington has not been
man, Frederich Henry, healed the wounds of in Central Asia for exploring purposes, except in
civil strife and had no small part himself in incidental way. Happily, he has a theme which
stimulating “the bloom of the Republic.” Other
* THE PULSE OF Asia. By Ellsworth Huntington. Illustrated.
writers may have shown the genius and patience Boston: Houghton, Miffin & Co.
of John De Witt, helmsmen of the ship of state,
TYROL: THE LAND IN THE MOUNTAINS. By W. A. Baillie-
Grohmann. Illustrated. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott Co.
during the time of the "stadholderless republic, PEKIN TO PARIS. An Account of Prince Borghese's Journey
but none has succeeded in giving us such a clear
across Two Continents in a Motor-Car. By Luigi Barzini.
Translated by L. P. de Castelvecchio. Illustrated. New York:
portrait of this quiet thinker who was the best Mitchell Kennerly.
By Agnes Herbert. Illus-
type of the Holland regent of those days -
trated. New York: John Lane Company.
“Simple and worthy, incorruptible and stead ACROSS PERSIA. By E. Crawshay Williams. Illustrated.
fast, cool of head and heart, vigorously doing
New York: Longmans, Green, & Co.
QUEER THINGS ABOUT PERSIA. By Eustache de Lorey and
his duty to the end”; while of William III. Douglas Sladen. Illustrated. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott Co.
a picture is drawn which very handsomely en-
THE STORY OF THE SOUTH AMERICAN REPUBLICS. Their Char-
acteristics, Progress, and Tendencies, with Special Reference to
riches, with both light and shade, our know their Commercial Relations with the United States. By Albert
ledge obtainable from that noble portrait limned
Hale, M.D. Illustrated. Indianapolis: The Bobbs-Merrill Co.
THE ANDES AND THE AMAZON. By C. Reginald Enock. Illus-
by Macaulay. As in his previous volumes, Dr. trated. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons.
Blok presents in an appendix of highest value
THROUGH ITALY WITH CAR AND CAMERA. By Dan Fellows
Illustrated in photogravure, etc. New York: G. P.
a critical estimate of his sources, an accurate Putnam's Sons.
an
Two DIANAS IN SOMALILAND.
Platt.


1908.]
105
THE DIAL
gives rare interest to his tale of wandering. Be the author writes most entertainingly of the history
lieving that geography is an important basis for the of Tyrol, and especially of its “old castles that bear
study of anthropological science, and that geography upon their crumbling walls the impress of old age
and history are inseparable, he has spent these years to a degree not found elsewhere." Very wittily the
in the arid lands of Asia to prove his thesis. His writer adds that both the contents of the book and
conclusion is that the habits and character of the the author of it
the author of it possess the qualification of age. But
people of Central Asia appear to have been molded Mr. Baillie-Grohmann needs no apology for himself
by physiographic environment; that “ during his or his book. His other books, especially “Sport in
toric times, climate, the most important factor in that the Alps” and “ Camps in the Rockies,” are suffi-
environment, has been subject to notable changes"; cient proof that he has a quick eye and a facile
pen.
and finally, “that the changes of climate have caused Moreover, this volume, like his other books, is an
corresponding changes not only in the distribution of honest piece of work, devoid of adventitious and
man, but in his occupations, habits, and even char alien interest. His history of Tyrol (he deprecates
acter.” An instance or two of the proofs advanced the usual designation of the Tyrol) is almost entirely
by the author will probably make his meaning clear. concerned with the Middle Ages; but he brings the
The Ladakhis, living in the Himalayas, are a people account of the country down to the last quarter of
characterized by honesty, courage in spite of super the nineteenth century. Around “Schloss Matzen,”
stition, industry, intense love of home, and cheerful his own castle home, he gathers interesting stories of
ness even in face of adverse circumstances, — traits the ancient knights and noble ladies ; of the Brenner
“which seem to make mountaineers, of whatever Pass, the oldest pass in the Alps, and of the famous
race, better men than the inhabitants of plains, where mediæval travellers who crossed it; of the peasantry
life is easy.” In marked contrast to these strong of the past and the present; of life and art in the
willed people are the Chantos, probably of all races ancient castles ; of the the typical Tyrolese knights,
the nearest to the primitive Aryan stock. These the Frundsbergs, who lived at Matzen Castle; and
Chantos live in densely populated but small and of “ Schloss Matzen” in modern times. Of neces-
isolated oases. “Their surroundings are pretty and sity many pages in the book must be a dull catalogue
attractive, but not varied enough to be inspiring. of uninteresting facts and almost eventless dates; but
A short period of hard labor suffices to provide sus the author seldom fails to illuminate the darkness of
tenance for the whole year, and the rest of the year mediæval history with some narrative or anecdote
is given over to prolonged idleness, with leisure which heightens the epical tone of his work. Tyrol
for more of evil than of good.” Hence the Chantos, has produced her giants and her strong men, and
seduced by their environment, are courteous, submis Mr. Baillie-Grohmann does not disdain to tell of
sive, self-indulgent, cowardly, unstable, and feeble in them in a book carrying a heavy freight of mediæval
parental and family ties. These pictures of contrast history. To the mere “tripper” who knows Tyrol
are very simple, much more simple and condensed only from the piazza of an Innsbruck hotel, this book
than in the author's account, which gives in minutest will not appeal; but to the more serious traveller
detail what we have briefly summarized. In his and reader it will mark a valuable contribution to
concluding chapter the author attempts to apply his the history of a brave little land, rich in story and
thesis to the general course of history and human legend and strong in faith and courage. Over eighty
progress, especially to western Asia, North Africa, good illustrations, showing characteristic scenes of
and Europe. Here Mr. Huntington touches on de mountains and hamlets, cottage interiors with their
batable ground, and advances views that are difficult quaint furniture and even kitchen utensils, castle
of proof. Our space does not permit us to discuss scenes with their antique curiosities and portraits of
these statements, but it is sufficient to suggest that notable Tyrolese, add dignity and value to the vol-
the author sees a relationship between the financial Not least among the interesting features of
crises and political changes in the United States the book is a sketch of the author written by his
and the rebellion in Chinese Turkestan, the famines American friend, Mr. Charles Landis.
in Persia and the Turkish massacres and revolts — “ Pekin to Paris,” by Señor Luigi Barzini, is the
all due in some measure to climatic variations and story of Prince Borghese's remarkable journey
conditions. Whatever our conclusions may be in across Asia and Europe in a motor-car. On Feb-
regard to Mr. Huntington's theories, we must allow ruary 15, 1907, Prince Borghese, having accepted
him the credit of remarkably lucid presentation of a the challenge issued by the Paris “Matin,” began a
complex scientific question. Maps, a list of refer- hasty but well-appointed preparation for the race,
ences, and especially an excellent index, enhance the and soon started for Pekin, whence the race was to
physical features of the volume.
start. On June 10, five cars started on their eight
Mr. W. A. Baillie-Grohmann, the author of the thousand mile course. For two months the strong
volume on “Tyrol: The Land in the Mountains," and heavy car “ Italia” plunged or crept or ploughed
finds a good excuse for writing another book about or whisked through rivers, sands, quagmires, over
this beautifully picturesque land, in the complaint of rocks and by woodlands ; sometimes it moved of its
Englishmen and Americans that there is no history, own power, sometimes it was pulled along by a host
be it ever so brief a one, of the country, in the lan of Chinese coolies, at other times it was assisted by
guage that they can read." To supply this demand
- but it was ever going forward. In
ume.
animal power,


106
[Feb. 16,
THE DIAL
the car.
my knees!.
the Chinese Empire the party met the almost irri Miss Herbert tells of this nerve-racking accident with
sistible rocks of Ki-mi-ni; in the Mongolian deserts modest recital, leaving much to the imagination of
the sands were almost too much for the machine; in the reader, who will readily appreciate the bravery
the Russian Empire they availed themselves of the of a woman who can fearlessly meet a maddened
rails of the Trans-Siberian Railway. Thus they charging rhinoceros, and kill the animal in the face
came to the western borders of the Russian Empire, of imminent danger. At another time, Miss Herbert,
to the good roads of Germany and the better ones who seems to have garnered her full share of the
of France, and to their journey's end. Difficult as accidents, became lost in the dense thickets with a
that journey was, the party was most fortunate in man-servant, and spent an anxious night amid the
almost every stage of the trip. Had it not been for weird sounds and sights of an African jungle.
the assistance of the local and the national govern- Among the many interesting episodes recounted in
ments, had it not been that their fuel and lubricators the volume is one of a lion hunt. The party had
were always at the appointed places, and, more than just jumped a lion, which, after seriously injuring a
all else, had their unfortunate accidents proved native, crashed into the thick underbrush. For half
serious or fatal, they could never have accomplished an hour Miss Herbert crawled through the brush,
their
purpose. Some of their escapes were hardly when suddenly she saw the swishing yellow tail of
short of providential. Once their car plunged the animal. So adroitly had she made her approach
through a bridge, making such havoc of both bridge that the lion neither saw nor heard her. At this
and car that the picture showing the catastrophe point Miss Herbert writes:
makes one marvel at the escape of the occupants of “The air was stifling, and oh! how heavily I weighed on
Prince Borghese was "jammed between
I carefully got my rifle. It seemed a long
a beam and the engine of the car, crushed by it, business. Did I really make no noise ? Strange crackling
unable to breathe. With the strength which comes
rustlings sounded in my ears, as at each growl I seized the
opportunity, and in the semi-obscurity of the reverberations
to men sometimes at a crisis, he somehow raised the
placed myself better. The lion came more into focus. I
car for an instant and freed himself.” The car saw his side where it sank in, then — farther. A heart-
was a forty horse-power machine, weighing over shaking second. My bullet was too low. The vast body
four thousand pounds! Notwithstanding such hin-
lashed round and round. I seemed to see what my fate would
be in another instant. My breath was coming in great sobs,
drances and accidents, the journey ended at the office
and I wondered whether the lion was choking or I. All this
of the “Matin” on August 10 — two months from was in the fraction of a moment. Then came my opportunity,
the time of starting. The volume contains an inter-
His chest presented itself fair and square like a target. I
esting and modest introduction by the Prince, a
pressed my second trigger, and threw myself backwards and
went somehow as though the devil himself was after me.”
hundred good illustrations, and an excellent detailed
map showing the route traversed. Señor Barzini's Luckily for the lady, the lion was killed by the shot.
style, as translated by Señor De Castelvecchio, is After resigning his commission in the Royal Field
best described by Prince Borghese as vivacious : no Artillery in India, in 1903, Mr. E. Crawshay
other style could possibly do justice to the subject. Williams determined to return home to England by
Prince Borghese quite agrees with those persons crossing Persia from sea to sea. In his volume
who asserted that such a journey was impossible, entitled “ Across Persia” he tells of his journey in
for “it is impossible to go by motor-car alone, com a pleasant and leisurely manner. Sailing from
fortably seated on the cushions of the same, from Bombay, he landed at Bushire on the little island
Pekin to Paris."
west of Persia ; from Bushire he went to Shief, in
Bottom's assertion that “
ladies is a Persia, the “land of the Lion and the Sun"
most dreadful thing” is reversed in Miss Agnes though the lions no longer exist. From Shief he
Herbert's “ Two Dianas in Somaliland.” Miss set out with his caravan over the monotonous waste
Herbert and her cousin Cecily proved most dread- land, stopping at some intermediate points, and
ful among the lions, leopards, rhinoceroses, wolves, came to Dalki, beautiful in coloring, with the yellow
hyenas, deer, and “ other fearful wild-fowl”. sulphur ridges, pale green hills, high pink peaks,
adopt Bottom's classification. Having gathered some and greenish rivers, all under the blue Eastern sky.
experience as a huntress in the Canadian Rockies, Passing through the mountains, the writer came to
and being a niece of a famous African hunter, Miss Kazerun, where he saw the first
orange
and
pome-
Herbert is not a novice in big-game shooting and granate gardens ; thence he travelled to the white-
its requirements. After equipping for the hunt at stoned city of ruins, Shapur. Shiraz, the city of roses
Berbera, where, very fortunately, they procured the and nightingales, and famous for its tombs of Hafiz
services of Miss Herbert's uncle's former Shikari and Saadi, interested our author greatly. The
(chief hunter) and head man, these two women (they tombs of Xerxes, Artaxerxes, and Darius II. at
admit being thirty years old) set out to penetrate the Naksh-i-Rustum, and the burial-place of the great
Ogaden country and beyond to the Marehan and the Cyrus at Sivand, were also visited and described at
Haweera districts. Their trip, extending over four length. An interesting part of the book tells of a
months' time, was signalized by exciting adventures, ride of two hundred and fifty miles in a victoria to
some comical, others serious, and one fatal — the Kashan, a commercial centre, and to Kum, the city
last being the occasion of the death of a native of sanctity, where the Persian Westminster Abbey
who was gored to death by a wounded rhinoceros. is situated. Teheran, the capital, is described as a
a
lion among
- to


