have been had even by expert malized library, with its Cutter author-marks,
mathematicians. Another instance suggests it its highly-evolved and yet simple charging system,
self: Menæchmus, a pupil of Plato and a tutor its children's room and story-hour, its branches
to Alexander the Great, had invented and elabo- and deposit stations, and, above all, its open
rated the study of conic sections nineteen cen shelves! Who knows but that we of the twen-
turies before the birth of Kepler. The study had tieth century may be living in a blindness equally
been pursued as a fascinating intellectual exer complete as to the condition of public libraries
cise, but without any thought of a possible ap of the year twenty-nine hundred and twelve? If
plication to concrete things. Also the science it be true, as it undoubtedly is, that each im-
of astronomy had been brought by Ptolomy, portant invention or discovery of the past has
and fourteen hundred years later by Copernicus, made possible an indefinite number of fresh ones
to a stage of considerable advancement, but with in the future, why may it not be argued that
no understanding of the mathematical laws gov- the signal achievements in library science of the
erning the movements of the heavenly bodies. last half-century have advanced that science,
To Kepler, who was both a mathematician and not to the faultily faultless state of Tennyson's
an astronomer, it was given to fit the two Maud, but to a high plane of excellence whence
sciences together by applying the principles of far loftier flights now first become possible?
conic sections, more especially of the ellipse, to One circumstance at least counts strongly in
the celestial phenomena, and to announce the favor of such a view. The great achievements
famous three laws of planetary motion which in discovery and invention have been due to men
every schoolboy now commits to memory. of no narrow specialism. Newton, Descartes,
Following the history of mathematics down Leibniz, Kepler, Copernicus, Galileo — these
to the time of modern library science, we come were all men of far wider interests than might
upon a marriage of the two sciences that re be indicated by the special services to science
minds us of Kepler's happy application of
that have made their names household words.
conics to astronomy. Simon Stevinus of Bruges | The “scientific imagination "so essential to pro-
published his system of decimal notation in 1585, gress in discovery and invention flourishes best
the use of decimal fractions having been up to in the scientist who is least strictly confined to
that time all but unknown, and probably not his one chosen department of study. What
even faintly imagined by many mathematicians. learned profession is there that calls for and
Stevinus's system was modified and reduced to develops a broader sweep of intellectual and
the now current form by the English mathe- practical interests than that of the librarian?


1912.]
.77
THE DIAL
Almost in a literal sense, he is obliged to know Thackeray was of gentle birth and breeding, edu-
something of everything, and he is not likely to cated at the Charterhouse and Cambridge; Dickens,
rest content until he knows everything of some-
lowly born, found such schooling as was to fit him
thing. Bristling thus with points of affinity,
for his future in the hurly-burly of the city streets
and the over-hard tasks of grimy factories. Young
reacting to so countless a number of external
stimuli, the modern librarian should have the
Thackeray, dabbling in art and letters, let a mod-
erate fortune slip through his fingers; Dickens,
alertness, the receptiveness, the responsiveness,
when most other lads of his age were yet busied over
necessary to him who would break new roads, lay
childish things, was seriously at work to keep the
open new kingdoms, and make fresh discoveries. family together -- a David Copperfield trying to get
The history of library science, therefore, is not a Micawber father out of the debtor's jail. Thack-
a closed book; there remain an indefinite num eray
knew France and half the continent when scarce
ber of interesting chapters still to be written, of man's estate, and all his life travelled often and
which are not unlikely to prove even more sig.
far; Dickens in his later years lectured and read in
nificant and attention-compelling than any that
this country, but that is about all of his experiences
of this sort. By nature and habit the one was a true
have gone before.
cosmopolitan, the other a Londoner of Londoners.
As Emerson said of him in his “English Traits,”
Dickens wrote “ London tracts ... local and tem-
DICKENS AND THACKERAY-THACKERAY
porary in his tints and style, and local in his aims."
AND DICKENS.
Diversities such as these in the careers and traits
It is a time of the centenaries of giants. Scarcely of the two men naturally were evidenced in their
has the world ceased paying commemorative honors literary work. Primarily, Thackeray was receptive,
to Lincoln and Longfellow and Liszt, Gladstone Dickens creative. The one, looking out on the world
and Greeley and de Musset, when it begins planning through club windows, drew the classes ; the other,
how most fitly to recall Browning and Rousseau and studying human nature at close range and in the
Wagner. Between these groups stand two names open, drew the masses. It was the characteristic
forever coupled in the thoughts of the lover of En- difference between the shy, retiring aristocrat, and
glish fiction — William Makepeace Thackeray and the self-confident, even pushing, democrat: the dif.
Charles Dickens. Last July brought with it the ference - to suggest the same thing in another way
date which marked the even hundred years since -between Du Maurier and Hogarth. From this,
he who was to create Henry Esmond and Colonel however, it is not to be implied that the Thackeray
Newcome first made his appearance in oriental canvasses were done at second-hand; only Trollope
Calcutta. The present month brings a like anniver among his contemporaries surpassed him in realism,
sary of the advent of the literary parent of Oliver and Mr. Frederic Harrison has just borne telling testi-
. Twist and Sidney Carton, in a dingy suburb of occi mony to the tragic power which was his. Dickens's
dental Portsmouth. Each great in achievement, tragedy, on the other hand, was melodrama, although
each close to our hearts, it is natural that the men. among the best melodrama ever written. There was,
tion of either should call up the image of the other. indeed, more than a little of the "yellow journalist"
Side by side they ran the race of life, with fame in the man who had served his time with the imma-
their common goal. Each “arrived" while yet ture press of that day. It shows again in his pathos,
young - Dickens with “Pickwick" at twenty-four, which was wont to degenerate into sentimentalism:
Thackeray at thirty-five with that most wonderful “ There is something of an alien salt in the fountain
example of urban literature, “Vanity Fair.” Each of his tears," writes Mr. Lang. Thackeray's pathos
died in his prime, untimely: Dickens at fifty-eight, was effortless and inevitable, one packed phrase,
Thackeray at fifty-two.
and the lump was in your throat.
They were alike in soundness, in sanity, in sweet At the opposite end of the thermometer of the
ness. They were about equal in powers of obser- emotions, one finds Dickens differing from Thack-
vation, and nearly so in imagination. Both told eray as a laugh differs from a smile. One is a mas-
absorbing stories in inimitable ways. Yet, as soon ter of humor; the other, past-master of wit - even
as one leaves such generalizations as these, the two | if, at times, it is “a most bitter sweeting, a most
are scarcely more to be compared than are Tour-sharp sauce.” Dean Hole once remarked of “Wil-
gueniéff and Cervantes, or Henry James and Mark liam Makepeace Goliah” (to give him the name of
Twain. “It is like comparing the Æneid with the Mr. Quiller-Couch's bestowing), “He said so many
binomial theorem,” says Professor Peck; while Mr. good things that they trod down and suffocated each
Chesterton's characteristically clever half-truth other"; and scores of instances suggest themselves.
“The world imposed on Thackeray, Dickens imposed | Walking with a friend, one day, in a street off the
on the world”- suggests that “contrast” is a more Strand, the sign “Mutual Loan Fund Association”
accurate word to use in looking back across the years appeared in a window. • What do you suppose it
at these “so truly loved, so long remembered, so means?” asked his companion; and he who was
sorely missed."
really Titmarsh replied, "Why, that they have no
Marked differences showed in their outward lives. | money, and lend it to each other.” At another time,


78
[Feb. 1,
THE DIAL
Thackeray chanced to leave the Garrick Club with selfishness. Despite the number of his charming
a man who was standing as his political opponent creations, Thackeray gave us but one name such as
in an election to be held on the morrow, and who these, in Becky Sharp.
said, "Good night, Mr. Thackeray. May the best In the matter of enduring vitality, one cannot
man win.” “I hope not,” came the instant response. profitably pick and choose between Thackeray and
All of which is as unlike the Dickensian humor as Dickens. Were proof of this needed, it would be
a rapier is unlike a cutlass. Not that a sunshiny forthcoming in the common delight of nine readers
humor does not brighten many pages of those inim out of every ten in championing one against the
itable works that began with the “Boz” sketches and other, though in this same debate Dickens passes
closed with “Our Mutual Friend,” but it is more Thackeray in what the critics call “universality.”
often the whimsical humor arising from oddity of sit His is by far the wider audience, even though it be
uation or individual action than the ready and unex less cultured than that which sits delighted at the
pected turn of thought; more often the broad humor feet of him who gave us Barry Lyndon and Pen-
of exaggeration than the keen wit of suggestion. dennis. However, such weighing and arraying of
There can be little question that of the two men claims amounts to little more than intellectual diver-
Thackeray was the finer literary artist; his style is sion. The pros balance off with the cons at last,
well-nigh faultless. It was by cruder methods that and leave us mindful chiefly of the store of pleas-
Dickens held his readers. On the other hand, ure and profit which we owe to both these greatest
Dickens was clearly the more sympathetic. His of our modern English story-tellers. So rich and
philosophy was all compact of kindliness, benevo splendid is their combined output that, if all other
lence, joyousness; while throughout the novels of fiction and history and portraiture of their period
his fellow-craftsman runs a more serious note, a were suddenly to be lost, they alone could measure-
more didactic strain, with reproof and warning heard ably replace all with their wonderful composite
more often than any promise of reward. Those who picture of the early Victorian days. Lately it was
know the man, and thus never misunderstand the Thackeray and Dickens ; just now it is Dickens and
satire or the rarer cynicism which sharpen his pen, Thackeray. But we continue to read them both, and
realize the genuinely sensitive humanity which lies each continues to surpass the best of the “best sellers."
so close beneath the surface, — they feel strongly, We are grateful that two such should have lived and
as has been said by another, that Thackeray “could written. We apply to both what Carlyle once said
not have painted “Vanity Fair' as he has unless of Boz: “The good, the gentle, high-minded, ever-
Eden had been shining brightly in his inner eye." friendly, noble Dickens - every inch of him an
Yet even these must admit that Dickens more Honest Man."
WARWICK JAMES PRICE.
nearly fulfilled the complete truth of Thackeray's
own dictum : “If fun is good, truth is better, and
love best of all."
CASUAL COMMENT.
Though at first sight it may seem a contradiction
of what has just been said, it is none the less true THE LIMITATIONS OF A LARGE LIBRARY - for
that Dickens was almost wholly lacking in those in even the biggest institutions, like the biggest men,
definite but very real “feminine ” traits which are have their acutely-felt limitations—are made appar-
to be recognized in Thackeray's mental make-up, ent in a sentence or two of the annual “ Report of
essentially manly as he was. Dickens is the very the Librarian of Congress.” After referring to the
type of the masculine, - strong in resource, virile inadequacy of the book-fund for anything but the
always. His creative capacity seems unlimited, so most indispensable purchases, Dr. Putnam speaks
crowded is his stage with a long succession of figures, of the Library's inability to compete for the owner-
distinct, salient, memorable. It is often said that ship of such rarities as from time to time pass under
the majority of his portraits border on caricature, the auctioneer's hammer. And yet,
he says,
66 such
and that many are plainly such; that he was con material also would be appropriate here; it would
tent to catch a striking likeness by exclusively select render a service both notable and wide-reaching; it
ing and exaggerating a peculiarity which might mark is the customary distinction of other national libra-
a man but surely could not wholly represent him. ries; and its absence from the National Library of
Granting much truth in this (for Boffin passes the the United States must be held a sort of reproach.
limits of possibility, and Sapsea goes beyond the Yet with prices as they are, and competition keen,
bounds of even burlesque), it remains simple truth we cannot apply our funds to it without neglect of
that only the unapproachable Shakespeare, in the the obligations which seem primary and imperative.
whole range of English letters, has given the world The sale at auction, in May last, of the first section
more “living " characters. One is seldom misun of the Robert Hoe collection, afforded a signal illus-
derstood when he refers to a Portia, a Shylock, a tration of our inabilities. There was not a single
Regan, or an Iago; and in quite the same way we item offered, not already here, which would not have
recognize a Pecksniff in every hypocrite, and a been an appropriate and in its way a useful addition
Micawber in every procrastinator, every irrespon to our collections; there was not, however, a single
sible optimist; Quilp is the personification of one upon which we felt that we could justifiably bid.”
meanness and cruelty, Chuzzlewit of avarice and Therefore it is to gift and bequest that the Library
..


1912.]
79
THE DIAL
OF
:
looks for most of its valuable accessions of this na seems worth while to call attention to a book of
ture; and two such recent donations from abroad are verse which, against a background of the vast shad-
mentioned. The Report contains, as usual, a great ows of the Civil War, projects figures so vivid and
amount of interesting information concerning the real as Mr. Penny packer's summer pilgrims, and
Library's various activities. It may be noted here gives utterance to so much stern and lofty idealism.
that the year's accessions of 98,571 books bring the
DR. VINCENT ON PUBLIC LIBRARIES said some
total number up to 1,891,729. In another twelve-
month or so the two-million mark will be passed.
things worth hearing at the late annual meeting of
Noteworthy among the details of equipment, in the
the Minnesota Library Association at Minnetonka.
“Report of the Superintendent of Building and The new president of the State University bad been
Grounds,” are the two new bookstacks, for bound
asked to address the meeting, and he genially re-
newspapers and for music scores, and the connection sponded. From the Library Notes and News” of
of the building with the central heating and lighting the Minnesota Public Library Commission we re-
and power station on Capital Hill.
print a few of his winged words on “The Library
and the Social Memory.” After a witty review of
A REVIVAL THE CHAUCERIAN EPOS, the the topics already discussed, he proceeded to show
genre of the “Canterbury Tales,” is perhaps what how the library stands for the continuity of human
might least be expected in modern verse. Our lyrical
thought, and said: “These are psychological days.
turn, and the conquest of this field by the novel,
There is a psychology of childhood, a psychology of
are against it. In the last generation, Clough and
adolescence, a psychology of advertising, a psychol.
Morris in England, and Whittier in America, did ogy of salesmanship and there is Henry James.”
something of the kind. Mr. Isaac Pennypacker,
And later: "About the goodness of books there may
the biographer of General Meade, in a poem en-
be endless discussion. It is the fashion in certain
titled “Bridle-Paths” has, in limited scope it is
quarters to speak slightingly of fiction, and to regard
true, essayed the Chaucerian method and achieved the large percentage it attains in library circulation
something of the Chaucerian atmosphere. The plan as a negligible quantity so far as educational influ-
of the piece is this : A party of eight friends, denomi ences go. This is manifestly absurd. Good fiction
nated respectively the Sage, Historian, Preacher,
is the vehicle of science, history, literature, philoso-
Doctor, Farmer, Student, and so forth, take horse for phy, and ethics. It gives a background for life; it
a month's ride. Their course leads them through
affords material for personal growth.
It confers a
the borderland between the North and the South sense of human continuity and makes for social
the dark and bloody ground, now smiling in the
solidarity. The very wave of imitation which sets a
May sunshine, where giant armies contended in the million people reading the same novel ... is of
past. The daily incidents of the ride are recorded
vast importance in the fusing of persons into a peo-
the keen zest of life in the saddle, the changing
ple.” What a work, then, in people-fusing, in nation-
aspects of the scenery, the midday rest for lunch, solidifying, in strengthening the sense of human
the stir and bustle in out-of-the-world villages at continuity, have Mr. Farnol and Mr. Harrison and
the coming of such a cavalcade, the evening arrival Mr. Bennett been accomplishing of late — probably
at the wayside inns. And through all, alike on
all unwittingly.
the march as at the fireside, there runs a stream of THE MOST WIDELY CIRCULATED BUT LEAST READ
talk about the historic scenes they are visiting, the BOOK IN THE WORLD, to judge from the combined
heroic personages of the past, or the grave social reports of the Bible societies and the college exam-
problems of to-day and the future. These pilgrims, iners in English, appears to be the book that
unlike Chaucer's, do not tell tales to while away George Borrow once peddled in Spain, to the sub-
the time, but they exchange quip and jest and sequent delight of his readers. He may not have
bright thoughts, and they read each other brief found it a best-seller; but taken the world over, the
poems - lyrics of race, of battle, of love or tragedy. Bible finds hundreds of thousands of purchasers
Some of these songs “ The Jersey Blues” and every year. Nevertheless, when a class of college
“Kruger” are known, and one of them, “The students was subjected to a simple examination on
Dutch on the Delaware,” has been set to music and its character and contents by Professor Rankin of
is widely sung in this country when the sons of the Michigan University, some of the answers to the
Netherlands are gathered together. The composition easiest questions revealed an astonishing ignorance.
recalls in a way Clough’s “ Bothie of Tober-na-Vuo The language in which the Bible was originally
lich.” Time and place and manners and methods written was variously asserted to be Sanskrit, Arabic,
are of course different; but there is the same mak French, German, and early English. As to what
ing of poetry out of the common events and scenes the name “Jordan” designates, one student replied:
of the present, the same disturbed and heretical “ The man who took Moses's place as the head of
attitude toward current opinion and thought, the the Israelites.” The difference between Levi and
same revulsion toward a simpler and more beroic Leviathan was explained thus: “Levi was the
ideal of life than obtains in our money-grabbing, name of a man; Leviathan might be applied to his
motor-rushing age. The poem winds up with a doings." The Isle of Patmos was described as
dramatic episode in the Tennessee mountains. It “the place where the children of Israel were fed


80
[Feb. 1,
THE DIAL
in the wilderness," and the “ mess of pottage” was That the strange word, in spite of its formidable th
confounded with the Lord's Supper. That most of sound — formidable to foreigners, at least— did not
the answers to such questions as these were correct, offend the musician's ear, is at any rate so much in
one can safely assume; but that even a few should its favor.
have been so wide of the mark shows at least how
THE RIGORS OF BIBLIOGRAPHY, like those of whist
little familiar in some families are the scriptures
that formerly were read aloud daily in all rightly-
as played by Mrs. Battle, are no laughing matter.
Let no triflers enter the game. In a letter from Mr.
ordered American households.
G. Watson Cole to the Committee on Survey of Bib-
THE PAY COLLECTION OF PUBLIC LIBRARY FICTION
liographical Literature, published in the current "Bul-
has long since demonstrated its ability to support
letin of the Bibliographical Society of America," we
itself, even at a very low charge to the borrower. read : “Referring once more to the term scientific
At Springfield, Mass., where one cent a day is paid bibliography,' it may be said that most of the bibli-
on each volume circulated, the receipts for the last ographies prepared two or three decades ago or
fiscal year, as appears from the current report of earlier do not fill present requirements. To-day
the librarian, amounted to $1,336,68, while the ex something more is demanded than mere lists of
penditures for books in the same department came
authors, titles, and dates. Works must be carefully
within sixty-four cents of exactly balancing the described and distinctions between different edi-
account. It is further stated that, with all the
tions and issues of the same date set forth in such a
facilities offered so generously to the novel-reader, manner as to readily permit of verification. The
the proportion of more serious works circulated description of books is more and more becoming an
showed a notable increase, the fiction circulation exact science, and I presume it is to this modern
falling to less than fifty-nine per cent, which is the method of bibliographical description that your com-
lowest on record at this library. Sociology gained
mittee alludes in using the term “scientific bibliog-
twenty-two per cent, foreign literature twenty-one raphy.”” Further light on the difficulties of the
per cent, and useful arts twenty-three per cent,
science is thrown by Dr. Ronald Ross, of che Liv-
while the total circulation advanced five per cent
erpool School of Tropical Medicine. He writes to
over that of any previous year. No wonder there
the above-named committee: “The literature on
was need of a new and larger building, which is tropical medicine has become quite enormous, and
now taken possession of, with every prospect of still
as it is written in about thirteen different languages,
greater activity in the future. It is cheering to note the scientific workers cannot keep in touch with it
that the final twenty-five hundred dollars needed to
unless a special official is appointed to study the
pay for this new and handsome structure was a few bibliography and bring out regular lists every
days ago generously subscribed by a former bene month and furnish abstracts if called upon to do
factor of the library. The total cost of the building
so." Accordingly the Liverpool School of Tropical
and equipment, incredible as it may seem, falls about Medicine has its own linguistically and medically
twenty thousand dollars below the original estimate learned bibliographer, and “it appears,” as Dr.
of $375,000.
Ross concludes, " that the time has now come when
THE HERMAPHRODITE PRONOUN, or pronoun of
every
scientific institution must have such an official.
common gender, still remains a desideratum in spite
It saves much waste of money and labor in repeat-
of the attempt to introduce “thon” into the language.
ing work which may often happen to have been done
At least one dictionary, the “ Standard," recognizes
elsewhere already.”
the word. On page 1877, first column, we read: A BANNER YEAR BOOK-PRODUCTION with
“ Thon, pronoun, singular and plural. That one; English publishers was the year just closed. From
he, she, or it: a pronoun of the third person, com tables printed in “The Publishers' Circular" it
mon gender, a contracted and solidified form of that
appears
that total of 10,914 books were put on
one." The report that Chicago's estimable superin the market, of which number 8,530 were new books,
tendent of schools, Mrs. Ella Flagg Young, has sug and 2,384 new editions of old ones. This is one
gested “himer” and “hiser” as pronouns of the hundred and ten more books than were issued the
common gender prompts the query whether, if a preceding year, which in turn showed a slight gain
word invented in cold blood must he adopted, the
year before. In fact, for the past decade
one already proposed and to some extent approved at least there had been a nearly continuous and
should not receive general sanction rather than very considerable annual increase, from a total of
the newer and less prepossessing candidate. Mrs. 4,955 in the first year of the century to the above-
Young's “hiser” recalls the rather uneuphonious named number of last year. It is further to be
“ his'n," which with “hern” and “theirn” used to noted that the publishing activity of 1911 was
be commonly heard in rural New England, and greatest in October and least in June, with August,
probably is still occasionally heard there. It may July, April, and December next in order of slack-
be of interest to note further that, according to the ness. Philosophy and religion showed the greatest
“Standard Dictionary," thon was first proposed as increase, with science and technology, history and
a common-gender pronoun by Mr. Charles Crozat biography, poetry and drama next. The fiction of
Converse, the music-composer, as long ago as 1858. the year sums up 2,215 works, including forty trans-
IN
a
over the


1912.]
81
THE DIAL
PRESIDENT AS A
MAN OF
lations, 933 new editions of previously-published various ways not in the least criminal seek to win a
novels, and four pamphlets. A nation that pub- profit not exactly intellectual from the library. We
lishes yearly one book for every three thousand of recall an impecunious student of genealogy who,
its inhabitants is certainly doing its part, quanti- after making large levies on the time and patience
tatively, toward providing the world with reading of the reference librarian, blandly asked him for a
matter.
postage stamp, to be affixed to a letter addressed to
THE WORST-HOUSED LIBRARY OF ITS CLASS IN
à multimillionaire, and filled with such details of
THE WORLD must be acknowledged to be the library family history as would, the writer believed, establish
of Harvard University, the best scholar's library in a kinship between the said man of millions and the
America, and one of the oldest and most famous. Not one of depleted purse, and so produce results pleas-
unnaturally the recent “Report of the Committee ing to the latter.
ing to the latter. The stamp, moreover, was to be
to Visit the Library” dwells with emphasis on the regarded as an investment which would yield some
need of a new building, a need painfully felt years thousands per cent profit to the investor. Obviously,
ago, and now nothing short of excruciating. The
the time and attention bestowed upon such “literary”
institution that gave to the American Library Asso workers are time and attention unwisely bestowed,
ciation its first president, and, as long as he lived,
though the unwisdom commonly appears only in
its most honored member, Justin Winsor, and that
the sequel.
has contributed to the development of library econ PRINCETON'S NEW
omy as hardly another in the country has done, LETTERS has won many appreciative readers by his
awaits the uprising of some wealthy and generous recent “ Defence of Prejudice, and Other Essays,"
alumnus, or other friend, to endow it with a library one of the best of last year's collections of essays ;
building worthy of its unequalled collection of lit-
and he has long been known to the scholarly world
erary treasures. Two and a half million dollars is as the author of “Inductive Logic,” “ Problems of
the amount called for by the visiting committee, and Philosophy," and "Hegel's Logic,” the latter work
the multimillionaire who hears the call and responds having received such world-wide recognition as to
to it will have his name written but little lower than be deemed worthy of republication in Japanese, not
that of John Harvard himself as a benefactor of the
to mention the Italian version of the book. Chosen
oldest university in America.
by the Scribners as editor of the “Epochs of Philos-
ophy” series, he has enlisted the cooperation of
THE DEATH OF THE EDITOR OF “TRUTH," on the
the leading philosophers of this country and Great
sixteenth of January, removes from the journalistic
world a brilliant and picturesque figure. Henry
Britain in making its twelve volumes authoritative
and noteworthy. His own work, “ The Philosophy
Labouchere was born in London, of French extrac-
tion, in 1831, and after completing his formal edu-
of the Enlightenment,” was selected by the pub-
lishers to head the series. The geniality and vitality
cation at Eton he entered upon an erratic and
of Dr. Hibben, who is said to be the best liked and
adventurous course of life which brought him twice
most admired member of the Princeton faculty, re-
at least to our shores, his early connection with the
veal themselves in his books, which are far from
diplomatic service causing him to take up his resi-
dence for a while in Washington in an official capa-
being the lucubrations of a Dryasdust.
city. But the tedious flummery of diplomacy soon
THE COWPER HOUSE AT OLNEY, the scene of the
disgusted the young man, and he adopted journalism
poet's happiest years, was bought twelve years ago
instead, founding the paper now long associated with
by some of his admirers and presented to the town
his name, in 1877, after various other experiences in
as a memorial and museum. This fitting observance
newspaper work and newspaper-founding. His par-
of the centenary of his death is now followed by a
liamentary activities date back to 1866, though his
movement for the adequate endowment of the house
election from Northampton, a strong radical borough in order that its preservation may be assured. No
which he represented for twenty-six years, occurred
loud trumpetings accompany this praiseworthy enter-
fourteen years later. Of course it is as the fearless
prise; any such ear-splitting note would shock the
and cynical and witty “Labby” of “Truth” that the
lovers of the gentle author of "The Task.” But there
world has best known him and will continue for some
be some in this country who will be glad to be
time to remember him.
told, in a quiet way, that any contribution to the
TRIALS OF THE REFERENCE LIBRARIAN might proposed endowment fund will be gratefully re-
be cited in abundance to supplement Mr. Calvin ceived. No name of treasurer or chairman has
Winter's rece readable article in “The Bookman" come to our notice, but probably an inquiry ad-
on “How to Use a Library.” Not only are there, as dressed to the custodian of the Cowper house at
he intimates, many bunglers and blunderers among Olney would elicit any desired information.
those who visit the public library for information to
be derived from books, but there are also not a few BOOKS FOR THE NEW ENGLAND FARMER, more
visitors who are disposed to make a skilful but not especially the Massachusetts farmer, will henceforth
quite legitimate use of the library's resources. Of come knocking at his door from the library of the
course thefts and mutilations are now an old story, State Agricultural College at Amherst. That is to
but less has been said of the thrifty persons who in say, library extension from the College to the rural
.
may


82
[Feb. 1,
THE DIAL
communities went into operation the first of this ture. This is the proper seal upon a distinctly classical
month, the local public library serving wherever pos course, and upon no other. It should differentiate
sible as the medium of local circulation of the books,
that training which has at least well introduced the
which are selected with reference to the farmer's
student to the treasures of Grecian and (subordi-
interests and needs, and are likely to include first
nately) of Latin thought and expression, with the
poetic acuteness of the one and the formal strength of
and foremost the books named in the “List of Nine
the other. These two disciplines have proved them-
Good Books on Farming” which has been published
selves of incomparable value to regulate, furnish, and
by the Western Massachusetts Library Club and the
uplift the mind.
Massachusetts Free Library Commission, although The obstinate and astigmatic neglect of Greek is
there is no reason except lack of funds why the selec now reflected in the “conveyance” of its characteristic
tion should not be much more inclusive. Special col degree to a use which assails the ancient and irreparable
lections on particular branches of farming will also
honor of that tongue and which annuls its power.
be circulated. Requests from individual borrowers
We do not here urge the immense mental nourish-
font
will continue to receive attention, though the plan
ment of the Attic language and literature
and arsenal of intellectual keenness and verbal skill;
now is to make the local public libraries the medium
nor do we discuss the inferior methods which arro-
through which to meet individual wants.
gantly bid to displace these great assets of wisdom and
culture: but we do aver that the old A.B. is corroded,
MR. CARNEGIE AND St. Paul (the Minnesota
and the question begged, by transferring the word to
city, not the apostle) appear to be in imperfect
cover the refusal of the thing.
harmony on the subject of public libraries. While
Gladly we note that Amherst has led the way in its
Springfield, Mass., is rejoicing over the opening of decision no longer to confer the B.A. for courses which
its magnificent new four-sevenths-Carnegie library include but a portion of those studies properly pertain-
building, St. Paul, which needs more adequate hous- ing to a thorough technical school, she declaring that
ing for its book-collection, hesitates about accepting
to such schools this degree should be reserved without
invasion or imitation.
the steel magnate's aid toward supplying its long-felt
want. Several wealthy and public-spirited citizens
A true and typical college, being distinctly cultural
rather than technical, vocational, or professional, should
have subscribed generously toward a new building,
use the Ph.B. as the appropriate general sign for the
but with the proviso that it shall be built with no
completion of courses which do not reckon with Greek
subsidy from the eminent benefactor of public libra- and are mainly occupied with modern languages and
ries. Without entering upon the vexed question of with English subjects. This would then honestly indi-
tainted money, one can safely assert that a commu cate an avowedly “ modernized” procedure, and would
nity which pays for its own library out of its own ultimately aid the appraisal of its claims.
pocket is likely to take more genuine satisfaction in There truly is (as The Dial has well said) “a hier-
it, and to enjoy a less impaired self-respect, than the archy of values in education.” To eliminate confusion,
community which goes begging for outside assist-
a degree itself should denote substantially that which a
given college course has sought and exalted. To con-
fer the A.B. upon one who has ignored all the wealths
AN ODDITY IN AUTHORS' NAMES, which may
have
of Greek is, to use no sterner term, ambiguous; the
attracted attention, is found in the chiasmus (if we nomenclature assumes a classical training which has been
may use an uncommon but expressive word of Greek denied. This not only is untruthful to the historical
parentage), “Woodrow Wilson,” the name of a his meaning of the “Course in Arts,” but also it works by
torian and statesman, and “ Wilson Woodrow," or
indirection to Philistinize higher education. Choosing
Mrs. Wilson Woodrow, the name of a novelist, short-
nonchalantly to assert that its neological scheme is
story-writer, and essayist, who has recently explained
“more practical,” or “good enough,” let such a college
frankly apply a hall-mark appropriate to its theory; but
the curious similarity, or transposition, thus: “Wood-
let it not abuse terms by borrowing the title of another
row is really my name. My husband and Woodrow
set of ideas. Doubtless a curriculum may eliminate
Wilson are cousins named after uncles with the sur Greek, and yet have merit; but such is not a classical
name of Wilson and Woodrow respectively, and the curriculum in any fair sense of that word.
Christian names Thomas and James; and when
There still are colleges where the light of Hellas has
the boys grew up my husband dropped the James not failed, and which have the right to be recognized as
and Woodrow Wilson dropped the Thomas. So I still walking in that light. Their imprimatur does not
really can't help my name, nor that I am a woman." mean scorn of antiquity. Even under the pressures of
This is even more curious than the late transforma a mercantilist era, they have not retired their ideals.
tion of Mr. Seton Thompson into Thompson Seton.
Their precept honors them. They are in minority, but
they are not shaken of the wind. May they hold the
pass against all Persian odds. If a sincerely classical
education is not to be numbered among the “lost arts,"
COMMUNICATION.
then as one step even the analogies of the “Pure Food
THE CLASSICAL DEGREE.
Law” exact that under no specious plea shall the dis-
(To the Editor of THE DIAL.)
tinguishing label of such an education be perverted or
All along until recent years the degree of Bachelor
counterfeited. Let not the declension from time-tested
of Arts has described a college graduate who has had
standards add falsehood to injury.
several years of study in both Latin and Greek litera-
A COLLEGE PRESIDENT.
ance.