1908.]
107
THE DIAL
city where East and West meet - the bazaars of
to arouse our dormant paternalism into some definite
the East and the tram-lines of the West. Mr. activity which will bring our land a commensurate
Williams left Teheran and Persia by caravan. Like share of South American riches. The situation is
all travellers in Persia, he comments on the short-
very simply stated by Dr. Hale:
comings of the Persian -- especially his disregard " The nations of Europe are crowded and South America
for the truth, his dislike of work, and his propensi- offers the only available land on earth into which the surplus
ties for thieving. Yet notwithstanding these defi-
can overflow.
“Omitting the coast-line and the Orinoco valley of Vene-
ciencies, Mr. Williams says a kind word for the
zuela, the sugar country and the Amazon Valley of Brazil,
Persian's hospitable and companionable spirit, for and the upper reaches of the Paraná and Paraguay in
his good nature, his childlike unconcern and light- Argentina, the remaining area, vast as it is and lying partly
heartedness. Mr. Williams travelled, like Stevenson,
within the tropics or mountain snows, is as capable of sup-
porting the white man as the United States or Canada."
with the hopeful heart, and his book echoes the same
spirit. For these reasons his traveller's tale has
Dr. Hale discusses the productive possibilities of
charın and serenity. Picture and text are mutually
South America in a very thorough-going manner.
helpful and interesting to the reader.
He presents, in a plain matter-of-fact way, the inter-
Very different from Mr. Williams's scholarly esting and often exciting history of the principal
work is the volume entitled “Queer Things about
South American States, outlines their leading geo-
Persia.” The authors of this correctly named book, graphical features, discusses their local governments
M. Eustache de Lorey and Mr. Douglas Sladen (the and foreign relationships, and analyzes their social
latter the author of a similarly titled book about
and mental life. No recent book on South America
Japan), wrote the volume by an unusual method of
is so well adapted to the needs of the general reader
collaboration. M. Lorey, for two years an attaché
as is this one. Its make-up and illustrations are
to the French Legation at Teheran, furnished the particularly pleasing.
materials and the experience for the book, and Mr. Another interesting and timely book on a South
Sladen, who has never been in Persia, wrote down American subject is “ The Andes and the Amazon,”
the chapters from dictation. Yet this queer collabo- by Mr. C. Reginald Enock. Ancient Peruvians re-
ration about queer things in Persia has not impaired sented the Spanish marauder who sacked their
the interest of the story. Persia, however, does not
treasures, but modern Peruvians long for commerce,
mean all Persia, - it means (as Paris is France to the new buccaneer, to open the desert places of her
all Parisians) Teheran, the capital of Persia; and
wealth and to exploit her natural advantages to the
Teheran spells, for the most part, the bazaars (five
world. In some measure Mr. Enock does adver-
chapters are given to this topic), the palace of the tise the natural wealth of Peru, but he does not
King of Kings, the Shah, the harems, the Persian neglect the story of her ancient days. He crossed
women, Persian politics and religion. A catalogue the country from the west to the east, over the
of the many topics treated would much resemble the burning yellow sands, climbing the snow-covered
extravagances of an Arabian Nights' tale. Mystic peaks to visit the ancient habitations of a race
Persia, with its conglomeration of dancers, gamblers, remembered in story, and thence passed down into
dervishes, banquets, spices, wines, nightingales, the fertile valleys and forests of the Amazon and
weddings, divorces, polygamy, religious fanaticisms, the Maranon. His rovings were conducted in such
astrology, superstition, lies and thefts, street dogs, a hearty spirit, with such a commendable leisure,
hashish-smoking, and a thousand other queer things, and are written down in such a pleasing manner,
are all presented in such colors and with such
that his book adds much to our rapidly accumulating
high lights that they almost form a worthy com library on South American affairs. Had the author,
panion piece to the immortal Arabian tales read however, depended more on his kodak and less on
in our childhood. This is the sort of book which his ill-drawn pictures of many scenes, his book
will appeal to the casual reader of books of travel, would have gained in attractiveness.
and it will not be uninteresting even to the well-read Notwithstanding the fact that the automobile is
student of Persian life and manners.
now in the dull catalogue of common things, and
Notwithstanding the proximity of the United that, in consequence, our hastening days fly on in
States to South America, and in spite of the full career, we are not likely to associate the
gran
ostentatious paternalism manifested in the Monroe buon macchina” with the glories of Italian art.
Doctrine, we as a people have only the vaguest con Yet this is exactly what Mr. Dan Fellows Platt has
ception of our sister continent on the Equator. done; and he has associated the two without any
England and Germany, on the other hand, are not violent shock to our artistic or nervous temperament.
so hazy in their perceptions of the great commercial His volume entitled “Through Italy with Car and
and industrial possibilities of that naturally rich Camera" tells of his pilgrimage last year, from early
country. Dr. Albert Hale, in his book entitled October to late January, to more than four-score
“ The South Americans," with the additional nota Italian towns and cities. Mr. Platt's primary pur-
tion on the title-page, “ The Story of the South pose was to make a general review of Italian art, espe-
American Republics, their Characteristics, Progress, cially of Italian pictures. Over two hundred excellent
and Tendencies; with Special Reference to their reproductions, most of them of paintings, attest that
Commercial Relations with the United States," seeks his camera served him as well as did his motor-car.


108
[Feb. 16,
THE DIAL
On one
Of the mere trip the author displays a commendable by a large section of those readers who should nat-
consideration in not subjecting the reader who enjoys urally have enjoyed them. He is a poet, of fantastic
art more than motoring to an extended recital of the wit and often reckless imagination, and he has been
haps and mishaps of the machine; nor does he go too travestied in a long black coat and white choker, as
deeply into detail in his raptures about the scenery if he were an embodiment of the Nonconformist
a truly commendable reserve; but with that touch conscience.” This stricture upon a great deal of
and-go spirit which the motor-car encourages, and current Ibsen criticism is essentially just, and Mr.
the Italian scenery in the latter part of the year Gosse is careful not to err in the same sense. Mr.
intensifies, he devotes his energies to the criticism Gosse also remembers that he is writing for English
of art. As a critic of art Mr. Platt is by no means readers, who know next to nothing of the intellectual
commonplace and conventional. He does, indeed, antecedents and environment of a Scandinavian man
cast down some of the ancient idols, but he is not a of letters, and his book has the meritorious quality
destroyer of all the cherished images. He is thank of explaining these influences, most of which are
ful, for instance, that Raphael did not live ten years taken for granted by Jæger, as they naturally would
longer. “I dread to think what the art of the great be by any biographer of Ibsen's own race.
genius would have degenerated into by that time. small point we can supply the writer with a bit of
Superlative facility dethrones Raphael. Greatest of information that should interest him. He
says
that
draughtsmen, his popularity lessened his inspiration. the famous narrative poem,
the famous narrative poem, "Terje Vigen," “ will
His reputation will grow less with the centuries. never be translated successfully into English.” But
However great his powers, his pictures proclaim that it has been translated, with remarkable success, by
longer life would not have made him the equal of Mr. Percy W. Shedd, and the version may be found
Michael Angelo, Titian or Velasquez.” We need in his volume of poems entitled “The Oceanides"
not argue with Mr. Platt in regard to his criticism, published about six years ago. In connection with
but we may commend his temperate expression on these comments upon the latest of Ibsen biographies
so radical a theory. As we glance over the many pic we may record the fact that the eleven-volume edi-
tures in the volume, and as we study the road-map, tion of Ibsen's plays, prepared under the supervision
we are inclined to say that Mr. Platt has made an of Mr. William Archer, has at last been completed.
ideal trip in an ideal way, and that his book is worthy The volume which now fills the set is noteworthy
of the pilgrimage.
H. E. COBLENTZ. for including Professor C. H. Herford's version of
“Love's Comedy,” which is only less remarkable
than the same translator's version of “Brand.”
These two works, in their English form, are so
BRIEFS ON NEW BOOKS.
vastly superior to the Archer translations in whose
Mr. Edmund Gosse has written a
company they are included that they constitute a
class by themselves.
biographer volume on Henrik Ibsen for the
series of biographies called “Literary
The new edition of Mr. W. S.
advices from
Lives,” published by Messrs. Charles Scribner's
Harwood's “ New Creations in Plant
Sons. Mr. Gosse is entitled to write upon this sub gardens. Life” (Macmillan) consists in bring-
ject because of his life-long interest in Ibsen's work, ing to the earlier volume with the same title two
and because it was he who first gave any account of new chapters designed to give the reader more
that work to the English public. Moreover, writing perfect knowledge of "spineless” cacti, Carnegie
at the present date, he has the advantage over pre subventions, and new horticultural experiments, and
vious biographers in being able to make use of the in general to bring the history of the “acts” of Mr.
Ibsen letters, and the other biographical and remin- Burbank down to date. . In these chapters, the same
iscential matter that has appeared since the drama- florid and inflated style, the same extravagance of
tist's death. There is a great deal of this material statement, which have marked all of Mr. Harwood's
altogether, and Mr. Gosse has made good use of it. writing, still appear. The more is the pity; for
But in spite of these advantages, he has by no means, Mr. Burbank has really done some very good work,
as he seems to think, made “obsolete" the standard and his services to California and to the world
biography of Ibsen by Henrik Jæger. That solid should not be rendered ridiculous by bombast and
performance is likely to outlast many such books as over-praise. Our author seems to ignore entirely
the one Mr. Gosse has given us, agreeable and the fact that there have been other gardeners in the
informing as it is, and it hardly becomes him to world, that there are other countries than California,
belittle a work which is so much more searching and other fruits than those originating in Santa Rosa.
and philosophical than his own. One passage in the Even the vaunted cactus as presented here is made
present volume may be quoted as indicative of the to play a role of extreme uncertainty. Surprising
sanity of the writer's general conception of his sub as it may seem, a cactus is nevertheless, in all that
ject. The “obsession of the critic to discover goes to make up vegetation, exactly like any other
problems in the work of Ibsen has been one of the green plant. It must have light, it must have water
main causes of that impatience and even downright and food of various sorts. The cactus differs from
injustice with which his writings have been received its congeners chiefly in that it can retain for a long
The latest
of Ibsen.
Further
the Burbank


1908.]
109
THE DIAL
more.
A short
treatise on a
The very
time water once absorbed. No cactus can live satisfying bubbles of idealism. The latest half dozen
without water, much less create it. The cactus can volumes similar to the present work compel an older
endure drouth; it can stand on the desert and wait man to think of the change from the commencement
for rain, store the rain when it comes, using it address as it flourished thirty years ago. Today
slowly and waiting for the rain to come again; but the
young man does not hear so much about “ hitch-
the amount and rapidity of growth for the cactus, ing his wagon to a star,” and a great deal more about
as for any other green plant, depends upon the “whether a college education pays.” It is true that
amount of food and water it can secure. It is said the speakers invariably conclude that education does
that ninety-five per cent of the cactus produced at pay, and always introduce a little savor of the ideal;
Santa Rosa is water. Probably so; but such an but the change is very striking, and, to some of us
amount of water absorbed by the cactus indicates at least, not altogether comforting. When all is said
an amount of rainfall far in excess of that of an and done the wagon and the star had something final
ordinary desert; so that even if we have in the on their side. To return to Dr. Shaw, we may say
spineless cactus a plant suitable for forage, the that his volume, although frankly remaining a series
chances that it may ever occupy the desert are of talks rather than a book, has more unity than
simply those of successful irrigation — nothing
nothing most collections of this sort; and that it is hopeful
It is claimed at Santa Rosa that in the and helpful. His methods of expression are too well
newly “created ” cacti, dwellers in the desert are known to need comment; but in one paragraph we
to find a new and unfailing food supply. New it seemed to feel in our heart an old-fashioned craving
would no doubt be, but unfailing, even if acceptable, for shall instead of will. The arrangement of the
is more than doubtful. Hungry humanity is likely printed page, with its marginal summaries, is a real
long to go hungry still, or ever it find in tuna boon to the busy reading eye.
roasts and opuntia puddings the relief from starva-
tion which Mr. Harwood's enthusiasm would point
Mr. F. H. Matthews's little book
out to “ those who live where famine stalks." It
on “The Principles of Intellectual
large theme.
were to be hoped that the new relations in which
Education" (Putnam ) shows that the
Mr. Burbank stands with the Carnegie foundation
writer is thoroughly familiar with the ideas of both
would at length give to the world a reasonable and
of the great German schools of pedagogy, -the
credible scientific account of what is actually being outgoing activity emphasized by Froebel, and the
accomplished in these present-day gardens of
inworking of the world upon the growing mind which
Hesperis. As said at the outset, Mr. Burbank has
is the foundation of Herbart's doctrine.
really done some good work, but the critical reader
fact that one could not well say that the author
of “ New Creations in Plant Life” will be still un-
leans distinctly to either side shows that he is not
certain both as to its amount and kind.
a slavish follower but a self-respecting thinker. To
most readers, the most interesting chapter will be
University and college addresses are
Commencement
that on the study of foreign languages. Four lan-
addresses of beginning to take up a rather large guages are in the field (for the English school),
the right sort.
space on the library shelf. One of Latin, Greek, French, and German. The author
the latest volumes to reach our hand embodies the argues cogently for a modern rather than an ancient
counsel of Dr. Albert Shaw to various student bodies, language to be studied first; then, rather to our
and bears as its title “The Outlook for the Average surprise, for German in preference to French ;
Man” (Macmillan). Any address at a commence finally, to our great satisfaction, for Greek in prefer-
ment or similar occasion is bound to be optimistic, ence to Latin. Space does not permit any extended
so we may merely pray that the optimism will be report of his arguments : they are well worth the
sane and sanely presented. As we should expect, attention of teachers, especially those on the literary
our prayer is fulfilled in the case of Dr. Shaw. He side of the curriculum. Not a few ancient super-
does not blink the existence of tremendous social and stitions are demolished by the reasoning en route; for
economic problems; but he bids the young man face example, the supposititious value of the complexity
them hopefully," believing in our people, our country, of Latin : “If this argument is to be pressed, we
our institutions.” On capitalism and materialism we may as well adopt the most complicated language
shall see reared the stately structure of a higher that can be found Russian, perhaps, or at all
civilization. In the process we need not shrink events Greek” (p. 83). Old “ formal discipline”
from realities : the man who offers the farmer an is hardly used: "To regard, as some have done, the
effective commercial fertilizer to spread on his fields learning of the first declension as of inestimable value
“ is a veritable angel for the spread of sweetness and in itself — what is this but to talk sheer nonsense ?"
light.” “There is as much room for the delightful (p. 83). It is good to find even an English writer
play of the faculty of imagination in the successful discarding the use of the term “humanities" to
conduct of a soap business as in writing poetry.” denote the classic literatures and languages
The forceful words of this last sentence, however, usage which has been abolished by the progress of
are slightly misleading if taken by themselves; for the world and should be abandoned by thoughtful
our speaker does look eagerly and hopefully beyond persons. The humanities are of course what they
the material soap factory to the ultimately more always were — literature, history, biography, and
a