1912.]
83
THE DIAL
occurs.
** The A personally conducted tour of the infernal
The New Books.
No other part of the building being found suit-
ably lighted for the complainant, he attempted
to continue his work where he was, but was
MIRTHFUL MOODS OF A LIBRARIAN.* forced to desist; and then, to fill in the time and
Unlike those amusing creations of his fertile to obtain an impressive exhibit to lay before the
brain, Master Jared Bean, Dr. Matthew Gully, board of directors, he took down in shorthand
Master Peleg Gudger, Dr. Simon Bagley, and
the conversation of the frivolous disturbers of
Master Enoch Sneed all librarians of the old his peace. The record is highly amusing. A
school — Mr. Edmund Lester Pearson, a libra- similar complaint, similarly reinforced, is trans-
rian of the modern type, is endowed with a
mitted to the board by Dr. Nicholas Jasper, who
very lively sense of humor. In this he is by is engaged in the preparation of the first volume
no means peculiar among those of his calling of his Arabic dictionary (on which he has been
in the present day, and therefore his clever and continuously occupied since 1867) in the alcove
sprightly sketches in “The Librarian at Play” on the other side of the one where the talking
will elicit not a few chuckles of amusement and
No reader of the conversation reported
delight on the part of learned bibliothecaries as by these two indignant scholars can refuse them
well as on that of unlearned readers in general. his sympathy.
In his literary and journalistic rôle as “The
Librarian ” of the Boston “Transcript,” Mr. regions brings the writer face to face with the
Pearson has attracted wide attention by the edifying spectacle of the peculiar penalties in-
weekly exercise of his nimble wit and frolic
flicted on the various sorts of library-abusers.
fancy in the delineation of the eccentricities and For example, of one group of sufferers he is told
perversities and comicalities to be met with in by his guide:
the library world. From these care-dispelling “ These are the annotators, the people who work off
compositions of his playful pen the present selec-
their idiotic opinions on the margins and fly-leaves of
tion of sketches has been made, with the ex-
books. They dispute the author's statements, call him
a liar and abuse him generally. The one on the end
ception of two articles — “Mulch” and “The
used to get all the biographies of Shakespeare he could
Crowded Hour” — which now appear for the find and cover every bit of blank paper in them with
first time.
pencil-writing signed. A Baconian.' He usually began
Better than further description of Mr. Pear-
with the statement : • The author of this book is a pig-
headed fool.' The man next to him believed that the
son's book will be a few samples from its pages. earth is flat, and he aired that theory so extensively
A chapter entitled “The Conversation Room with a fountain-pen that he ruined about two hundred
amusingly presents the difficulties and distrac dollars' worth of books. They caught him and put
tions encountered by two scholars engaged in
him in jail for six months, but he will have to take his
learned research at the Blankville Public Li-
medicine here just the same.”
brary. In despair at the impossibility of secur-
The u medicine” for each of these malefactors
ing quiet for their philological studies within was a certain number of years' exercise in climb-
the library's precincts, these two savants address ing barbed-wire fences, the number of years vary-
their complaints to the board of directors. Dr. ing with the gravity of the offense. A glimpse
Obadiah Wurzberger begins his letter thus:
also was obtained of the tortures to which “re-
« My name is doubtless familiar to you, but perhaps formed spellers” are subjected in the kingdom
you are not aware that I am engaged in an important of Pluto.
piece of research in your library. When I state that “They were busily engaged in clipping one another's
my work is an inquiry into the Indo-Iranian origins of ears off with large scissors. There was a sign on the
the noun · Fuddy-dud' and its possible derivation from hill beside them. It read : EARS ARE UNNECESSARY.
the Semitic, you will understand that it requires the WHY NOT GET RID OF THEM? LEAVE ENUF TO HEAR
closest possible application and an entire freedom from
Don'T STOP TIL YOU ARE THRU."
interruptions and distractions. . . The library, and
particularly the remote part of it in which my alcove
Not a few old acquaintances, familiar to
is situated, has been little frequented during this hot readers of “ The Library and the Librarian”
weather. Yesterday, however, an invasion began. The and of the “Transcript " articles, figure more
alcove next to mine was visited by a succession of incon-
or less conspicuously in the pages of “The
gruous, inconsequent persons whose conversation made it
utterly impossible for me to work. A complaint to Miss
Librarian at Play.” The Ezra Beesly Free
Mayhew, the assistant in charge of the library, elicited
Public Library of Baxter is the scene of some
the fact that conversation is allowed in this alcove.” amusing incidents in the book. Miss Pansy
*THE LIBRARIAN AT PLAY. By Edmund Lester Pearson.
Patterson, assistant reference librarian, there
Boston : Small, Maynard & Co.
wrestles with the various conundrums pro-
WITH.


84
[Feb. 1,
THE DIAL
pounded to her; the voluble Mrs. Pomfret of no doubt that as long as the world exists some
Smith tries to describe a book she wants, but perverse souls will invent perpetual-motion ma-
whose title and author she has forgotten ; and chines, while others will square the circle. In
Mrs. Humphrey Mayo, with the aid of Mr. biology it is "spontaneous generation” which
Reginald Kookle, ornithologist and author of will engage the attention of unappreciated genius
“ Winged Warblers of Waltham ” and “Birds down through the ages.
I Have Seen Between Temple Place and Boyl In common with all problems of this class,
ston Street," labors at the identification of a spontaneous generation appeals by its beauti-
feathered biped which she has caught a glimpse fully irrefragable logic. The most orthodox and
of in the shrubbery of her lawn and which conservative of biologists will admit that at some
finally turns out to be the gallina domestica. time in the history of this planet living substance
Some bits of verse, both quoted and original, must have been synthesized from non-living in-
give variety to the book's contents. From Mr. organic matter. But if it happened so once, why
Pearson's own pen we quote the beginning and not again? Who can say that somewhere in the
the end of a two-page ode “To a Small Library inconceivable manifoldness of environmental
Patron.”
conditions which exists upon this earth there
“ Uncombed, a bit unwashed, with freckled face, may not be going on to-day and every day this
And slowly moving jaws — implying gum; change from the lifeless to the living, without
A decade's meager dignity of years
the intermediation of already living substance?
Upon your head — your only passports these,
All unconcerned you enter — Fairyland!
Obviously nobody can make such an affirmation;
and the spontaneous generationist is logically
“For here dwell monstrous Jinn, and great birds fly triumphant, as indeed he must always be.
In
Through haunted valleys sow with diamonds.
Here Rumpelstiltskin hides his secret name,
this thought lies the ignis fatuus which lures
The talking Flounder comes at beck and call, him on and on to never-ceasing labor, done with
The King of Lilliput reviews his troops,
all the painstaking care and vigorous scientific
The Jabberwock and Bandersnatch cavort,
precautions against error which the most exact-
And mice and pumpkin change to coach and four.
ing critic could demand.
– with towsled head and stockings torn,
Just here is one of the most curious paradoxes
Irreverent and calm and unabashed,
in this whole subject of the abnormal psychology
Intent on swiping Billy Johnson's cap-
of science. For while our friend the independ-
You pass the magic portal unaware,
ent is invariably successful in his researches
And, careless, saunter into lands of gold.”
if we accept his valuation of the results, such
Most heartily is Mr. Pearson's book to be com an outcome never satisfies him, but on the con-
mended as a cure for that malady not so very trary he is impelled to do the same thing over
uncommon among librarians, and not wholly un and over again. Who ever heard of a circle-
known outside of libraries, – taking oneself too squarer stopping after he had once, by his own
seriously.
PERCY F. BICKNELL.
token, reached his goal? Or who, having once
brewed an homunculus in a beaker, was ever
known to rest upon the laurels of so glorious
MAKING LIFE IN A TEST TUBE.* (if true) an achievement? This ceaseless and
Every science has in it at least one grand characteristic of the scientific odd fellow, is in
feverish pursuit of the same object, which is so
problem which can never be solved to the satis-
marked contrast to the methods of his more
faction of all mankind. After such a question ordinary colleague. When the latter makes a
has been settled in a way
to the great majority of normal persons, there discovery, and convinces himself that his conclu-
sions are correct, he publishes the results and
always remains a small, but wonderfully ingen-
ious and persistent, residue who absolutely refuse stops working on that particular thing. In the
to regard the matter as at all closed. Driven
sure conviction that he is right, he is satisfied
to leave it to other men, even to posterity, to
by an intellectual zeal which must compel our
admiration, however misguided we may suppose goal has come in sight. Not so the paradoxer;
repeat and test his observations; for him a new
it to be, these delightful “ paradoxers”. proceed he trots gaily and ever more briskly around the
perennially to re-solve the problem. So it admits
same old logical circle. Is it because of this
* THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. Being an Account of Experiments circularity of occupation that an unfeeling world
with Certain Superheated Saline Solutions in Hermetically
Sealed Vessels. By H. Charlton Bastian, M.D., F.R.S.
has come to call him a “crank”?
New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons.
A belief in the occurrence, either regularly
6. But you
which appears


1912.]
85
THE DIAL
or occasionally, of a spontaneous generation of the meantime); seal the tube; place it on a
living material from non-living was quite gen- protected balcony facing the east; leave it for
eral down to the time of Louis Pasteur. He six months — and then open it. If the weather
showed, by a series of brilliantly conceived has been favorable and other conditions pro-
and rigorously executed experiments, which laid pitious, you may find in a sediment at the bottom
the foundation of the science of bacteriology, what Dr. Bastian says are living organisms.
that whenever such measures were taken as to All this is put forth with the utmost serious-
insure absolutely that no living organism re ness and exactly as I have copied it. In that
mained in a particular spot and that no living most expressive phrase of the street, “ Can you
organism could get to that spot from the outside beat it?”
RAYMOND PEARL.
world, then nothing living ever appeared there,
regardless of the nature of the place itself or of
the surrounding conditions. About ten years
after these results were announced a young
THE LEGALIZED EXPLOITATION
OF THE PEOPLE. *
English physician, Dr. H. Charlton Bastian, in
1870, published his first work in support of the Under the title “Social Forces in American
doctrine of the de novo origin of living things History,” Mr. A. M. Simons presents a brief
in infusions. We have now before us for re history of the United States designed to show
view his latest (one certainly hopes not his last) | how the wealthier classes have usually exploited
contribution to the subject. During all this the poorer, and how our constitution and laws
long period he has not devoted himself exclu- have represented from time to time the legal-
sively to this matter, but has made for himself ized forms which this exploitation should take.
a distinguished name and place as a physician. The Colonial charters or other agreements
In 1898, however, he retired from active pro were intended to serve the interests of British,
fessional work, and began once more the pur- French, or Dutch traders or companies, though
suit of his beloved will-o'-the-wisp — making at times the colonists themselves were allowed
life. Since that date his output of books on certain " ground floor privileges. The State
the subject has been steady. Each one when it and Confederate constitutions of 1776 were the
appears falls quite flat as far as the professional results of a break between the European capital-
biologists are concerned : it is not discussed ists and the rising commercialists of America,
any more than is the latest perpetual-motion which break brought on the Revolution. Here
machine amongst physicists. But with the again the men who were to benefit from the new
utmost patience and good humor, Dr. Bastian regime were not the great mass of plain people
proceeds to write another book, setting forth who fought in or sustained Washington's army,
the results of some further experiments still but the privileged groups of merchants, fisher-
more decisively proving (to his mind) the same men, and plantation lords, and their allies the
old conclusion.
clergy and the lawyers — few of whom actually
The present volume, “ The Origin of Life,” | bore arms in behalf of their own cause. The
is a memoir originally offered to the Royal democratic tone of the Declaration of Indepen-
Society for publication in its Philosophical dence and other documents of 1776, was only a
Transactions. That body promptly and une sop thrown to the people in order to arouse their
quivocally refused to print it. By so doing enthusiasm, their fighting blood.
they furnished Dr. Bastian an opportunity to But the masters, the leaders -
Washington,
write a lengthy and most entertaining preface. the Adamses, and the rest
the Adamses, and the rest - saw that too much
The memoir itself sets forth with great wealth of had been conceded ; and in 1787 they entered
detail and the greatest attention to scientific ex into a wide-extended conspiracy to deprive the
actitude, the following charming little mediæval people of the dangerous powers which they
fairy story.
“usurped” to the detriment of the wealthier
Suppose you put in a glass tube of a particu- classes. Consequently we have the Philadelphia
lar shape and kind an ounce of distilled water; Convention of that year, its secret proceedings,
then add two, three, or four drops of sodium and the frequent attempts of men like Hamilton
silicate, six grains of ammonium phosphate, and to build a new government after the model of
six drops of dilute phosphoric acid, or eight the corrupt English system. The Constitution
drops of liquor ferri pernitratis ; boil for ten was the gift of these anti-democratic leaders to
minutes (I suppose it will do no harm to say
*SOCIAL FORCES IN AMERICAN HISTORY, By A, M
abracadabra rapidly forward and backward in Simons. New York: The Macmillan Co.


86
[Feb. 1,
THE DIAL
to say
the States and the people, which, proving un prove that class rapacity never failed to raise its
acceptable, was practically forced upon them ugly head on these occasions. Yet he fails, some-
by means of the limited suffrage and the most times, to show the real significance of the con-
unequal and unfair representation in the con flicts he describes : for example, in his account
ventions which adopted the famous document. of the bank in chapter fifteen. The national
When the national Congress, the presidency, bank was, as he claims, a powerful agency aim-
and the supreme court were organized, these ing at the exercise of some of the sovereign
offices and institutions were seized upon by the powers of the people for the benefit of a small
commercial and planting interests, the manu coterie of capitalists; but the state banks were
facturing and the navigating interests, and not so bad and so entirely inefficient as a prac-
finally, at the close of the Reconstruction tical check upon
“ the monster
as we are left
period, by the great capitalists - the railway, to infer from the treatment here given.
industrial, mining, and banking lords, who have The chapters on “ The Rise of Northern
maintained their power almost unimpaired to Capitalism,
Capitalism, « The Armed Conflict,” and “Re-
the present hour.
construction” are very interesting if depressing:
This is the outline. The author has read The conclusion, “The Decadence of Capitalism,'
widely, both in the sources and in the secondary which carries with it the strong suggestion that
literature; he has seized upon certain important the laborers— the “ fourth estate,” I was about
incidents and events and made them
prove
what
are now ready to come to power, is far
they do in fact seem to show. The story is in- from convincing. Why is it not more likely now
teresting, fascinating in some of its chapters; than ever before that the great lords of industry
but it is not likely to increase the reader's faith will continue to control governmental action and
in the leaders of the people in the past, or in the gradually reduce society to a new feudal organ-
sacrosanct character of our Federal Constitution. ization in form, as it already is in fact, and
Notwithstanding this radical tendency of the make“ labor" permanently subservient through
author, the reviewer has read every chapter of their absolute power of the purse and by means
the book with real pleasure and sometimes with of their elaborate pension system, designed espe-
absorbing interest. And with most of the group- cially to break down the influence of organized
ing of facts, as well as the resulting inferences labor ?
labor? Are there not already railway com-
and conclusions, he is in entire accord.
panies, industrial organizations, which exercise
well-told story of selfish greed and over-reaching the essential functions of sovereign powers and
cupidity working through laws and constitu- send more senators to Washington than any
tions in order the better to appropriate the goods single State? Are they not really states within
and the values created by the toiling masses of states ? And why may they not combine, as in
the people who have never yet been fairly rep fact they have already done, to appropriate the
resented in the conventions and the law-making powers of the Federal government and to use
bodies.
them to their own aggrandizement? Instead of
But while this is said, it must also be pointed a future Nation in which the proletariat shall
out that the book proves too much.
The Fed rule, are we not much more likely to enter upon
eral Convention was undoubtedly the result of a state in which our present masters shall have
a reactionary movement, but it was hardly a become supreme? It seems that peoples pass
conspiracy; the adoption of the Constitution was through cycles of evolution, just as Mr. Simons
certainly due to sharp practices, and the noto insists ; but it is nowhere on record that the
riously unjust system of representation in the masses have actually governed, unless perchance
several adopting conventions was cheerfully used in some of our frontier states of a hundred years
or abused. But if the Constitution had been ago. But it is not the business of the reviewer
the product of a conspiracy, it may well be
to
argue,
much as he may lament with the author
doubted whether even these advantages of the
the tendency of history.
6 Fathers” would have sufficed.
This book has already caused considerable
During the long controversies over the tariff, discussion ; may its circle of readers continue to
internal improvements, and the national bank, widen. If the older historians of the country
there were again the same conflicts of the in would ponder the contentions and the facts
terests, and the usual victories of organized which the author so well presents, it might be
wealth against the plainer and simpler people; of much service to them and the country.
and the author makes good use of the facts to
WILLIAM E. DODD.
It is a


1912.]
87
THE DIAL
-
colors. In the greater struggle between the na-
AN ENGLISH WOMAN'S BOOK
ON GERMANY.*
tions the same principle holds good. The fittest
wins. Therefore it is above all things neces-
One rarely meets with a more agreeable book
sary that we should steel ourselves in national
than that by Miss I. A. R. Wylie upon “The
Germans.” It is the faithful work of a first-rate believing that if we are worthy, if we have re-
virtues, in self-sacrifice, in unsparing endeavor,
English woman (than which “this planet never
tained our old high standard, we shall also
produced a more splendid creature”), sprightly, retain our place in the world. Wealth, Dread-
open-minded, observant; it is based on six years' noughts, spasmodic bursts of activity, defensive
intimate association with the Germans them-
alliances, and so on, will not save us from the
selves, chiefly in the region of Baden. Best of
future our own fitness is our one salvation,
all, this labor was done in the spirit of sincere
and our fitness lies in our national character,
love for its subject, using just enough shadows
to make the picture a true one. Along with not in our national pocket. At the bottom it is
not the Germans we are afraid of but of our-
an unfeigned admiration for almost everything selves, and when we have once recovered our
German, there are frequent and sounding whacks self-confidence, our justified belief in our own
at British (and we must regretfully supply strength and virtue, we shall be able to greet
“ American ”) social pretence, happy-go-lucky the growing nation as an ally and a friend. The
disorganization, slackness in education, and bar- only question is whether that justified belief and
barism in the things which belong to Art. self-confidence is still possible.
The volume deals with all sorts and conditions
The pictures are brought together from a wide
of Germans, in their days of toil and hours of
area, and are of good size and contemporary; the
ease; it shows their inner social groupings, their
whole make-up of the book is ample and gener-
daily occupations, their recreations, their relation
ous. The writing is distinctly good, the phrasing
to larger economic problems. The native tem-
fresh and agreeable. There is a cheery and inost
perament here shown forth holds many fine ele-
liberal inaccuracy in the mere matter of correct-
ments : honor, genuineness, order, cleanliness,
ness in the use of German words, which com-
self-respect, progressiveness, thrift; a wholesome
balance between Sense and Sensibility. The ports, belike, with the general breezy freedom of
the book as a whole. For our own part, would
supreme wealth of the country, according to
this exhibit, lies in Character: Germany appears (unknown in this sense in Germany) assumed
that we might never again see the word Stein
as the veriest refuge of plain living and high
as a native term for “ beer-mug”!
thinking
Touching upon almost every other matter
JAMES TAFT HATFIELD.
within the range of the higher human interests,
it is unfortunate that the book has no chap-
ter on German Religion (compare, for instance, HALF-A-DOZEN BOOKS ON CHINA. *
the prevailing highly un-Christian conception
of " military honor,” so well presented by the
Even before the little-expected outbreak of the
author). Let us hope that she may give us,
present revolution in China, that country was com-
ing more and more within the range of Western
some day, a full treatment - which might well
interest. Eight volumes, issued in the present sea-
make a volume by itself — of this important son, and written before a successful revolution was
subject.
dreamed of, are proof of this, if any were needed.
The aim of this work was not mere entertain Two of them have already been noted in these
ment; it has a high constructive purpose: it is
* INTELLECTUAL AND POLITICAL CURRENTS IN THE FAR
a noble plea for heartfelt friendship between East. By Paul S. Reinsch. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co.
England and Germany, in which generosity and THE COMING CHINA, By Joseph King Goodrich, Some-
not shall predominate. Its appeal is high
time Professor in the Imperial Government College, Kyoto.
envy
Illustrated. Chicago : A. C. McClurg & Co.
and searching We condemn all attempts to The Eighteen Capitals of China. By William Edgar
cripple a rival in sport, firstly, because it is un Geil. Illustrated. Philadelphia : J. B. Lippincott Co.
fair; secondly, because it is rarely successful.
ACROSS CHINA ON Foot. Life in the Interior, and the
Reform Movement. By Edwin J. Dingle. Illustrated. New
We know that the fittest wins, and as good York: Henry Holt & Co.
sportsmen we prefer to stand aside, cheering Two YEARS IN THE FORBIDDEN CITY. By the Princess
the winner, even though he does not carry our
Der Ling, First Lady in Waiting to the Empress Dowager,
Illustrated. New York: Moffat, Yard & Co.
* THE GERMANS. By I. A. R. Wylie. Illustrated. THE EDUCATION OF WOMEN IN CHINA. By Margaret E.
Indianapolis: The Bobbs-Merrill Co.
Burton. Illustrated. New York: Fleming H. Revell Co.


88
[Feb. 1,
THE DIAL
columns, and from them all the reviewer has gained present writer remembers meeting in Shanghai, some
information of many kinds, but all helpful in the years ago, one of these former students, then em-
present crisis.
ployed in the Imperial Chinese Customs, but perhaps
Largely, but not solely, concerned with China is even more keenly interested in gathering all kinds
the notable volume of Professor Paul S. Reinsch, of of information concerning local conditions which
the University of Wisconsin. His “Intellectual might be of use to his distant master.
and Political Currents in the Far East" is a product Very different in aim and achievement is “The
of American scholarship of which his countrymen Coming China,” by Mr. Joseph King Goodrich.
may well be proud. For while others have written This book is concerned largely with the relations
of actions, he has studied the springs of action, and between China and the powers, notably the United
the essays which make up this volume offer the States and Japan, past, present, and future. Long
Western reader an insight into the present thought before the reader has finished the volume he will
and life of the Orient not to be found elsewhere. have found many instances of erroneous and careless
Three of the essays are concerned with China. In statements, of frequent repetitions, and of arguments
“ Intellectual Tendencies in the Chinese Reform without conclusions. Of the many errors in state-
Movement” we have a penetrating study of the ments of fact and chronology, enumeration is need-
mingling of Chinese traditions and Western thought less. Persons familiar with the recent literature
which lie at the bottom of the present revolution. concerning China will be surprised to find, at this
The precepts of the classics and of the later philo-date, the “Letters of a Chinese Official” frequently
sophers are noted, the influence of the modern press referred to as the work of a Chinese statesman. Far
and drama is made clear, and the relative import different from Professor Reinsch’s cosmopolitanism
ance of the Western radical writers is shown. We is the bitter antipathy of Mr. Goodrich for Japan.
learn that,
It seems to be difficult for Westerners to see the
“Departing for some length from the traditional classic good points of both the Chinese and the Japanese,
standards, although retaining the methods of the Chinese but Mr. Goodrich carries his prejudices to an ex-
stage, dramatic authors and actors of the present try to in treme. A discussion of the opium evil covers almost
fluence thought by portraying scenes that have a distinct
political or social significance, teaching by example and
an entire chapter. We are told that “The assistance
holding up the mirror to the life of the present. Liang that the United States can and ought to render to
Chi-chao attempted to familiarize the popular mind with China in religious instruction, general education,
ideas of political change by dramatizing the reconstruction manufacturing and industrial development, railways,
of Italy, bringing forward Mazzini, Garibaldi, and Cavour as
characters on the stage.”
and all other branches, is as nothing compared with
what is an absolute obligation in the matter of opium,
And again :
if we are to uphold our reputation for civilization ”;
“It is interesting to see how books, which with us had
but nowhere is it explained what the United States
done their work a hundred years ago, and which are now
resting as pensioned veterans on our library shelves, assume
should do or can do to meet this “ obligation.” The
again in these distant regions the character of potent revo-
volume contains thirty-two illustrations.
lutionary forces. Their thoughts, which we coolly study Two rather exceptional travel books merit more
and analyze as historical data, inflame the youth of China
attention than can be given in a review of this na-
to heroic sacrifice and rash action in behalf of ideals which
to them are blushing with the glory of the morning. So
ture. Not content with ascending the Yangtze and
our now rather sedate friends, Rousseau and Tom Paine,
with following the Great Wall from the desert to
experience a new birth and enter again upon a state of the sea, Dr. William Edgar Geil set for himself a
militancy."
third feat, the visiting of each of “The Eighteen
A chapter on “ The New Education in China” out- Capitals of China.” The difficult task was performed
lines the development of the present system and a year ago, apparently for the first time by a Wes-
points out the difficulties, financial, political, and terner, and a large volume contains some of the in-
technical, which hinder its sound advance. And a formation gathered during its execution. Each of
third chapter gives the best account we have seen of the capitals is described with varying completeness,
the movement for a parliament, describing each step considerable information is offered concerning mis-
down to the formation of a cabinet last May. The sionary enterprise and the many signs of progress,
remaining chapters evidence the same extensive and many extracts from the local annals or literature
knowledge, keen insight, and sympathetic considera are given. In addition to seventeen of the provincial
tion and they should prove of invaluable service in capitals there is an account of Nanking, the capital
furthering a better understanding of the important of the Liang-Kiang Viceroyalty, and of Peking, the
movements now active in the Far East. It would be “Capital of Capitals,” which is treated as the real
extremely difficult, perhaps impossible, for an inves-capital of Chihli, rather than Paoting or Tientsin.
tigator so far from his field to study so difficult a Typical of the general treatment is the chapter de-
subject were he not assisted by men on the ground. voted to Wuchang, which figures so prominently in
It is a striking tribute to the extent and strength of the recent dispatches. The Chinese ideograph for
Professor Reinsch's influence that throughout the Wuchang, which signifies “ Military Splendor,” is
entire Orient former students, trained in his class given. Then follows a brief description of the city,
room, have been of service in the gathering of the and of Hanyang and Hankow, across the Yangtze,
material which he has used so effectively. The in which are incorporated several local incidents,
99
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1912.]
89
THE DIAL
and a map.
the top
of
and an account of the rise of Chang Chih Tung, the The volume contains 107 excellent illustrations,
great Viceroy of Hu-Kwang. And, finally, several
pages are devoted to the educational work of the Within a year, three volumes have been devoted
local missionaries. The volume contains 139 illus to the life of the great Empress Dowager of China.
trations and maps of several of the cities, while at From the earlier accounts of Mrs. Headland, Mrs.
many of the pages are Chinese proverbs Conger, Miss Carl, and a few other favored West-
in the ideograph and in translation. Dr. Geil has erners, some knowledge had been gained of the
again supplied a mass of information which should more intimate life of Tzu Hsi; but now we have
prove very useful now that the whole world is tak. an account written by her favorite lady-in-waiting
ing a course in Chinese geography.
who served during 1903 and 1904. The Princess
Different in every way was the expedition plan. Der Ling is the daughter of Lord Yu Keng, a promi-
ned by Mr. Edwin J. Dingle one evening in Singa nent Manchu official, who had served as Minister to
pore. A trained journalist in need of a holiday, Japan, President of the Tsung-li-yamen, and Min-
Mr. Dingle determined to see China from the inside ister to France. His daughters were mainly edu-
"ere modernity had robbed her and her wonderful cated in Paris during their residence of four years,
people of their isolation and antediluvianism.” His and on their return to China, the Empress Dowager
book, “ Across China on Foot,” shows how well he was so pleased with their talents that she invited
succeeded. Up the Yangtze he proceeded by steamer mother and daughters to become members of her
to Ichang, and then through the famous gorges and court. Thus this western-trained Manchu young
rapids in a small river-boat to Chung-king. There woman gained a personal knowledge of the Dowager
he outfitted for his tramp across Szechwan and and of the court far superior to any available to us
Yunnan to Bhamo, in upper Burma, a stretch of at the present time. The story is well told, and the
some 1600 miles. With the exception of a few life of the court, with its constant round of duties
miles when he rode in order to have the
company
of and pleasures, the kindliness and at times the sever-
a well-informed missionary, this entire journey was ity of the Empress, and the pathetic situation of the
made on foot. At times, for appearance's sake, it Emperor, are charmingly described. It is interest-
was necessary to hire a chair to accompany him, ing to read the palace version of the interviews with
though never used; and later he secured a pony to the foreign ministers' wives, and of the painting of
be available in case of need, which, on the second the Dowager's portrait by Miss Carl. An incident
day, broke his arm with a too well-directed kick. illustrative of the very human qualities of the old
The narrative, written from day to day on a type- ruler may be cited here. During the Dragon Boat
writer which caused endless amazement to the in Festival, when all the high officials and members of
quisitive Chinese, gains in vividness over any loss the court made presents to the Empress Dowager,
of style. It tells of hard marches — toward the “Her Majesty was very angry with one of the wives of a
end of the journey through a wonderful mountain certain Prince because her presents were the poorest. .
She told us to measure the silks and ribbons in that tray,
country with constant climbings and descents, -- of
and leave it in the hall. The ribbons were all of different
poverty-stricken people, of squalid lodgings and
lengths, all too short to trim a gown, and the dress materials
wretched food, of unexpected signs of progress even were not of good quality. Her Majesty said to me: “Now
in the remote regions, and of the splendid work of you look for yourself. Are these good presents ? I know
the scattered missionaries. To the latter frequent ple, and they of course would select the best for themselves,
very well all these things were given to them by other peo-
reference is made. "In all my journeyings in Yun and give me what was left. They know they are obliged to
nan I was increasingly impressed with the value of send me something. I am surprised to see how careless they
the missionary, that man who of all men in the Far are. Probably they thought I receive so many presents I
East is the most subject to malicious criticism, and
would not notice. They are mistaken, for I notice the poor-
est the first; in fact, I can remember everything. I can see
generally, be it said, from those persons who know
those who gave me things in order to please me, and those
little or nothing about his work." And speaking of who gave them because they were obliged to. I will return
opium, the journalist who had formerly defended
them the same way.'
the drug now acknowledges his error. "No language Twenty-two illustrations, principally from photo-
of mine now can exaggerate the evil, and if I would graphs taken within the palaces, add to the value of
be honest, I cannot describe it as anything but China's this very interesting book.
most awful curse.” The
very
fact that a stranger, Timely indeed is Miss Margaret E. Burton's care-
entirely unfamiliar with the language, could make ful study of “The Education of Women in China,”
such a journey through the interior of China speaks for the future of that land depends in no small
well for the innate kindliness of the people. Were degree upon the influence of the wives and mothers
he a linguist or an explorer, better equipped with of the men of the coming generations. Such a study
instruments and other facilities, Mr. Dingle might is, naturally, concerned mainly with the efforts of
have given a more substantial contribution to our Western missionaries, although more recently gov-
knowledge of little-known lands and peoples ; but ernment and private schools for women have been
this was not his intention, and he has succeeded established. The development of women's educa-
admirably in giving us an interesting account of a tion is described, from the days when, in the face of
difficult feat, as well as the observations of a trained almost insurmountable difficulties, a few frightened
journalist upon present conditions in western China. children were tempted into the mission schools, to the


90
[Feb. 1,
THE DIAL
an American
Art as an
present time when the successors of those scholars dex likewise includes many mistakes; e. 9., Coxe,
are now in demand throughout the Empire as lead A. C., Bishop of N. Y., for Western N. Y.; Hunt-
ers of the new movement. And, as Miss Burton ington, F. E., Bishop of N. Y., for Huntington,
well points out, the opportunity is now presented for F. D., Bp. of Central N. Y.; Macauley for Ma-
strengthening the Christian schools, which may serve caulay. Typographically, too, the book is hardly
as models for the government and gentry schools. creditable to those concerned. In spite of these
The volume contains sixteen illustration from photo serious defects, the volume will prove interesting
graphs.
PAYSON J. TREAT. reading, and will be welcomed by the many ad-
mirers of Professor Tyler. It reveals the growth
of his mind; the problems that confronted him ; the
BRIEFS ON NEW BOOKS.
trials that beset his literary life; the determination
with which he clung to his ideals of scholarly activity
Ever since the lamented death of
Memorials of
and authorship. It is interesting to note the differ-
Professor Moses Coit Tyler, of Cor-
scholar.
nell University, in 1900, those who
ent careers that tempted him at various times: the
knew him have been awaiting the appearance of his
Christian ministry; the editorship of “The Even-
life and letters.
ing Post,” in 1874; the presidency of Cornell, in
Professor Tyler's daughter, Mrs.
1880; and professorial chairs at Columbia and Yale.
Austen, has now partially fulfilled these expecta-
tions with a volume entitled “Moses Coit Tyler,
One regrets that he did not bring to fruition more
of the literary projects that he conceived; yet as it
1835–1900: Selections from his Letters and Dia-
was, in the influence he exerted over hundreds of
ries” (Doubleday, Page & Co.): In some respects students, and in his noble volumes of literary his-
the work is disappointing. Professor Tyler was not
tory, he left a monument that will long endure.
a voluminous letter-writer, and many letters written
to him are lacking in special significance. Some of
Mr. L. March-Phillips's “Art and
the entries in the diary, too, are not of general in expression of Environment” is a distinctly sugges-
terest; and the volume would have been more valu environment. tive and helpful book upon the inter-
able had it been made smaller. The editorial work pretation of art as an expression of the collective
is very far from what we should expect of the human mind, working under the combined socialized
daughter of a careful and brilliant scholar. Decid force of a national consciousness. The author's
edly poor taste has been shown in the selection of conception is not new; but as a distinct thesis,
materials: some of the harsh opinions expressed will consistently carried out, it has not received the
do no good to the reputation of their author, who prob-explicit elaboration here accorded it. To most
ably intended nothing more than to let off some in writers on art, the art product has appealed first as
dignation of the passing moment. For example, the an æsthetic content, with secondary reference to art
unfavorable comments (p. 250) on the late Presi as the expression of the mind acted upon strongly
dent C. K. Adams, who can no longer defend him by the environment. Architecture naturally car-
self, should have been omitted; there may have been, ries the illustrative burden of the theme; since it
moreover, something to say on his side. Some pass is the most national expression, the most collect-
ages which cannot fail to give pain to living persons ively enduring record, in the language of art.
are likewise retained, while names of persons wholly Egypt furnishes the first example, and that largely
unimportant or of whom only good is spoken are negative. It is the tyranny of the Nile that made
carefully suppressed. Not all of the letter or diary Egyptian culture and its art. Conventional rigid-
allusions are adequately introduced or explained;ity of an untrained mind, not yet imbued with the
e.g., Dean Huffcut's letter on page 305. A good ästhetic temper, forced into stone the "mentally
biography of Professor Tyler has yet to be written. archaic" immovable civilization. The Greek was
The proof-reading has been wretchedly careless; art-conscious through and through. Intellect was
we have noticed, e. g., Lessing for Lossing, p. 84; awakened, sensitive and responsive ; filled with an
Massen for Masson, p. 98; Garrison for Garnison, ideal of life that was essentially æsthetic, the classic
p. 217; Hexentansplatz for Hexentanzplatz, p. 221; purity of a Greek temple became and remained the
Wuchsmuth for Wachsmuth, p. 225; Luthard for expression of restrained lucidity of proportion. The
Luthardt, Winterschied for Windscheid, p. 226 ; Arab introduces an Oriental motive of mystic elab-
Ostreich for Oesterreich, Gonnerwitz for Connewitz, oration, but fantastic, flimsy, transitory. Roman
Brodchen for Broedchen, p. 232; Wuendt for dominion appears in the widespread use of the arch
Wundt, p. 233; Masordic for Masoretic, p. 234, for all purposes, great as engineering, yet limited in
235; Brouges for Bruges, Allegemeine for Allge- originality, and unable quite to develop the arch to
meine, p. 237; Delitsch for Delitzsch, p. 237f.; its possibilities because of the conservative allegiance
Lindeneau for Lindenau, p. 238; Gevandhaus for to the lintel construction. By contrast, the Gothic
Gewandhaus, p. 242; Wittheimer for Wittum, expresses the freedom of unrestraint, and the embodi-
p. 243; Fisher for Fischer, p. 244; uebergesetzt ment of energy striving vertically in every spring of
for uebersetzt, und for and, p. 259; “death of” | vault, every stress and strain of column and girder
omitted, p. 273, 1. 2; Windemere for Windermere, and buttress, a democratic pervasive movement.
p. 298 ; Lewis for Lévis, p. 308. The meagre in The Renaissance brings back with altered meaning
-
.
.


1912.)
91
THE DIAL
loiterer in
many lands.
career and
9)
the dominance of the intellect, and the assertion of poetry pure and simple. As coming generations re-
spiritual breadth of meaning. The later French cede more and more from Browning's day, they
expressions of an aristocratic social class, glittering, will tend more and more to revolt from the unwar-
idle, hollow, fatally negligent of reality, are all re ranted and exaggerated praise that has been given
flected in the furniture and the art of the salon of to his poorest work. And while there are poems of
the day. The thesis seems bare and crude thus his which will never cease to be cherished as long
reduced to a skeleton; but as carried out by Mr. as English literature endures, — poems that will
Phillips, the story is full of life and vigor. It leaves carry his name down to remotest posterity, — these
the definite impression that for certain phases of life are the very ones that are the least representative
art is the most effective, the most significant, the of him in the eyes of no small number of his pres-
most illuminating expression of that composite cul ent admirers. On the first page of the present book,
tural movement that history aims to fix in an intel- however, Professor Lounsbury absolves the reader
ligible record. This seems less manifest to modern from acceptance of his critical opinions, since time
life, which has enthroned the reason with its prac alone can prove or disprove their correctness. What
tical gifts, and drifted away from the larger cultural he does wish to accomplish is to oust the mythical
expressions in which the acquired skill of tools can from the authentic in the first eighteen years of
not compensate the loss of the inner sense of a crowd Browning's authorship, and to set in due order and
ing purpose, an illuminating message. The value proportion a body of incontrovertible facts. This
of this interpretation depends upon the skill of the
he has done with such a fascinating and easy grace
interpreter; in this Mr. Phillips is successful, with as to placate even those of us who would like to
occasional lapses due to an impatience of detail, a quarrel with his logic and his prophecy.
too hurried preparation of his material. The book
will find its place as a clear exposition of the import-
The piquant charm of anonymity is
Letters of a
ant view that art is a language of the mind. (Holt.)
added to the many other charms of
“European Years: The Letters of an
In a series of four lectures, first de-
Browning's early
Idle Man,” genially introduced, rather than edited,
livered at the University of Vir- by Professor Woodberry, and published in faultless
later influence.
ginia, and now published by the style by Houghton Mifflin Co. On the front cover is
Messrs. Scribner in a volume of two hundred pages, the further inscription, “Familiar Letters of a Bos-
Dr. Thomas R. Lounsbury of Yale discusses “The tonian Living Abroad.” The letters range in time
Early Literary Career of Robert Browning.” The from 1876 to 1904, and in space (or place of writ-
primary purpose of the work is to assemble the facts ing) from Dresden all around the world to Dresden
bearing upon Browning’s reception by the public again, but are written chiefly in Germany, Italy, and
and by the press during the first thirteen years Switzerland, where the writer and his wife are on
(1833-1846) of his practical production. The gen the continual move in quest of agreeable and salu-
eralization from these facts is, that Browning's wel brious climatic conditions and a moderate degree of
come was a more cordial one than is commonly diversion, at a not too immoderate price. The
given to youthful poets; that the indifference and “humble loiterer,” as the correspondent calls him-
neglect which soon followed were largely his own self, is a Harvard graduate, unmistakably a gentle-
fault; that the remarkable and peculiar revival of man and a scholar, an Epicurean and an agnostic
his reputation during the closing years of his life in his philosophy and religion, so far as he has any
was due mainly to the formation of the London such, and a most engaging, pleasantly anecdotic,
Browning Society in 1881 and the innumerable humorous-whimsical sort of person, frankly avowing
branches which sprang from it all over England his weariness of sight-seeing and his keen interest
and America. Thus, in the concluding chapter, the in the cuisine, the wines, and the beds of the suc-
author goes far beyond the “ early” period, beyond cessive hotels visited by him in his many years of
any “facts” indeed, and enters into the realm of genteel vagrancy. The book abounds in shrewd
prophecy. Although rejoicing that Browning died comments on men and events, and occasionally on
happy in the fulness of his fame, he asserts that literature too, as where he says, upon the
appear-
this reputation was largely factitious, without the ance of “Mr. Isaacs,” that the author “is very
element of permanence, and not based primarily on clever; but his style is not the style of a master; he
his writings as literature. Browning is supremely just misses being a genius.” Sound sense, a keep-
the poet of intellectually acute but unpoetical na ing of both feet on the ground, a distrust of the
tures. Accordingly, with a body of young and higher altitudes, a sort of resolute content with the
promising students (and doubtless here the author Horatian view of life, as indicated by frequent quo-
speaks from personal experience) it would as a tations from and allusions to Horace these and
general rule be much easier to arouse interest in other interesting and ingratiating qualities are found
Browning than in almost any other great author of in the letters, which, by the way, are nearly all ad-
our speech. While they are doing little more than dressed to a fellow-Bostonian at home. Good letters
unraveling the meaning of linguistic puzzles, they they are indeed, and worthy of Mr. Woodberry's
honestly believe that the interest they take in what warm praise; but his denying of high excellence to
they are reading is due to their enjoyment of it as any earlier American letter-writers (he says, “I do


92
[Feb. 1,
THE DIAL
1
Daniel Webster
many
true colors.
not recall any [good letters] by an American writer”) author indulges in many sarcastic flings at present-
seems rather unjust. Surely Lowell too wrote admir day education, and at the abolitionists who pursued
able European letters, despite their faults; and to be Webster relentlessly before and after his death be-
worthy of naming in the same breath with Lowell as cause he did not follow them to the limit of their
a letter-writer, as our anonymous author certainly theories. Webster is one of the great figures of our
is, should be esteemed commendation enough. history, and it is well to have this new biography to
depict his greatness to a new generation of readers
Mr. Sidney George Fisher's “The
and to show clearly that he was free from of
depicted in True Daniel Webster," the latest
addition to “The True Biographies laid to his charge.
the gross shortcomings which political opponents have
Series” (Lippincott), is a readable and worthy life
of the great orator and expounder of the Constitution.
“ All men are interested in Mon-
While it is not altogether free from the self-righteous
Montaigne, the
many-sided.
taigne in proportion as all men find
assumption of superior candor and regard for truth
more of themselves in him," ob-
implied in the title of the series, there is not much of served James Russell Lowell. Are we finding more
this element. Mr. Fisher has not written a formal of ourselves in the skepticism of that great French-
biography in chronological order, but he has described man, the forerunner of the skepticism of Monsieur
the man and his achievements clearly and with suffi Anatole France ? Or is it merely our interest in
cient fulness for the general reader. In five hundred personal literature that has called forth the many
closely-printed pages we have not only the important recent biographies and critical studies ? It would be
facts of Webster's career but enough of contemporary good to know whether the Essays are being called
events and conditions to give the story vitality and to for more frequently in the bookstores ; whether we
make clear the relations of the subject to the great are really “getting at " the prince of skeptics. For
developments of the country during his time. Mr. any study of Montaigne, the many-sided, is after
Fisher is no hero-worshipper; he does not present the all no more than a study in the autobiography of
"godlike Daniel” so much as “Black Dan.” But he the critic himself; to express the whole of that
sets the man before us in a very satisfactory manner, varied personality would require all the matter of
and a most attractive man he shows him to be. He
the Essays, even that which seems most irrelevant.
repels the slanders heaped upon Webster by his poli How can we reduce to a synthesis a writer who after
tical enemies, making it clear that Webster was not a a life of introspection could not perform that task?
habitual drunkard or a drunkard at all; that he was How can we abbreviate, when the very inconsequence
not a loose liver; that he was honest and honorable of Montaigne's pages is so expressive of Montaigne?
in all relations, though careless in the use of his So it is that no abridgement of this material can
money and willing to accept large gifts from his ad give the fullest reflection of that undulant person-
mirers. But the author shows further that in doing ality. Of course, we must have books on Montaigne,
this last Webster was but following the example if in this age of hurry we are to win for him readers
of many of the greatest of Englishmen, — Burke who will seek him out in all his discursiveness ; but
and Fox, for example; and there have been other let us by all means have in such books the very
great American leaders who have not refused similar words of our subject: let the author give way to
financial help from their supporters. We could wish Montaigne wherever possible, without a care lest
that Webster had spent more carefully the great the smoothness of his paragraph-rhythm be marred
sums his profession brought him, and had thus kept thereby. Such a book is Miss Edith Sichel's
himself out of the difficulties from which his friends “ Michel de Montaigne" (Dutton), an admirable
were glad to help him; but that the acceptance of introduction to its subject. It will give the general
these large gifts changed his attitude toward public student a good idea of Montaigne, and a desire to
questions one can hardly believe who comes to know know more of him. Packed with quotations, the
the real character of the man. Another error that narrative is almost reduced to a setting, the re-
Mr. Fisher combats is that Webster put ambition ferences to the Essays being given at the foot of
before duty and shaped his course with an eye to the the page. Apart from this, the work contains no
presidency. He did desire the presidency, but he apparatus for the student, excepting a bibliography
must have been very dull if he thought he could gain which, as the author confesses, is mainly the work
it by defying his own party in remaining in Tyler's of Mr. Thomas Seccombe. The literary and even
cabinet when that party had repudiated Tyler, or by the historical background is slighted rather more
taking a position in his “Seventh of March speech than one would like, even in an Introduction; and
that was sure to bring upon him the hostility of every the biography itself falls below Professor Dowden's
radical anti-slavery man in the North while it could in wealth of detail and critical acumen. But how
not win the support of the South. The charming can one do justice to such a Protean figure, even by
pictures of Webster's private life, of his love for his massing the material under such loose divisions as
oxen and for the sea, of his hospitality and his “ Montaigne the Man” and “ Montaigne the Phi-
friends, are most attractive, and of more worth to the losopher"? There is more than one man in that
reader than the accounts of his triumphs at the bar, genius of second thoughts; and, like
every
one of
in the senate, and in diplomacy. Incidentally the us, he had more than one rule philosophy.


1912.]
93
THE DIAL
causes and
First-hand
The American Institute of Criminal eral devastation and misrule; of the days of Balboa
Crime: Its
Law is advancing the scientific study sacrificed to the petty intrigue of his rivals on the
remedies.
of crime by publishing in English the eve of discovery of Peru, of Pizarro and the days of
more important contributions to the foreign liter the great trade during the spoliation of the Incas,
ature of the subject (“Modern Criminal Science of Drake and Morgan, and of lapse and decay with
Series": Little, Brown & Co.). It is natural that the decline of Spain. The author draws freely on
they should include the work of Lombroso, an Irving and Hubert Bancroft for the material ac-
acknowledged leader in the subject. His last work, count of this period. The later period of French
bearing the title “ Crime: Its Causes and Rem- enterprise and failure and of the revolution and
edies,” which represents his mature views and birth of the new republic of Panama are related
gives a comprehensive survey of the field, has been from available sources. The author does his best
selected for inclusion. It is divided into three to extricate the United States from the embarrass-
sections devoted to the causes and conditioning ing position in which it was plunged by the vacil-
influences of crime, to the measures of treatment lation and extortionate demand of Colombia, and its
and prevention, and to the general conceptions and own precipitate shaping of a bargain with the mush-
systems of penology which by their scientific worth room republic. In breezy newspaper style he gives
must in the end shape practice. Lombroso is most a very interesting and informing account of the su-
popularly known as the defender of the theory of perb work in sanitation in the canal zone which has
the criminal type as a recognizable and abnormal made possible the effective construction of the canal,
deviation of human variety. His first presentation of the splendid esprit de corps prevalent on the big
of the subject has been modified by a due recog. job, and of the unique experiment in collective en-
nition of the many other factors which enter into terprise, in government control of railroad, of com-
the formation of the criminal and of the distinct missary, and in fact of everything pertaining to the
varieties of criminal classes, some of them close to life of the forty thousand souls in the motley popu-
and some remote from the degenerate type. All lation of the canal zone.
this is well set forth in the present volume, and
well balanced by the important sections devoted to
Mr. Raymond Patterson's book en-
the accounts of measures dealing with the criminal
studies of the titled “The Negro and his Needs ”
and the prevention of crime. In a measure crimi-
Southern negro. (Revell) is a collection of letters,
nology has found a freer field in America ; and our
originally published in the Chicago “Tribune.” Mr.
willingness to try innovations and to feel and
Patterson was for many years a well-known news-
reason our way to a humanitarian attitude towards
paper correspondent in Washington, D. C. It was
the problem has made it easier to get away from during one of his periodical tours through the coun-
the mere machinery of justice, as well as from
try that he wrote these letters from the heart of the
prejudice, and to face the issues squarely on their
lower South. They have been revised for publica-
merits. In this instance humanitarianism, like
tion by Mrs. Patterson and an introductory letter is
honesty, has proved to be the best and the cheap-
contributed by President Taft. Although based on
est policy. Out of the many-sided presentation
actual observation, the studies included are not pre-
of facts — often, it is true, too crudely stated
tentious, but are simply readable accounts of condi.
and too much isolated from the environment that
tions in the South as seen by a Northern man of
gives them meaning — there emerges a clearer
liberal views. Mr. Patterson arranges his studies
conception of the nature of the problem and of the
into three divisions : first, the complexities of the
standards of efficiency by which practical measures
problem are stated; second, existing conditions are
must be judged. The accessibility of Lombroso's
described; and third, solutions are suggested and
conclusions drawn. Much of the material included
volume will prove a welcome aid to English and
American students of crime in its many aspects.
in the first division is not new to students of race
problem literature, but the conventional facts in re-
Panama: Its
The impending opening of the gard to numbers, morality, environment, and tem-
canal and trans-isthmian canal as a result of perament are stated somewhat in a fresh way. The
its people. the splendid work now in progress best part of the book is devoted to descriptions of
under government direction at Panama renders conditions actually observed by the writer. Here, for
opportune Mr. Albert Edwards’s volume entitled example, he makes clear the very great differences
“Panama: The Canal, the Country, and the People” which exist within the South itself: the differences,
(Macmillan). The work contains a narrative of for example, between Tensas parish in Louisiana
personal observations of the men at work and the with a population almost wholly black and a hill
methods in vogue in the canal zone, of the sluggish county in Georgia with few negroes. These com-
untrustworthy native, of the adjacent republic, and munities are as unlike as it is possible for two places
of the impenetrable and all-pervading jungle that to be, and yet each has its race problem, the condi-
possesses the land and reappropriates it over-night. tions of which are very different and the attempted
The greater part of the book is of a historical na solutions of which must be very different. The
ture, relating the early history of Spanish discovery, author's opinions are liberal and his statements of
colonization, extermination of the natives, and gen facts are accurate. The book as a whole shows a


94
[Feb. 1,
THE DIAL
Librarians in
years ago.
moderate spirit frequently lacking in treatises on from over the ocean a devotion that kept the old
this subject. While of no great scientific value, the man from selling Stevenson's letters even when he
volume will be useful because of its popular nature himself was in extreme poverty. The book abounds
and because of the spirit in which it was written. in fragrant memories of “Louis," as he seems to
have been known to his California friends.
The famous library of Assurbanipal
Egypt four
thousand
in the seventh century B. C. becomes
a comparatively modern institution
when compared with the palace library of Ikhnaton,
BRIEFER MENTION.
seven hundred years earlier, or with that of King
Nefirikire in the twenty-eighth century before our
The Wartburg Publishing House has just issued a
new edition of Dr. R. F. Weidner's “ Theological Ency-
era. With such almost appallingly ancient libraries clopedia” in which the text has been presented in two
and librarians does Dr. Ernest Cushing Richardson convenient volumes, instead of three as in former edi-
of the Princeton University Library concern himself tions. The author is the president of the Chicago
in a small book of exceptional interest to all curious Lutheran Theological Seminary, and his work covers
delvers into ancient bibliothecal history. “Some
the whole field of orthodox evangelical theology.
Old Egyptian Librarians” (Scribner) contains the The latest of several new editions of Dickens put
paper of that title read before the New York Li-
forth in connection with the novelist's centenary has for
brary Association last September, with an important
its especial feature reproductions in color of all the early
illustrations by Phiz, Cruikshank, etc., some forty in
supplementary paper which the exigencies of the
each volume.
occasion bad excluded from the address, a useful
Considering the very low price at which
the volumes are sold, these colored plates are really a
account of the available sources for inquirers in this wonderful achievement. Certainly, in connection with
field, and a full index to the book as a whole. It the excellent print and paper of this edition, they make
will add dignity to the profession to have it under one eager to re-read the novels themselves. Mr. Henry
stood that, as the writer makes clear, the god Thoth, Frowde, in conjunction with Messrs. Chapman & Hall,
among his many other attributes, was the god of publishes this very attractive set, of which five volumes
libraries, and Seshait was the goddess of libraries,
have so far reacbed us.
or “ Mistress of the Hall of Books," as she is de-
The Society for Americana, Incorporated, of Boston,
scribed on the base of one door of the Ramesseum
has recently issued the first volume of " An Historical
Digest of the Provincial Press." This volume deals with
library, while Thoth of course is “Lord of the Hall
Massachusetts, and its scope may be gathered from the
of Books," on the other. Richer gleanings than could
sub-title: “Being a collation of all items of personal and
have been expected have been gathered together in
historic reference relating to American affairs printed
Dr. Richardson's book, and they are all from orig in the newspapers of the provincial period beginning
inal sources, through the medium of authoritative
with the appearance of The Present State of the New-
translations.
English Affairs, 1689, Publick Occurrences, 1690, and
From bits of tradition and record,
the first issue of The Boston News-Letter, 1704, and
The California
ending with the close of the Revolution, 1783.” The
days of Robert with the exercise of a little construc-
editors of the work are Messrs. Lyman Horace Weeks
Louis Stevenson. tive imagination, pieced out with and Edwin M. Bacon.
some pertinent passages from Stevenson's published In the excellent “Manuals of Science and Litera-
works, his stepdaughter-in-law, Mrs. Lloyd Osbourne
ture," published by the Cambridge University Press
(or Katharine D. Osbourne, as the name appears on (New York: Putnam), Dr.F.O. Bower, Regius Professor
the title-page) has produced a very interesting ac of Botany at Glasgow, has a volume entitled “Plant Life
count of "Robert Louis Stevenson in California' on Land, considered in Some of its Biological Aspects."
(McClurg), which is lavishly illustrated from photo-
Each of the ten chapters which make up the volume is
graphs, one of them being a hitherto unpublished
a separate essay on some aspect of modern botany.
likeness of Stevenson himself. Of course there are
Morphology, physiology, and ecology each receive about
numerous other pictures of him, for he seems to
equal attention, the whole forming a model of popular
scientific writing, which the layman will certainly find
have had his compatriot Carlyle's readiness to pose interesting and may without misgiving accept as accur-
for his portrait; and there are also many striking ate and trustworthy. In another volume of the same
views of California scenery. Considering that Stev series, Professor Frederick Keeble, of Reading College,
enson's California days all told amounted to little summarizes in an entertaining way his studies on
over a year, the reader must admit that Mrs. “ Plant-Animals." The particular
“plant-animals"
Osbourne has made the most of her theme. The dealt with are the two species of the peculiar creature
so-called Stevenson house in San Francisco she de-
Convoluta found on the beaches of Brittany. In these
clares to have been never even seen by him, being
forms the surface layer of what is really an animal
in fact of recent construction. The date of the
body is thickly studded with minute green plants (alge).
The life history and behavior of these creatures com-
elder Stevenson's death, and of the son's final fare-
prise a series of adaptations for the benefit now of the
well to Europe, wrongly appears in the book as 1877
plant partner, now of the animal partner, and nearly
- a misprint for 1887. A touching passage de-
always for the mutual advantage of the firm. The
scribes the affectionate devotion of Jules Simoneau, whole story of these matters is a veritable fairy tale of
the Monterey restaurant-keeper, to his gifted patron science.


1912.]
95
THE DIAL
NOTES.
“ Black and White," the well-known English weekly,
has been purchased and absorbed by its more powerful
and popular rival, “ The Sphere."
Mr. Maurice Baring's study of “The Russian People,”
which has been highly praised by the English press, will
be published shortly in this country by the George H.
Doran Co.
Two interesting literary studies announced by Hough-
ton Mifflin Co. are “ Ibsen: The Prophet of the Present,"
by Dr. Otto Heller; and a critical and biographical
study of Nietzsche, by Mr. Paul Elmer More.
“Our Judicial Oligarchy," by Mr. Gilbert E. Roe,
with an introduction by Senator La Follette, and “ Ap-
plied Socialism,” by Mr. John Spargo, are announced
for Spring publication by Mr. B. W. Huebsch.
Mr. Wilfrid Ward's “Life of John Henry, Cardinal
Newman,” based on his private journals and corre-
spondence, will be published immediately in both Amer-
ica and England by Messrs. Longmans, Green, & Co.
An entirely new novel by Mr. Leonard Merrick, en-
titled “The Position of Peggy,” is announced for im-
mediate publication by Mr. Mitchell Kennerley. It deals
with theatrical life, as do many of Mr. Merrick's pre-
vious stories.
“Studies of Children for Artists,” consisting of fifty
heliotype reproductions of photographic studies of child-
ren up to three years of age, with descriptive text in
German, will be published shortly by the Bruno Hess-
ling Co., of New York.
An authorized translation of the Infanta Eulalia's
book, “ The Thread of Life" will be brought out in the
near future by Messrs. Duffield & Company. Despite
the attempt of the author's nephew, King Alphonso of
Spain, to suppress it, the book is already in its eighth
edition in Paris.
“ The English Review” announces a reduction in
price to one shilling a number, beginning with the
January issue. This periodical has, almost from its
first number, been the most interesting and enterpris-
ing of the English reviews; at the new price it will
also be the cheapest.
A new Life of Nietzsche, prepared by his sister,
Mrs. Foerster-Nietzsche, is an interesting feature of the
Spring announcement lists. The work will be complete
in two volumes, one of which (devoted to “ The Young
Nietzsche") is to appear immediately through the
Sturgis & Walton Co.
A new book by Sir George Trevelyan will be published
this month by Messrs. Longmans, Green, & Co. The
title is “George the Third and Charles Fox: The Con-
cluding Part of The American Revolution.” The
work will be completed in two volumes, but the first
volume only will be published now.
The first of Professor Edward A. Ross's papers on
“ The Middle West” appears in the February “Cen-
tury." It treats especially of the composite population
of the Middle West, and of the conditions which influ-
ence their living and thinking -- conditions which differ
in many important points from those of the East.
Circulars of information concerning the Kahn Founda-
tion for the Foreign Travel of American Teachers have
just been issued by the Trustees of the Foundation.
Two Fellows will be appointed for one year beginning
July 1, 1912, with a stipend of $3,000. and an addi-
tional $300. for the purchase of books, souvenirs, photo-
graphs, etc. The applications for appointment should
be made on a formal blank which may be obtained from
the Secretary of the Foundation, Sub-station 84, New
York City, and should be filed on or before March 1,
1912.
Mr. E. Phillips Oppenheim, the popular English
novelist, has written a sketch of his own career, and
this, with other interesting information regarding the
anthor and his books, is incorporated in an attractive
booklet which his American publishers, Messrs. Little,
Brown & Co., of Boston, will mail to any address on
request.
The new edition of the American Library Association
Catalogue, 1904-1911, is being prepared for early pub-
lication by the A. L. A. Publishing Board, Chicago.
Copies will be for sale only, at a probable price of $1.
All requests for the publication should be sent direct to
78 East Washington Street, Chicago, and not to the Li-
brary of Congress.
The death is reported from London of Mrs. Rosa-
mund Marriott Watson, in her forty-ninth year. Mrs.
Watson is best known as a writer of graceful and
imaginative verse, of which four volumes have appeared
at intervals during the past few years. She published,
also, two ose works — «The Art of the House" and
“ The Heart of a Garden.”
A new record for Higden's “Polychronicon” was
established at the sale of the second part of the Robert
Hoe library. Eight thousand dollars was the price paid
for the exceptionally good copy offered, a Caxton of the
year 1482. Mr. Henry E. Huntington, whose agent se-
cured the book for him, is building up a private library
that promises to be second to none in the world — at
least in point of high prices paid for its rare first edi-
tions and other literary treasures.
The Newberry Library of Chicago issues in pamphlet
form a selected list of its “ Materials for the Study of
the English Drama (excluding Shakespeare)," entered
under nine heads, with a concluding alphabetical index.
Magazine articles are not included, as they may be easily
found through other indexes. The list contains about
a thousand titles, and forms the first number of the
“ Publications of the Newberry Library.” It has copy-
right protection, of which it seems to be not unworthy.
The “ Iowa Library Quarterly" for the last three
months of 1911 contains its usual amount of matter re-
lating to the activities of Iowa librarians and libraries.
A good paper on “ Right Reading in Childhood," by
Mr. Malcolm G. Wyer, librarian of the State Univer-
sity, occupies half the space of the number, and is fol-
lowed by other addresses or parts of addresses before
the same meeting of the Iowa Library Association that
listened to Mr. Wyer. Other notes of local library
occurrences are added.
For many years the most distinctive and interesting
editorial feature in any American periodical was the
monthly causerie entitled “In the Lion's Den," contri-
buted by Mr. Charles F. Lummis to the “Out West
Magazine.” Since the decease of that periodical a few
years ago, these virile and caustic utterances have been
widely missed. It is welcome news, therefore, that the
department is to be re-established, — this time in the
“West Coast Magazine” of Los Angeles, beginning
with the January number. We are glad to note, also,
that a selection from the old “Lion's Den” comments
in “Out West” is to appear shortly in book form.