110
[Feb. 16,
THE DIAL
their causes
what Mr. Matthews calls “ geographical history or measure superseded for English readers by Dr.
historical geography.” To the vast majority to-day, Sandys's “ History of Classical Scholarship” (Cam-
and doubtless to the increasing majority, these sub- bridge University Press; New York: Putnam), of
jects are revealed through the vernacular, not through which the second edition of the first volume now
any learned tongue. For the child, our author wisely appears, revised and enlarged from 672 to 702
advises, biography is the true form of humanistic pages. The much anticipated second volume, which
culture. To teachers of English literature in all will continue the history from the end of the Middle
climes his parable from “ Alice in Wonderland” is Ages through the Renaissance down to the present
to be commended : “I am so hot and thirsty,' says day, is announced as in the press. The whole will
Alice. •I know what you'd like,' the Queen said constitute an indispensable work of reference, and
good-naturedly. 'Have a biscuit?'” The book has for serious readers a readable chapter in the general
yet one merit that is far too rare in these days: it history of civilization and culture. For its classical
is delightfully short — only a hundred and thirty scholarship is no small part of the culture of the
pages; one actually is sorry there is not more of it, most scientific and modern century, and for such
and what greater compliment than this can be paid periods as the Renaissance and Middle Ages it is
to a book on a serious subject ?
the foundation and presupposition of the whole.
Dr. Sandys, who in his leisure hours is “ Public
The great interest in earthquakes
Earthquakes :
Orator in the University of Cambridge,” had already,
which was awakened in this country in his edition of Aristotle's Politeia, shown his skill
and results. by the San Francisco disaster more in the compilation and presentation in serviceable
than justifies the new work on this subject by Pro- shape of great collections of facts. The present
fessor William Herbert Hobbs, of the Department work exhibits on a larger scale his happy combina-
of Geology in the University of Michigan. The
tion of English sanity and German erudition. To
rate of progress of seismology at the present time is summarize or criticise this vast mass of detail would
very rapid. Old ideas are being exploded, and new
be obviously impossible, and to single out some iso-
theories are coming to the front. The relations of
lated point for animadversion and dissent is obvi.
our geological knowledge of the structure of the ously unfair. Suffice it to say that the work,
earth's crust to the location of areas subject to
parallel but not identical in theme with Professor
frequent earthquakes are being better understood. Saintsbury's “ History of Criticism,” though it still
To various phases of the subject the author has
leaves open the great subject of the influence of the
already contributed several scientific monographs, classics in other literatures, more than fulfils the
but in the present work he displays signal ability in promise of its title. It is for many periods virtually
popularizing the results of scientific inquiry. No
a history of literature from a special point of view.
intelligent layman can look at this book without
The entire literatures of Greece and Rome are
being interested, or can read it without substantial surveyed in the endeavor to bring out everything of
gain in knowledge. After a brief historical review
critical or philological significance. And the biblio-
of earthquake theories from the times of the Greek graphies, the chapter and verse citations in the
philosophers downward, the author devotes half a
foot-notes, the chronological tables, the illustrations,
dozen chapters to present-day explanations of the and the full index, combine to make this one of the
causes of these disturbances, and the broad lines of
most valuable works of ready reference upon the
their results as manifested in the changes wrought scholar's shelf.
upon the earth's surface. The much neglected topic
of the influence of seismic disturbances upon
Mrs. Annie Russell Marble believes
Pioneers of
flow of streams — above ground and subterranean
that our literary pioneers deserve a
literature.
receives due attention. Four chapters are devoted
share of the attention that we are
to accounts of great earthquakes, from that which bestowing so generously upon the soldiers and states-
destroyed Lisbon in 1755 down to the catastrophes men who were their contemporaries. Their work,
at San Francisco and Kingston. Sea-quakes receive she admits, was often immature and crude, but it
brief mention. The various forms of instruments helped to establish literary standards, and its ser-
for measuring the magnitude and form of earth vices in shaping our government and in encourag-
tremors are described, and the earth autographs ing our industries and our educational system were
which they give are interpreted. The book is finely invaluable. And if the poems, plays, novels, and
illustrated with twenty-four full-page plates and one pamphlets of these early writers make dull reading
hundred and twelve text illustrations. (Appleton.) to-day, their lives are generally eventful and interest-
ing enough to repay study. Professor Moses Coit
Among the desiderata of literary Tyler confined his studies to Colonial and Revolu-
Chapters in
the history history enumerated by the late tionary literature. Mrs. Marble, in her “Heralds
of Culture,
Ferdinand Brunetière was a history of American Literature,” treats individuals rather
of the study of the classics in all ages and countries. than groups or periods, and extends her researches
This want has now been met, and the partial or to include the early days of our national period.
sketchy treatises of Gräfenhan, Heeren, Bursian, Much of her material is original, and many of her
and more recently Gudeman, have been in large | illustrations reproduce rare prints and interesting
the
American


1908.]
111
THE DIAL
<<
in an Italian
title-pages or illustrations of inaccessible volumes. are faultless. A wood engraved title-page by Mr.
An extensive bibliography, carefully classified, a M. Lamont Brown, and an elaborately-stamped cover
full index, and careful annotation will commend the of crimson leather, are pleasing decorative features.
book to students. Mrs. Marble writes fully and en Certainly Sir Thomas Browne's cheerless but elo-
tertainingly of Francis Hopkinson, Philip Freneau, quent classic has never received a worthier setting,
John Trumbull, Joseph Dennie, William Dunlop, nor is it likely to hereafter. It should be said that
and Charles Brockden Brown; and notwithstanding the text, with some slight modifications, follows that
her prejudice against classification by eras and local of the first edition, printed in 1658.
ities she has entitled one chapter “A Group of
Hartford Wits.” It will be noticed that all these
writers, unlike the diarists and statesmen who pre-
BRIEFER MENTION.
ceded them and whose contribution to literature was
purely occasional, produced more or less professional
Messrs. E. P. Dutton & Co. have just published a new
work. Together they make up the epoch of transi-
and cheaper edition of Miss Gertrude Lowthian Bell's
Syria: the Desert and the Sown.” The many illus-
tion which was speedily to mature in the work of
trations from photographs which appeared in the first
Irving, Poe, and the New England school. This
issue of the book are reproduced, and do much to stim-
era is barely touched upon in Professor Barrett ulate interest in Miss Bell's account of her adventurous
Wendell's “History of American Literature," to journey through the Holy Land.
the earlier chapters of which Mrs. Marble’s book Since the publication, in 1900, of “ The Life and
makes an admirable supplement. (University of Letters of Phillips Brooks," an abridgement has often
Chicago Press.)
been called for, on the ground that many people who
The story of her own early years
would like to know something of Phillips Brooks have
Child-life
which Miss Cipriani tells in "A
not time to read so full a biography. In many cases,
household. Tuscan Childhood”
too, the cost might be prohibitive. Accordingly, the
(Century Co.)
author of the longer life, Dr. Alexander V. G. Allen,
might seem little out of the ordinary to Italian
has finally prepared a biography in the compass of one
readers, but to Americans it has the interest of
thick octavo volume (Dutton), aiming to present in
constantly suggested contrast. Would it be possible condensed form the essentials of the great preacher's
to impose the system of the Cipriani household on life and the spirit of his teachings.
American children? and if so, what would be the Appropriate to the recent Whittier centenary cele-
result? This system divided the family of seven bration, and forming a most desirable souvenir of that
into two mutually exclusive groups, prescribed with occasion, is the little volume lately issued by Messrs.
almost military exactness the hours for the activities Houghton, Mifflin & Co. containing a sketch of the
of each group, and forbade asking questions, making poet's life by Mr. Bliss Perry, and a score of Whittier's
complaints, or speaking to strangers. But there were
poems illustrating the circumstances of his boyhood and
the spiritual view-points of his various periods. Two
intellectual liberties to match material restraints.
portraits, rarely if ever before reproduced, illustrate the
From English nurses and German governesses and volume. Besides the regular edition, some four hundred
tutors the children learned to speak four languages copies have been printed on larger and better paper,
by the time they were seven years old, and acquired with uncut edges and the portraits in photogravure.
a cosmopolitan store of ideas. They walked and For those who appreciate fine book-making, this latter
travelled and read, and were cultivated far beyond edition will be found well worth the difference in price.
American children of equal age. Miss Cipriani's The latest volume in “ The Connoisseur's Library
story is told with delightful simplicity, and with
(Putnams) has for its subject “Goldsmiths' and Silver-
smiths' Work.” Mr. Nelson Dawson is the author. His
little attempt at the child-study method. With gen-
erosity and good literary judgment she shares the
point of view differs from that of the writers of many
other collectors' manuals in that he seeks to emphasize
place of leading character with her mother, whose
artistic workmanship rather than the factitious values
early life was even more interesting than her own.
dependent upon rarity and uniqueness. He makes no
The book has an attractively pictured cover, but attempt at strict classification or characterization of the
otherwise is without illustrations.
collective work of any period. His method is rather
to select representative specimens, from Etruscan and
Urne-
Probably there are not many nowa Mycenæan periods down to eighteenth century English
days who read " that wonderful work, and to give a detailed account of the appearance
sumptuous dress. book," as Walter Pater called it, - and special attractions of each object. The result is a
the “Hydriotaphia, or Urne-Buriall.” But even history of antique gold and silver work, treated from
were their number fewer than it is, the sumptuous the artist's point of view. There are no formal accounts
reprint just issued from the Riverside Press would of great craftsmen, but the methods that differentiated
not lack for welcome, as the edition of less than four
the productions of all the old workmen from those of
hundred copies should be all too small to satisfy
their successors of to-day are explained, and a plea is
made for a return to the better times when the design
those who will covet the volume for the sake of its
and the execution were under the supervision, if not in
beautiful externals. The book is a thin quarto, the hands, of one man. The plates, which are photo-
printed on handmade paper from the “ Brimmer"
gravures of fine quality, reproduce over a hundred and
type, with marginal notes in italics. As in all the twenty-five articles in gold or silver, and there are other
Riverside Press editions, typography and presswork smaller illustrations in the text.
The
Buriall" in