96
[Feb. 1,
THE DIAL
.
.
Scientific Progress. Charles P. Talman . World's Work.
Socialism — II. H. G. Wells
Harper.
South America and the Monroe Doctrine.
“Junius Junior."
Atlantic.
Southern Pine Barrens, The. Maude R. Warren. Harper.
Southern Village, A, Twenty-five Years Ago.
Lilian K. Hammond
Atlantic.
Stedman, E. C., Some Lighter Verse by
Bookman.
Taft, President
Atlantic.
Undergraduate, The American — II. C. S. Cooper. Century.
Underwood, Oscar W. Burton J. Hendrick McClure.
Unionism and Dynamite, Gompers and Burns on. McClure.
Unskilled in Germany, Passing of the. E. Roberts. Scribner.
Washington, The New. Montgomery Schuyler Scribner.
Whistler as Decorator. Joseph and Elizabeth R.
Pennell
Century.
Wilson, Woodrow - v. William B. Hale. World's Work.
Wisconsin Bosses, Six Years' Struggle with the.
Robert M. La Follette.
American.
Woman: Savior of the State. Selma Lagerlöf. World's Work.
Woman, The Uneasy. Ida M. Tarbell
American.
Women Ranchers, Ways of. Mary G. Humphreys. Century.
Yuan Shih-kai and the Manchu Dynasty.
A. Kinnosuke
Review of Reviews.
.
.
.
.
LIST OF NEW BOOKS.
[The following list, containing 78 titles, includes books
received by THE DIAL since its last issue.]
0
TOPICS IN LEADING PERIODICALS.
February, 1912.
Alaska, The Fate of. Carrington Weems. World's Work.
Animals, Instinctive Activity in. John B. Watson. Harper,
Animal Wit. John Burroughs
Atlantic.
Anti-Trust Law, Enforcement of. G.W. Wickersham. Century.
Apologia Pro Nova Auglia. Arthur Colton. No. American.
Bench, Big Business and the. C. P. Connolly. Everybody's.
Bowles, Gilbert: An American Apostle of Peace
in Japan, W. T. Ellis
Review of Reviews.
Cable Rate for Common Use. A. H. Gleason, World's Work.
Caribbean Derelict, A. W. P. Livingstone. No, American.
Cattle Country, The New. F. W. Robinson Scribner.
Cavour, Thayer's Life of. G. M. Trevelyan Atlantic.
Citizen, The Making of a. Mary Antin
Atlantic.
College and the Man. J. Irving Manatt. Rev. of Reviews.
Cuzco : Sacred City of the Incas. S. S. Howland. Scribner.
Dickens and his Biographer. G. H, Casamajor. Bookman.
Dickens and Women. H. Snowden Ward Lippincott.
Dickens as a Husband. James MacArthur Bookman.
Dickens, Charles: A Tribute. Agnes Lee. No. American.
Dickens, Obviousness of. Samuel M. Crothers Century.
Education Dramatized. Harriet Finlay-Johnson. Atlantic.
Evans, Robley D.: Rear-Admiral Review of Reviews.
“Farm, Back to the.” Harvey W. Wiley
Century.
Farm, How We Found Our. Jacob A. Riis. World's Work.
Free Museum, Great. C. M, Dow Review of Reviews.
Flying across the Continent – II. French
Strother
World's Work.
Fritz, John: Iron-Master. Thomas C. Martin Century.
Germany of To-day, The. Hugo Münsterberg. No. Amer.
Germany's Foreign Trade. James D. Whelpley. Century.
Girls, Unprotected, Tragedies of. Jane Addams. McClure.
Hammerstein, Oscar. Arthur Farwell. Review of Reviews.
Hibben, John Grier: Princeton's New President, Rev. of Revs.
History - Why Is It Rewritten? Lucy Salmon. No. Amer.
Immigrants and the Future. E. D. Durand. World's Work.
Immigration, Recent, Significance of,
W.J. Lauck
North American.
India, Helping to Govern. Charles Johnston Atlantic.
Investment Banker, The Reliable. E.S. Meade. Lippincott.
Jew and Chinaman. William Trant North American.
Journalism, Columbia School of, Mr. Pulitzer's
Ideals for. G. W. Hosmer
Review of Reviews.
Lagerlöf, Selma. Velma S. Howard
World's Work.
Life-Savers of the Goodwin Sands. Walter Wood. Harper.
Lloyd-George and Sir Edward Grey. William T.
Stead
Review of Reviews.
Maeterlinck, Maurice. Edwin Björkman. Review of Reviews.
Maeterlinck: The Mystic Turned Radical. R. S.
Bourne
Atlantic.
Mantle of the Great, The. George Jean Nathan Bookman.
Mark Twain - IV. Albert Bigelow Paine Harper.
Middle West, The. Edward Alsworth Ross Century.
Militant, The Making of a. Edith A. Zang will . Lippincott.
Mining Camp, The Newest. Trumbull White. Everybody's.
Missionaries, American. Yoshio Markino
McClure.
National Archives, — Are They in Peril ?
Rosa Pendleton Chiles
Review of Reviews.
National Dishonor, A Chapter of. Leander T.
Chamberlain
North American.
National University, Our Great. Herbert L.
Satterlee ..
North American.
Negro as Farmer, The, Booker T. Washington. No. Amer.
Opium Conference, The. E. F. Baldwin. Review of Reviews.
Pater, Walter. Richard Le Gallienne North American.
Peace, The Insurance of. John M. Palmer Scribner,
Pensions - 1II. Charles F. Adams
World's Work.
Philippine Civil Service. John R. Arnold. No. American.
Politics and Prosperity. Alexander D. Noyes . Atlantic.
Presidential Joker, A. Walter Lippman . Everybody's.
Prison Life. Julian Leavitt
American.
Protagonist, The Unseen. Edna Kenton
Bookman.
Raw, Hunger for the. Harris Dickson Everybody's.
Renans, The, in Syria. Ameen Rihani
Bookman.
.
BIOGRAPHY AND REMINISCENCES.
The Life of Thomas Love Peacock. By Carl Van
Doren. Illustrated in photogravure, 8vo, 299
pages. E. P. Dutton & Co. $2.50 net.
My Vagabondage: An Intimate Autobiography. By
J. E. Patterson. With frontispiece, 8vo, 373
pages. George H. Doran Co. $3. net.
Sixty Years: Life and Adventure in the Far East.
By John Dill Ross. In 2 volumes, illustrated in
photogravure, etc., 8vo. E. P. Dutton & Co.
$7. net.
Southern Presbyterian Leaders. By Henry Alexan-
der White. Illustrated, 8vo, 476 pages. Neale
Publishing Co. $3. net.
St. Teresa of Jesus of the Order of Our Lady of Car-
mel: Embracing the Life, Relations, Maxims and
Foundations Written by the Saint; also a History
of St. Teresa's Journeys and Foundations. Edited
by John J. Burke; with Introduction by Walter
Elliott. Illustrated, 8vo, 727 pages. New York:
The Columbus Press.
With Fire and Sword. By Major S. H. M. Byers.
With frontispiece, 12mo, 203 pages. Neale Pub-
lishing Co. $1.50 net.
Sebastian Bach. By Reginald Lane Poole. New edi-
tion; with frontispiece, 12mo, 138 pages. "Great
Musicians.” Charles Scribner's Sons.
Thomas Dekker: A Study. By Mary Leland Hunt.
8vo, 212
pages. Columbia University Press.
$1.25 net.
General Officers of the Confederate Army. Compiled
and prepared by General Marcus J. Wright. 12mo,
188 pages. Neale Publishing Co. $1.50 net.
HISTORY.
The Siege of Charleston, and the Operations on the
South Atlantic Coast in the War among the
States. By Samuel Jones. With frontispiece, 8vo,
295 pages. Neale Publishing Co. $2. net.
Cambridge under Queen Anne; Illustrated by Mem-
oirs of Ambrose Bonwicke and Diaries of Fran-
cis Burman and Zacharias Conrad von Uffenbach.
Edited by J. E. B. Mayor; with Preface by Mon-
tague Rhodes James. 16mo, 545 pages. Cam-
bridge: Deighton, Bell & Co.
The Abbey of St. Albans, from 1300 to the Dissolu-
tion of the Monasteries: The Stanhope Essay for
1911. By Vivian H. Galbraith. 12mo, 78 pages.
Oxford: B. H. Blackwell,


1912.]
97
THE DIAL
Secret Service. By Cyrus Townsend Brady. Illus-
trated in color, 12mo, 331 pages. Dodd, Mead &
Co. $1.25 net.
The Joyous Wayfarer. By Humphrey Jordan. 12mo,
385 pages.
G. P. Putnam's Sons. $1.30 net.
He Comes Up Smiling. By Charles Sherman. Illus-
trated, 12mo, 351 pages. Bobbs-Merrill Co.
$1.25 net.
The Way of an Eagle. By E. M. Dell. With col-
ored frontispiece, 12mo, 406 pages. G. P. Put-
nam's Sons. $1.35 net.
Lonesome Land. By B. M. Bower. Illustrated, 12mo,
322 pages.
Little, Brown & Co. $1.25 net.
Mrs. Drummond's Vocation. By Mark Ryce. 12mo,
288 pages.
New York: William Rickey & Co.
$1.20 net.
Young Beck: A Chip of the old Block By McDon-
nell Bodkin. With frontispiece, 12mo, 349 pages.
Little, Brown & Co. $1.25 net.
The Angel of the Glla. By Cora Marsland. Illus-
trated, 12mo, 292 pages. Richard G. Badger. $1.50.
The Higher Court. By Mary Stewart Daggett. 12mo,
213 pages.
Richard G. Badger. $1. net.
The Brooding Earth: A Story of Mashonaland. By
Arthur Shearly Cripps. 12mo, 94 pages. Oxford:
B. H. Blackwell. Paper.
GENERAL LITERATURE,
Essentials of Poetry: Lowell Lectures, 1911. By
William Allan Neilson. 12mo, 282 pages. Hough-
ton Mifflin Co. $1.25 net.
Six Lectures on the Recorder, and Other Flutes, in
Relation to Literature. By Christopher Welch.
Illustrated, 8vo, 457 pages. Oxford University
Press.
What Tolstoy Taught. Edited by Bolton Hall. 12mo,
275 pages.
B. W. Huebsch. $1.50 net.
Tolstol: A Lecture. By Nevill Forbes. 8vo, 30
pages. Oxford University Press. Paper.
Dramatists of To-Day: Being an Informal Discus-
sion of their Significant Work. By Edward Ev-
erett Hale, Jr. Sixth edition, revised and en-
larged. With portraits, 12mo, 284 pages. Henry
Holt & Co. $1.50 net.
Social Historians. By Harry Aubrey Toulmin, Jr.;
with Introduction by Charles W. Kent. 12mo, 176
pages. Richard G. Badger. $1.50 net.
The Vision of Faith, and Other Essays. By Caroline
Emelia Stephen. Illustrated in photogravure,
etc., 12mo, 69 pages. Cambridge: W. Hetler &
Sons, Ltd.
NEW EDITIONS OF STANDARD LITERATURE.
Work, of William Makepeace Thackeray. Harry
Furniss Centenary Edition. Containing five hun-
dred illustrations especially made for this edition
by Harry Furniss and fifteen hundred reproduc-
tions of the original illustrations. With prefaces
by Harry Furniss and bibliographical introduc-
tions by Lewis Melville. In 20 volumes, 8vo.
Macmillan Co. $50. net. (Sold only in sets.)
The Works of Henrik Ibsen. Viking Edition. Ed-
ited, with Introductions, by William Archer. Vol-
umes V. to VIII. Each with photogravure front-
ispiece, 8vo. Charles Scribner's Sons. (Sold only
in sets by subscription.)
The Rowley Poems of Thomas Chatterton. Reprint-
ed from Tyrwhitt's Third Edition. Edited, with
Introduction, by Maurice Evan Hare. 12mo, 333
pages. Oxford University Press. $1.75 net.
BOOKS OF VERSE.
New Poems by James I. of England. Edited by Al-
lan F. Westcott. Large 8vo, 121 pages. Colum-
bia University Press. $1.50 net.
The Casket Songs, and Other Poems. By Edmund
Beale Sargant. 8vo, 104 pages. Longmans, Green
& Co. $1.20 net.
Discords. By Donald Evans. 8vo, 121 pages. Phila-
delphia: Brown Brothers.
Wild Flowers: A Book of Lyrics. By William Force
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weeks have come close to meeting the expenses.
No. 616. FEBRUARY 16, 1912.
Based upon the accounts of these ten weeks
Vol. LII.
alone, a deficit of a few thousand dollars ap-
pears, but the amount is trifling when considered
CONTENTS.
in relation to the total budget of balf a million.
THE CHICAGO OPERA SEASON
. 113
Even this deficit will probably disappear when
SCENERY AND THE WEATHER IN DICKENS.
reckoning is made of certain miscellaneous
Kate Anderson .
115 revenues, such as the receipts from occasional
AUTHORS AND PUBLISHERS. (Special London
flights out of town, and from rentals for the
Correspondence.) E. H. Lacon Watson
116 Auditorium Theatre, which the company leases
CASUAL COMMENT
118 for the whole year. Last year's balance-sheet
The money value of culture. - A pecuniary induce showed a deficit of approximately twenty per
ment to poets. — The favorite books of college stu cent, which came out of the pockets of the guar-
dents.- Mr. Hardy's hatred of “sham optimism.”—
The Newark library's belief in publicity.—The Amer antors; this year they have had to pay practi-
ican Immortals.—The attempt to define humor. cally nothing for their disinterested endeavor to
More English study for engineers.-Active and pas-
sive reading.— The coming sale of Lossing's books
do the public an important artistic service.
and papers. — The intelligent library assistant.
The reasons for this satisfactory measure of
COMMUNICATION .
financial success in what seemed at the outset a
121
The Common Gender Pronoun. Francis Howard precarious venture are numerous and varied.
Williams.
The competent direction of Mr. Andreas Dippel
A ROUGH APPRENTICESHIP. Percy F. Bicknell . 121 accounts for much of it; much also must be
credited to the artists whom he enlisted in the
THE THEATRE OF THE FUTURE. Edward E.
Hale, Jr. ...
. 123 enterprise. The superb musicianship of Signor
REMINISCENCES OF FOUR WARS. W. H. Carruth 126
Cleofonte Campanini is responsible for a great
deal, for in such matters as balance of tone and
A NOTABLE STUDY OF POETRY. Norman Foerster 128
unity of effect the artistic results which he
SHATTERING THE SHAW MYTH. Richard Burton 130 achieved were maintained at a high level of
RECENT FICTION. William Morton Payne
131 excellence, and, at their best, were almost beyond
Herrick's The Healer. – Dreiser's Jennie Gerhardt. praise. A word should also be said for Mr.
- Hough's John Rawn, Prominent Citizen. - Dur-
and's John Temple. – Birmingham's Spanish Gold,
Alfred Szendrei, who conducted a few German
The Search Party, and Lalage's Lovers. — Conrad's works, and whose readings were of exceptional
Under Western Eyes.
beauty. Among the principals, Miss Mary
BRIEFS ON NEW BOOKS
134 Garden was the popular favorite, and her suc-
Maeterlinck on Death.-Two centuries of Berlin
cess, although based more upon histrionism than
court life. - Sketches of some English personalities.
A lawyer-poet's memories of forty eventful years.
upon vocalization, was on the whole well de-
– Bergson's theory of the comic. – Great figures of served. In the chorus, we had a collection of
Tudor and Stewart times. — A journey through fresh voices of a quality to which our operatic
Japan. - An artist's essays on art. — -An interpreter
of modern philosophy.- Correspondence of an Irish stage has not been accustomed, admirably trained
poet. – A study in the beginnings of English fiction. to sing in the three languages which the stand-
- An unknown people of South America.
ard repertory demands. The coöperation of the
NOTES
138
newspaper press was unremitting and cordial,
LIST OF NEW BOOKS
139 impressing the merits of the undertaking irre-


114
[Feb. 16,
THE DIAL
sistibly upon the public mind. The reviewers, the English language for English-speaking audi-
among whom those accomplished musicians, ences drove an entering wedge into the work of
Messrs. Gunn, Hackett, and Borowski, call in the Chicago season. Mr. Herbert's Natoma "
particular for honorable mention, had a free was, as of course it should be, sung in English,
hand, and wrote about the performances with that being the language for which the music was
discriminating intelligence. Lastly, “ society
written. But Hänsel und Gretel" is a differ-
smiled
upon its new operatic toy, and was mar ent matter, and the best that can be said of the
sballed night after night in dazzling array, thus artistic perversion to which it was subjected is
performing two useful functions—that of filling that the audiences hardly realized that they were
the coffers of the company, and that of luring listening to English words, and could understand
many thousands outside the fold to become only a small fraction of them. It is difficult to
witnesses of the spectacle.
have any patience with people who would ruin
It now seems to be established beyond per- the artistic effect of a lyrical drama by fitting
adventure that Chicago is willing to pay fifty its potes to a set of vowel and consonantal sounds
thousand dollars a week for ten weeks if in re which they were never meant to accompany,
turn for the payment it can get the right sort of and the arguments by which this malpractice is
opera. What the right sort is depends, first, sought to be justified are too feeble to deserve
upon the artistic features to which we have serious refutation. The fact that in Germany,
called attention, and, second, upon the list of the France, and Italy, operas are sung in the lan-
works produced. Mr. Dippel has been highly guages of the respective countries means only
successful in guessing what the public wants. that Europe cannot afford the cost of properly
He has given us twenty-four works in seventy-equipped opera companies; in the United States,
eight performances, “Carmen,” “ Cendrillon," we have the immense advantage of being able and
and “I Giojelli della Madonna "heading the list willing to bear this heavy expense, which is the
with six performances each. Eight other works reason why the performances given in New York
have been given four or five times each. Thirty- and Chicago are in most respects the best to be
six of the performances have been in French, heard anywhere in the world. It will be a sad
twenty in Italian, and the others in either Ger-day for opera in this country when this manifest
man or English. This preponderance of French advantage is given up to placate a chauvinistic
opera is to be accounted for by the endeavor to sentiment.
provide the public with novelties, rather than The one obvious weakness of the season just
upon the assumption that French composers ended has been its failure to provide suitably
count for more than those of other nations. An for German opera.
for German opera. Last year, not a single
even half of the French evenings were devoted German work was given during the ten weeks;
to four works of M. Massenet - a pretty com this year, we have had eleven performances of
poser but not a great one. One novelty — the “Lohengrin,” “ Die Walküre," and “Tristan
"Quo Vadis ?” of M.Nougués—produced at great und Isolde,” five of “Hänsel und Gretel,"
cost, failed to attract audiences large enough to and two of “Le Nozze di Figaro.” This is
make it worth while, and was withdrawn after something, but not nearly enough. No season
four attempts to make it go. Among the Italian should pass without the entire “ Ring," or
productions, the most noteworthy were those without “ Die Meistersinger,” or without “ Par-
that gave Chicago its first hearing of Signor sifal.” And the most divinely beautiful of all
Wolf-Ferrari's “Il Segreto di Susanna” and operatic works, Beethoven's “Fidelio," should
“I Giojelli della Madonna.” The former, a de- be restored to the matter-of-course repertory,
lightful short work of almost Mozartian inspira- | in order that a generation which knows it not
tion, won the hearts of all its hearers; the latter, may partake of the wonder of its revelation.
which was given its first American production, What we have always endeavored to empha-
was distinguished by the presence of the com size in our discussion of opera is its cultural
poser, who had come to America for the occasion importance as an art-form.
importance as an art-form. For the most part,
of this première performance. Signor Wolf the masterpieces of painting and sculpture and
Ferrari certainly had his innings, for, besides architecture are to be seen only at the cost of
hearing his two operas, his cantata, “ La Vita much time and money spent in travel. But
Nuova," was also
sung at a Sunday concert. music, like literature, need not be sought afar,
The ill-judged propaganda which has been con but comes to our very doors. It should be pos-
ducted of late by the zealous but mistaken per sible for a student of the history of music to
sons who think that all opera should be sung in hear all of the great masterpieces at some time


1912.]
115
THE DIAL
or other in his life without going very far from don particular” – as the little attorney in "Bleak
home. This possibility is by no means realized House" calls it, half out of affectionate pride
for us in the case of opera because it involves drifts through the opening pages of “A Christmas
too great a risk in the minds of managers, who
Carol," sharpening Old Scrooge's temper and serv-
are bent only upon making their enterprises pay.
ing to intensify the bitter cold, while at the same
Perhaps it never will be realized until the State
time emphasizing the snug indoor comforts of
Christmas Eve. At the beginning of “ Bleak House"
recognizes its obligation to foster this form of
we enter an exceedingly thick fog, which, as claiming
art by assuming the risks. But we think that
But we think that acquaintance with a kindred spirit, eddies round and
private management is more timid than it need
pervades the Court of Chancery. Indeed, fog and
be, and that many a neglected work of high mist and rain seem to hover perpetually over the
importance—either by virtue of inherent beauty landscape in this novel. When not visible in Lon-
or of historical significance — might be found don, they are sure to be at Lady Dedlock's place
commercially available. The craze for the new
down in Lincolnshire. The Kentish country, with
thing is what at present thwarts the wishes of its foggy marshes, is the scene of Pip's early adven-
the best friends of opera. Suppose, for example,
tures in Great Expectations." When the child
that instead of four new works by so mediocre
meets the convict in the old churchyard, the rime
lies like spiders' webs on the hedges and the grass,
a composer as M. Massenet we had been given
and a thick mist comes rolling up from the river.
this
year four
very
old works by Gluck — a
The cattle grazing on the marshes, the gates and
genius the latchet of whose shoes few moderns dikes, all come rushing through the fog at the
are worthy to unloose - - would not the same conscience-smitten little Pip, with the stolen pork
lavish expenditure upon them of all our rich pie in his pocket.
resources have borne fruit of the sort which the One of the most memorable instances of Dickens's
box-office craves ? And if the experiment had power of using natural phenomena to symbolize and
been tried and carried to success, how great
vivify his human plots occurs in the early pages of
“A Tale of Two Cities.” It is that scene, in Dr.
would have been the glory "enough for all”
to be shared by those whose faith had been justi- daughter, with Sidney Carton and Darnay, sit by
Manette's house in Soho, where the Doctor and his
fied! This is but a single example; many others
an open window in the dusk, while a thunderstorm
might be brought forward. In respect of variety slowly gathers outside. The house stands in a cor-
of opportunity, we were operatically better off in ner of the square, -“a quaint corner, wonderful
the bad old days of the “star," and the shabby for echoes, a peculiar ear of a place. There are not
sapport, and the small orchestra, and the ragged only echoes of approaching steps, which seem to
chorus, and all the other “unhappy far-off
unhappy far-off stop; but also echoes of other steps that never come,
things ” that opera meant for the generation
dying away
for good when they seem close at hand.”
before our own.
The sense of impending storm hangs oppressively
upon the little group. “They spoke low, as people
watching and waiting mostly do; as people in a
dark room, watching and waiting for Lightning,
SCENERY AND THE WEATHER
always do. There was a great hurry in the streets,
IN DICKENS.
of people speeding away to get shelter before the
Scenery, for its own sake, Dickens rarely cared
storm broke; the wonderful corner for echoes re-
to describe. But no novelist ever attained a more
sounded with the echoes of footsteps coming and
complete mastery of the art of handling scenery and
going, yet not a footstep was there." With the ris-
weather in relation to his characters or their actions.
ing wind the echoes come fast and faster, and Lucie
Throughout his stories, the natural background and
speaks of her fanciful interpretation of them as "the
conditions serve mainly to typify or emphasize the
echoes of all the footsteps that are coming by-and-by
into our lives.”
mood of the persons projected against the back-
“I take them into mine!' said Carton. 'I ask no ques-
ground, or the action in which they are engaged.
tions and make no stipulations. There is a great crowd bear-
When Mr. Pickwick and his friends go down to
ing down upon us, Miss Manette, and I see them - by the
spend a happy Christmas at Dingley Dell, the Lightning.' He added the last words, after there had been
weather is cold, but bright and bracing and conducive a vivid flash which had shown him lounging in the window.
to high spirits and famous appetites. It is winter,
' And I hear them!' he added again, after a peal of thunder.
'Here they come, fast, fierce, and furious!' It was the rush
also, when the disgraced Lady Dedlock in “Bleak
and roar of rain that he typified, and it stopped him, for no
House” wanders to her death; but then the scene voice could be heard in it. A memorable storm of thunder
is laid in the freezing mud and slush of London, at and lightning broke with that sweep of water, and there was
the dawn of a bleak December day.
not a moment's interval in crash and fire and rain, until after
the moon rose at midnight.”
The English fog, chiefly known perhaps (at least
to Americans) through Dickens's accounts of it, plays
“Good-night, Mr. Carton,' said the man of business. 'Good-
a prominent part in many of the novels. That “Lon-
night, Mr. Darnay. Shall we ever see such a night again,


116
[Feb. 16,
THE DIAL
together ?' Perhaps. Perhaps, see the great crowd of people scene is in perfect tune with his mood, which is one
with its rush and roar, bearing down upon them, too.
of jealousy and despair. We find him again at
Here, in prophetic symbolization, are indicated all Plashwater Weir Mill Lock, the appropriate lair of
the later events of the novel, — the storm of the
Rogue Riderhood up the river. This place is shown
Revolution, involving and imperilling every member in the rain; at twilight on a dreary winter's day; in
of the little group, the loud surging mobs of Saint the comfortless dawn. Headstone, drawing steadily
Antoine, Carton's noble self-sacrifice.
toward the commission of his crime, stands one after-
In the journeys by stage coach described in the
noon at the brink of the lock in the driving rain.
various novels, there is generally either entire har The black clouds, rolling heavily toward one quar-
mony between the traveller's sentiments and the
ter of the heavens, hang like a dark curtain behind
feelings engendered by his surroundings, or else we him; and his face, as Riderhood remarks, is like
find a sharply drawn contrast. When Nicholas
a ghost's. After Headstone has attacked his rival
Nickleby goes down with Squeers and some uncom and left him for dead, he returns to the lock-house,
fortable small boys to Dotheboy's Hall, it is bitter reaching it before dawn. “Stars were yet visible,
weather, hard enough to bear even were the trav but there was a dull light in the east that was not
ellers in a cheerful frame of mind. But Nicholas's
the light of night. Seen through the mist along the
heart is already depressed on account of his long
river, the trees were the ghosts of trees and the
distance from home and the more than dubious
water was the ghost of water. The earth and the
prospect before him; and so the journey is for him
pale stars looked spectral ; while the cold eastern
a dismal one indeed. But later, when he has won
glare, expressionless, with the eye of the firmament
a fortune and a wife, he travels down into York-
quenched, might have been likened to the stare
shire again. The coach and inns and landscape are of the dead.” Every phrase of this description of
all just as they were before; but how differently are the night is made to impress upon the reader the
they made to appear to him!
thoughts and feelings which the scene gives rise to
À characteristic scene is that where Ralph Nick in the murderer's breast.
leby, with all his schemes brought to naught, and he In numberless other instances, nature is thus
himself on the way to take his own life, observes a
made an accessory to human passion. But however
certain black cloud in the overshadowed sky. It sombre or joyous the scene may be, Dickens shows
seems to follow him, “coming slowly and mourn us that its vital interest for him was as a background
fully up, like a shadowy funeral train.” From the
for the characters which his genius created to charm
garret of his dreary house, he looks out of the win-
and instruct the world.
dow for the last time, and sees this same sullen,
KATE ANDERSON.
gloomy mass, whose baleful meaning he has now
come to know.
“ Martin Chuzzlewit” and “Our Mutual Friend”
AUTHORS AND PUBLISHERS.
are the novels which doubtless display Dickens at
his best in this correlation of scenery and weather
(Special Correspondence of THE DIAL.)
with the thoughts and actions of his characters. Mr. It is the pleasing habit of a certain literary club
Pecksniff and Jonas Chuzzlewit make an excursion in London to invite, once a week during the season,
into the country on a lovely spring evening. As some distinguished man to be the guest of the even-
they walk along past the silent fields, the odor of ing. A theme is suggested for discussion, and the
newly-turned earth, with a thousand other pleasant embarrassed stranger, after listening to half a column
scents, is in the air and the smoke is rising slowly of panegyric from the chairman, subdues his blushes,
from the cottage chimneys. “ It was a time when fortifies himself hastily with one final glass of the
most men cherish good resolves, and sorrow for club champagne, and rises to reply to the toast of
the wasted past; when most men, looking on the the evening. He is expected, in short, to pay for
shadows as they gather, think of that evening which his dinner by providing a dissertation on the topic
must close on all, and that to-morrow which has none of the day; but it not unfrequently happens that in
beyond.” But the cringing knave, Jonas Chuzzle his eagerness to disclaim all the admirable qualities
wit, who views this scene, has no such thoughts. His attributed to him by the chairman he makes but a
characteristic comment is, “Precious dull! Enough perfunctory reference to the subject so carefully
to make a man go melancholy mad.” And when selected by the secretary, and it is left to some later
this same villain journeys down to Salisbury, plot speaker to step into the breach. Some of these
ing to murder his associate, the furious storm which Monday dinners at the Authors' Club are interest-
overtakes him forms a fit accompaniment to his own ing; others are profoundly dull. The general stand-
black thoughts.
ard of after-dinner speaking in this country is not,
“Our Mutual Friend” presents a series of sombre perhaps, particularly lofty; and good writers are
pictures, in each of which the central figure is the frequently men to whom oratory is difficult. But
passion-wasted schoolmaster, Bradley Headstone. when an author can speak, he can generally speak
He meets Lizzie Hexam in a churchyard, on a grey, very well indeed: there is a literary finish about his
dusty, withered, autumnal evening in London, and style, a cadence in his sentences, a careful choice of
declares his passion for her. The dreariness of the words. Two of the best after-dinner speakers I
a
0


1912.]
117
THE DIAL
know are also well-known novelists, — Mr. Anthony on behalf of its members and providing them with
Hope Hawkins and Mr. Horace Annesley Vachell. the best lesgal assistance when in difficulties. But
The literary fraternity is always ready to discuss in its zeal for the author's welfare it has, naturally,
the subject of publishing, and it was a happy thought made it harder for the publisher to secure a good
that made Mr. Reginald Smith, editor of the “ Corn- bargain. It has sedulously preached the advantages
hill Magazine ” and head of the historic publishing of the royalty system, and warned the readers of its
house of Smith, Elder & Co., the honored guest of monthly organ against the practice of selling their
a recent Monday dinner at the Authors' Club. The copyrights for a lump sum. It points out strongly
topic for discussion was thus phrased : “ Does the to its members the unwisdom of signing away any
Author Understand the Publisher, and Vice Versa? rights in future books.
It is a question that has agitated the world of letters But the sensible publisher does not complain now
ever since the days of Samuel Johnson, when the of the Society of Authors: he reserves his bitterness
bookseller began to replace the private patron as the for the Literary Agent. Within the last ten years
real Mæcenas of literature.
or so this gentleman has assumed a position of re-
The booksellers, in fact, were the original pub-markable importance in the world of letters. He
lishers: even at the present day there are a few came into being, I believe, nearly thirty years ago,
houses in London which combine the two trades. and his mission was to take the burden of business
But it is an age of specialization, and there are not matters off the incapable shoulders of the author.
many men who have the time or the talent to com Paid by a commission on the sums he received, his
bine both callings. My. Arthur L. Humphreys, of own interests obviously lay in the same direction as
Hatchards’ in Piccadilly, is one of the last sur his clients': the more he could extract from the
vivors of the double trade; Mr. Elkin Mathews, hard pockets of the publisher the better for both the au-
by in Vigo Street, is another; the late Mr. Elliot thor and himself. And he discovered, too, sources
Stock was a third. I can not recall any others of of profit that would never have occurred to a mere
importance. The conjunction of author and publisher writer. Serial rights, English and American, we
is yet more rare, although several big publishing already knew; he invented, after a decent lapse of
houses have been founded by men who had previously time, second serial rights, and even, in cases of
tried their hands at writing. Mr. Methuen began extreme popularity, third. The big men flocked to
by publishing his own schoolbooks; he continues his doors : here was a man who could do their bar-
to write occasionally at the present time. The late gaining for them, relieve them of all the worry and
Mr. Robert Buchanan supplies the sole instance in trouble of business arrangements, and double their
my recollection of a prominent author setting up an income at the cost of a small percentage. An age
office for the express purpose of publishing his own of delightful freedom dawned for the happy artist ;
works: some two or three years before his death his at length his craft was divorced from sordid details :
name adorned for a short time the window of a shop all that he had to do now was to write his stuff and
in Shaftesbury Avenue. But the experiment failed. send it in to the agent, secure in the knowledge that
It is a sad fact that few authors of imagination have no possible source of profit would be left untapped,
any talent for the sober routine of business, — they and that no silly notions of friendship, loyalty, or
are commonly gamblers by nature: they cannot bring gratitude for past favors would hamper him if it
themselves to woo success by the prosaic method of came to a question of deserting a former publisher
cutting down expenses. It is the details that count for one who offered better terms.
in the modern business of publishing.
It is the business of the literary agent to screw
I do not think the author recognizes sufficiently publishers up to the proper pitch of generosity, and
how the conditions of the trade have changed of to this end he invites them to bid against each other
late years. Thirty or forty years ago it was com for the works of the more popular favorites of the
paratively easy to make money ; to-day there is a day. Some novelists scarcely ever bring out two
steady procession of publishers wending their melan consecutive books with the same house: they put
choly way to the Court of Bankruptcy. Several their wares up to auction openly, unashamed; and
can ses have combined to produce this unfortunate the highest bidder, no matter what his reputation,
restalt — unfortunate alike to publisher and author. secures them if he can bring himself to offer a few
In the first place, it grows harder every year for the pounds more than the last on account of royalties.
pubifisher to secure a good bargain. The author has He does not often make money over the transaction:
beerta educated up to a sense — perhaps in some in it is rare indeed for the book to earn more than his
stances an inflated sense. of his own value. Thirty advance, and in most cases the publisher's ledger
years ago it is possible that he erred in the other shows a loss on the deal. But new firms have to
direction, and no doubt there was more than suffi make a start: they want one or two well-known
cjent justification for the late Sir Walter Besant names on their list to give it an air of importance,
when, in 1883, he founded the Society of Authors. and they are prepared to pay for the privilege. It
Many things called for alteration and improvement is the new firms who put money into the agent's
in the common methods of the publishers of that pocket.
time; and the Society has done, and continues to do, Thus, between them, the Society of Authors and
excellent work in the matter of revising agreements the literary agent have done a good deal to destroy


118
[Feb. 16,
THE DIAL
the old feeling between author and publisher. I do not commonly those of men who reaped an early
not say that they have succeeded in destroying it and facile success. I have often found myself won-
entirely. There are still certain authors of emi-dering whether the late George Meredith would
nence who, like Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (chairman have won his way to recognition if he had started
the other evening at the dinner I have inentioned his career in an age of cheap fiction. The three-
above), maintain a pleasant intimacy wilth their volume form preserved him for posterity: it enabled
publishers and have come to the conclusion trhat it him to get a hearing for his earlier work, to establish
is the wiser policy to let the majority of their books a position before the reduction in prices came into
issue from the same house. But their case is the vogue. But this is to wander from the subject.
exception rather than the rule. The commercial The author and publisher should be allies, working
element has taken, I think, too strong a hold of the together for their mutual advantage. Here at the
author of to-day: he is apt to regard the publisher present time they are too often enemies, and the
as a rogue from whom he and his agent are justi- change is good for neither party. “Now Barabbas
fied in extracting the uttermost farthing. He will was a publisher,” — the gentleman who first pro-
expatiate upon the enormous profits that some firms pounded thalk witty misquotation must be held re-
have made by a single happy hit, forgetful of the sponsibl
sponsible for a great deal.
many losses that have to be set against a rare suc-
E. H. LACON WATSON.
cess. If a publisher loses money, it is clearly his own London, Feb. 5, 1912.
fault; if he prospers, it must be through swindling his
authors. Holding these views, the modern novelist is
never satisfied unless he gets considerably the better
of any bargain. It seems a short-sighted policy.
CASUAL COMMENT.
The rise of cheap fiction has been another thorn
THE MONEY VALUE OF CULTURE, although be-
in the side of the publisher. In the days of the neath the serious consideration of the true lover of
three-volume novel, sold to the libraries at a price learning, is of some significance in answering the
that left an ample margin of profit, there was little question whether higher education
really pays, or
risk in the publication of a story even by a new whether the late Mr. Crane was right in
his condem-
writer, while the possibilities of gain were very large. nation of the college course as a waste
bf time and
In this form the selling powers of the book could money. Two years ago figures were
published
be tested sufficiently to show whether it was worth giving the average income of the memben
rs of Dart-
while to issue a cheaper edition at six shillings, and,
mouth's class of 1899, ten years after gi 1 dollars,
aduation.
perhaps, another at two later on. But the libraries This average, something over two thousand
rebelled, and the single volume at six shillings came made a very creditable showing, being neit)
per pain.
into vogue, to be threatened in its turn by seven fully small nor immoderately large. Now
penny and sixpenny reprints, and by a determined
favored by the “Yale Alumni Weekly” wit
h even
effort on the part of some firms to swamp the mar more interesting and more detailed figures ce
ket with new novels at two shillings net. For the ing the worldly prosperity of a large collega
last five or six years it has grown steadily more diffi. five
years after graduation. The Yale class of
cult to sell an edition of a novel at the old price. (with the exception of that silent third which,
Cheap fiction — the sixpenny and sevenpenny re Dartmouth, has sent in no report, and so is pro 1 en-
prints — have possibly increased the sales of the
ably less prosperous than the other two-thirds
writers who appear in that form, but they have cer joyed an average income of seven hundred and
forty
tainly made it far harder for the new man to obtain
dollars in its first year out of college, and this
a hearing. The general public will not buy a six- rapidly to nearly nineteen hundred dollars for
the
shilling novel by an unknown author when they can
fifth year. Government employment has proved
the
get the best stories of Mr. H. G. Wells, “ Anthony
most remunerative of all the occupations repor
ted,
Hope," and a dozen other good writers, in a cheap with finance and commerce next. Journalists ha
ave
and attractive form. I find that this tells chiefly
fared about the worst, with struggling lawyers on
lly
against those numerous novelists who used to have
a little better off. Farmers, ranchmen, and forest
Cers
a sale of two or three thousand copies and under.
have done well, rising to an average income of nea
arly
The subscription list for their books has fallen off
two thousand dollars at the end of the five-
by about one-third during the last few years.
period. We leave out of account the graduate
stu-
In short, these recent developments in the English dents, whose scholarships or other emoluments are
book market have tended all in one direction — in
inconsiderable, but who are doubtless winning la
rge
favor of the author of established popularity as
and priceless rewards of a less material sort.
On
against his weaker brethren and his publisher. The
the whole, it is well demonstrated, if demonstrati
big seller makes more money than he did, and the
were necessary, that a college education does pay
small seller is being surely but gradually squeezed
out of existence. This would be a matter of small
A PECUNIARY INDUCEMENT TO POETS to tune
consequence were the less popular writers always
their lyres to the sweetest strains is offered, through
Mr. Mitchell Kennerley, the New York publisher,
the less deserving of popularity. But the names in
which English literature takes most pride to-day are
by a munificent lover of poetry who prefers to re-
we are
oncern-
class
as at
esum-
rose
year

on


1912.]
119
THE DIAL
The cruelty
of
main anonymous.
On the first of November Mr.
an average public library's fiction circulation might
Kennerley will issue “The Lyric Year,” a volume to have led one to predict, with a large elimination of
contain one hundred poems by as many American stories favored by women and girls.
writers, three of whom will receive collectively the
tidy sum of one thousand dollars — five hundred as MR. HARDY'S HATRED OF SHAM OPTIMISM,” his
first prize for the very best of the one hundred preference for what he seems to regard as a safe
poems, and two hundred and fifty to each of the two and sane pessimism, is illustrated in the report of an
second-prize winners. Mr. Edward J. Wheeler and interview published recently in the Boston “Tran-
Mr. William Stanley Braithwaite will be the judges, script.”. The great novelist, one of the most famous,
and all contributions should be sent before June 1 one of the wealthiest, and one of the least familiarly
to the editor of “The Lyric Year,” in care of Mr. known writers in England, is depicted as a little,
Kennerley. It is further required that contributions timid-looking man, very pale, and with an embar-
do not exceed two hundred and fifty lines in length, rassing look that might have been irritation on his
and that a stamped and addressed envelope be sent
seared face.” Asked why he was so pessimistic a
with each contribution. Any number of manuscripts
writer, why he wrote at once the most beautiful and
may be submitted by one person, subject to the above the most dreadful of stories, he replied to his
conditions. Also, poems that have been accepted questioner: “You are a young man.
for publication by magazines, and poems printed in
of fate becomes apparent to people as they grow
magazines not earlier than January, 1912, may be
older. At first one may escape contact with it, but
submitted, but poems already printed in book form, if one lives long enough one realizes that happiness
or to be so printed before January, 1913, may not
is very ephemeral.” “But is not optimism a useful
be offered. Whether anything resembling a sponta-
and sane philosophy?” was next asked him. “There
neous gush of song, wherein alone the richest melody is too much sham optimism,” he replied, “ humbug-
resides, can be prompted by this flourishing of bank- ging and even cruel optimism. Sham optimism is
notes in the poet's face, remains to be seen. Immortal really a more heartless doctrine to preach than even
literature has never been produced under the spur
an exaggerated pessimism — the latter leaves one
a prize competition. But at the same time we can
at least on the safe side. There is too much senti-
only be grateful for any effort that is likely to turn
ment in most fiction. It is necessary for somebody
intelligent interest, however temporarily, to the ser to write a little mercilessly, although of course it is
vice of the muses.
painful to have to do it.” “ Love is tragic,” was
Mr. Hardy's further assertion, “but it is very beau-
THE FAVORITE BOOKS OF COLLEGE STUDENTS, not
tiful.” The interviewer, who signs himself “Henry
professed students of literature, but rather the young Deal,” sums up the distinguished author's outlook
men who regard their college course as primarily a
on life in four words, — “the pity of it.”
vocational training, are indicated to some extent by
an inquiry conducted by the English department of THE NEWARK LIBRARY'S BELIEF IN PUBLICITY
Tufts College. The freshman class of the Engineer- is strikingly attested by its issue of a handsome
ing School was asked to contribute toward a fund monthly publication, “The Newarker: The House
with which to purchase books for its own reading, Organ of the Newark Free Public Library,J.C.Dana,
and each member was requested to name one book Librarian.” Of c
course, as Mr. Dana's name will indi-
for the collection. The sixty-five men of the class cate, it is Newark in New Jersey, the most conspicuous
named forty-five books, the titles written on more Newark in the world, that is meant, and not Newark
than one ballot being five only,—“The Light That in Missouri or Delaware or Illinois or anywhere
Failed,” “Lorna Doone,” “Soldiers of Fortune," else. The January number of “The Newarker”.
“David Copperfield,” and “The Day's Work.” The being number three of the first volume -- contains
selections were made with such evident independence a convincing statement of the reasons of the paper's
of the English Department's own posted lists of rec existence. The library's stores of recreative and
ommended reading as to show that the choice was helpful material, especially the helpful part, are not
in general spontaneous. Next a ballot was prepared duly appreciated, are in fact too little known about,
of the forty-five nominated books, and each student by the people of Newark.
Business men, in par-
was asked to designate fifteen on the list as especially ticular, fail to recognize what an ever-present help
desirable, and to hand in his ballot unsigned. Fifty- in time of trouble they have in the local public
eight members of the class complied, and the result library. “In a word,” says the writer (whom we
showed a leading preference for “The Virginian,” suspect to be the editor himself), “ the library
which won fifty votes, and a faint demand for “The found that having made itself modern it needed to
Guest of John Chapman ” and “The Trimmed advertise the fact! After much deliberation it was
Lamp,” which each received one vote. Two of decided to publish, for a time at least, a journal
Dickens's novels (“David Copperfield” and “Pick which should, from month to month, try to call the
wick "), one of Scott's (“ Ivanhoe”), and one of attention of the workers and doers of the city to
Thackeray's (“Vanity Fair "), were voted for, with the practical every-day value of the material its
Copperfield ” well in the lead. On the whole, the library had gathered. Hence, The Newarker.” It
result of the inquiry was about what a scrutiny of is a sixteen-page journal with an attractive array


120
[Feb. 16,
THE DIAL
of articles about the library and the city, and with there is something ultimate and elemental in humor
book-notes and other matter of literary interest. -which has long been evident to the commonsense
Most wisely, it is not distributed gratis, but self of non-writing people.
respectingly asks a payment of one dollar a year, or
ten cents for a single copy.
MORE ENGLISH STUDY FOR ENGINEERS is becom-
ing the increasingly urgent recommendation of those
THE AMERICAN IMMORTALS, chosen by the Na who regretfully note the insufficient command of his
tional Institute of Arts and Letters to constitute our own language, and the glaringly defective knowledge
American Academy, somewhat after the model of of the literature written in that language, on the
the famous French Academy, include as charter part of the technical-school student. Professor
members for a charter is to be asked for from Con Samuel Earle, head of the English department of
gress many men of prominence in literature and Tufts Engineering School, recently commissioned
education and the arts whom all will be glad to see to make a thorough investigation of the subject of
thus honored. Alphabetically the list is headed by English instruction in technical schools, finds a gen-
the veteran Charles Francis Adams and brought to erally acknowledged insufficiency of such instruction,
completion by the considerably younger though and a rather encouraging disposition to supply the
hardly less deserving George E. Woodberry. Mid defect. In fact, already a change for the better has
way in the list one notes, not without a slight start been to some extent effected in certain quarters.
of surprise, the self-expatriated Henry James, more But the fault is not altogether on the part of the
English in some respects than the English them technical school; the preparatory course has been
selves. With satisfaction one reads the names of defective. The curriculum leading up to the higher
John Burroughs and John Muir in their respective institution has lacked backbone, or has consisted of
alphabetical places, also those of the editors of an invertebrate conglomeration of pseudo-science,
“ Harper's" and the “Century.” Other names that laboratory practice, and shopwork, much of which
fit well into the list are those of Howells, Rhodes, has had to be afterward unlearned. It is suggested
Brownell, Van Dyke, White (Andrew D.), French, by Professor Earle that, just as the ancient classics
Sargent, Vedder, and Millet; and with Professors formed the backbone of the old-time preparation
Lounsbury and Matthews in the illustrious company for college, so English might be and ought to be
to look after the language and spelling of their made a stiffening element in the backbone of the
associates, there is hope of a successful future for technical student's preparatory course.
Schools of
the immortal band. Its present number, forty-seven, engineering are asked to unite in this important
will, it is confidently promised, be reduced in the matter and require of the preparatory schools a
course of nature to the traditional forty. Until more adequate training in English studies.
eight shall have been thus eliminated no aspirant to
immortality need apply.
ACTIVE AND PASSIVE READING differ from each
other as much as do, for example, a brisk walk in
THE ATTEMPT TO DEFINE HUMOR, prompted, or
rather revived, by M. Bergson's recent much-talked the open in the present frigid temperature and a
treatment from a masseur in a well-warmed room.
of inquiry into the causes of laughter, is respon This platitude is à propos of Mayor Gaynor's recent
sible for the array of definitions from noted pens
advice to the members of the graduating class of
in a late number of “ La Revue.” Invited to take Public School 160, New York City, that they should
part in this definition bee, a considerable num form the habit of reading, first because it provides
ber of literary men, including eight well-known
an antidote for boredom, and secondly because the
English writers, have exercised their ingenuity in
reader of serious books will come out ahead of his
trying to define the indefinable. Indeed, one of the
unread competitor in the race of life. The reader
correspondents, no less a person than Mr. George for mere diversion is obviously the passive reader;
Bernard Shaw, frankly admits this indefinability.
the student of books demanding some exercise of the
“ Humor cannot be defined,” he asserts.
intellect, the active reader. We hear a great deal
primary substance which makes us laugh. You
about the creative imagination and creative litera-
might as well try to prove a dogma.” Mr. Zangwill ture, but not yet enough about creative reading
pithily and picturesquely writes: “Humor is the
the reading that is not simply thinking with other
smile in the look of wisdom"; and “F. Anstey," men's brains, but a process of finding oneself and
with equal brevity, declares humor to be a delicious
one's proper bearings in the universe. Who shall
conception of the incongruous,” but acknowledges
may be a higher art to become a creative
the incompleteness of his definition. Mr. Jerome
reader than to be a creative writer ?
K. Jerome, master of humor though he is, begs the
question by defining humor as “ that which strikes THE COMING SALE OF LOSSING'S BOOKS AND
us by its drollery." What then is drollery? That PAPERS at Anderson's auction rooms this spring
which tickles our sense of humor, he might reply. will be an event to attract the collectors of auto-
Some of these expert utterances recall the old defi- graphs and early Americana. One cannot read Ben-
nition of mind and matter: What is mind ? No son J. Lossing's “ Pictorial Field-book of the Revolu-
matter. What is matter? Never mind. Clearly, | tion,”
,” « Pictorial Field-book of the War of 1812,”
“ It is a
say but it


1912.]
121
THE DIAL
.
and “Lives of the Signers of the Declaration of
Independence,” without perceiving that a good deal
The New Books.
of diligent research involving much correspondence
and considerable delving in old documents has gone
A ROUGH APPRENTICESHIP.*
to the making of those highly readable and agreeably
anecdotal volumes. The surviving members of the
Rarely has there been put between the covers
historian's family have recently decided to part with of a book so much of the stern but zestful reality
the bulk of his library, which has been stored at the of life, so much of strenuous struggle against
Lossing summer home at Dover Plains, N. Y. The adversity, so much, in short, of varied and often
correspondence, thought to number about thirty thou- thrilling personal experience, as is recorded by
sand pieces, includes letters from a large number of Mr. J. E. Patterson in his “intimate autobiog-
historic characters, most of the prominent officers
of the Revolution being represented as well as the raphy” which he has entitled “My Vagabond-
age.
It is a book to read with a perceptible
signers (or a great many of them) of the Declaration
of Independence. Especially numerous are auto quickening of the pulse,
quickening of the pulse, - a chronicle of sturdy
graph papers of General Philip Schuyler, acquired striving and high-hearted courage that cannot
for the purpose of writing his “Life and Times.”
fail to increase one's satisfaction in our common
Early pamphlets and books of rarity and value are of humanity. In the fell clutch of circumstance
course conspicuous in such a collection as Lossing's. the writer has not winced nor cried aloud; be-
THE INTELLIGENT LIBRARY ASSISTANT has it in
neath the bludgeonings of chance his head is in
his or her power to be of greater and more frequent it cannot be said that there is in the book any
a very literal sense bloody but unbowed. Yet
immediate service to the visiting public than has, it cannot be said that there is in the book any
ordinarily, the less directly accessible head librarian. vain parade of fortitude, or that the writing of
Many a library-user goes always for help to some it is a bare-faced bid for popular favor. The
one subordinate official whose kindness or whose author has, after years of aspiration and by a
timely bit of special knowledge on a certain occa- rough and circuitous route, reached the longed-
sion in the past has left a lasting impression on the for land of literature and known the joy of seeing
grateful beneficiary. Consequently no pains taken the creations of his imagination in print (after re-
to increase the assistant's breadth of intelligence peated rejections), and the present more frankly
and readiness of resource will be pains thrown
personal product of his pen is a legitimate and
away. Feeling, as it appears, the truth of this,
the head of the Public Library of the District of
welcome addition to his published works.
Columbia has caused one hour each week to be
After a brief preface, which successfully
allowed each assistant for reading reviews of cur ent
strikes the keynote of the book, the author
books : and also the assistants are asked to spend divides his narrative into two parts, headed
some time in the doubtless congenial task of novel-respectively “ The Life Rebellious” and “The
reading for the purpose of obtaining additional Life Adventurous," with about a dozen brisk
subject-headings for catalogue purposes. Happy the and graphic chapters in each. Born in Yorkshire
worker whose calling becomes also his pastime.
of poor parents, he was bereft of his mother in
early childhood and lost track of his father be-
fore he was well into his 'teens, the first thirteen
COMMUNICATION.
years of his life being a tempestuous series of boy-
ish rebellions and truancies, of runnings away
THE COMMON GENDER PRONOUN.
from home and of brief and stormy experiences
(To the Editor of THE DIAL.)
as unbidden guest at the homes of various kins-
Referring to the paragraph in your issue of February
folk in the West Riding.
1, in regard to an “ hermaphrodite pronoun,” will you
Unfitted by natural
allow me to say that some years ago I made a sugges-
endowment to lead the life of normal, respectable
tion which has always seemed to me worthy of more British boyhood, which seemed to him unbear-
attention than it has received. My suggestion was: ably tame and slow, the lad took his destiny into
Nominative: Hi.
Possessive: Hes.
his own hands and ran away to sea at thirteen,
Objective: Hem.
passed himself off as a youth of seventeen, and
Thus by a slight redistribution of the vowels the original made voyages to all parts of the world, except to
forms are closely approximated, but there is ample dif America, before the down of adolescence had stif-
ferentiation from the masculine and feminine pronouns. fened into the beard of manhood. And through
As compared with the ridiculous Thon and the un-
speakable Hiser, do you not think my suggestion an
it all a devouring passion for books kept pace
improvement ? Certainly the need of a pronoun of
with a consuming hunger for life and adventure.
common gender is a pressing one.
*My VAGABONDAGE. Being the Intimate Autobiography
FRANCIS HOWARD WILLIAMS.
of a Nature's Nomad. By J. E. Patterson. With portrait.
Philadelphia, February 9, 1912.
New York: The George H. Doran Co.


122
[Feb. 16,
THE DIAL
Without being able, from lack of space, to give spaces seems never to have forgotten his final
either by description or illustrative quotation an purpose of becoming a writer ; journals of his
adequate idea of the book's remarkable variety successive adventures were carefully kept, and
and vigor, the reviewer can only say, in brief, reams of verse were scribbled as the spirit
that the first part is something like a very intensi- moved. The journal-writing led a few years
fied “Story of a Bad Boy," and the last like one later, when a severe attack of rheumatism com-
of Captain Marryat's or Clark Russell's most pelled the sailor to turn landsman, to a connec-
thrilling sea stories. In fact, Mr. Patterson has tion with journals of another kind and to many
already won for himself the distinction of being efforts, at last successful, to get into the maga-
regarded by many as the successor to those two zines ; and the versifying prepared the way for
famous romancers of the sea.
a volume of poems, “ The Mermaid and Other
An extract from an early chapter will convey Pieces,” published by subscription through the
a notion of the boy Patterson's outlook on life. kind offices of the public librarian at Cardiff.
Alternately regarded by his teachers as a hope- In this connection it may not come amiss to give
lessly unruly pupil and as a marvel of precocity, a specimen of Mr. Patterson's musical verse
he never learned to endure the irksomeness of from the selections with which his present work
pedagogic restraint.
is furnished. Here is a song that came to him
“What on earth did I want with any more schooling?
in a dream :
Could n't I read any other boy off his feet and gabble the
“ The sweetest song these lips e'er sang
newspapers over to my short-sighted elders ! Could n't
Was sung to mine own self in sleep;
I, did n't I, read everything that came within reach!
So through this heart's dead vaults it rang,
And what more could any boy be supposed to do?
That Memory bowed her head to weep.
Had n't I heard time and time again that reading and
experience were the great turnpike-roads to knowledge ?
“I know not whence or how it came;
And was n't I travelling that way?- with the one always
It went and left but this refrain:
in my pocket and the other harvested by a perversity
• A noble life's the greatest fame,
to be ever on the move. For how could one gain experi-
And no renown is free from pain.'
ence except by moving and doing things ? As for sums
“ Awake — I found these eyes in tears,
and that silly thing they call geography!— what did it
matter that I could n't do a sum in simple multiplication
My song ascending to the skies,
Its lines the blood and toil of
years,
or division to save my head ? The world was n't made
Their dust-strewn hopes, their crushing fears,
of sums, like it was of books. Other folks got on in life
Which come hard souls to humanize
without sums; and I should n't want sums to help me
And lift the gaze of earthward eyes."
to make books; and if I did n't do that I would go to
sea, and there were no sums on ships; or I would be a Mr. Patterson is already known, and becom-
farmer and what had a farmer to do with sums?
ing every day better known, as the author of
... No, schools were for girls, for boys who wished to
“ Fishers of the Sea," « Tillers of the Soil,”
go to business, and for those who could n't read or
would n't take to it properly. I was made for books
and the just-published “ Love Like the Sea,”
and the open spaces in life.”
narratives of the realistic and moving sort which
Hatred of restraint and love of adventure his long apprenticeship to struggle and hard-
combined to lead the boy and afterward the ship has fitted him to write with decided effect.
young man into many places of danger, and he concerning the first of these romances of hum-
had countless hairbreadth escapes from sudden
ble life, and the end of its four years' quest of
death. Pure recklessness induced him to at a publisher, the following is of interest, espe-
tempt the smuggling of revolutionary literature cially to the tardily successful in literature:
into Russia, in the course of his sea-roving, and “We would try again. There was Mr. John Murray
it was little short of a miracle that he eluded the
at one end of the scale, said I, the extreme west of the
police and came away upharmed, even though might be tempted because of the fishing nature of the
matter; and there was So-and-so's, down in Norfolk, who
without much success in his foolhardy under-
thing Here goes, heads for the west and tails for the
taking. At another time a too curious interest east, twice out of three, and up went the • lucky'shil-
in the form of worship observed in a Buddhist ling that I had found just without the garden gate on
temple at Bombay resulted in a night's impris- Head, tail, head. Then the MS. was packed off. In
the day we went to live there. This was the order:
onment and a narrow escape from something ten days came an acceptance, and I cried: All glory
much worse.
And still another mad escapade, be to God this day and all the days hereafter!' Within
in which a company of Howling Dervishes a month the thing was bowing humbly to critics who
howling this time with rage — nearly put an
hailed it, from Aberdeen to the south coast, as a piece
end to his pursuit of knowledge, is to be cred-
of literature. The book was freely and favorably com-
ited to him at about the same time. Through foreign masters! And twenty-five times refused! We
pared to the work of dead and living, English and
all these varied experiences the lover of open could hardly believe what we read. Ye gods of igno-