112
[Feb. 16,
THE DIAL
Mr. Charles Welsh, compiler of the “Golden Trea-
NOTES.
sury of Irish Songs and Lyrics,” has nearly ready for
The Oliver Ditson Co. publish “ Counterpoint Simpli publication a collection of sea songs, entitled “Songs
fied,” a text-book in the elements of the subject, the for Sailors." While it contains many of the classic sea
work of Mr. Francis L. York.
songs of British origin, the greater part of the anthology
« The Welfare of Children” is the title of a useful consists of songs inspired by events in the history of
reading list on the care of dependent children, prepared
our own navy.
and issued by the Brooklyn Public Library.
Following closely upon the publication of Dr. Horace
A series of articles on the life and ministry of the
Howard Furness's new volume of the Variorum Edition
late David Swing has been prepared by Rev. Joseph of Shakespeare, “ Antony and Cleopatra,” comes the
Newton, and will appear in forthcoming issues of announcement from Lippincott's that another volume of
«Unity," the Chicago weekly.
this edition will be issued early in the new year.
This
To the series entitled “ Modern Poets and Christian will be “ Richard III.,” edited by Mr. Horace Howard
Teaching,” published by Messrs. Eaton & Mains, a Furness, Jr., and will bring the total number of volumes
volume on Elizabeth Barrett Browning has now been
to sixteen.
added, the work of Mrs. Martha Foote Crow.
Holger Drachmann, as the “ Athenæum" tells us,
A text of “Practical Physics,” in two volumes, for is to be buried at Skagen, the fishing village that often
the use of colleges and technical schools, is published figures in his poetry and prose. Here his ashes will be
by the Messrs. Macmillan. It is the joint work of
placed in a sandhill facing the North Sea. The crema-
Messrs. W. S. Franklin, C. M. Crawford, and Barry tion took place in Copenhagen, and the urn was carried
Macnutt.
with the escort of a torchlight procession to the steamer.
Dr. George M. Gould, of Philadelphia, who knew
The poet left several completed MSS., including some
Lafcadio Hearn intimately, has written a volume on this
plays and a novel.
strange genius, which is to be published by George W. Promoters of school entertainments will be grateful
Jacobs & Co. A complete bibliography by Mr. Arthur
to the Misses Elizabeth McFadden and Lilian Davis
Stedman accompanies the volume.
for their compilation of “A Selected List of Plays for
The “ First Book in Latin,” by Messrs. A. J. Inglis
Amateurs and Students of Dramatic Expression in
and Virgil Prettyman, is published in a second edition
on Schools and Colleges." All interests are here repre-
by the Macmillan Co. From the same publishers we
sented, including such special ones as plays for children,
have Stevenson's “The Master of Ballantrae,” issued as out-door plays, and Christmas plays. The book is obtain-
a “ Pocket Classic," and edited by Mr. H. Adelbert
able from Miss McFadden, Box 328, Cincinnati.
White.
Dr. W. J. Rolfe, the well-known Shakespearean
In the Temple Greek and Latin Classics,” pub- scholar, recently celebrated his eightieth birthday by
lished by the Messrs. Putnam, we have “ The Odes and the completion of a new volume, entitled “Shakespeare
Epodes of Horace," the metrical translation by Mr. Proverbs.” The selection of proverbs, maxims, aphor-
John Marshall, here printed to face the Latin text. isms, and apothegms included in the forthcoming
There are a few notes, and there is also a biographical volume was originally made by Mrs. Cowden-Clarke,
introduction.
who selected from the plays only. Additional selections
Two unusually valuable additions to the “Studies in from the sonnets and other poems of Shakespeare have
English" of Columbia University are sent us by the
been made by Dr. Rolfe, who also contributes an intro-
Macmillan Co. One of them is an historical account of
duction and notes.
“ The Early American Novel,” by Miss Lillie Deming “ John Chinaman at Home" (Scribners), the Rev.
Loshe; the other is a study of “Sir Walter Scott as a E. J. Hardy's lively sketches of “ Men, Manners, and
Critic of Literature," by Miss Margaret Ball.
Things in China,” has recently attained the popularity
Two new volumes of Mr. Albert F. Calvert's “Spanish of a third edition. As chaplain to the British forces at
Series,” published by the John Lane Co., have for their Hong Kong for three years, Mr. Hardy had rather
respective subjects “Velasquez ” and “ Leon, Burgos,
unusual opportunities for observing Chinese ways; and
and Salamanca.” No less than 462 full-page plates are he was thoroughly on the alert to utilize them. His
given with the latter volume, which makes us marvel account of what he saw, heard, and did in China is
more than ever at the small price set upon the books of informal, direct, and thoroughly readable. The photo-
this series.
graphic illustrations are excellent.
A series of twenty-two lectures is now in progress at Mr. Arthur Elson's “Music Club Programs from All
Columbia University, in each of which some specialist Nations,” published by the Oliver Ditson Co., is some-
describes the recent achievements and present status of thing more of a book than its title would indicate.
his own subject. These lectures are to be published as Although not a large one, it gives us, in addition to a
separate pamphlets at the Columbia University Press, great number of concert programmes, judiciously
and two are now at hand: “ Physics," by Professor arranged to exhibit national traits in musical composi-
E. F. Nichols; and “ Mathematics,” by Professor C. J. tion, a number of sets of questions for class study, and
Keyser.
a text which is a skeleton history and biographical dic-
The Macmillan Co. publish “ Who's Who” for 1908, tionary of modern music. The illustrations are groups
which means the sixtieth annual issue of that invaluable of portraits, and give us many modern faces that have
book of reference. Despite deaths, the list grows
not yet become familiar to music-lovers.
steadily longer, and now occupies well over two thou The American Book Co. add to their “Gateway
sand pages of closely-printed matter. The number of Series” a volume of "Selections from Irving's Sketch-
American entries seems to be increasing, but we have Book," edited by Professor Martin W. Sampson; and
never been able to understand the capricious principle “The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin," edited by
of their selection.
the late Albert Henry Smyth. From the same publishers


1908.]
113
THE DIAL
LIST OF NEW BOOKS.
[The following list, containing 71 titles, includes books
received by THE DIAL since its last issue.]
we have a book on “ The Short Story,' edited by
Professor Brander Matthews. The volume consists
essentially of specimens illustrative of the development
of this literary form beginning with the “Gesta Roman-
orum "and Boccaccio, and coming down to living writers,
three of whom are represented. The editor contributes
some fifty pages of critical matter, which are highly
interesting, both because they exhibit a man riding a
hobby, and because they provide a sympathetic and
penetrating study of the subject.
Professor Lane Cooper has edited a work on “Theories
of Style” that will be found highly useful by students
and teachers of literature. A selection from Wacker-
nagel on the general theory of style is placed in the
forefront of the volume, and is followed by extracts from
Plato, Aristotle, and Longinus, among the ancients, and
from Swift, Buffon, Voltaire, Goethe, Coleridge, De
Quincey, Thoreau, Schopenhauer, Spencer, Lewes,
Stevenson, Pater, Brunetière, and Mr. Frederic Har-
rison, among the moderns. There is a select bibliog-
raphy, and the extracts are provided with notes, but not
enough to swamp them. (Macmillan.)
Several notable volumes of poetry and the drama are
announced for spring publication by the Macmillan Co.
The promise of several hitherto unknown poems by
Tennyson, as well as of a series of his own notes on his
works, is perhaps of the greatest significance. Then
there is a new volume of poems by Alfred Noyes, one
of the most promising of the younger generation in
England, and new dramas by Stephen Phillips and
William Butler Yeats. Mr. Phillips has written a
“ Faust” which is to be produced in London by Mr.
Beerbohm Tree before the close of tbe present season.
Mr. Yeats's new drama, “ The Unicorn from the Stars,”
which he wrote in collaboration with Lady Gregory, has
already been played in Dublin, and will be published in
a volume along with “ Kathleen Ni Houlaban" and a
revised edition of “The Hour Glass." The American
drama is represented by Mr. Percy MacKaye, with
“ The Scarecrow," the first prose drama from his hand
to be published.
The death of Daniel Collamore Heath, at Newtonville
Mass., on January 29 last, removes from the American
publishing fraternity one of its oldest and most respected
members, and from American public life an earnest
worker for civic and national betterment. Born in 1843,
Mr. Heath was prepared for college at the Nichols Latin
School in Lewiston, Maine, and was graduated from
Amherst College in the class of '68. For the next two
years he was principal of the high school in Southboro,
Mass., and then devoted two years to study at the
Bangor Theological Seminary. Turning again to edu-
cational affairs, after a year of_travel abroad, he
became supervisor of schools at Farmington, Maine.
After serving in that capacity for a year he entered
the book business, and in 1874 represented in
Rochester, N. Y., the publishing firm of Ginn Brothers.
A year later he opened a branch house for the firm in
New York City, where he remained for some months.
In 1876 he became a member of the firm, under the
title of Ginn & Heath, Boston. This relation continued
until 1886, when he disposed of his partnership interest
and started in business on his own account in educational
publishing as head of the well-known house of D. C.
Heath & Company. In the cause of civil service reform
Mr. Heath did much efficient service, and he was one of
those who most earnestly deplored our national impe-
rialistic exploits of the past few years.
BIOGRAPHY AND MEMOIRS.
A Princess of Intrigue: Anne Geneviève de Bourbon,
Duchesse de Longueville, and her Times. By H. Noel
Williams. In 2 vols., illus. in photogravure, etc., 8vo, gilt
tops, pp. 745. G. P. Putnam's Sons. $8.50 net.
Thomas Alva Edison : Sixty Years of an Inventor's Life. By
Francis Arthur Jones. Illus., 8vo, gilt top, pp. 362. T. Y.
Crowell & Co. $2. net.
Memoirs of a Russian Governor. By Prince Serge Dmitri.
yevich Urussov; trans, and edited by Herman Rosenthal.
With portrait, 8vo, gilt top, pp. 181. Harper & Brothers.
$1.50 net.
James Thomson. By G. C. Macaulay. 12mo, gilt top, pp. 259.
"English Men of Letters." Macmillan Co. 75 cts. net.
Sea Kings of Britain: Hawkins to Blake. By G. A. R.
Callender. With maps, 12mo, pp. 215. Longmans, Green, & Co.
The Confessions and Autobiography of Harry Orchard.
Illus., 12mo, pp. 255. McClure Co.
HISTORY.
The Inquisition in the Spanish Dependencies. By Charles
Henry Lea. 8vo, gilt top, pp. 564. Macmillan Co. $2.50 net.
Analytical Index to “The American Nation.” By David
M. Matheson. 8vo, pp. 366. Harper & Brothers. $2. net.
The Amerioan Constitution. By Frederic Jesup Stimson.
12mo, gilt top, pp. 259. Charles Scribner's Sons. $1.25 net.
GENERAL LITERATURE.
Apologia Diffdentis. By W. Compton Leith. 8vo, gilt top,
uncut, pp. 212. John Lane Co. $2.50 net.
The Inward Light. By H. Fielding Hall. 12mo, pp. 228.
Macmillan Co. $1.75 net.
Women and Other Women : Essays in Wisdom. By Hilde-
garde Hawthorne. 16mo, pp. 231. Duffield & Co. $1.20 net.
Aphorisms and Reflections from the Works of T. H. Huxley.
Selected by Henrietta A. Huxley. With photogravure por-
trait, 16mo, uncut, pp. 200. "Golden Treasury Series."
Macmillan Co. $1.
Columbia University Press Studies in English. New
vols.: The Early American Novel, by Lillie Deming Loshe;
Sir Walter Scott as a Critic of Literature, by Margaret Ball.
Each 8vo. Macmillan Co. Paper, per vol., $1. net.
The Sanity of Art. By Bernard Shaw. 16mo, pp. 113. New
York: Benjamin R. Tucker. 75 cts.
The Use of the Margin. By Edward Howard Griggs. 16mo,
“The Art of Life Series." New York: B. W. Huebsch.
50 cts. net.
NEW EDITIONS OF STANDARD LITERATURE.
The Works of Alfred Lord Tennyson. Annotated by Alfred
Tennyson and edited by Hallam Tennyson. Eversley Edition;
in 6 vols. Vol. I., with photogravure portrait, 12mo, gilt top,
pp. 767. Macmillan Co. $1.50 net.
Hamlet and the Ur-Hamlet : Text of the Second Quarto of
1604, with a conjectural Text of the alleged Kyd Hamlet
preceding it. With Introduction by Appleton Morgan. 8vo,
uncut. New York: The Shakespeare Press.
The Taming of the Shrow. Edited by W. G. Boswell-Stone.
The Old-Spelling Shakespeare." 8vo, pp. 96. Duffield
& Co. $1. net.
BOOKS OF VERSE.
The Sorrowful Princess. By Eva Gore-Booth. 12mo, uncut,
pp. 92. Longmans, Green, & Co. $1.
Weeds and Wild Flowers. By Mowry Bell. 12mo, uncut,
pp. 119. Boston: The Gorham Press. $1.25.
Lyrics and Idyls. By Nellie C. T. Herbert. 12mo, uncut,
pp. 119. Boston: The Gorham Press. $1.25.
Out of the Depths. By Carrie B. Vaughan. 12mo, uncut,
pp. 74. Boston: The Gorham Press. $1.25.
Fagots of Cedar. By Ivan Swift. Illus. in tint, 8vo, pp. 38.
Chicago: The Outer's Book Press. $2.
Pocket Tokens and Other Poems. By Vernon Wade Wagar.
12mo, uncut. pp. 62. Boston: The Gorham Press. $1.
Songs of Many Days. By Florence Evelyn Pratt. 12mo,
uncut, pp. 80. Boston: The Gorham Press. $1.
An Illuminated Way. By Frances Coan Percy. 12mo, uncut,
pp. 123. Boston: The Gorham Press. $1.
The Breath of the Mountains. By Beverley Doran, 12mo,
uncut, pp. 79. Boston: The Poet Lore Co. $1.
pp. 64.


114
[Feb. 16,
THE DIAL
Music Club Programs from Al Nations. By Arthur Elson.
With portraits, 12mo, pp. 185. “Music Student's Library.”
Boston: Oliver Ditson Co. $1.25.
BOOKS FOR THE YOUNG.
Ten to Seventeen: A Boarding-School Diary. By Josephine
Daskam Bacon. Illus., 12mo, pp.261. Harper & Brothers. $1.50.
Jacquette, a Sorority Girl. By Grace Ethelwyn Cody. Hlus.,
16mo, pp. 300. Duffield & Co. $1.25.
The Lamb Shakespeare for the Young. Edited by Prof. I.
Gollancz. New vols.: As You Like It; The Tempest. Each
illus., 16mo. Duffield & Co. Per vol., cloth, 80 cts. net;
leather, $1. net.
The Boy Geologist at School and in Camp. By Edwin J.
Houston. Illus., 12mo, pp. 320. Philadelphia: Henry Altemus
Co. $1.
Adventures with Indians. By W. O. Stoddard, Philip V.
Mighels, Major G. B. Davis, Frances McElrath, and others.
Illus., 16mo, pp. 234. “Harper's Adventure Series." Harper
& Brothers. 60 cts.
French Song and Verse for Children. Edited by Helen
Terry. Illus., 16mo, pp. 125. Longsmans, Green, & Co. 50 cts.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Scheme and Estimates for a National Theatre. By
William Archer and Granville Barker. Large 8vo, pp. 177.
Duffield & Co. $2.50 net.
The Ifs of History. By Joseph Edgar Chamberlain, 16mo,
pp. 203. Henry Altemus Co.
Great Autobiographies : Types and Problems of Manhood
and Womanhood. By Edward Howard Griggs. 16mo, pp. 50.
New York: B. W. Huebsch. Paper, 25 cts. net.
What It Is That Heals. By Mrs. Vance Cheney. 16mo, gilt
top, pp. 29. New York: Robert Grier Cooke.
Magdalene of France : An Historical Drama. By Ernest
Hugh Fitzpatrick. Illus., 8vo, pp. 62. Pontiac, Ill.: Sentinel
Publishing Co.
FICTION
Somehow Good. By William De Morgan. 12mo, pp. 565.
Henry Holt & Co. $1.75.
The Politician. By Antonio Fogazzaro; trans. by G. Mantellini.
12mo, pp. 473. Luce & Co. $1.50.
The History of Aythan Waring. By Violet Jacob (Mrs.
Arthur Jacob). 12mo, pp. 379. E. P. Dutton & Co. $1.25 net.
The Flying Death. By Samuel Hopkins Adams. Illus., 12mo,
pp. 239. McClure Co. $1.50.
Princess Nadine. By Christian Reid. Frontispiece in color,
12mo, pp. 340. G. P. Putnam's Sons. $1.50.
The Magistrate's Own Case. By Baron Palle Rosenkrantz.
12mo, pp. 293. McClure Co. $1.50.
Virginie. By Ernest Longmeadow. Frontispiece in color,
12mo, pp. 394. McClure Co. $1.50.
Bachelor Betty. By Winifred James. Third edition ; 12mo,
pp. 267. E. P. Dutton & Co. $1. net.
In Charge of the Consul. By Ella F. Padon. 12mo, uncut,
pp. 133. Boston: The Gorham Press. $1.25.
In Pursuit of Priscilla. By Edward Salisbury Field. Illus.
in tint, 12mo, pp. 112. Henry Altemus Co. 50 cts.
TRAVEL AND DESCRIPTION.
The Clyde. Painted in color by Mary Y. and J. Young Hunter;
described by Neil Munro. 8vo, gilt top, pp. 206. Macmillan
Co. $6. net.
Highways and Byways in Kent. By Walter Jerrold ; illus.
by Hugh Thomson. 12mo, gilt top, pp. 447. The Highways
and Byways Series." Macmillan Co. $2. net.
RELIGION.
Catholioism and Independence : Being Studies in Spiritua.
Liberty. By M. D. Petre. 12mo, pp. 174. Longmans, Green, &
Co. $1.20 net.
Soolal Aspects of Religious Institutions. By Edwin L.
Earp. 12mo, pp. 152. Eaton & Mains. 75 cts. net.
The Mind of Jesus Christ in the Church of the Living Godl
By Charles H. Brent. 12mo, pp. 44. Longmans, Green, & Co.
50 cts. net.
POLITICS.-SOCIOLOGY.-ECONOMICS.
Essays in Municipal Administration. By John A. Fairlie.
8vo, gilt top, pp. 374. Macmillan Co. $2.50 net.
Primitive Secret Societies : A Study in Early Politics and
Religion. By Hutton Webster. 8vo, gilt top, pp. 227.
Macmillan Co. $2. net.
Money Hunger: A Brief Study of Commercial Immorality in
the United States. By Henry A. Wise Wood. 12mo, gilt top,
pp. 144. G. P. Putnam's Sons. $1. net.
Chapters in Rural Progress. By Kenyon L. Butterfield.
12mo, pp. 251. University of Chicago Press. $1. net.
The Panama Canal and the Daughters of Danaus. By
John Bigelow. With diagram, 8vo, pp. 47. Baker & Taylor
Co. Paper, 50 cts. net.
SCIENCE AND NATURE.
The Prolongation of Life: Optimistic Studies. By Élie
Metchnikoff ; English translation edited by P. Chalmers
Mitchell. 8vo, pp. 343. G. P. Putnam's Sons. $2.50 net.
Trees and Shrubs : Illustrations of New or Little Known
Ligneous Plants. Prepared chiefly from material at the
Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University ; edited by Charles
Sprague Sargent. Vol. II., Part I. Illus., 4to. Houghton,
Mifflin & Co. $5. net.
Skeleton Remains in North America Suggesting or Attrib-
uted to Early Man. By Ales Hrdlicka. Illus., 8vo, pp. 113.
Bulletin 33, Bureau of American Ethnology, Smithsonian
Institute. Washington: Government Printing Office.
PHILOSOPHY,
The Philosophy of Friederich Nietzsche. By Henry L.
Mencken. With photogravure portrait, 8vo, uncut, pp. 325.
Boston: Luce & Co. $2. net.
The Will to Doubt: An Essay in Philosophy for the General
Thinker. By Alfred H. Lloyd. 12mo, pp. 285. “The Ethical
Library." Macmillan Co. $1.25 net.
Anarchism. By Paul Eltzbacher; trans. by Steven T. Byington.
16mo, pp. 301. New York: Benjamin R. Tucker. $1.50.
ART AND MUSIC.
How to Collect Continental China. By C. H. Wylde. Illus.,
8vo, gilt top, pp. 253. Macmillan Co. $2.
Renaissance Masters. By George B. Rose. Third edition ;
12mo, pp. 248. G. P. Putnam's Sons. $1. net.
FEBRUARY LIST OF BOOKS AND PERIODICALS sent
on request. H. WILLIAMS, 105 East 22d Street, New York.
BOOKS.
ALL OUT-OF-PRINT BOOKS SUPPLIED,
no matter on what subject. Write us. We can get
you any book over published. Please state wants. Catalogue free.
BAKER'S GREAT BOOK SHOP, 14-16 Bright St., BIRMINGHAM,
ENG.
STORY-WRITERS, Biographers, Historians, Poets - Do
you desire the honest criticism of your
book or its skilled revision and correction, or advice as to publication?
Such work, said George William Curtis, is "done as it should be by The
Easy Chair's friend and fellow laborer in letters, Dr. Titus M. Coan."
Terms by agreement. Send for circular D, or forward your book or MS.
to the New York Bureau of Revision, 70 Fifth Avenue, New York.

RECENT
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RELIGION AND HISTORIC FAITHS
By Otto Pfleiderer. $1.50 net.
THE USE OF THE MARGIN
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SIXTEENTH YEAR. Candid, suggestive
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STUDY and PRACTICE cof FRENCH in 4 Parts
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Well-graded series for Preparatory Schools and Colleges. No
time wasted in superficial or mechanical work. French Tert:
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requirements for admission to college. Part IV. (35 cts.):
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comprehensive. Sent to teachers for examination, with a view
to introduction.


1908.]
115
THE DIAL
THE COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY PRESS
NEW AND FORTHCOMING PUBLICATIONS
The Currency Problem and the Present Financial Situation. A Series of Addresses delivered at Columbia
University by men who are well-known authorities in the financial world.
12mo, paper, $1.25 net.
Constitutional Government in the United States. By WOODROW WILSON, LL.D., President of Princeton
University.
12mo, cloth, $1.50 net.
Political Problems of American Development. By ALBERT SHAW, LL.D., Editor of the Review of Reviews.
12mo, cloth, $1.50 net.
The History of Transportation in the Eastern Cotton Belt. By ULRICH B. PHILLIPS, Ph.D.
12mo, cloth, maps, $2.75 net.
The Ancient History of China to the End of the Chóu Dynasty. By FRIEDRICH HIRTH, Ph.D., Professor
of Chinese in Columbia University.
12mo, cloth, map, $2.50 net.
A SERIES OF TWENTY-TWO LECTURES
Descriptive in untechnical language of the achievements in Science, Philosophy, and Art, and indicating the present status
of these subjects as concepts of human knowledge, are being delivered at Columbia University during the present academic
year by various professors chosen to represent the several departments of instruction. These lectures will be published by
the Columbia University Press separately in pamphlet form, at the uniform price of twenty-five cents, carriage extra.
Mathematics.
Geology.
Anthropology.
By Professor C. J. KEYSER.
By Professor J. F. KEMP.
By Professor FRANZ Boas.
Physics.
Astronomy.
Zoology.
By Professor E. F. NICHOLS.
By Professor HAROLD JACOBY.
By Professor H. E. CRAMPTON.
Botany.
Physiology.
Economics.
By Professor H. M. RICHARDS.
By Professor F. S. LEE.
By Professor H. R. SEAGER.
Are now ready. The others are immediately to follow. Orders will be taken for the separate pamphlets, or for the whole
series as they appear.
Published by THE COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY PRESS
THE MACMILLAN COMPANY, AGENTS, 64-66 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK
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116
[Feb. 16, 1908
THE DIAL
JUST PUBLISHED
THE MOST IMPORTANT BIOGRAPHY OF THE NEW YEAR
Thomas Alva Edison
SIXTY YEARS OF AN INVENTOR'S LIFE
Those
By FRANCIS ARTHUR JONES
HIS volume will at once commend itself as one of the few necessary
books to librarians and readers alike. Edison's name and fame
are known around the world. His life story reads like a romance,
from the time he published a newspaper on board a train at fourteen,
and later was an out-at-the-elbows "tramp” telegraph operator till his
electrical inventions caused the formation of a fifteen million dollar
stock company.
No recent life of Edison is in print, a fact which makes this book
doubly valuable. It is the result of close acquaintance with and study
of the inventor, and is at once complete, authoritative, and intensely
interesting. It is a romance of truth which far exceeds fiction.
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118
[March 1, 1908.
THE DIAL
Important New Macmillan Books
THE IRON HEEL
10
A NEW NOVEL BY THE AUTHOR OF "THE CALL OF THE WILD"
THE IRON HEEL JUST READY
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Mr. H. G. Wells's new book New Worlds for Old
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sible remove from the customary dummy of romance
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Cloth, 12mo, $1.25 net; by mail, $1.351
In Sir Volumes. Eversley Edition. With portrait.
Unpublished verse, notes made at different times by Dr. Henry C. Lea's The Inquisition of
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the Spanish Dependencies
correspondence with the poet's friends about one or
A notable work which is attracting attention the
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on *Municipal Administration" and "National
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Prof. Hutton Webster's interesting work on A short history by the author of "The Student's
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Cloth, 12mo, $1.85 net; by mail, $1.35.
OF GREAT IMPORTANCE TO STUDENTS OF WORLD HISTORY
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THE DIAL
A Semi-Monthly Journal of Literary Criticism, Discussion, and Information.
PAGE
THE DIAL (founded in 1880) is published on the 1st and 16th of
each month. TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION, $2. a year in advance, postage
THE MYSTERY OF MUSIC.
prepaid in the United States, and Mexico; Foreign and Canadian
postage 50 cents per year extra. REMITTANCES should be by check, or What a puzzle music must be to those unfor-
by express or postal order, payable to THE DIAL COMPANY.
Unless otherwise ordered, subscriptions will begin with the current
tunate people, stricken with spiritual cecity, to
number. When no direct request to discontinue at expiration of sub whom the art is no more than so much sound
scription is received, it is assumed that a continuance of the subscription
is desired. ADVERTISING RATEs furnished on application. All com and fury, signifying nothing. They know that
munications should be addressed to
to others it constitutes a whole world of experi-
THE DIAL, Fine Arts Building, Chicago.
ence, yet are themselves excluded from that
Entered as Second-Class Matter October 8, 1892, at the Post Office
at Chicago, Illinois, under Act of March 3, 1879.
world by an insuperable barrier. They must
take it on faith, as the color-blind must take
No. 521. MARCH 1, 1908. Vol. XLIV.
the rainbow and the sunset. If they are honest
with themselves, they will admit and lament
CONTENTS.
this defect of sense, accepting the unavoidable,
THE MYSTERY OF MUSIC
119 gazing wistfully at the walls that separate them
CASUAL COMMENT
121 from a realm of whose glories they know from
French journalistic enterprise. — The crowded life trustworthy report, but into which they may
of the literary workman. — The universities and
the magazines. How public library funds are
not enter. Sometimes they are not honest with
spent. — The idealist in practical affairs. - Coins themselves, averring the very existence of the
that will always pass current. - Peter the Great
realm to be a fable, and those who claim its
as library-founder. -- The psychology of journal-
istic appeal. — The Hispanic Society's library and
franchise to be self-deluded, finding realities in
museum.-Inter-bibliothecal courtesies.—The per what are but vain imaginings. They allow
capita supply of public library books. – Hawthorne
music to be sound, more or less agreeable, but
and his critics. – Next summer's conference of
librarians. — The revivication of a great public they stoutly deny, although in the face of an
library. — An anthology of history.
overwhelming mass of testimony, that it has
COMMUNICATIONS
124
any spiritual meaning. Deaf themselves to
Some Boston Contemporaries of Earl Percy. Sara
Andrew Shafer.
aught beyond its direct impact upon the sense,
An Alleged Prototype of Goldsmith's “ Vicar.”
they affect a skepticism of all hearing in others,
Charles Welsh.
save in their own narrow and literal interpre-
Gawming” or “ Gorming." Roswell Field.
tation of the term.
“THE WIZARD OF MENLO PARK.” Percy F. This specialized form of philistinism is not
Bicknell
126
uncommon, but it is rarely voiced with the frank
THE COLONIAL RELATIONS OF ENGLAND
defiance of an article that has recently come
AND AMERICA. Annie Heloise Abel
128
under our observation. In this case, the self-
TWO STUDIES OF GEORGE MEREDITH. Eunice
Follansbee
129 revelation is so naïve, the ascription of the
RAILWAY REGULATION. John J. Halsey
writer's limitations to the rest of mankind so
RECENT FICTION. William Morton Payne
132 absolute, that the instance seems worthy of
De Morgan's Somehow Good. — Benson's Sheaves. mention, and may serve as a pretext for a little
Bindloss's For Jacinta. -- Miss Mantle's Gret. -
Miss Glasgow's The Ancient Law.
profitable analysis. Starting out with the
BRIEFS ON NEW BOOKS
question-begging assumption that music pro-
135
Leisurely essays of the Elian sort. - Seven studies,
vides“ mere sensation,” disqualifying its votaries
dramatic and criminological. - Topography of for “ intellectual and volitional achievements,"
primitive Athens. — The freedmen in and after
the writer goes on to labor the point by such
the Civil War. — Impressions of Italian cities. –
Hunting for stained glass in France. - Some liter arguments as the following: “It is no more
ary opinions and examinations. — An American's
elevating to train the ear than the taste; to
impressions of Poland. --- English domestic archi-
tecture and interior decoration. - A belated book
enjoy sound than to enjoy flavor."
“ Enjoy-
of the Jamestown Exposition.
ing sound that goes into the ear is no more
BRIEFER MENTION
138 cultivating than enjoying lobsters that go into
NOTES
199 the stomach.” “Listening to one of Beethoven's
TOPICS IN LEADING PERIODICALS
139 sonatas is not greatly different in kind from eat-
LIST OF NEW BOOKS
140 | ing a beefsteak.” These precious propositions
130
.
.
.