1912.]
123
THE DIAL
rance and commercialism, that ape your belittling way leges of old plays, the development of out-door ·
in a nation's mentality! how many of you were doing
acting, certain especial performances like the
beggars' duty as publishers' readers when that manu-
seript was on its four years' journey? – when no pub- Peterborough Pageant, the MacDowell Fel-
lisher's Calypso would sing that siren-song: «Stay, 0
lowship in dramatic art, the increase of college
Wanderer, stay with us!' Poor, insignificant, heart courses on the drama, the immense realism of the
crushed, still-hopeful, gall-saturated, twice-crippled I stage (from ladies dancing with real bare feet to
to be lifted to the feet of my long-worshipped GODS
on the high and sacred mount of literature
what a
having real cut glass for the banquets of the
heart-in-the-mouth feeling it gave! What humility,
stage), the fact that Bernard Shaw's plays are
what chastened thought, what wondering of other neg still presented sometimes, the interest in the
lected ones on the wayside it brought in its train!” staging of Shakespeare's plays and the study of
Thus we leave the happily “arrived” author, how he used to stage them himself, the produc-
his wander-years at an end, himself blissfully tion of stage beauties in the more ordinary
wedded to his art, and no less blissfully united magazines, the immense popularity of motion-
to a faithful and helpful wife, and with many picture shows, the existence of pantomime plays
years, it is to be hoped, of fruitful activity and where there are no words, and of printed plays
well-earned happiness before him. No book, where there are only words.
however, that he may produce in those coming These facts (and many others which would
years will equal in its way the story he has told easily be collected by anyone whose view of the
of his life, a narrative that combines the direct world was broader than the booklined walls of a
ness and realism of George Meek with the ro- college study) are most easily explained on the
mance and thrilling adventure of Robinson assumption of a very great interest in the Thea-
Crusoe. In closing, a critic might be tempted to tre. As I consider that interest myself it does
call the author's attention to the profit he might not seem very intelligent. We need not mourn
have made out of that early schooling which he over the commercial character of the “offerings
so scornfully spurned. A little more scholar at our theatres, for that is a matter that disturbs
ship might not have hurt his pages. With that more intelligent civilizations than ours. But if
little more he probably would not have written one compare our commonplace and brilliant out-
"quothed” (p. 73) or "laid” for “ lay” (p. 172), put of current dramatic criticism in papers and
or committed sundry other solecisms that could books with the astonishing flood of utterance on
be pointed out. Still it is subject for congratu- the contemporary drama which overflows Paris
lation that, as he did not let himself be spoiled every week, meandering into every salon and in
by vagabondage, so he has resisted from the first undating every café, one will see that ours, even
the benumbing influence of formal education. if considerable in quality, is not so intelligent.
Few indeed are the authors why could lay bare It perceives and observes many facts, but it does
their lives as fearlessly and ukreservedly as Mr. not so often relate those observations and appre-
Patterson has dared to lay bare his in “ My ciations to any more or less general system of
Vagabondage.”
PERCY F. BICKNELL.
ideas, or, if it does, that system of ideas is likely
to be a purely conventional one. Yet though
not very intelligent, pur interest is instinctive,
and that perhaps furnishes as good a ground for
THE THEATRE OF THE FUTURE.*
the growth of a new idea as the other would,
The very great interest of the present genera- provided some one has the idea.
tion in the Theatre
manifested itself in
many
Such views as these are not a mere stock intro-
ways.
Whether
These
ways are different from
duction for a review; they appear a necessary
those of a generation or two generations ago, beginning to an inquiry as to what there is of
whether there are more of them, whether they interest in Mr. Gordon Craig's view of the Art
are more artistic
or more commercial, and other of the Theatre.
such matters, I
must leave to the historian of The first thing that struck me as I read the
American culture,
when there shall ever be one. extraordinary book which conveys this view, was
It will be enoughere to note a few of the more that it had nothing to do with any other mani-
obvious manife
Estations. Besides the ordinary festations of interest in the drama that I had ever
productions of the theatre, then, everyone will heard of. I had supposed in a general way that
think of such facts and eccentricities as the Celtic Mr. Craig's work had had some relation to the cur-
drama, the New Theatre, the acting in the col- rent efforts towards presenting plays; but how-
*ON THE ART OF THE THEATRE. By Edward Gordon
ever it may be with his work in the past, this is
Craig. Illustrated. Chicago : Browne's Bookstore.
not the case with the theory of the present book.
has


124
[Feb. 16,
THE DIAL
He is on a line of his own which is in a different his statue and carve his pedestal, the composer
direction from the lines of stage presentation must allow many men to take part in his sym-
to-day; the further other people go on their own phony, the architect must allow many men to
lines, and the further he goes on his line, the build the cathedral which he has designed. But
further are they apart. Mr. Craig's “ Art of the such assistants or workmen must do exactly
Theatre" does not supplement present theories what the artist tells them to do. They are not
with a fuller realistic, historic, technical, histori to do things as they think best, but as he thinks
cal, or antiquarian feeling; it does not bring the best, or else it is not his work, but an accidental
painter, the composer, the architect, the dancer, mixture and not a work of art at all. In the
the landscape-gardener into the theatre and use theatre the poet, for instance, if he originates
their work more effectively to present the work the work, must have everything done as he con-
of the dramatist. Mr. Craig does not even think ceives it and not as the actor or actress may
of some synthesis of the arts such as Wagner chance to conceive it, nor as the stage-manager
had in mind, in which the different arts did not conceives it, any more than as the scene-painter
supplement the art of the dramatist, but com or the costumer may conceive it. If those per-
bined to make one composite impression. Mr. sons take part on their own account we shall
Craig's idea is different from all those things: have a composite phenomena, very interesting
it is different in essence from the ideas that re to the sociologist, to one who likes to see men
sult in the plays we are accustomed to see. It and women working together to achieve some
does not use the arts of painting, of music, of great purpose, but to the artist not interesting
anything else to help the actor present a play. | at all, at least not as a whole, not as one work
It does not, in fact, even want any actor in the of art.
common meaning of the term), nor, we might Such seems Mr. Craig's general conception.
add, any play.
The Theatre appears to him not merely an ele-
All these negatives will perhaps give a false ment in social life, but a means for an artist.
idea, and yet it is well to begin with them. “I have thought of and begun to make my
Mr. Gordon Craig does not, of course, conceive instrument," says he, “and through this in-
a stage without pictorial scenery, without light- strument I intend soon to venture in my quest
ing and effects, without costumes and dances, for beauty.” If Mr. Craig has so far acted in
without people, without words and action. He other men's plays or managed other men's
wants all these things, and wants them to be a theatres, if he has produced the works of others,
great deal better and more fitted to their pur even of Shakespeare, it has been to learn his
pose than they are now. But he does not want art. He has no more created any work of art
the picture-painter to make scenes, because in so doing thau if he had made a very beautiful
the picture-painter, who may be very clever drawing from an antique cast. “ It is impos-
about atmosphere or landscape, knows nothing sible,” he writes, “ for a work of art ever to be
of conditions at the theatre. He does not want produced, where more than one brain is per-
the composer to present music which shall have mitted to direct.”
been made with the hope of according with a This, in a very few words, is the idea pre-
libretto, but without regard to the ensemble that sented by Mr. Gordon Craig. It is not, it will
is to be produced. He does not want an actor
He does not want an actor be seen, an attempt to change or correct or
or singer who will present some part “create" improve the present way of giving plays or
they are apt to say — in a manner which they managing theatres. It is rather the conception
devise and not the poet.
He does not want a of something new and different from what is
poet or dramatist to write a play and leave it now being done. The idea is presented, it might
to the well-intentioned but aimless efforts of be well to note, in a manner as individual as it
managers, actors, composers, dancers, carpenters, is itself.
is itself. Mr. Gordon Craig coes not give us
costumers, lighters, and others.
a definition, an analysis, a treatment in any
He thinks of the Theatre as a means of Art. systematic fashion ; he proceeds in a manner
And art in his mind means that a man shall which is perhaps more artistic, in that it is cer-
carry out his own ideas by guidance of the tainly more personal. Instead of some unified
knowledge he has of how to do what he wants statement we have addresses, articles, letters,
to do. It is true that an artist need not do dialogues, some of which have been published
everything for himself. The mural painter will already and others which seem to appear now
allow assistants to do much of his preparatory for the first time. There are, for instance, Mr.
work, the sculptor will allow workmen to cast Gordon Craig's article on the Acto" and the


1912.]
125
THE DIAL
Ueber-marionette, his Dialogue on the Art of he wants them to do. (And here Mr. Gordon
the Theatre, a Second Dialogue in which he gives Craig thinks with pleasure of some superior
an account of the Art Theatre at Constance, development of the marionette.) In such a man-
Russia, and proposes a foundation for dramatic ner will a man be able to embody his idea in
experiment, and we must not forget the illustra form in a truly artistic way; everything will be
tions, which, though generally they do not refer as he thinks it should be, nothing will be the re-
to the text, have a very illuminating quality. sult of chance, or of what is worse than chance -
This kind of presentation has its difficulties, the caprice or feeling of somebody else. Thea-
but it has also its advantages, one of which is trical production will no longer be like those
that it gives us various views of the same pictures in which one artist does the landscape
general idea.
and another the animals, or in which one does
An idea like this is certainly most fascinating the head and hands and another the background
to the mind that loves the arts, — so fascinating and the costume. It may be asked, perhaps,
perhaps that it is not possible to view it clearly why the artist should not go a step further and
and sanely. To cut off at one blow all the design his own theatre. There would probably
annoying difficulties and troubles that bother be no objection by Mr. Gordon Craig to his do-
the theorist and the practical man in dramatic ing so, and doubtless everyone would have some
matters — the necessity of producing plays that particular ideas about construction that he would
many people will want to see, for instance, the desire to see carried out. But the Theatre in
harmonizing the conflicting interests and fancies its general idea would seem as fundamental an
of different kinds of people, such as actors, poets, artistic means as the picture, the book, the
proprietors, and other such, — all that leaves orchestra ; and my own idea (if I were applied
one so free to think and to imagine that it can to for counsel) would be that an Artist of the
not but be a pleasure. And though there is Theatre should not feel called upon to devise a
done
away
with so much that exists, there is yet special form of theatre to embody his idea
any
left so much to fill its place; the Artist of the more than a novelist should have to conceive
Theatre (he has as yet no name) is possessed of some new form of novel or the sculptor some
some idea to which he must give form, and that new medium for presenting form. He might
form he will create in the theatre by means of
do
of course, if he wished, but it is no dero-
color, movement, voice, rhythm, light, gesture. gation of one's artistic character to use means
He will have in mind all the resources of the that other men have devised but which have
theatre to-day,— scenes, costumes, properties, become traditional through exercise.
lights, action, dance, music, poetry; and any or All this gives but a sketch of Mr. Gordon
all of these materials he is to use in giving his Craig's main idea. There are other most inter-
idea form. He will design his scenes and his esting things in his book : ideas as to realism,
costumes and his properties, he will imagine his for instance, to mention theoretical matters,
action and his grouping and his dances, he will comment on various theatrical circumstances,
write his poetry and his music. If he cannot for practical affairs, and also, as has been said,
do these things he is not a complete Artist of the illustrations, - especially the frontispiece,
the Theatre: one does not become an artist with its remark, “I wanted to know for once
simply by wanting to be one, and ten years or what it felt like to be mounting up impossible
so is none too long a time to spend in studying ladders and beckoning people to come up after
the means and materials of one's art. The me." But the proposal is the main thing, —
artist will not have to make or do all these everything else depends upon it. And though
things himself, at least not in every case, and it will arouse astonishment, anger, despair, on
for every play, but he must have done such the part of some people, it must also arouse
things; he will not have to paint the scenes him exhilaration, a glow of life, a desire to create on
self, nor to cut out the cloth for his costumes, the part of others. Few who love the Theatre
nor to model his properties and paint them, any will know what the book contains without want-
more than he would have to write with his own ing to read it. When they do read it, different
pen or typewrite the words of his poetry or the things will happen ; there will be all sorts of
notes of his music. But he will wish them to
But he will wish them to ideas that will conflict, oppose, combine.
be his own work, his own way of expressing the out of such an apparent chaos it is, very often
elements or nuances of thought and feeling that at least, that there arises finally something
may develop from his conception. He will also beautiful, barmonious, and perfect.
make actors, singers, dancers do exactly what
EDWARD E. HALE, JR.
So,


126
[Feb. 16,
THE DIAL
disliked to command colored troops, but he had
REMINISCENCES OF FOUR WARS.*
learned the habit of doing his duty. He had
Measured by General Sherman's classic defi- heard of the so-called “black flag” order of
nition, there need be no hesitation in applying President Davis : that neither white officers nor
the name “war” to the Indian Campaign of
to the Indian Campaign of the black rank and file were to receive any quar-
1868-9 and to the Cuban Insurrection just pre ter, and that white officers of colored regiments
ceding the Spanish-American War, as well as had actually been hung ; but this only roused
to the Civil War in the United States and the his fighting blood. He devoted the fall to drill-
Philippine Insurrection. Each of the two distin- ing his regiment, and at Poison Springs and
guished Kansans who has recently published Jenkins' Ferry, and in many another action, they
his memoirs was a participant in two wars. But proved their discipline and their mettle.
aside from this and their state allegiance, there “ The black flag order of the Confederacy was a god-
is a strong contrast between the two works. In send to the colored regiments. Every officer and every
his youth Governor Crawford may have had as
soldier knew that it meant the bayonet, with no quarter,
whenever and wherever they met the enemy. At least
strong a love of adventure as General Funston;
that was the definite understanding among the officers
but looking back from the pinnacle of age, the and enlisted men of the Eighty-third U. S.; and the
last but one of the war governors now living, regiment was drilled and disciplined and instructed
the former writes as a man of peace, regretting accordingly.”
the violence of which he was a part, and com- | After the battle of Poison Springs, in which the
mending the simple and rural life of his farm on colored regiment lost a hundred and eighty-two
Spring River; while General Funston, though and the federal white regiment thirty-seven, thus
one of the kindliest and most democratic of men, clearly demonstrating that the Confederates
is in the best sense a soldier of fortune, writing were pursuing the policy of no quarter toward
of his career in the spirit of a Drake or a Fre- the colored troops, the Eighty-third held a coun-
mont. On the other hand, both of these officers cil of war and decided
saw much of irregular and guerilla warfare, “That in the future the regiment would take no pris-
Crawford on the Missouri border during the oners, so long as the Rebels continued to murder our men;
Civil War and in the Indian Campaign, Fun-
but that no wounded Confederate should be harmed or
injured in any way, but left where he fell. This agree-
ston both in Cuba and in Luzon.
ment was carried out, so far as possible in the heat of
The portions of Governor Crawford's memoirs
battle."
which deal with the battles of Wilson's Creek, Governor Crawford bears steadfast testimony
Prairie Grove, and Jenkins' Ferry, the Price to the valor and loyalty and good behavior of
Raid, the Indian Campaign of 1868-9, and
with Mr. Crawford's work as attorney for the Governor Crawford had much to do with
Indians in defending their treaty rights, con establishing the financial footing of Kansas,
tain most of his original contribution to history visiting New York on more than one occasion
With many details attempting to do justice to
to persuade the money market of the stability
minor officers, and a surprisingly fair tone of Kansas state securities. But his most excit-
toward the deserving Confederate leaders, the ing experiences were in connection with the
author devotes considerable space to a castiga- Indian depredations of 1867 and 1868 on the
tion of General Fred. Steele, whose cowardice western border. Each summer it became neces-
and incompetence led to the failure of General
sary to call out state troops, and each time the
Banks's movement against Shreveport. An division of responsibility for control of the In-
equal severity is manifested toward General
dians between the War and the Interior depart-
S. R. Curtis, who was responsible for the failure ments made action slow and entailed
upon
the
to crush Price on his retreat from Jefferson City. Kansas frontiersmen great loss of property and
Governor Crawford was made Colonel of the
life. Finally, in November, 1868, after the ter-
83d Colored Infantry in the fall of 1863, and
rible battle on the Arickaree, in which fifty
some of his most interesting chapters tell of the
volunteers under Colonel Forsythe resisted for
bravery of this regiment. Colonel Crawford
a week the attack of eight hundred Cheyennes,
* KANSAS IN THE Sixties. By Samuel J. Crawford, War losing half their number, the Governor called
Governor of Kansas. With portraits. Chicago : A. C. out the Nineteenth Kansas Cavalry and himself
McClurg & Co.
resigned to accept the colonelcy. After a severe
MEMORIES OF Two WARS. By Frederick Funston,
Brigadier-General U. S. Army. Illustrated. New York:
winter campaign, when the hostile Indians had
Charles Scribner's Sons.
been driven back to the Indian Territory, Colonel
.


1912.]
127
THE DIAL
Crawford resigned the regiment to Colonel H.L. dence of sincerity and truthfulness. Funston
Moore, whose graphic account of the campaign has many good words to say of the bravery, the
is quoted, and himself proceeded to Washington devotion, the kindness, and consideration of his
to work for the payment of his command. No Cuban comrades. While admitting that he
one has shown more frankly than Governor entered the Cuban service chiefly from love of
Crawford how the Indians were cheated and adventure, he sympathized with their desire for
wronged under the vacillating policy of our independence, and still believes that
government. But let those whose sympathy is “ Fairminded Americans, who will consider the tremen-
entirely with the Indians read also Governor dous sacrifices made by the people of the island, will
Crawford's account of the frontier raids. want to see the young republic endure. That is the
attitude of the few of their countrymen now surviving
“ Had the government at an early date adopted a just
who shared with the patriots the dangers, the hunger,
and firm Indian policy and adhered to it, the soil of
and other privations of the final struggle.”
every township of land west of the Appalachian Range
would not have been saturated with human blood. But But likewise of the Spanish soldier, both in
that was not done. The humanitarians, who knew Cuba and in the Philippines, the author has
nothing about the real character of the wild Indians, good to say.
were going to manage them by moral suasion and with
beautiful flowers, as some ladies reclaim murderers
“He was brave and patient, and by no means the
when on trial for their lives."
inhuman brute that he has been made out to be, but he
had little heart in the war, and was always getting
Governor Crawford's book is a contribution
yellow fever and other undesirable things."
to national as well as to local history. While General Funston also has a word of generous
the modern and military slang into which the appreciation of a brave negro.
author often falls is to be pardoned the veteran,
“Our first sergeant [at the siege of Victoria de las
yet it is regrettable.
Tunas] was a negro as black as night. He was a brave
The sentiment just quoted from Governor and faithful fellow, and had long ago deserved promo-
Crawford regarding the unwisdom of the hu tion, but our chief had feared we Americans would re-
manitarian non-combatant would constitute a
sent such action. But Las Tunas settled it with us, and
we went to the general in a body and said we would be
sympathetic link with General Funston, for be
glad to have him as a fellow officer. He was glad to
too had some of his warfare to wage with semi comply, and it was my pleasant task to surprise the gal-
barbarous peoples and suffered severe criticism lant soldier by handing him his commission as second
at the hands of those who did not fully under-
lieutenant."
stand the conditions under which he had to One may wonder whether General Funston's
operate.
democracy has so far survived ten years of regu-
General Funston does not profess to be writ lar
army
life as to tolerate a colored messmate
ing a history of the two wars in which he partici- to-day!
pated, but only to give an account of what he General Funston is quite unconventional in
saw, with enough of general conditions to enable commenting frankly on army officers and con-
the reader to understand the narrative.
6. For
ditions. He does not hesitate to say that “the
this is nothing more than a contribution, such clamor of the yellow section of the press and the
as it may be, to the literature of adventure.” deliverances of politicians playing to the galleries
And as such, it must be admitted that it is
very so inflamed public sentiment that the hand of
interesting reading. General Funston has a the administration was forced and we were in
style which, if not always classical, is crisp and for a short and sharp little war (with Spain)."
clear and pointed. He, too, especially in the part He was ordered to Tampa to furnish informa-
of his reminiscences dealing with the Philip- tion on Cuban conditions to General Shafter,
pines, indulges in more or less reportorial slang. but that gentleman “ seemed to regard him with
He follows Kipling more than he does Stev suspicion,” and that " was the attitude of the
enson.
higher officers generally.” Of General E. S.
The boy Funston, after some exciting adven- | Otis he remarks that “one would about as soon
tures alone on the Yukon River, which proved think of cracking a joke in his presence as of
that he deserved his nickname of “ Fearless trying to pull his beard.”
Fred,” enlisted with the Cuban insurrectos as In his Preface the author calls attention to
a result of the fiery eloquence of General Sickles. the embarrassment of the inevitable resort to the
Four chapters of his book are occupied with the first personal pronoun, and assures the reader
account of his experiences in serving as artillery that he is aware that he “was by no means the
officer under Gomez and Garcia. The revelation only person present in Cuba or Luzon.”
of Cuban spirit and character has all the evi the whole, this apology is unnecessary; for the
On


128
[Feb. 16,
THE DIAL
author is scrupulously generous in recognizing
A NOTABLE STUDY OF POETRY.*
the merits and achievements of others, and at
the same time is far from loath to report his Most readers of poetry who ask themselves
own failures and bumiliations. When Gover what poetry is are in the position of St. Augus-
nor Leedy sent for him to take command of the tine, who, in another connection, said, “If not
Twentieth Kansas Infantry, and Mr. Funston asked, I know; if you ask me, I know not."
offered some suggestions on the need of a good | Poetry has been defined so often, in so many
drill-master, the Governor “ told me bluntly that ways, and with so little success, that when a
if I did not take the regiment he would give it fresh attempt is made we are inclined to be so
to Mr. So and So. I knew that I could not be skeptical as not to examine it, on the assumption
a worse colonel than the man named, and ac-
that here is another dreary eulogy of imagina-
cepted.” At the muster-in of the regiment, tion, of the sort that has flourished during the
Colonel Funston had not yet received his uni- past hundred years. Professor Neilson's lectures
form. He went out in citizen's clothes, and was (“ Essentials of Poetry,” not“ The Essentials of
halted by a sentry who informed him that visitors Poetry,” one notes with approval) is a pleasant
were not allowed within the limits of the camp. disappointment to the skeptical reader. Unlike
“I replied, somewhat icily, that I was the colonel of
the studies by perfervid romantic critics and
the regiment. The sentry was a very tall man, and
“Germanized" scholars, it contains no pet
altitude has never been one of my charms; so the man eccentric theory of poetry, but seems to aim, in
bent his head until his mouth was within a couple of
the good old Socratic sense, to discover the truth.
inches of one of my ears, and, as a most engaging grin
With refreshing sobriety the author seeks the
overspread his features, whispered, “Try the next sentry.
He's easy!!"
solution, not in a new term and not in a new
At San Francisco Colonel Funston became interpretation of old terms, but in a new com-
bination of old terms.
very well acquainted with General Shafter, but
“never mustered up courage to ask him why I had
Poetry is not to be regarded as a product
made such a poor impression on him at Tampa. with a single essential element, but “ as a com-
He was a blunt man, and might have told me.”
posite of a limited number of elements, whose
But decidedly the best of these jokes at the proportions are variable,” these elements being
Colonel's own expense is in his interview with
the imagination, the reason, and the sense of
General Miller.
fact. If one of these be lacking in a given
« When I entered, saluted rather stiffy, and announced poetical product, the other two cannot make
the object of my visit, General Miller looked up, and, good the deficiency; if one be in excess, the
as a kindly smile overspread his features, said, “Well, poem must in some degree suffer; if all three
well; so you are a colonel, are you? Sit right down on are present in balance, the poem has the chief
this box and tell me how anybody came to make a young
traits of a masterpiece. In literary history the
chap like you a colonel.””
excess of each of the factors in turn has given
However, the young chap convinced his supe-
rise to what we call Romanticism, Classicism,
riors that those who appointed him had made no
and Realism. “ Romanticism is the tendency
mistake. Opportunities for reckless daring were
characterized by the predominance of imagina-
plentiful in the Philippines, and were seldom
tion over reason and the sense of fact. Classicism
neglected by Colonel Funston. His own account
does not always make him the picturesque figure
is the tendency characterized by the predomi-
nance of reason over imagination and the sense
painted by the reporters of the Twentieth Kan-
sas, but even Funston's modesty cannot conceal
of fact. Realism is the tendency characterized
the fact that he was brave and resourceful and imagination and reason.” This disposes so easily,
by the predominance of the sense of fact over
generous to his men. Generals Wheaton and
one might almost say so prettily, of three treach-
MacArthur occupy a prominent place in the
erous terms, that one is instinctively antago-
narrative, and are well characterized. It is not
nistic; but simple as the definitions are, they will
the part of this review to re-tell General Fun-
bear close scrutiny.
ston's story. If tales of war must be read,
General Funston's are as vivid as any and as
The chapters following are devoted to a dis-
little gruesome as may be. And if professional and the three terms associated with the domi-
cussion of the three conspicuous traits of poetry
soldiers there must be, those who know him well
will be thankful that the fearful work can be chapter on imagination is, perhaps of necessity,
nance of one or other of these traits. The
in the hands of as human and humane a man as
Frederick Funston.
* ESSENTIALS OF POETRY. Lowell Lectures, 1911. By
W. H. CARRUTH. William Allan Neilson. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co.


1912.]
129
THE DIAL
the least satisfactory; for, as the author himself of the essence of nineteenth century romanti-
suggests, no chapter of sixteen pages could dis- cism ; and in their conception of romanticism
cuss adequately so elusive a subject. The various they have included, rightly or wrongly, what
definitions of romanticism are then attacked Professor Neilson disposes of as sentimentalism.
lustily, those stressing Mediævalism and the When Sainte-Beuve asserted that reverie is at
"return to nature” yielding most readily; after the heart of romanticism, he was thinking, not
which the definition given in an earlier chapter of Elizabethan England and Calderon and Lope
is insisted on. In the next chapter, reason is de Vega, but of those who exemplified in one
made substantially equivalent to "form,” and way or another the traits of Rousseau, high-
the meaning of classical is clearly analyzed. priest of sentimentalism and father of latter-day
Finally comes the sense of fact, “ lending steadi- romanticism. One cannot quarrel with the con-
ness to imagination and supplying material to clusion that Professor Neilson reaches through
reason,” which, when it dominates, tends to regarding romanticism as a tendency that flares
produce realistic poetry.
out at intervals in the history of poetry; but
These are the ingredients of the magic cal one must remember that, from this point of
dron; the fire that should melt and fuse them view, the Romantic Movement was largely, per-
is Intensity, - a term that, as Professor Neilson haps mainly, sentimental, at least if one is
says, has the advantage of being less dubious in thinking of the Romantic Movement on the
meaning than emotion, or feeling, or passion. Continent as well as in England.
Incidentally, it is the element that Arnold Professor Neilson does not endeavor to arrive
sought when he seized on “ high seriousness." at a final definition of poetry; he seeks, rather,
In this chapter is included the matter of rhythm, to limit the meaning of some of “the hard-
“one of many aids to the expression of inten worked counters of the critical game,” to relate
sity.” Intensity is, then, quite as essential as these terms to the nature of poetry and to each
the three elements already discussed; in Landor, other and to the perfect work of art. Second-
for instance, who possessed the three elements in arily he seeks to give the reader of poetry a point
approximate balance, we find in his lack of in- of view from which he may see more clearly what
tensity an explanation of his failure to produce poetry is, what “schools” of poetry are, and by
poetry of the first order.
means of which he may derive a keener æsthetic
The rest of the book is devoted to an ex enjoyment from the reading of poetry. And
amination of certain minor qualities of poetry though for the most part distinctly popular in
sentiment and sentimentalism, and humor in its treatment, these lectures will not fail to engage
various aspects. The distinction between senti the attention of the scholar. Aside from acute
mentalism on the one hand and sentiment and illustrative comments on Thomson, Burns,
passion on the other, together with the historic Wordsworth, Byron, and Arnold, Professor
survey and the application of examples, forms a Neilson presents a view of poetry that has un-
chapter of great interest and throws much light usual clarifying properties. Whoever ventures
on the leading conceptions of the book. Of still into the misty and hungry lands of romantic
more interest intrinsically, though of less im- criticism, is likely to come away (as one Elizur
portance as a part of the book, is “ Humor in Wright came away from Carlyle's works)“ with
Poetry,” a theme that has hitherto had no ade an unaccountable sense of emptiness.” To
quate treatment.
Shelley, poetry is “the expression of the imag-
Such, in brief, are Professor Neilson's Lowell ination,” to Hazlitt "the language of the imag-
Lectures on poetry. Only one difficulty is likely ination and the passions,” to Ruskin “the sug-
to occur to the reader, a difficulty involved in gestion, by the imagination, of noble grounds
the definition of romanticism as the predomi- for the noble passions,” and so on till one
nance of imagination over reason and the sense is faint with “imagination” and the tenuous
of fact. The author has in mind that recurring definitions of that word. In Professor Neil.
predominance of the imagination that enables son's discussion one finds, once more, fresh air
us to call romantic two eras so unlike as the age and intellectual poise. As a piece of sound
of Elizabeth and the Romantic Movement of the expository writing the book is notable; and
early nineteenth century. Most critics who have the sturdy manner of presentation is, happily,
essayed a definition of romanticism have had in a token of sturdy thought and of avoidance
mind primarily the Romantic Movement. From of the metaphysical profundity that is after
Goethe and Heine to Mr. Watts-Dunton and all not always profound.
Professor Beers, critics have tried to lay hold
NORMAN FOERSTER.