120
[March 1,
THE DIAL
lead to the conclusion that music, being one of than sound as poetry is more than words printed
our “surface pleasures," gets too much of our in black ink upon white paper, the character of
attention, and that “the substantials of life music as an art is beyond cavil, and any liken-
should have a larger place in civilization.” ing of its effect to that of food upon
the palate
These substantials are specified to be “science, is supremely ridiculous.
There are many,
philosophy, statesmanship, and practical enter- indeed, who would go so far as to call it the
prise,” and thus a petitio principii ends, as it highest of the arts, holding with Pater that every
began, the whole argument.
other art “constantly aspires towards the con-
Our attention happened to be called, just as dition of music,” which is “ the true type or
we were occupied with this self-revelation of a
said
of Napoleon after the battle of Jena. “ What music as an ethical agency, as an influence upon
a pity that I am not acquainted with the science conduct and character, that we hardly know
of war as I am with that of music. I would where to begin. The few who would deny that
show myself his master.” And who, knowing influence have nothing more than their negative
anything of the powerful personality that opinion to oppose to an overwhelming mass of
expressed itself in the “Eroica,” could seriously positive testimony. The number of people who,
doubt that it was entirely capable of just the interrogating their own consciousness, are pre-
sort of “intellectual and volitional achievement” pared to assert that music has been a power
for
that our writer takes for granted as being beyond good in their lives, offers a crushing refutation
the reach of the musician. But this illustration to the skeptic, who in his very statement of
is only by the way. What we are at present denial puts himself in the class of the defectives.
concerned with doing is to point out the inade If a man declares that he has been stimulated
quacy of our writer's notion of “the substan- by the masterpieces of Bach and Beethoven to
tials of life.” It really narrows down to science worthier endeavor and a more strenuous pur-
and nothing else, for the moment any element pose, that his better nature has been awakened,
not purely intellectual enters into the case, there his altruism broadened, and his will strength-
comes with it the possibility of a musical rela ened, by communion with the great tone-artists,
tionship. The province of music is the entire he would be a rash person indeed who should
emotional and spiritual life, and the intellect, gainsay that evidence, or pronounce it to be
although a necessary philosophical concept, is no self-delusion. A man generally knows what
more to be caught by itself than those equally elements have counted in his own spiritual up-
necessary abstractions, the perfect pendulum and building, and has a fair notion of the extent to
the economic man. Science comes nearest to which they have reacted upon his dealings with
being pure when it takes the mathematical form, his fellow-men; it would be the height of im-
but we cannot forget Kepler's spiritual exalta- pudence for one of those fellow-men to inform
tion in contemplation of his laws of planetary him that he was entirely mistaken, and that
motion, and we may also recall what Abt Vogler what he knew by the immediate testimony of
thought about the whole matter -
consciousness to have been a directive force in
“The rest may reason and welcome, 'tis we musicians his life had really been nothing of the sort, but
know."
only an ineffectual titillation of the sense of
What are the substantials of life?” Science hearing. When argument runs counter to intui-
is certainly one of them, but there are at least tion, it is not the latter that suffers rout.
three others, art, ethics, and religion. And if We are not now particularly concerned with
we allow that the one is only here and there such matters as the influence of march and
touched with emotion, the other three are surely dance rhythms upon the sensitive mind, or even
suffused with it through and through. And the with the heightening of energy that results from
relation of music to all three of them as surely the stimulus of martial music. These are mat-
needs no argument in its proof. For music is ters that hang only upon the outskirts of our
itself an art, it is a potent influence upon char- central theme, and that have but little bearing
acter, and it is of the very essence of religion.
upon its elucidation. The true influence of
To refuse it artistic rank on the plea that it is music upon character and conduct strikes far
no more than an ingenious arrangement of sound deeper than this, and is not illustrated in any
is like saying that sculpture is no more than typical fashion by “ Blue Danube" and
bronze or marble, that painting is no more than “ Racoczy” and “ Marseillaise " examples. It
canvas and pigments. But being as much more is a subtle and profound influence, working at


1908.]
121
THE DIAL
>>
« How you
the very roots of the soul's growth, and building and exerts the same sort of influence ; for the
up from below and within the structure of our one work, like the other, purges the soul of
higher spiritual life. If we are to take illustra terror and pity by bringing it to contemplate
tive examples at all, we should seek them in such those emotions in an ideal embodiment and
works as the “ Tannhäuser” and “ Parsifal” under the species of eternity. And the “sud-
overtures, the C Major Symphony of Schubert den music of pure peace” that sealed the three-
and the C Minor Symphony of Beethoven. As fold song of Dante's vision seals also the St.
compared with the uplifting potency of such Matthew Passion of Bach, and the Choral
works as these, the most consecrated prescriptive Symphony of Beethoven, and the closing rap-
moralizing seems feeble, the most pithy ethical tures of “ Tristan und Isolde "and the “ Götter-
precept seems indirect.
dämmerung,” for to the spiritual eye the visions
If the philosophers are right when they urge thus vouchsafed are revelations no less divine
that sympathy is the foundation of the moral than that of the Rose of Paradise.
life, what more remains to be said in behalf of
music as an effective influence upon conduct ?
Much more might be said in detail, but every
instance adduced would lead us back to that
CASUAL COMMENT.
basic principle. The great composer, beyond FRENCH JOURNALISTIC ENTERPRISE lags so far behind
any other artist, takes us into his intimacy, American that the editor-in-chief of Le Matin, M.
imparts to us the contagion of his spirit, and Stephane Lauzanne, has come to this country to study
permits us to share in his own most exalted
our newspaper methods with a view to waking up his
moods. His tenderness, his indignation, his although he does not thus paronomastically express his
own newspaper a little earlier in the morning
brooding griefs, his ecstatic raptures, his all-
purpose.
The French daily, printed to-day, dated
embracing love become ours also. And while to-morrow, and giving the news of yesterday, is cer-
we are under his spell our petty personalities tainly less wide-awake than the sheet in which, upon
M. Lauzanne's arrival at his hotel in New York, he was
are merged in his larger nature, our vexing astonished to behold his own photograph, the report of
ripples are lost in the sweep of his emotional an interview with him “down the harbor," and an
tides. Yet it is not so much the effacement of account of his first impressions of America.
personality that we attain to as the sense of do that is just what I have come here to find out,” he
explained.
enlargement, of a new light which reveals our
6. In the offices of Le Matin I think we have
all the machinery you have in newspaper offices in
private perplexity as but part of a harmonious
America. We have linotypes; we have big American
scheme of things entire, and which makes us rotary presses; it is the rapidity of doing things that we
exclaim in wonder at the penetrative sympathy have not yet acquired. We have what ì should call the
that can thus reach into the inmost soul, noting outillage, but we must have the oil to put in it to make
each
it go quickly.” He said further: “In Paris we have a
big staff of reporters, but French reporters are apt to
“Separate wave, and to what sea
talk much, and discussions take a long time." He
Its difficult eddies labour in the ground.”
expressed amazement at the activity of our people, noted
Surely it cannot be urged with any show of their unhesitating directness of purpose, and commented
reason that these moments, fleeting though they admiringly on the brightness of our skies and our free-
be, in which we live a richer and more generous
6 New York people seem
dom from smoke and fog.
much livelier than Londoners," he declared. « Dullness
life than is normally ours, pass away and leave and Americans do not seem to go together.” This last
no permanent mark upon us.
reminds one of the late Dean Hole's perplexed surprise
Music is no drowsy syrup lulling us into
at finding the sharpest people in the world using the
forgetfulness, but rather a source of renewed
dullest knives at table. Time is too precious with us
to be employed in scouring steel cutlery. It is to be
strength and greater fortitude to bear the bur- hoped that in our French visitor's proposed two months'
dens of our lot. Tranquillizing though it may study of American journalism, he will let the yellow
seem, and conducive to the passive attitude, it variety serve as a warning, not as an example.
is all the time stirring hidden springs of activity
THE CROWDED LIFE OF THE LITERARY WORKMAN is
within and the extent to which we thus react
us,
is the true measure of its power.
not the existence of ease, the idle and luxurious inviting
Its ministry of one's soul, that some have imagined it. That admir-
may be that of an anodyne for sorrow, but it is able man of letters and ornament of London journalism,
also far more, for it performs the Aristotelian William Clarke, a selection of whose writings is reported
function of katharsis no less effectively than to have been recently issued, had no horæ subseciva in
does the art of the poet. Tschaikowsky's to his mother gives a glimpse of a life that was even too
his working day. The following extract from a letter
* Pathetic Symphony” is a work of the same
busy, too little meditative and deliberate, for the best
order of magnitude as Shakespeare's “ Othello,” results. “My mode of life," he confesses, " does not