130
[Feb. 16,
THE DIAL
to show the man with the quiver of life to him.
SHATTERING THE SHAW MYTH,*
The Socratic dialogue, the newspaper interview
Mr. Bernard Shaw has written to the publish style, ample quotation, a return to the theme
ers of Dr. Archibald Henderson's voluminous
for a re-definition, all
serve;
for the method is
biography of himself, to say that in view of the
eclectic, and it matters not if only the result be
biographer’s difficulties in making such a book attained: a sharper limning of a figure around
he had done “extraordinarily well.” Those which already the apochryphal clouds make mist.
who know their Shaw will understand what is
The volume has, too, the cardinal virtue of being
meant; for no living human being is harder to intensely interesting, always readable ; this de-
bring under the lens and see as he is, and few spite its length and the apparent meanderings
human beings have been more misrepresented, of its subject-matter. Both as to the way it is
than the author of "Man and Superman." done, and as an illustration of how the book
In over five hundred pages, with an energy smashes the Shaw myth, a single quotation will
and carefulness and sympathy which deserve do more than the same amount of description.
high commendation, Dr. Henderson has pre “ Confronted with the point-blank question, To what
sented his subject from all conceivable angles ; do you owe your marvellous gift for public speaking?'
has not been afraid to make himself a Boswell Shaw characteristically replied: "My marvellous gift
of intimate revelation to this erratic Johnson;
for public speaking is only part of the G. B. S. legend.
I am no orator, and I have neither memory enough nor
and certainly has achieved the result of giving
presence of mind enough to be a really good debater,
anyone willing to peruse so elaborate a biography though I often seem to be when I am on ground that is
a rounded impression of Shaw, a sense of his familiar to me and new to my opponents. I learned to
many-sidedness, and a realization of his essential speak as men learn to skate or to cycle,— by doggedly
seriousness, which shall conspire to a truthful making a fool of myself until I got used to it. Then I
practised it in the open air — at the street corner, in the
picture of a much-maligned man.
market square, in the park — the best school.
.. Of
The study is of the kind to make excuse for course, as an Irishman I have some fluency, and can
the laugh or the sneer of the scoffer. It assumes manage a bit of rhetoric and a bit of humor on occasion,
what the scoffer and there are still plenty of
and that goes a long way in England. But “marvellous
him — will deny: that Shaw is a person to be
gift” is all my eye.”
taken as master, in the
The study is also helpful in its detailed ac-
Dr. Henderson takes
way
him; that to give him so much space and attention
count of Shaw's early days, and the light shed
is not ridiculous. But the biography itself will
on his ancestry and immediate family. The
help to dispel this rather shallow attitude, just result of a reading of this part of the work is
because it displays, to those who judge him
to make clear the fact that the gifted Irishman
exclusively by a play or two, Shaw the Fabian
came of persons of quality, whatever their idio-
socialist, the effective platform speaker, the bril- syncracies and defects; the mother, always so
liant critic of music and painting and literature, important in explaining men of genius, being
and the stimulating theorist in economics, sociol- plainly a most unusual and gifted person, and
ogy, and ethics. It cannot fail to be seen from
Shaw's bringing up, unconventional as it was,
such an acquaintance that here is an intellectual
full of cultural influences for a coming writer, -
leader, whatever you or I may happen to think,
this being particularly true with regard to music,
or think we think, of this or that drama of his.
in which Mrs. Shaw was so proficient.
And as we read on, and come to get a clearer
Dr. Henderson's biography might easily be
understanding of how he is rated in Europe, as
criticized on the ground of spreading its material
one of the few British authors to-day constantly the aim, it is a question whether it could other-
over too much space; yet given the method and
read, followed, and discussed, further light upon
his true position will have been received.
wise be so well accomplished. Criticism might
This service Professor Henderson's book does perhaps be directed toward the indistinct way
perform; and I incline to call it a great one.
Shaw is shown in relation to those time-move-
To it may be added the intimate off-hand picture ments of which, as the biographer says, the dra-
given of the man, at the expense of conventional
matist is a part. We pass from angle to angle,
dignity, but on the whole without violating de- get glimpses and suggestions that are valuable;
corum. Dr. Henderson is not worried about this;
but the interlinking of it all is not quite accom-
no more was Boswell. The object of both was
plished. And here again, in fairness, the diffi-
culty of the attempt must be conceded. To offset
GEORGE BERNARD SHAW: His Life and Works. A
Critical Biography (authorized). By Archibald Henderson. this, let it be said that the chapters on the tech-
Illustrated. Cincinnati: The Stewart & Kidd Co.
nician and dramatist are sound and brilliant, full


1912.]
131
THE DIAL
of keen insight and happy turns of statement. rick's description of his “healer” which takes us
An attractive feature of the work is the illustra- dangerously near to the marshy ground of a charla-
tive material, including a series of portraits of tanism more dangerous to social welfare than any of
the subject from childhood to the present day. the grosser manifestations which he so unsparingly
RICHARD BURTON.
condemns. The fascination of straying into this
borderland between real and fantastic thought has
swayed many other good writers besides Mr. Her-
rick, but it is an aberration likely to lead into an
RECENT FICTION.*
intellectual quagmire. The story of “The Healer”
“ The Healer” has the general characteristics of is concerned with the “wild man's” wooing and
Mr. Herrick's other novels - a seriousness so unre capture of a young woman whose life has been saved
lieved as to be almost deadly, a lofty scorn of the by his skill. The romantic glamour about him is
ignoble in life and thought, an intimate knowledge sufficient to make her forsake home and society to
of the currents of our feverish modern life, a strong share his wilderness life, but it does not last, and
feeling for natural beauty coupled with a tendency the lure of the flesh-pots brings about a complete
toward poetical or rhapsodical forms of expression, estrangement. Not, however, before the “healer,"
and a style marked by force rather than distinction. in his effort to retain the love of his wife, has made
These qualities have their attendant defects, but the terms with mammon, and come to feel that he has
combination produces striking results. Had Ibsen sold his birthright for a mess of pottage. In time, he
been a novelist, and had he chosen Mr. Herrick's wrenches himself loose from the net he has gathered
theme in “The Healer,” he might have written much about him, and regains something of his old inde-
the same sort of a novel. We link the two names pendence and self-respect. In dealing with this situa-
because the note common to both is that of a con tion, the author again illustrates his favorite thesis
fused idealism, quite sure of what is wrong in our that marriage pulls a man down to a lower level
ways of life, but not very clear in its suggestions because the wife is on the side of convention and
for setting it right. In the present instance, for material comfort. This would be important, if true,
example, the shafts of indignant satire are chiefly but only a jaundiced mind can see in it the pre-
aimed at the medical profession, which we are bidden ponderating principle of the married relation. Mr.
to behold as an occupation of sordid aims, charlatan-
Herrick's women restless, hectic, selfish, material
ism and trickery, and self-advertising unashamed. creatures that most of them are seem to be studies
But are we seriously to believe that the way out of in abnormal psychology rather than typical examples
this slough (assuming it to exist) is the way of Mr. of womanhood. For every Omphale or Delilah of
Herrick's skilled physician, who takes refuge in a his imagining there is somewhere in the world more
northern wilderness, there ministering to such human than one Alcestis or Ruth, or, to take historical ex-
flotsam as comes within his reach, or even the later amples, more than one Beatrice or Vittoria Colonna.
way which brings him back to the city, to live But there is one thing that may always be said for
in the slums and serve the poor without money
Mr. Herrick's novels, which is that however unpleas-
and without price? His final phase seems the antly they may affect the reader, they at least set
most rational, for it finds him directing an endowed him to thinking about the real issues of life; they
hospital for the victims of nervous diseases, while plunge him into its deeper currents instead of leav-
over and above his individual striving there is some ing him to disport himself upon its sunlit surface.
what vaguely suggested the ideal of healing as an To those who have read “Sister Carrie,” Mr.
institutional function, taken over by society for the Dreiser's new novel, “ Jennie Gerhardt,” will ap-
common weal.
There is idealism and to spare in pear one of the more significant books of the year.
all this, but it does not seem quite certain of its aim, It has the same homely quality, and exhibits the
and seems still less certain of the means for attain same type of realism, as the earlier work, and is
ing it. There is a strain of mysticism in Mr. Her infused with the same sort of quiet and deep human
*THE HEALER. By Robert Herrick. New York: The sympathy. It is the story of a woman, more sinned
Macmillan Co.
against than sinning, whose lot falls among the
JENNIE GERHARDT, By Theodore Dreiser, New York: outcasts, yet who remains in most of the essentials a
Harper & Brothers.
good woman, and whose errors, although technically
John Rawn, PROMINENT CITIZEN. By Emerson Hough. serious, are attributable to circumstance and environ-
Indianapolis: The Bobbs-Merrill Co.
ment rather than to anything vicious in her nature.
John TEMPLE, MERCHANT, ADVENTURER, CONVICT, AND
She is the child of respectable working-people in
CONQUISTADOR. By Ralph Durand. New York: The Mac-
millan Co.
Columbus, Ohio. The father, a crabbed German of
SPANISH GOLD. By George A. Birmingham. New York: the strictest Lutheran orthodoxy, is out of work
The George H. Doran Co.
much of the time, and the mother takes in washing
THE SEARCH PARTY. By George A. Birmingham. New to support the family. They are very poor people.
York: The George H. Doran Co.
One of the mother's customers is a United States
LALAGE'S LOVERS. By George A. Birmingham. New
York: The George H. Doran Co.
Senator, and it is the daughter who carries the
UNDER WESTERN Eyes. By Joseph Conrad. New
bundles to and from his hotel. He is won by
York: Harper & Brothers.
Jennie's beauty and sweetness of disposition, and


132
[Feb. 16,
THE DIAL
a
she becomes his victim. He fully intends to make The London “Publishers' Circular” recently
her his wife, but his sudden death puts an end to singled out, as Chicago's two leading literary insti-
her hopes, leaving her with the burden of an unborn tutions, THE DIAL and Mr. Emerson Hough. We
child. Jennie is cast out from home by her angry are not quite sure that our second choice (or first)
father when her disgrace becomes apparent, and is would have been that of our English critic, but a
thrown on her own resources. She goes into ser new novel by Mr. Hough is pretty sure to take rank
vice with a wealthy family in Cleveland, and there among the better products of current American lit-
attracts the attention of a visitor to the house, a erature. We are inclined to think “ John Rawn,
prosperous man of affairs, the scion of a wealthy Prominent Citizen” the best piece of work he has
family. He persuades her to live with him, and, thus far given us. For one thing, it does not attempt
removing to Chicago, they establish a home appar to link invention with the facts of American history,
ently as man and wife. The man is himself by field of effort in which the author moves a little
no means vicious, or in any way like the immoral heavily and is not altogether convincing. Its back-
seducer that makes a game of the pursuit of women. ground is social and of the present time, which does
He is to all intents and purposes Jennie's husband, not weaken the characteristically strident note of
and nothing more than lack of determination pre Mr. Hough's democracy. In the prominent citi-
vents him from giving a legal sanction to their union. zen” whose career he now describes he has given
He has made for himself a home in which he is us a portrait of the sort of unscrupulous egotist who
happy, and his moral sense is too blunt for him to rises from humble circumstances to the proud posi-
realize that anything more is necessary. Mean tion of financial magnate and captain of industry.
while, the social mill is slowly grinding out the con John Rawn, after a humdrum existence which has
sequences of this false relation. The man learns brought him well into the thirties, gets possession of
of the existence of Jennie's child, of which he has an idea, and exploits it at the expense of the public.
known nothing, and the story of her unfortunate This idea is nothing less than that which obsesses
past is revealed to him. Then his family and friends every physicist, the idea that the unlimited supply of
get wind of his domestic irregularity, and bring energy
which is stored in the ether may be tapped
many kinds of pressure to bear upon him. His and made to supply power for all the motors of the
father's death brings a staggering problem. He world. Unfortunately for Rawn, the mechanical
must put an end to his illicit domestic establish device by which this revolution is accomplished is
ment, or lose his rightful share in the gigantic for worked out by his son-in-law, who keeps to himself
tune and the business which has made it. He long the secret of its construction. Thereby hangs the
hesitates, but finally makes the break, providing a whole complication of the tale, for Charles Halsey
country home for Jennie and her child. Then is by way of being a socialist, and he believes that
another woman appears, one of his own class, and the monopoly of mechanical power at which Rawn
precisely the one whom he had thought to wed in is grasping will bear heavily upon the people and
his earlier days. She throws herself at his head in make life harder for them. Nevertheless, he con-
such fashion that there is no evasion for him, a wed structs his machine, and it works so convincingly
ding follows, and foreign travel, and general social that capital is eager to secure it, and builds up the
rehabilitation. Meanwhile Jennie loses her child, gigantic organization of which Rawn has dreamed.
and eats out her heart in her solitude. She has made As president of this Company, Rawn soon becomes a
no scene, she has just suffered dumbly, admitting millionaire, of which change of condition bis transit-
to herself that she has deserved it all. The closing ion from a cottage in Kelly Row to a stone palace
scene is at the man's death bed, whither Jennie has on the North Shore is the visible symbol. As his
been summoned, his wife being absent in Europe. wealth increases, he hardens in his egotism, casts off
And in her consciousness the future stretches out the simple soul who has been his wife for many
as a series of “days and days in endless reiteration, years, and replaces her by a beautiful stenographer
and then—" This is a very moving story, gravely whom he dazzles with jewels and the display of
proceeding to what, given the conditions of the general opulence. In due course, two storms gather
existing social order, is its only possible logical ter about him. One is in the business world, for his
mination, and leaving the reader with a deep sense associates in the power scheme become suspicious,
of the pity of it all, and a stirring wonder whether in and demand that he “make good” with his motors.
some finer scheme of things, such a soul as Jennie's, The other is in his domestic relations, for Halsey,
even with her succession of haps and mishaps, might whose wife has practically forsaken him, carries on
not work out its salvation in honor and peace. It an intrigue with Mrs. Rawn the second, who comes to
offers one of these special instances which seem to despise her husband, and professes to be enamoured
defy the application of all the general principles of of the altruistic notions of her lover. The latter is
conventional morality, and which puzzle the mind killed in a labor riot, the guilty wife fades from the
that would base its sympathies upon a clean-cut dis- picture, Mrs. Rawn the first turns up in the nick of
tinction between what is right and what is wrong. time with the million dollars that had been given
“Jenny's case,” in this modern presentment, does her as a solatium at the time of the divorce, and the
not seem nearly as clear as the moralist would like story is hurried to a rather unconvincing conclusion
to view it.
which leaves us to infer that things will be patched


1912.]
133
THE DIAL
up somehow. There is a good deal of melodrama in Two other novels by the same hand give evidence
this story and much crudity of coloring, but there is of the same engaging sort of humor. “The Search
also dramatic action, and much forcible writing, and a Party” tells how Dr. Lucius O'Grady, an impecuni-
general quality of virility that is fairly striking. Mr. ous medical officer of the Poor Law Union of Clon-
Hough has a pretty talent for veiled invective and more, falls into the hands of the A. M. B. A., and
suppressed indignation. It is not difficult to perceive how his determined fiancée, Miss Adeline Maud
that there is a chip on his shoulder most of the time. Blow, comes to his rescue. The initials betoken the
Two historical happenings have been skilfully com Anti-Militarist Brotherhood of Anarchists, whose
bined in the romance of “John Temple,” by Mr. leader is one Mr. Red, who leases the old dower-
Ralph Durand. One is that of the Englishman house of Rosivera, several miles distant from any-
despatched by Queen Elizabeth with a message of thing, and occupies it with his minions. What he
friendship to Akbar, the Great Mogul. The other does there excites the curiosity of the Clonmore
is that of the luckless expedition of Barreto, which villagers, and even the reader is vouchsafed nothing
by cause of famine, disease, and treachery, failed in more than a general impression that the place is a
the attempt to make a Portuguese conquest of East laboratory for the manufacture of bombs. Dr.
Africa. By departing from historical fact to the ex O'Grady is summoned to Rosivera professionally,
tent of sending the Englishman from Goa as a forced and becomes lost to the world. He is kept a pris-
member of the African expedition, instead of per oner by the redoubtable Mr. Red, not unwillingly,
mitting him to reach Akbar's Court, the author has because he is promised a handsome fee for each day
provided the story with an English hero, for the pur- of his sojourn, and he foresees the possibility of
pose of enlisting the warmer sympathy of English paying all his debts. Soon after his disappearance,
readers. The expedition is shipwrecked upon the Miss Blow appears in Clonmore, convinced that he
African coast at a point about seven hundred miles has been murdered, and stirs up the authorities to
south of the nearest Portuguese settlement, and the investigate. She is the sort of young woman who
narrative is mainly concerned with the toilsome knows what she wants, and gets it. When suspicion
march northward, with its attendant perils and en falls upon Rosivera and its mysterious tenant, various
counters with the natives. A Portuguese heroine is persons, from police officers to Members of Parlia-
provided, whom Temple protects so valiantly that ment, seek out the place, and all are kidnapped and
he wins her love, wedding her in the end, and remain held in durance by the truculent Mr. Red. Finally,
ing with her in the "great place” of the African Miss Blow takes command, heads a search party,
chief whose power he has usurped. Meanwhile, the and discovers all the prisoners, their captor having
remnant of the Portuguese expedition dwindles away made his escape. The literary value of this simple-
after Barreto's death, and what is left of it withdraws minded tale is to be found in its delineation of the
from the enterprise. The story offers a rather monot evasive Irish character and its satiricaldabs at official-
onous tissue of incidents, for the author has not dom, as represented by the police and the visiting
stooped to the cheap heroics of the merely entertain M. P's.
ing romancer, but he makes us feel all the time that Mr. Birmingham's third novel is entitled “Lal-
he is handling the real stuff of history, and that he age's Lovers,” which is a misnomer, for Lalage has
has sifted the old chronicles to good purpose. He no lovers in the romantic sense, although toward the
knows the country as well as the records, and his end of the book the Archdeacon sues for her hand,
narrative bears everywhere the impress of essential which she bestows instead upon the diplomat who
truth.
It is a grim sort of truth, uncolored by the tells her story. She is a piquant child, with tomboy-
imagination, but for that lack all the more welcome ish propensities, who develops into a young woman
to readers who would rather get close to reality than with a zeal for reforming the world. Her career
lose themselves in romantic dreams.
as a school-girl, a student at Trinity, and a political
Mr. George Birmingham's “Spanish Gold” also campaigner, is suggestive of Shelley's early years.
links our interest with the Elizabethan period, but Like the poet, she scandalizes the college authorities
only because the quest of the treasure hunters is the by rushing into print, and society by her breezy
spoil of a galleon of the Armada, wrecked on the way of taking a hand in the political game. Her
coast of an Irish island. Otherwise, the story is “Gazette,” the organ of the Anti-Tommyrot Society,
modern, and tells how the curate of Ballymoy and has for its mark the bench of bishops, and her Asso-
his friend Major Kent get track of the gold, repair ciation for the Suppression of Public Lying brings
to the island in their yacht, and have various diffi confusion into the campaign for a parliamentary seat
culties with the natives, the representatives of the in which the diplomat (whom she has secretly marked
government, and a precious pair of rascally rival for her own) is one of the contestants. Nearly all
gold-hunters. The O'Flaherty (a native) bears off the electors abstain from voting in their disgust at
the honors, for he has long had the treasure in his her revelations, and the hero is defeated, greatly to
possession, but the adventurers get a lot of fun out his relief. With all these agitations and activities,
of their expedition. Mr. Birmingham is by way of Lalage remains deliciously childish, and originality
being a humorist of the dry type, and his story is is never lacking in her doings. This story is the best
really one of character rather than of adventure. of the three with which the planet of the new Irish
As such, it is human and diverting in a high degree. | novelist has swum into our ken; its humor is the


134
[Feb. 16,
THE DIAL
dryest and the least forced. We shall hope to ex accepts a government mission to go to Geneva as a
tend our acquaintance with Mr. Birmingham. spy, and report upon the revolutionary activities of
The underlying idea of “Under Western Eyes” the Swiss group of exiles.
the Swiss group of exiles. Here, by the irony of
is that no amount of effort will enable Western fate, he becomes acquainted with the mother and
Europe to understand the Russian character or to sister of the man whom he has betrayed to death,
fathom its strange workings. We may study the
We may study the and his soul is torn by love for the sister and re-
Russian writers as diligently as we please — and morse for his treachery. His agonized conscience
particularly the three great revealers, Tourguénieff, will give him no rest, and at last forces a confes-
Tolstoy, and Dostoieffsky-we shall always be baffled sion from his lips - a confession first made to the
by a residuum of motive and action for which our girl, and then to the Russian conspirators, who at
Western intelligence has no explanation. Mr. Joseph once wreak a fearful punishment upon him. His
Conrad, being himself of Slavonic strain, can do life is not taken, but he is crippled and his hearing
something to make us realize this difficulty anew, is destroyed, leaving him to drag out a useless and
but he is frankly hopeless about clearing away the miserable existence. Such is the outline of this
mystery. His new book is in the manner of Dos searching story of a tortured conscience, and the
toieffsky, and it seems to be quite the equal of “C me story is told with a power and a penetration that
and Punishment” in its psychological power. It is make it a very remarkable work indeed. It has
a very wordy book, forcing its analysis to the in much of the best quality of the great Russian novels,
most depths, but that is a part of the scheme. Here and with it that element of detachment which Tour-
is what he says of “the Russians' extraordinary love guénieff alone among them was enabled to put into
of words :"
his work. We are inclined to say that “Under
“ They gather them up, they cherish them, but they don't Western Eyes” is Mr. Conrad's masterpiece.
hoard them in their breasts; on the contrary, they are always
WILLIAM MORTON PAYNE.
ready to pour them out by the hour or by the night with an
enthusiasm, a sweeping abundance, with such an aptness of
application sometimes that, as in the case of very accom-
plished parrots, one can't defend oneself from the suspicion
that they really understand what they say. There is a gen-
BRIEFS ON NEW BOOKS.
erosity in their ardor of speech which removes it as far as
possible from common loquacity; and it is ever too discon-
To their series of translations from
nected to be classed as eloquence."
Maeterlinck
M. Maeterlinck, Messrs. Dodd, Mead
on Death,
The outpouring of words which supplies the ma-
& Co. have now added “Death,” a
terial for the present novel is Razumov's journal, an short essay spread out over one hundred pages, bound
imaginary record which has come into the hands of in a pale sunset-green that neutralizes the joyless
the author, who represents himself as an imaginary title. But if death is joyless, it is not because M.
teacher of languages. All this is a transparent fic Maeterlinck has made it so — - his essay primarily
tion, of course, and is merely the device by which aims to rob death of its terrors. Complaining that
Mr. Conrad has sought to give added verisimilitude we do not grant one hour of our intelligence” to
to his narrative. He does not quote from the jour this flimsiest of human ideas, he sets out to make a
nal verbatim, but draws upon it for the material sober and thoughtful study of death. First he bids
which he fashions in his own manner.
us no longer associate death with the last struggles
opens with one of those crimes of assassination which of life; then not to associate death with the grave,
so disfigure Russian history. The murderer, fresh which has its origin in man's mistaken ideals and
from his bloody deed, seeks refuge in the rooms of not in death itself. These two terrors are not essen-
Razumov, an ambitious and solitary student with tial, but ancillary and avoidable, and only one possi-
whom his acquaintance is of the slightest, and, un ble terror remains—that of the unknown into which
invited, tells what he has done, and asks for aid in we are plunged. Outside of the religious - which
effecting an escape. Forced thus into an unwelcome he puts aside with dispatch rather than regret
complicity, Razumov realizes that all his prospects there are, says M. Maeterlinck, only four imaginable
are imperilled by the dangerous knowledge that has solutions: total annihilation, which is impossible
been thrust upon him, yet nevertheless volunteers since nothing can perish utterly; survival with our
his assistance, and makes an earnest effort to secure present consciousness, which is absurd and in any
for his guest the means of flight. But the plan fails, case has no terrors; survival without any sort of con-
and Razumov, in a revulsion of feeling, becomes sciousness, which is possible and also has no terrors;
persuaded that self-interest and duty alike require lastly, survival with universal consciousness differ-
that he should denounce the assassin to the author ent from that which we possess in this world, which
ities. This he does, with the result that Haldin is is again possible and terrorless. In any event, there
arrested, tried and hanged, while his betrayer's is nothing to fear. Beautiful Death, gliding with soft
share in the business is successfully concealed. In feet, is of course not a new conception; romanticists
fact, a rumor spreads through revolutionary circles like Walt Whitman, who would fain embrace every-
that Razumov is a heroic soul who has shared with thing, have not failed to embrace Death. What is
Haldin the glory of the crime, and he becomes an especially significant in M. Maeterlinck's essay, how-
object of adulation and reverence. Meanwhile, he ever, is his calmness in setting aside the religion of
The story


1912.]
135
THE DIAL
his fathers — the impediment to free speculation is expected really to contribute to the very laudable ob-
gone forever ; and, further, his complete aloofness ject which Mr. Hodgetts professes to have in mind.
from the question of the ages,— the nature of good
and evil. The whole problem of good and evil, it
From the rather obvious moralizings
Sketches of
seems, is so baffling that we had better shun it en some English on life and duty and things in gen.
personalities.
tirely; far more poetic is the destiny of man if we
eral, which have become familiar to
are all of the elect. M. Maeterlinck's essay may bring
us in Mr. A. C. Benson's recent essays, it is a pleas-
comfort to the virtuous gentleman who reads Emer-
ure to read through the biographical sketches which
son, Browning, and Maeterlinck in his library of a make up his latest volume, “ The Leaves of the
Sabbath forenoon; but it is not for the world at large. Tree" (Putnam). Brought up in the household of
an English schoolmaster, who ultimately became
In “The House of Hohenzollern : Archbishop of Canterbury, and engaged in school
Two centuries
of Berlin Two Centuries of Berlin Court and university work himself, Mr. Benson had ample
court life.
Life” (Dutton), Mr. E. A. Brayley opportunity to meet and know some of the finest
Hodgetts has produced a volume which by those minds of his time, from Bishops Westcott and Light-
who care for the lighter phases of history will be foot in the Church to Frederick Myers and Matthew
found of considerable interest. The author has Arnold out of it. The present essays are an attempt
brought to the preparation of his book two very to make vital the personalities of the men they treat
necessary qualifications. He knows his Berlin by of and to form an estimate of their work. The inti-
prolonged residence in that city, for many years in mate relationships that often sprang from the inter-
the capacity of Reuter's special correspondent; and est of the older man in the observant and intelligent
he is utterly devoid of everything in the nature of youngster or stripling enable Mr. Benson to reveal
prejudice against the Germans or things German. sides of character hidden to the world. It is per-
The purpose of the book, indeed, it is explained, is to sonality that most attracts the essayist, and conse-
contribute to the enlightenment of English readers quently those essays that most reflect personality
with respect to the social history of their cousins are the ones that hold the reader. The sketch of
German and to assist in the dispelling of those illu- Kingsley, whom Mr. Benson knew well, is much
sions which are in part responsible for the Anglo more successful than that of Arnold, whom he knew
German tension of the present day. Beginning with only slightly. The former essay is vital with the
a résumé of Prussian history prior to the accession exuberant individuality of this shining exponent of
of Frederick I. as “king in Prussia" in 1701, the muscular Christianity; the latter is a rather labored
author writes entertainingly of the personal life and criticism of Arnold's life and work. This criticism is
court affairs of the nine rulers of the Prussian king- mainly concerned with Arnold's religious opinions,
dom during the past two hundred years, including though part of it deals too with his poetry. Why
the present King and Emperor, William II. Inci “ Balder Dead” should be spoken of as a play and
dentally, he attempts to lay bare the forces and con “Sohrab and Rustum" as a fragment is not clear.
ditions which determined the growth of the autocratic One feels, too, like questioning the statement that
Prussian monarchy, the principal thesis being that the Arnold's is a nature “which dreads the fight and
situation of Prussia, "inserted like a wedge amongst the struggle, the elements which to coarser and
races and peoples impatient to fly at each other's stronger spirits, who do not trouble themselves about
throats,” early accustomed patriotic Prussians to the the wounds they inflict, add zest to the things for
all but unquestioning identification of sovereign and which they fight,” when one recollects the ringing
nation. The query is raised — though not answered final stanza of “The Last Word.”
- as to whether the present Emperor may not be
“slowly educating his people to the use of free insti-
The author of “ Nothing to Wear,"
A lawyer-poet's
tutions and carefully teaching them to walk by them memories of forty and of numerous other less famous
selves.” For the student of history the book contains eventful years. pieces, both prose and verse, now
very little that is new, or even worth while. It claims our willing attention as the writer of the
abounds in sweeping statements that betray the au posthumous memoirs, “A Retrospect of Forty Years,
thor's lack of the historical sense. We are informed, 1825-1865” (Scribner), edited by his daughter,
for example, that it was the support of the Great Miss Harriet Allen Butler. William Allen Butler,
Elector, Frederick William, that “made the acces son of Benjamin Franklin Butler, who attained the
sion of William of Orange on the English throne as leadership of the Bar in his own State (New York)
William III. a possibility” (p. 10). We are told
and held various public offices, including the
categorically that, but for the statesmanship and attorney-generalship under Jackson, was himself a
genius of the Great Elector, “there would have lawyer of distinction, but more widely known as an
been no Prussian state” (p. 17). An historical work author. His best-remembered production, "Nothing
which the author extravagantly commends (p. 258) to Wear,” which he contributed to Harper's
is agreed by scholars to be of doubtful value. Fi-Weekly” in 1857, was reprinted far and wide, and
nally, it may be questioned whether a volume which even made its way into French and German litera-
dwells at such length upon the foibles and shortcom ture in translated form. Concerning this and his
ings of certain of the Emperor's ancestors may be other literary ventures, Mr. Butler has much of


136
[Feb. 16,
THE DIAL
interest to record in his reminiscences ; but a leading thing that we have recognized before and will recog-
motive with him in writing the book was, he tells nize again. And it gives us the type that we may
us, to trace “the rise, progress, supremacy and de- laugh it out of court. Like the foam of the sea,
struction of the slave power in the United States.” | laughter plays on the surface of life only. “ Like
Many public men and much national history are froth it sparkles. It is gaiety itself. But the phil-
consequently brought into his reminiscent and nar osopher who gathers a handful to taste may find that
rative chapters, but it is his memories of his father the substance is scanty, and the aftertaste bitter."
and of his more intimate friends that glow with
the warmest life. The elder Butler's unsuccessful
In two volumes entitled “ In Tudor
Great figures
attempt to start a law school in connection with the of Tudor and Times” and “In Stewart Times”
Stewart times.
University of the City of New York the author
(Crowell), Miss Edith L. Elias has
regards as a novel experiment predestined to failure,
covered the lives of fourteen rulers from Henry VII.
forgetting that the Harvard Law School had suc to Queen Anne - a matter of some two centuries
cessfully started in 1817, and that the famous school and a quarter. In addition to the rulers, Miss Elias
of Judge Tappan Reeve at Litchfield, Conn., flour has given us brief lives of thirty-eight of the prin-
ished as early as 1784, not to mention the law pro- cipal personages of those days. In the first volume
fessorships early established at various colleges in are sketches of half a dozen churchmen, from Wolsey
different parts of the country. The editorial work to John Knox, including one foreigner, Luther; of
has been well done. Several poems and parts of
four sailors, Columbus, Sebastian Cabot, Hawkins,
poems are reprinted to illustrate Mr. Butler's style; and Drake ; of four courtiers, all of Elizabeth's
Mr. Howells's encomium of the most popular of these reign; and, under the heading “The Renaissance,”
poems is reproduced ; and an appendix contains a of Caxton, More, Spenser, and Shakespeare. In the
number of tributes to the lawyer-poet's memory.
second volume, under “ The State,” are lives of nine
Good portraits and other illustrations are provided, men, among them the first Duke of Buckingham,
and a full index completes the volume.
Hampden, and the Earls of Strafford, Clarendon,
and Shaftesbury; under “The Army,” Fairfax,
With the publication of M. Henri
Bergson's
Graham, Monck (all of Commonwealth times), and
theory of Bergson’s “ Laughter: An Essay on Churchill; under Religion," Laud, Jeremy Taylor,
the comic.
the Meaning of the Comic” (Macmil. | Baxter, and Penn; and under “Science and the
lan), as translated by Messrs. Cloudesley Brereton Fine Arts,” Bacon, Wren, and Newton. It would
and Fred Rothwell, all of Bergson's main works be easy to complain of the omission of perhaps an
become accessible to the English reader. Of these
equal number of men; but those included all de-
the present small volume is by far the easiest reading
serve their place, especially as Miss Elias's purpose
for the layman, and in it the great French thinker
is historical rather than literary. The lives are all
gets far enough away from his main theme to indi-
brief : Columbus has only four pages, Elizabeth and
cate a general theory of art. It also exhibits his
Charles II. only fifteen pages each, while the aver-
method of inquiry, and, in a notable degree, the
age is about ten pages. Dates and precise details
poetry and richness of his style. Starting with the
are given sparingly, for there is a constant effort to
conception of the man who falls over a brick on the
present the characters of the persons and their gen-
pavement, in the customary newspaper cartoon, on eral relation to their times. There is one puzzling
to the subtlest of satiric character delineations by misprint (“In Tudor Times,” p. 164): “It was a
Molière and others, M. Bergson pursues the trail of stupendous undertaking to diver his small craft
the comic, showing incidentally the inadequacy of
down this tortuous passage.” Should it be “drive"?
previous theories of its nature and effects. His con-
And there is one obvious slip (“In Stewart Times,"
clusion, in barest statement, is that the comic is the
p. 51): Cromwell's death “ was less than two hun-
result of the human spirit being clogged in its pro dred
years since the great Elizabeth had passed
gress by matter, — that wherever the soul permits
away.” For the rest, the books are pleasantly writ-
itself to become checked, to fall into mechanical
ten, and should serve to stimulate their readers to
repetition, it there exposes itself to ridicule. This
further interest in the periods treated.
ridicule is a purely social phenomenon, and a purely
intellectual one. It is society's weapon for disciplin-
“ An Army Officer on Leave in
A journey
ing those minor breaches of her rules that are not
through Japan.
Japan” (McClurg) is the account of
great enough to bring down condigner punishment.
a journey through Japan, preceded
" Its function is to intimidate by humiliating.” by chapters on the city of Manila, the Philippine
While staider art, says M. Bergson, has the function insurrection, the island of Formosa, and interlarded
of showing us individual and unique pictures of life with discussions of the origin of the Japanese, the
— pictures which we need because our intellect, func history of Japan and its religions, and the story of
tioning for the utilitarian purposes of life, can only the persecutions of the Christians in that country.
give us classes and categories, never the unique. The author, Colonel L. Mervin Maus of the United
The distinction he draws, therefore, between art as States Army, writes in a familiar style, lacking
art and the comic spirit, is that the comic spirit - wholly in distinction, and frequently exceedingly
being of the intellect-gives us again the type, the loose. This style is in agreement with the quality