122
[March 1,
THE DIAL
suit me; but, then, what can I do? I will tell
you
how of the several states, this information being at present of
I spent yesterday, as a sample. Read papers half an a scattered and not easily obtainable sort, but especially
hour after breakfast; then wrote notes for the Chronicle, necessary to those engaged in the work of library exten-
then a long review of the new ten-volume · Life of Lin sion. Finally, request is made that, in view of the rapid
coln' for the Chronicle, filling thirteen MSS. pages. I development of state,county, city, and proprietary travel-
was in the mood for it, and wrote till about 3 p.m. Then ling library systems, a separate statistical table be given,
rushed out and snatched a roll and cup of coffee, the showing date of formation, headquarters, source of sup-
first morsel I had eaten since breakfast. Then train port, annual expenditure, number of books, circulation,
to Charing Cross to keep an appointment at 4.30, after etc., of all such library systems throughout the country.
which I glanced at the club at the evening papers, and Serious consideration of these and any other similar
wrote another Chronicle note. Then dined at the club, suggestions is promised by the Commissioner of Educa-
and rushed off to the Chronicle office, where I worked tion. Of much practical value would it be to have at
from eight to eleven doing half a column on Christmas hand figures and other information tending to show just
cards, three notes, and two leaders, one of which was on what apportionment of a library's income is likely to
a book I had to look through. I left the office when insure a maximum of usefulness, although no hard and
the clock was striking eleven. I did not get any sleep fast rule could be laid down for all times and all places.
till nearly three in the morning, and was awakened
before eight. I don't suppose one of the five millions
in London did more work than I did yesterday. I know
THE IDEALIST IN PRACTICAL AFFAIRS is not always
I shall not be able to keep it up.” One would think not.
so comically helpless as the traditional German pro-
The wonder is that, with these scrambling methods, he
fessor confronted with the commonplace realities of
earned the reputation of having helped to make journal-
daily life. Indeed, one likes to believe, and not seldom
ism literature.
sees convincing reason to believe, with Plato, that only
the man of pure and high ideals is truly wise and
THE UNIVERSITIES AND THE MAGAZINES are made efficient in the ordering of the humble but necessary
the subject of a half-playful comparison in the course of details of mundane existence. The pursuit of literature
Dr. William James's recent article on - The Social and a participation in practical politics have often been
Value of the College-Bred.” After declaring that the proved to be not incompatible. The many instances in
best single phrase to express the purpose of the higher modern times of English and French statesmen who have
education is that “it should enable us to know a good also been distinguished as authors, need not here be
man when we see him" the word “good” being used cited. Coming nearer home, we find some recent and
in its broadest sense - the writer takes occasion to add: interesting examples of the man of letters combined
“In our essential function of indicating the better men, with the political reformer. The poet-mayor of San
we now have formidable competitors outside [the col Francisco has won national fame for himself; Mr.
leges and universities].” A number of these competi Winston Churchill attracted much attention by fighting
tors, wide-awake American periodicals, are then named, corrupt railroad influence in New Hampshire; Mr.
after which comes this suggestive passage: “It would Booth Tarkington tore himself from the charms of
be a pity if any future historian were to have to write romance-writing to represent his district in the Indiana
words like these: By the middle of the twentieth cen legislature; and now Mr. Owen Wister, moved with a
tury the higher institutions of learning had lost all laudable desire to purify the political atmosphere of that
influence over public opinion in the United States. But Sodom of municipal corruption that claims him as a
the mission of raising the tone of democracy, which they citizen, offers himself as candidate for the upper cham-
had proved themselves so lamentably unfitted to exert, ber of the city's legislative body. It is an Augean
was assumed with rare enthusiam and prosecuted with stable that waits to be cleaned, but Mr. Wister is young
extraordinary skill and success by a new educational and vigorous, both in mind and body.
power; and for the clarification of their human sympa-
thies and elevation of their human preferences, the
COINS THAT WILL ALWAYS PASS CURRENT, in liter-
people at large acquired the habit of resorting exclu-
atu
sively to the guidance of certain private literary adven-
if not in the market, are those obsolescent pieces,
the
tures, commonly designated in the market by the
dear to readers of romance and poetry and drama,
affectionate name of ten-cent magazines.?” The public pistole, the noble, the ducat (“My daughter!'o my
library has long been regarded as the people’s university;
ducats ! O my daughter ! O my Christian ducats !") the
is it possible that the monthly magazine will ever qualify | groschen, the piece of eight, and many others. We have
itself, or is even now beginning to qualify itself, seriously
but the vaguest notion of the value of any of these
coins when we meet with them in our literary wander-
to dispute with the library the right to that title ?
Stranger things have happened.
ings, and therein lies half their charm : they lend them-
selves so beautifully to the purposes of the imagination,
they convey so little suggestion of real cash, of “filthy
How PUBLIC LIBRARY FUNDS ARE SPENT is a ques lucre," and yet their purchasing power is so splendidly
tion touching the public pocket and having a general unlimited. Into this treasury of untainted money has
interest. The Secretary of the American Library Asso- | recently passed the historic German thaler : on the
ciation has brought this matter to the attention of the first of October it ceased to be recognized as a coin of
United States Commissioner of Education by recom the Empire, and henceforth its currency is limited,
mending that in the next government report on public or rather extended, to the larger empire of letters.
libraries there be included in the statistical tables figures Joachimsthal and the coin there first minted (in 1484)
showing what proportion of each library's expenditure will not soon pass into oblivion, and if we do forget
is devoted to (a) books, periodicals, and binding, (b) that the thaler is equivalent to three marks, all the
salaries, and (c) other purposes. It is also urged that more serviceable will it become for purposes of poetry
there be added to the report a digest of the library laws and fiction.


1908.]
123
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PETER THE GREAT AS LIBRARY-FOUNDER is far less proposed a while ago by Librarian Canfield of Columbia
prominent in history and in the public mind than Peter University and commented on in these columns, one can
the ship-builder, or Peter the founder of Russia's present rejoice in the good accomplished by the clearing-house
capital, or Peter the masterful, though on the whole methods so intelligently and energetically followed by
benevolent, despot and empire-builder. The Imperial Mr. Putnam at Washington. “ Insensibly and without
Library at St. Petersburg, established by him in 1714, special advertising," he says, “ the Library of Congress
competes with our own national library at Washington is, through its system of exchanges, not merely strength-
for third place among the world's great libraries, both ening its own resources, but becoming in a measure a
collections of books numbering nearly a million and a sort of clearing-house for other American libraries. It
half. The Bibliothèque Nationale and the library of the cannot undertake to become so completely, since it has
British Museum are larger. The most noteworthy neither the space to accommodate the pending material
addition ever made to the St. Petersburg library nor the free service with which to handle it; but within
occurred at the time of the suppression of the Jesuits its space and means it has no scruple in utilizing its own
in Russia, when there was a general transference of duplicates to strengthen well-administered libraries else-
Jesuit libraries to the Imperial Library, including the where." Increased facilities for this work are certainly
famous collection of Count Zaluski, which was said to to be desired.
contain 260,000 volumes and 10,000 manuscripts. As
THE PER CAPITA SUPPLY OF PUBLIC LIBRARY BOOKS,
is well known, the most valuable possession of the
which used to be greater in Boston than anywhere else,
St. Petersburg library is the Codex Sinaiticus, or man now reaches its maximum in Springfield, if recently
uscript of the Bible in Greek uncials, discovered by published statistics are to be trusted. That the honor
Tischendorf in 1859 in the convent on Mt. Sinai.
of thus most generously providing for the citizen's intel-
lectual needs still remains in Massachusetts, is not a
THE PSYCHOLOGY OF JOURNALISTIC APPEAL engages surprising revelation, nor, to some of us, an altogether
the attention of Professor Walter D. Scott, director of
displeasing one. In the matter of open-handed financial
the psychological laboratory at Northwestern University. support of her public library, the city of the three hills
He is collecting data, and the publication of the result still holds the supremacy, as shown by tax receipts, city
of his researches is awaited with interest. Hundreds of
census, and library appropriation. The Bostonian, it
circulars have been sent out, asking what dailies the
appears, pays fifty-four cents a year for his inestimable
recipients read, and the reason for their choice. Other
library privileges, while (pro pudor! the Jersey Citizen
inquiries relate to the different departments of the spares but a reluctant twelve cents, and the dweller
newspaper that especially appeal to each reader, the in Providence even cuts under that by paying only one
amount of time given to newspaper reading, the induce cent over a dime for his public library reading. The
ments that have led to the taking of one journal rather best things in life are often the cheapest; but not even
than another, and so on. What domain will not the
books, which are among the very best, can be had for
psychologist (of the Münsterbergian school) soon enter ? nothing. It is an unwise Providence that scrimps and
But if a cure for yellow journalism can be found, the
pares in its public library expenditure.
invader in this field at least is cordially welcome. The
first step toward such a remedy, the investigation of HAWTHORNE AND THE CRITICS seem to be not on the
the causes of the evil, is apparently being taken by best of terms in these days. Is this assault on the wizard
Professor Scott. Will he afterward be able, in his
of Salem simply a natural reaction from the centenary
psychological laboratory, to compound a medicine that
enthusiasm of a few years ago, or have we, in our delight
will cure the disease ?
in his “airy and charming insubstantiality,” been indulg-
ing a foolish joy and revelling unworthily in a silly
THE HISPANIC SOCIETY'S LIBRARY AND
paradise ? Have we, as Mr. Brownell and others now
were opened to the public a few weeks ago. This society,
seem bent on making us believe, been wrong in rejoicing
organized and endowed by Mr. Archer M. Huntington,
with Mr. Henry James that Hawthorne's “ beautiful,
a lifelong student of Spanish art, literature, and history, light imagination is the wing that on the autumn evening
has a limited membership of one hundred, and each
just brushes the dusky window"? Thinness, airiness,
member must be a specialist in some department of
and insubstantiality are sometimes beautiful and wholly
research allied to the general purposes of the society.
desirable qualities --- in angels, for instance. Bulkiness
The library contains nearly 50,000 volumes in various
and beefiness do not embody all virtues. It was long
languages and relating chiefly to Spanish history and
ago pointed out that the cheapest sort of criticism is
literature; while the museum is stocked with curiosities
that which finds fault with an author for not being
illustrating the arts and crafts of the Spaniards. Here
something other than he is ; and this, when the case
are to be seen gold coins of the Moorish kings and speci- against Hawthorne is reduced to its lowest terms, is
mens of Hispano-Mauresque lustre-ware in finer and
about all that remains.
more abundant display than can be found elsewhere,
except in a few European museums. The Revue NEXT SUMMER'S CONFERENCE OF LIBRARIANS, as
Hispanique,” a quarterly valuable to students of Spanish now definitely announced by the executive committee of
subjects, is published in Paris by the Hispanic Society. the American Library Association, will be held at Lake
The work of this organization not only promotes the Minnetonka, Minn., June 26 — July 3. Among topics
cause of culture, but tends to knit closer the ties con for discussion that are to receive especial attention are
necting us with the republics toward the south.
“ Losses of Books from Open Shelves" - a subject
touched upon several times in these columns ånd
INTER-BIBLIOTHECAL COURTESIES tend to multiply - Books of the Year.” The open-shelf question, says the
the usefulness of libraries as well as to promote good committee, gives promise of an interesting debate, and
fellowship among them. Without exactly wishing to advocates of this system, which has caused so much
see our public libraries “syndicated” after the scheme reactionary criticism of late, will doubtless be put on
MUSEUM
<<


124
[March 1,
THE DIAL
were
their defense. In the second topic, exactly what books among lesser things, that which I sought-
« The
shall prove, some decades hence, to have been the “ books Daughters of Dr. Byles," by Miss Eliza Leslie, an ex-
of the year,” not even expert custodians and circulators ceedingly sprightly and clever story-writer, now, alas!
of literature can tell us; but an expression of opinion forgotten as such, and remembered only by her
from them may help to perpetuate the best books, and “Seventy-Five Receipts,” an ancient copy of which
can certainly do no harm.
holds an honored place in my own pantry.
Miss Leslie's visits to these Colonial Dames of Boston
THE REVIVIFICATION OF A GREAT PUBLIC LIBRARY,
were described at such length as to furnish two papers
whose usefulness had not been so great as was very
for “Grahame's." I wish it were possible to reproduce
easily possible, is a pleasant thing to note. The Troy
every word of the story, for which the overworked word
Public Library, under a new administration and reorgan-
"quaint" must serve; and I am conscious that in shorten-
ization, has in the last three years nearly trebled its
ing it to the small space that is all I dare ask for in
circulation without adding materially to its equipment
THE DIAL, I am leaving out much that would be dear
or greatly increasing its annual expenditure. With a
to all who, like myself, love old days and old ways and
old ladies.
handsome building centrally situated, and a good-sized
collection of books for general circulation, besides
Miss Mary and Miss Catherine Byles — or, to use
possessing means for reasonably rapid additions, the
Miss Leslie's collective noun, the Miss Byleses
institution should have made a better showing than was
born in Boston, as was their father, the Rev. Dr. Mather
revealed in the report of three years ago. That the Byles, who first saw the light in 1706. Of the Brah-
powers in control thought so also, is made evident by
minical race of Cotton Mather, it was almost a matter
the contrast between that report and the one for the
of course that he went to England to be educated at
year just closed. Brains will tell, in affairs of public
Cambridge and that after his ordination he returned
service no less than in private business enterprise.
to Boston. Here he became the first rector of Hollis
Street Church, married a daughter of Governor Taylor,
and bought a piece of ground at the junction of Tremont
AN ANTHOLOGY OF HISTORY that promises to be
and Nassau Streets, with a house hideous in its unpainted
vastly more than a mere florilege or garland — rather a
ugliness but surrounded by magnificent horse-chestnut
whole garden or meadow of posies is announced for
trees. He enjoyed much reputation for learning, cor-
early publication by the London “Times,” and is to fill
responded with Alexander Pope and Dr. Watts, and
twenty-five volumes of about seventeen thousand pages
held a highly enviable place in society.
in the aggregate. It will be a history of the world,
Unfortunately for him, a series of disagreements
composed of choice extracts from all the great historians.
which he was never able to comprehend arose between
Think how Charles Lamb would have delighted to read
New England and the mother country. His sympathies
through this encyclopædic work from page one to page
were with England; and in the unquiet days there was
seventeen thousand! Is there anything that more
nothing for him to do but to resign his office, since pray-
unmistakably distinguishes the mere book-buyer from
the book-reader and book-lover than the presence in his
ing for the King was intolerable to his parishioners, and
library of these scissors-and-paste monstrosities masque-
pray for the King he would. His house was head-
quarters for the British officers, and his daughters were
rading as books?
fond of relating how they “walked on the Common
arm-in-arm with General Howe and Lord Percy, both
of whom were frequent visitors at the house, and often
took tea and spent the evening there.”
COMMUNICATIONS.
“I imagined the heir of Northumberland taking his
tea in the old parlor, at the old tea-table, entertained
by the witticisms of Dr. Byles and the prettiness of his
SOME BOSTON CONTEMPORARIES OF
daughters, who, of course, were the envy of those who
EARL PERCY.
could not aspire to be talked to by English noblemen.
(To the Editor of THE DIAL.)
Moreover, Lord Percy frequently ordered the band of
The review of “ Earl Percy's Dinner-Table,” in THE his regiment to play under the chestnut trees for the
Dial for February 1, sent me to the top shelves of my gratification of the Miss Byleses who then, as they said,
father's library, whereon stands a long row of bound had God Save the King' in perfection.”
volumes of old Philadelphia magazines, which once It was about this time that the doctor was walking
belonged to the grandmother who died long before my one day with a Whig gentleman in the vicinity of the
day, and which were among the joys of my
childhood. Common where a division of the British lay encamped.
“ Atkinson's Casket," Grahame's Magazine," “ Sar His companion, pointing to the soldiers of the Crown,
tain's Magazine,” “Godey's Lady's Book," — the well said, 'You see the cause of all our evils.' •But you
cared-for old books, with their wealth of steel plates cannot say that our evils are not red-dressed,' remarked
and mezzotints, and their discreet concession to worldly Dr. Byles. Your pun is not a good one,' observed his
things in the delicate and high-bred fashion plates which companion; you have misspelt the word by adding
are such a contrast to those of our own time, – they another D.' "Well,' replied the clerical joker, 'as a
stand in proud consciousness that it was theirs to offer doctor of divinity, am I not entitled to the use of
many of the classics of our literature and to boast many two D's?'"
a name the world will not willingly let die.
Later he was sentenced to banishment, and his goods
Instinct led me to “Grahame's Magazine” for 1842, to confiscation; but out of respect for his character the
and haste made me turn to its Index. Two criticisms, Board of War remitted the sentence as far as his worldly
two stories, one poem by Poe; “ The Goblet of Life goods were concerned, and lessened the personal penalty
and The Spanish Student," by Longfellow; five poems to confinement in his own house. Once he asked the
by Lowell; four sonnets 'by Elizabeth B. Barrett; and, sentinel to fetch a bucket of water, as the day was warm
66


1908.]
125
THE DIAL
and the prisoner thirsty. The soldier declined to quit by Tschokke (Zschokke?) entitled “Leaves from the
his post before relief came, but the doctor overcame his Journal of a poor Vicar” with this note prefixed:
scruples by offering to guard himself until the soldier's
“Translated from the German of Tschokke; he intimates
return. * The sentinel at last complied,” says Miss that it is taken from the English and that it probably gave
Leslie, “and took the bucket and went to the puinp, Oliver Goldsmith the first hint towards the Vicar of Wake-
first resigning his musket to Dr. Byles, who shouldered field. If originally English it is not easy to understand why
it in a very soldier-like manner, and paced the porch,
it was allowed to die.”
guarding himself until the sentry came back, to whom The Journal begins Dec. 15, 1764, and ends Jan. 16,
on returning his piece he said, “Now, my friend, 1765. Its whole conception, tone, and flavor at once
you see I have been guarded, reguarded, and disre recall «The Vicar"; but the incidents, though suggestive
guarded.''
of the Goldsmith story, differ. It really reads, however,
“ The Miss Byleses told me much of the scarcity of as though it might have been an ébauche for the “Vicar."
provisions and firewood throughout Boston during the So I wrote to my old friend, Austin Dobson, the
winter of 1775, when the British and their adherents greatest living authority on eighteenth century English
held out the town against the Yankee rebels, as they literature, especially on Goldsmith and his time, asking
called them. It was then that the old North Church was him what he knew about it. Here is his reply:
torn down by order of General Howe that the sol-
1* 75 Eaton Rise, Ealing, W.
diers might convert into fuel the wood of which it was
8: ii : '08.
built."
«MY DEAR WELSH :
Dr. Byles lived a very secluded life until his death “This Journal of a poor Vicar' is always turning up as
in 1788. The younger of his daughters lived until 1837, the germ of Goldsmith's book tho’ it was fully disposed of
when she was laid beside him under the pavement of by W. J. Thoms in Notes and Queries as far back as Feb.
the chancel of Trinity Church. For many years the
26 1857 (2nd Series No 61). It appears first in the Decem-
sisters sequestered themselves in the old house, which
.ber No. of The British Magazine for 1766, some months
held one glorious treasure in the portrait of Dr. Byles
after the publication of The Vicar in the previous March.
Thoms says it also appeared in The Gentleman's Magazine
by Copley. They owned great stores of ancient plate,
for Jan. 1767 and The Gentleman's Magazine of 1849, which
which they would never use or part with, and in spite of again reprinted it from the Boston Chronicle of 1766 — the
the increasing value of their little patrimony they lived Chronicle having found it in The British Magazine. I don't
in a poverty which would have been destitution but for think it has any connection with Goldsmith. The Vicar, as
the bounty of some friends whose kindness they never you know, was thought of as early as 1762. With kind
acknowledged by visits, since they left their home only regards, yours sincerely,
AUSTIN DOBSON."
to go to service at Trinity, and then always heavily veiled.
This reference to 1762 alludes to the entry in the
They liked receiving visits, however, and took pleasure
in some very childish mysteries which they performed,
account books of Benjamin Collins of Salisbury, who,
with Newbery, bought a one-third share of “The Vicar
as well as in showing their father's portrait, and his
of Wakefield ” “ from the author, Dr. Goldsmith, Octo-
papers some bearing the signatures of Queen Anne,
ber 1762 for 21," — which was for the first time
and of the three Georges to whom he had owed alle-
giance. Apparently in their world everything had
brought to light on p. 61 of “ A Bookseller of the Last
Century."
stopped in '83, and they lived on and on into extreme
CHARLES WELSH.
old age, absorbed in the recollection of their brilliant Winthrop, Mass., Feb. 21, 1908.
youth, when they “walked arm in arm with General
Howe and Lord Percy on Boston Common.”
“GAWMING” OR “GORMING."
SARA ANDREW SHAFER.
La Porte, Ind., February 17, 1908.
(To the Editor of THE DIAL.)
In comm
menting, in
your last issue, on Colonel
Higginson's article, “The Migration of Words,” you
AN ALLEGED PROTOTYPE OF GOLDSMITH'S quote him as saying that “only in Marblehead, on our
“ VICAR."
coast, could be heard the uncouth word 'gawming'
(To the Editor of THE DIAL.)
(awkward, lubberly) which Grose's dictionary contains
I stumbled into a literary pitfall the other day, and
as a North of England term.” It strikes me that the
I ought to bave known better! Lest anyone else should
Colonel is not strictly accurate in this assertion, for I
be equally foolish, or unfortunate, I hereby make public
recall that in my boyhood in the Connecticut valley of
Massachusetts the word was in frequent use, and per-
confession.
In my life of John Newbery I told the true story of
haps is to this day. I have never written or seen it
the sale of the manuscript of “The Vicar of Wakefield"
written, and I confess that I had supposed it was
– which had been so garbled by Boswell on account of
spelled “gorming.” It is a word that I have frequently
his desire to extol his hero, Dr. Johnson, at the expense
used, however, as I learned to use it, in the sense of
of every one of his entourage, poor “Goldy” included, 'gorming about – that is to say, looking about in a
and I thought I had made myself familiar with all that
clownish and aimless manner. I dare say there are not
was to be known about the writing and the publication
a few Yankees, or descendants of Yankees, in Chicago
of the ever-famous “Vicar” and “the philanthropic
who will recall this word as a not infrequent feature of
publisher of Saint Paul's Churchyard” whose seat I everyday speech.
inherited and sat in for so many years.
“What did you do down at Springfield ? "
A month or more ago, while digging and delving
“Oh, I kind o' gormed about."
in those old-fashioned annuals so popular here and in This was a natural and perfectly intelligible way of
England in the middle of the last century, I happened describing a villager's visit to the city.
upon “The Moss Rose," edited by A. A. Phillips and
ROSWELL FIELD.
published in New York in 1848, where I found a story Chicago, February 19, 1908.


126
[March 1,
THE DIAL
The Mew Books.
at Milan, and later removed to Port Huron,
Michigan, where he “ busied himself in various
enterprises " and tried, with little success, to be
“THE WIZARD OF MENLO PARK."*
a stern disciplinarian toward his son, he plays
Mr. Edison is no longer 66 the Wizard of
Menlo Park,” but rather the Indefatigable mother, also a Canadian, appears to have been
an unimportant part in Mr. Jones's book. The
Inventor of Orange, where his laboratories are
a woman of strong and refined character, and
now situated, and the much visited and inter-
her influence over her gifted son was powerful
viewed resident of Llewellyn Park, the hand-
and lasting. She had been a school-teacher in
some quarter of the town where he lives. But Nova Scotia, and, as the son himself long after-
as he has so many thousand more important ward declared, her experience in the school-
things to do than to talk to newspaper men, he is
far from being a thoroughly satisfactory subject nature, and especially about boys. She was a
room had taught her many things about human
to the interviewing reporter, who has often been
fine reader, and used to read aloud to her hus-
forced either to draw largely on his own imagina- band and children, in “ a soft, clear, and finely
tion in writing up his “story,” or to return to the
modulated voice." At the age of nine, “ Al,”
printing office empty-handed. Hence the multi-
as she called him, had read, or his mother
tude of fables, more or less marvellous and amus-
had read to him, “ The Penny Encyclopædia,'
ing, that have for years enlivened the pages of Hume's “ England,” Gibbon's “ Rome,” Sears’s
the daily press under the pretense of giving infor-
History of the World," and several works on
mation concerning the great inventor.
subjects of wonderful fascination to him even
To correct some of these false reports, and to
thus early,
electricity and other branches of
give an authentic sketch of Mr. Edison's life
science. That was certainly a good beginning,
and achievements, Mr. Francis Arthur Jones
and as he had an excellent memory his reading
has written a highly readable and pleasantly
instructive book, “ Thomas Alva Edison : Sixty
sooner or later proved its value.
Those early crowded years of newspaper-
Years of an Inventor’s Life.” It is, explains selling (and newspaper-printing, too), on the
the author, “ in no sense an exhaustive · Life'
Grand Trunk Railway, of chemical and electri-
of Edison, and, indeed, could not be, seeing that cal experiments, of work as telegrapher at various
the inventor is still young in heart and enthus- places in rapid succession — for, though an
iasm, and that there are probably many years expert operator, his scientific experiments en-
of his brilliant career still to run. His grand-grossed so much of his attention that discharge
father and great-grandfather lived to be cente-
followed hot on the heels of every engagement
narians, and their noted descendant gives every all this has long been fairly familiar to a public
indication of coming into healthy competition curious about the smallest detail of the famous
with them in the matter of a long life.”
inventor's history. Not everyone, however,
The little town of Milan, Ohio, is Mr.
knows that in Mr. Edison's choice of science
Edison's birthplace, and it is almost exactly rather than letters for his life-work, journalism
sixty-one years ago that he was born --- of good lost a great editor. “ The Weekly Herald,”
parentage, in a well-to-do condition of life. The
father had come to Milan from Canada, where fifteen-year-old newsboy in connection with his
which was edited, printed, and sold by the
he had incurred the displeasur