1912.]
137
THE DIAL
An artist's
of the matter it conveys, for there is but little origi- ceptions of life, which he sees as do mere product
nality in thought or information. Most of the sub of mechanical or other blind forces but as a pur-
stance of the volume might be gleaned from the posive activity bending matter and circumstances to
pages of standard books of reference, to which the the higher uses of the spirit. In these essays the
author acknowledges his indebtedness. Yet the influence of M. Bergson and his fellow apostles of
agreeable personality of the writer, and the thin the “élan vital” is marked; and so it is no sur-
stream of personal narrative flowing through the prise, in passing to the second section of the book,
accounts of things seen and discussions of history to find a clear and appreciative article on the French
and religions, render the book entertaining. Åphilosopher who is being hailed as the world's great-
great portion of the information is conveyed in the est contemporary thinker, a philosopher who bids
form of disquisitions delivered by a well-informed fair to do for Post-Darwinian philosophy what Kant
“Major," who, together with a "Judge,” happened did for the philosophy of an earlier day. The author
to be companions of Colonel Maus; and this device is equally at home in his essay on William James,
may aid in rendering the book interesting to readers whom he describes as “a builder of American
whose chief diet is light fiction. With such readers ideals.” The last chapter is taken up with Mr.
the book will perform a useful service, for its facts Björkman's views of “ Art, Life, and Criticism.”
appear to have come from the best sources, and its Æsthetics is so often considered from the standpoint
spirit of friendliness and respect toward orientals is of an escape from life — following the pessimism of
wholesome for a large portion of the American pub- that master of æsthetics, Schopenhauer -- that it is
lic. The appendix, giving information as to routes refreshing to read the ideas of a critic who is free both
of travel between the United States and eastern from the cant of art for art's sake and from the oppo-
Asia, and the cost of such travel, is practical and site sin of regarding art as a handmaiden of moral
satisfactory.
instruction, but who sees it as an expression of the life
The aspiring art-student- and more spirit, serving the enlargement of life and having a
particularly the British art-student standing as valid as that of science or religion.
essays on art.
(for there are national ideals and
national methods in art) – will surely be interested
William Allingham's friendship with
Correspondence
a wide circle of more or less famous
in the practical side of “Art, Artists, and Land of an Irish poet.
scape Painting” (Longmans), a collection of infor-
men and women made him the recip-
mal essays by the English artist, Mr. W.J. Laidlay.
ient of many letters that have unusual interest for
Chapters on art-subjects, ranging from such general
the reading public. In a volume entitled “ Letters
topics as "Art,” “Artists," and "Criticism,” to mat-
to William Allingham” (Longmans), his widow,
ters like “Composition,” “Studies,” “Materials,”
assisted by Mr. E. Baumer Williams, has collected
and “Things to be Avoided,” make up this three-
and published a considerable number of epistolary
hundred-page octavo, excellent in paper and typog-
messages from a half-hundred and more of his
raphy as one could wish. Unfortunately the book
correspondents, together with a few of his replies.
itself is rather a disappointment. The general essays
But though we have his “Diary” to help us in
are a well-meant but tedious pursuit of the obvious, forming some clear conception of the man, hardly
and their weakness is not concealed by a didactic
any of his letters have been preserved — which a
tone and a wealth of more or less relevant gossip. reading of those now printed makes one regret.
An artist, however, is not expected to be strong in
Among the sympathetic English friends who in
æsthetic theory, and the advice Mr. Laidlay has to
such numbers conceived a liking for the Irish poet,
offer on specific details of practice is an honest and
and corresponded with him more or less familiarly,
generous contribution to the science which, since the
are to be noted William Black, Mr. and Mrs.
abandonment of studio-apprenticeship, each artist Browning, Dickens, Thackeray, the Carlyles, Ros-
has had to learn for himself. After all, this volume
setti, Burne Jones, Leigh Hunt, Richard Jefferies,
is for the serious beginner in art; and if the author's
Charles Kingsley, Lecky, Martineau, Mill, Patmore,
lack of humor prove tedious to less serious people, Spedding, Tennyson, Millais, Landor, and many
they should remember the purpose of the volume,
others. Two letters from and three to Emerson are
also in the collection ; likewise two from Hawthorne.
and not expect every one of last year's books on art
to be as interesting as M. Gsell's “Rodin ” or Mr.
From Rossetti only one is given, the others having
Cox's “ Classic Point of View.”
been already published (first in the “ Atlantic
Monthly," 1896) under the editorship of Dr.
An interpreter
Mr. Edwin Björkman, in a small Birkbeck Hill. An appendix contains three of
volume of essays entitled “Is There Allingham's poems referred to in the letters, and
philosophy.
Anything New under the Sun ? ” other matters of interest. A portrait of the poet
(Kennerley), writes informingly on the teachings and facsimiles of letters written and illustrated by
and personalities of certain leading contemporary Burne-Jones are inserted, and a fourteen-page index
thinkers, and optimistically on the meaning and ends the book. An agreeably varied assortment of
values which modern thought and modern aspira- letters, strung together most gracefully on a common
tion are extracting from life. The first three essays thread of friendship, they present William Allingham
in the book are taken up with the author's own con in very attractive guise.
of modern


138
[Feb. 16,
THE DIAL
son.
The title of Miss Charlotte E. Mor-
A study in the
NOTES.
beginnings of gan's book, “The Rise of the Novel
English fiction. of Manners” (Columbia University
Two volumes of “ Select Letters of William Cowper,"
Press), is misleading; the nature of the work is
edited by Dr. J. G. Frazer, are soon to be added to
much more precisely indicated by its sub-title, “A Messrs. Macmillan's always-welcome “Eversley Series."
Study of English Prose Fiction between 1600 and
Mr. Israel Zangwill's new play, “The War God,”
1740.” The volume is mainly a historical and which has attracted wide and favorable attention in
critical treatise of the English novel for the period | England, will be published immediately in book form
intervening between the close of the sixteenth cen by the Macmillan Co.
tury and the publishing of “ Pamela.” This period The publication date of Henryk Sienkiewicz's latest
is one of the dreariest for the history of fiction in romance, “ In Desert and Wilderness," has been fixed
all of our literary annals. But it was, for all that, by Messrs. Little, Brown & Co. for February 17, instead
a period of beginnings, and as such is not without of March 9 as previously announced.
its importance; and it is one of the substantial re The Doves Press has in preparation for issue during
sults of Miss Morgan's inquiry to show how large
the present year, Goethe's “Iphigenie auf Tauris," in
its influence was upon the major novelists of the
the German text; and Shakespeare's “ Anthonie and
eighteenth century — in particular, upon Richard-
Cleopatra,” reprinted from the First Folio.
The study falls into four chapters, the first
Mr. William Watson's visit to this country lends
devoted to the romance and anti-romance, the second
timely interest to the announcement of a new blank-
and third to the novel (by which is meant the brief
verse drama from his pen, entitled “Heralds of the
tale), and the last to journalistic and other popular March.
Dawn,” which the John Lane Company will publish in
fiction of the type of Defoe's pamphlets. A chap-
ter of conclusions — mainly a summary of such
A volume of August Strindberg's plays, containing
“ The Dream Play," “ The Link,” and “ The Dance of.
tendencies and influences as are discoverable - fol.
Death,” Parts I. and II., translated by Mr. Edwin
lows. And to this is appended a lengthy bibliog Björkman, will be published next month by Messrs.
raphy containing, among other things, a list of more Charles Scribner's Sons.
than six hundred prose narratives first published in « The Colonial Homes of Philadelphia and its Neigh-
England between 1600 and 1740, with brief com bourhood," by Messrs. Harold Donaldson Eberlein and
ment on each. The study is by no means exhaustive Horace Mather Lippincott, is announced by the J. B.
or definitive, — it is, as the author frankly admits, Lippincott Co., in a limited edition uniform with Mrs.
“but a clearing of the ground in a field where little Sale's “ Manors of Virginia in Colonial Times."
has been done and much remains to be accomp Mr. Lewis Gaston Leary, author of "The Real Pales-
lished ”; nevertheless, it affords the fullest discus tine of To-Day," is at work upon a new book, “ Andorra,
sion of the field that has so far been vouchsafed us,
the Hidden Republic,” which is to be published in the
and must prove distinctly serviceable both to the spring by Messrs. McBride, Nast & Co. This firm has
also in press “ Windmills and Wooden Shoes," by Mr.
general student and to future investigators.
Blair Jackel.
Mr.W. Barbrook Grubb, the author of Mr. Bernard Shaw has just finished a new dramatic
An unknown
people of “An Unknown People in an Unknown
sketch. The scene is laid in the time of Nero, and
South America. Land” (Lippincott), is a missionary early Christians and gladiators, as well as Nero him-
of the Church of England South American Mis-
self, are among the characters. As might have been
sionary Society, who has spent his life since 1889
anticipated, Mr. Shaw's knowledge of boxing and pugil-
ism is turned to good account.
among the Lengua Indians of the Paraguayan Chaco,
The final volumes of the Library Edition of Ruskin's
a region of perhaps three thousand square miles on
Works, one containing the Bibliography and Addenda,
the upper Paraguay River. He has devoted his
with eighteen full-page illustrations, and the other the
time to exploring the country, learning the language Index, will be published in March. The index volume,
and habits of the barbarous peoples, and winning which has been in preparation during the last eight
their confidence to such an extent as to receive from years, will contain about 100,000 references.
the Roman Catholic government of Paraguay the Mr. Arthur Ransome has a volume in the
press
deal-
title of “Commissary General of Chaco and Pacifi ing with Oscar Wilde's work and his place in English
cator of the Indians." As the result of his mission literature. The book will be ready next month, and
he has practically reclaimed this immense territory, will be followed by companion volumes entitled “J.M.
opened it up to white ranchers, and trained the Synge: A Critical Study,” by P. P. Howe, which will
Indians to be useful servants of the world's indus-
be issued in March, and “Henrik Ibsen: A Critical
trial progress. Mr. Grubb's book is an account of
Study,” by R. Ellis Roberts, which is expected in April.
the people of this country rather than a record of his A noteworthy publishing project, just announced by
own exploits. The book is therefore not only a con-
the Houghton Mifflin Co., is that of a limited edition of
tribution to the heroic literature of missions, but also
Scott's novels and poems, in fifty volumes. The prin-
a contribution of value to the literature of ethnology. hundred photogravure reproductions of photographs
cipal feature of the new edition will be a series of three
Appendices dealing with the flora and fauna of the
taken in the Scott country by Mr. Charles S. Olcott, who
country are contributed by experts. The illustrations, has illustrated in similar fashion the works of George
furnished by the ubiquitous kodak, are interesting. Eliot and Mrs. Humphry Ward.


1912.]
139
THE DIAL
LIST OF NEW BOOKS.
[The following list, containing 96 titles, includes books
received by THE DIAL since its last issue.]
BIOGRAPHY AND REMINISCENCES.
Tennyson and His Friends. Edited by Hallam, Lord
Tennyson. Illustrated in photogravure, etc. 8vo,
497 pages. Macmillan Co. $3. net.
A Personal Record. By Joseph Conrad. 8vo, 220
pages. Harper & Brothers. $1.25 net.
Intimacies of Court and Society: An Unconvention-
al Narrative of Unofficial Days. By the widow of
an American diplomat. Illustrated, 8vo, 336 pages.
Dodd, Mead & Co. $2.50 net.
The Life Story of J. Plerpont Morgan: A Biography.
By Carl Hovey. Illustrated, 8vo, 352 pages.
Sturgis & Walton Co. $2.50 net.
George Washington. Von Henry Cabot Lodge. In
two volumes, 12mo. “Bibliothet der Ameritan-
ischen Kulturgeschichte." Berlin: Weidmannsche
Buchhandlung.
Mathew Carey, Editor, Author and Publisher: A
Study in American Literary Development. By
Earl L. Bradsher. 8vo, 144 pages. Columbia Uni-
versity Press. $1.25 net.
FICTION.
Hadji Murad. By Leo Tolstoy; translated by Ayl-
mer Maude. With frontispiece, 12mo, 290 pages.
Dodd, Mead & Co. $1.20 net.
Bracken. By John Trevena. 12mo, 406 pages. Mit-
chell Kennerley. $1.35 net.
The High Adventure. By John Oxenham, 12mo, 320
pages. Duffield & Co. $1.20 net.
Riders of the Purple Sage. By Zane Grey. Illus-
trated, 12mo, 335 pages. Harper & Brothers.
$1.30 net.
Paradise Farm. By Katharine Tynan. 12mo, 272
pages. Duffield & Co. $1.20 net.
Jacquine of the Hut: A Romance of the Channel
Islands. By E. Gallienne Robin. With colored
frontispiece, 12mo, 345 pages. G. P. Putnam's
Sons. $1.30 net.
The Mystery of No. 47. By J. Storer Clouston. 12mo,
231 pages.
Moffat, Yard & Co. $1.10 net.
The Garden of Indra. By Michael White. Illus-
trated, 12mo, 274 pages. Duffield & Co. $1.25 net.
The Luck of Rathcoole: Being the Romantic Ad-
ventures of Mistress Faith Wolcott (sometimes
known as “Miss Moppet") during her sojourn in
New York at an Early Period of the Republic.
By Jeanie Gould Lincoln. With frontispiece,
12mo, 263 pages. Houghton Mifflin Co. $1.20 net.
The Shape of the World. By Evelyn St. Leger. 12mo,
301 pages.
G. P. Putnam's Sons. $1.25 net.
Sek het. By Irene Miller. 12mo, 368 pages. John
Lane Co. $1.25 net.
Country Neighbors: A Long Island Pastoral. By
Susan Tabor. With frontispiece, 12mo, 323 pages.
Duffield & Co. $1.20 net.
HISTORY.
Vigilant Days and Ways: The Pioneers of the
Rockies, and the Makers and Making of Montana
and Idaho. By Nathaniel Pitt Langford. New
edition; illustrated, 8vo, 554 pages. A. C. Mc-
Clurg & Co. $2. net.
Characters and Events of Roman History, from
Caesar to Nero. By Gugliemo Ferrero; translated
by Frances Lance Ferrero. Student's edition;
8vo, 275 pages. G. P. Putnam's Sons. $1.50 net.
GENERAL LITERATURE.
Death. By Maurice Maeterlinck. With frontispiece,
12mo, 106 pages. Dodd, Mead & Co. $1. net.
A History of English Criticism: Being the English
Chapters of "A History of Criticism and Liter-
ary Taste in Europe," by George Saintsbury, re-
vised, adapted, and supplemented. 8vo, 551 pages.
Dodd, Mead & Co. $2.75 net.
More Letters to My Son. By Winifred James. 12mo,
134 pages. Moffat, Yard & Co. $1. net.
The Book-Lovers' Anthology. Edited by R. M. Leon-
ard. With frontispiece, 12mo, 408 pages. Ox-
ford University Press. 75 cts. net.
Die Ameritanische Literatur. Von Dr. C. Alphonso
Smith. 12mo. "Bibliothet der Ameritanischen
Kulturgeschichte." Berlin: Weidmannsche Buch-
handlung.
DRAMA AND VERSE.
The Light That Shines in Darkness : A Drama. By
Leo Tolstoy; edited by Dr. Hagberg Wright. 12mo,
205 pages. Dodd, Mead & Co. $1.20 net.
The Man Who Was Dead (The Living Corpse), and
The Cause of It All: Dramas. By Leo Tolstoy;
edited by Dr. Hagberg Wright. 12mo, 190 pages.
Dodd, Mead & Co. $1.20 net.
To-Morrow: A Play in Three Acts. By Percy Mac-
Kaye. 12mo, 176 pages. Frederick A. Stokes Co.
$ 1.25 net.
The Waters of Bitterness: A Play in Three Acts,
and The Clodhopper: An Incredible Comedy. By
S. M. Fox. With frontispiece, 12mo, 206 pages.
Duffield & Co. $1. net.
Little Gray Songs from St. Joseph's. By Grace Fal-
low Norton. 8vo, 78 pages. Houghton Mifflin Co.
$1. net.
Emblems of Love; Designed in Several Discourses.
By Lascelles Abercrombie. 12mo, 213 pages.
John Lane Co. $1.50 net.
Daily Bread. By Wilfrid Wilson Gibson. 12mo, 62
pages. Macmillan Co. $1.25 net.
The Masque of the Elements. By Herman Schef-
faur. 12mo, 56 pages. E. P. Dutton & Co.
The Story of America, Sketched in Sonnets. By
Henry Frank. 8vo, 261 pages. Sherman, French
& Co. $1.35 net.
TRAVEL AND DESCRIPTION.
Alone in West Africa. By Mary Gaunt. Illustrated
in photogravure, etc., 8vo, 404 pages. Charles
Scribner's Sons. $3.75 net.
A Satchel Guide for the Vacation Tourist in Europe:
A Compact Itinerary of the British Isles, Belgium
and Holland, Germany and the Rhine, Switzer-
land, France, Austria, and Italy. By W. J. Rolfe.
Revised edition for 1912; with maps, 16mo, 328
pages. Houghton Miffin Co. $1.50 net.
Hunting Indians in a Taxicab. By Kate Sanborn.
Illustrated, 8vo, 75 pages. Richard G. Badger.
$1.50 net.
RELIGION.
The Revolutionary Function of the Modern Church.
By John Haynes Holmes. 8vo, 264 pages.
G. P.
Putnam's Sons. $1.50 net.
Astrology and Religion among the Greeks and Ro-
mans. By Franz Cumont. 8vo, 208 pages. “Amer-
ican Lectures on the History of Religions." G.
P. Putnam's Sons. $1.50 net.
The Religion Worth Having. By Thomas Nixon
Carver. 12mo, 140 pages. Houghton Mifflin Co.
$1. net.
Hidden Riches. By Rev. James Reed. 12mo, 147
pages. J. B. Lippincott Co. $1. net.
The Egyptian Conception of Immortality: The In-
gersoll Lecture for 1911. By George Andrew
Reisner. 12mo, 85 pages. Houghton Mifflin Co.
85 cts. net.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS.
Socialism and the Ethics of Jesus. By Henry C.
Vedder. 12mo, 526 pages. Macmillan Co.
$1.50 net.
Surgery and Society: A Tribute to Listerism. By
C. W. Saleeby. 8vo, 395 pages. Moffat, Yard &
Co. $2.50 net.
The Modern Woman's Rights Movement: A His-
torical Survey. By Dr. Kaethe Schirmacher;
translated from the second German edition by
Carl Conrad Eckhardt. 12mo, 280 pages. Mac-
millan Co. $1.50 net.
Railways in the United States: Their History, their
Relation to the State, and an Analysis of the Leg-
islation in Regard to Their Control. By Simon
Sterne. With supplementary notes continuing
the record to 1911. 8vo, 209 pages.
G. P. Put-
nam's Sons. $1.35 net.


110
[Feb. 16,
THE DIAL
Human Eficiency: A Psychological Study of Mod-
ern Problems. By Horatio W. Dresser. 12mo,
387 pages. G. P. Putnam's Sons. $1.50 net.
The Physiology of Faith and Fear; or, The Mind in
Health and Disease. By William S. Sadler. Il-
lustrated, 8vo, 580 pages. A, C. McClurg & Co.
$1.50 net.
Cui Bono? or, "What Shall It Profit?": A Gentle
Philosophy for Those in Doubt. By Harwood
Huntington. 12mo, 145 pages. Longmans, Green
& Co. $1. net.
The Criminal and the Community. By James De-
von; with introduction by Prof. A. F. Murison.
8vo, 348 pages. John Lane Co. $1.75 net.
Tracts for the Times. First volumes: The Declin-
ing Birth-Rate, Its Significance and International
Significance, by Arthur Newsholme; The Prob-
lem of Race-Regeneration, by Havelock Ellis;
The Methods of Race-Regeneration, by C. W.
Saleeby. Each 12mo. Moffat, Yard & Co. Per
volume, 50 cts. net.
The Closed Shop in America. By Frank T. Stockton.
8vo, 187 pages. The Johns Hopkins Press. Paper.
POLITICS AND ECONOMICS.
American Colonial Government, 1896-1765: A Study
of the British Board of Trade in its relation to
the American Colonies, Political, Industrial, Ad-
ministrative. By Oliver Morton Dickerson. With
bibliography, analytical index, and facsimiles of
manuscripts, 8vo, 390 pages. Arthur H. Clark
Co. $ 4. net.
The President's Cabinet: Studies in the Origin,
Formation, and Structure of an American Insti-
tution. By Henry Barrett Learned. 8vo, 471
pages. New Haven: Yale University Press.
$2.50 net.
Columbia University Studies. New volumes: The
Ricardian Socialists, by Esther Lowenthal, 105
pages, $1. net; Ibrahim Pasha, Grand Vizor of
Suleinan the Magnificent, by Hester Donaldson
Jenkins. 123 pages; each 8vo. Columbia Uni-
versity Press. Paper.
NATURE AND OUT-OF-DOORS.
The Life and Love of the Insect. By J. Henri Fabre;
translated by Alexander Feixeira De Mattos. Il-
lustrated, 8vo, 262 pages. Macmillan
Co.
$1.75 net.
Outdoor Philosophy: The Meditations of a Natural-
ist. By Stanton Davis Kirkham, 12mo, 214 pages.
G. P. Putnam's Sons. $1.50 net.
A Book on Birds. By Augustus Wight Bomberger.
Illustrated in color, etc., from photographs, 12mo,
198 pages. John C. Winston Co. $1. net.
Content in a Garden. By Condace Wheeler. New
edition; 16mo, 209 pages. Houghton Mifflin Co.
80 cts. net.
Gardens and Their Meaning. By Dora Williams.
Illustrated, 8vo, 235 pages. Ginn & Co. $1.
REFERENCE.
The American Year Book for 1911: A Record of
Events and Progress. Edited by Francis G. Wick-
ware. 12mo, 863 pages. D. Appleton & Co.
$3.50 net.
Encyclopaedia of Religion and Ethics. Edited by
James Hastings, with the assistance of John A.
Selbie, and other scholars. Volume IV.; Con-
firmation-Drama. 4to, 907
pages. Charles
Scribner's Sons. (Sold only in sets by subscrip-
tion.)
EDUCATION-BOOKS FOR SCHOOL
AND COLLEGE.
Thoughts on Education, Chosen from the Writings
of Matthew Arnold. Edited by Leonard Huxley.
12mo, 292 pages. Macmillan Co. $1.50 net.
Great Educators of Three Centuries: Their Work
and its Influence on Modern Education. By Frank
Pierrepont Graves. 12mo, 289 pages. Macmillan
$1.10 net.
The Status of the Teacher. By Arthur C. Perry, Jr.
12mo, 78 pages.
“Riverside Educational Mono-
graphs.” Houghton Mifflin Co. 35 cts. net.
Outline of a Course in the Philosophy of Education.
By John Angus MacVannel. 8vo, 207 pages. Mac-
millan Co. 90 cts. net.
Physiography for High Schools. By Albert L. Arey
and others. Illustrated, 8vo, 450 pages. D. C.
Heath & Co. $1.50 net.
ART AND MUSIC.
On the Laws of Japanese Painting: An Introduc-
tion to the Study of the Art of Japan. By Henry
P. Bowie; with prefatory remarks by Iwaya
Sazanami and Hirai Kinza. Illustrated, 8vo, 117
pages. Paul Elder & Co. $3.50 net.
Wagner's Tristan and Isolde. Edited, with Intro-
duction, by W. J. Henderson. 16mo, 321 pages.
"Famous Operas." Dodd, Mead & Co. 60 cts. net.
Koenigskinder: A Guide to Engelbert Humperdinck's
and Ernest Rosmer's Opera. By Lewis M. Isaacs
and Kurt J. Rahlson. Illustrated, 12mo, 90 pages.
Dodd, Mead & Co. $1. net.
Musician's Library. New volumes: One Hundred
Folksongs of All Nations, edited by Granville
Bantock; Songs from the Operas, for Baritone
and Bass, edited by H. E. Krehbiel. 4to. Oliver
Ditson Co. Each, paper, $1.50 net.
PHILOSOPHY AND PSYCHOLOGY.
Complete Works of Friedrich Nietzsche. The first
complete and authorized English translation.
Edited by Dr. Oscar Levy. New volumes: The
Twilight of the Idols, etc., translated by Anthony
M. Ludovici, $1.75 net; The Case of Wagner, We
Philologists, etc., translated by A. M. Ludovici
and J. M. Kennedy, $1.25 net; The Dawn of Day,
translated by J. M. Kennedy, $1.75 net; Early
Greek Philosophy and Other Essays, translated
by Maximilian A. Mugge, $1.25 net; Human, All-
Too-Human, translated by Paul V. Cohn, part
two, $1.75 net; Ecce Homo and Poetry, trans-
lated by A. M. Ludovici, with portraits, $2. net.
Each 12mo. Macmillan Co.
Life's Basis and Life's Ideal: The Fundamentals of
a New Philosophy of Life. By Rudolf Eucken;
translated, with introductory note, by Allan G.
Widgery. 8vo, 377 pages. Macmillan Co. $2.50 net.
Body and Mind: A History and a Defense of Anim-
ism. By William McDougall. Large 8vo, 384
pages. Macmillan Co. $2.75 net.
Nietzsche. By Paul Elmer More. With photo-
gravure portrait, 16mo, 87 pages. Houghton Mif-
flin Co. $1. net.
William James. By Emile Boutroux; translated
from the second edition by Archibald and Bar-
bara Henderson. 12mo, 126 pages. Longmans,
Green & Co. $1. net.
Chapters from Modern Psychology. By James Row-
land Angell. 8vo, 308 pages. Longmans, Green
& Co. $1.35 net.
Co.
BOOKS FOR THE YOUNG.
Saints and Heroes, to the End of the Middle Ages.
By George Hodges. Illustrated, 12mo, 268 pages.
Henry Holt & Co. $1.35 net.
Songs and Games for Little Ones. Prepared by Ger-
trude Walker and Harriet S. Jenks. Enlarged
edition, 8vo, 136 pages. Boston: Oliver Ditson Co.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Home University Library. New volumes: Psychical
Research, by Dr. W. F. Barrett; Astronomy, by
A. R. Hinks; Elements of English Law, W. M.
Geldart; An Introduction to Science, by J. Ar-
thur Thomson; History of Our Time (1885-1911),
by G. P. Gooch; The Civilization of China, by
H. A. Giles; Modern English Literature, by G. H.
Mair; The Dawn of History, by J. L. Myres; The
Civil War, by Frederic L. Paxon; The Papacy
and Modern Times, by Rev. William Barry; The
Evolution of Industry, by D. H. Macgregor. Each
16mo. Henry Holt & Co. Per volume, 50 cts. net.
The Public Library of the City of Boston: A His-
tory. By Horace G. Wadlin, Librarian. Illus-
trated in photogravure, 8vo, 236 pages. Pub-
lished by the Trustees.


1912.]
141
THE DIAL
The Trooper Police of Australia: A Record of
Mounted Police Work in the Commonwealth from
the Earliest Days of Settlement to the Present
Time. By A. L. Haydon. Illustrated, 8vo, 431
pages. A. C. McClurg & Co. $2.75 net.
The New England Cook Book. By Helen S. Wright.
12mo, 327 pages. Duffield & Co. $1.50 net.
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Publishers, 35 West 320 St., New YORK
CHICAGO


142
[Feb. 16,
THE DIAL
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1912.]
153
THE DIAL
thing quite as interesting and significant as the central hearth of the race. The “lights of London ”
present conjunction of the Irish Players from flare to-day all over England, and draw to them
Dublin with the Drama Players of our own creat a steady stream of human moths. The nation is
ing. The visiting company is giving us an illus- emptying into the town.
emptying into the town. The urban spell — the
tration of folk-art of the most absolute sincerity
desire to be where life is fullest and brightest, the
instinct for the society of crowds and the security
in the most admirable form of presentation. The
of walls, the hope to breathe the intoxicating atmo-
work done by Lady Gregory's players indicates sphere where power and genius and art and beauty
clearly one of the two chief springs from which fourish, to be among them and have one's name
the regeneration of the drama must come. The blown abroad over the land, - this enchantment
work done by Mr. Donald Robertson's finely- works as powerfully to-day as it has always done.
balanced company indicates as the other spring “In respect of itself,” says Touchstone of country
the insistence upon dramas that time has ad life, "'t is a good life; but in respect that it is not
judged to have permanent value. The two kinds at Court, it is naught.” It takes a great mind or a
of work complement each other, and together heavy disposition to fight against the contagion of
provide an object-lesson from which the public
the crowd—to refuse to be caught in the whirlpool
current of city life. Tamerlane the
cannot fail to profit. It need not be said that
conquerer sent
the Drama League appreciates the opportunity Samarkand are the great cities of my realm: yet
for Hafiz the poet and said to him: “Bokhara and
thus offered for the practical furtherance of its
you, you sir, say in a song that you would give them
aims, and that it is doing valiant work in arous both for the black mole on your girl's cheek.”
ing the public from its indifference in things “ Yes,” answered Hafiz, "and it is such liberality
theatrical, and in pointing the moral to be drawn as that which has reduced me to the state of desti-
from the two organizations in question. What- tution you see.”
tution you see.” After all, the song, or the story
ever the financial outcome of the two experiments of the song, has outlived the cities.
may prove to be, it will have been considerably This indrawing of a nation's blood to its heart is
bettered by the efforts made by the Drama
not the best thing for it, of course; but it seems to
League in their behalf.
be inevitable. Augustus is said to have suggested to
Virgil that he write his Georgics in order to attract
the Romans back to their old rural life; and many
statesmen have wrestled with the same problem
WANTED: A CITY-BUILDER.
since. Baron Munchausen's story of the black mag-
A great city ought to be something more than a netic rock looming up in the ocean, which, when an
lodging-place and restaurant for a million people. unwary ship approached it, caused all the nails to
It ought to have a character of its own; it ought to fly out of the planking and left the vessel floating
be an expression of the best thought and life of in fragments on the waves, may be taken as a sym-
those who dwell therein; its ways and walls ought to bol of what happens to many, very many, of those
be a perpetual joy to them; it ought to be an inspi- who yield to the city attraction.
ration as well as a possession, a pride and a shield But if human beings must live in cities, they
against the rest of the world.
ought to have the best kind of cities. Health, fit-
Except the sowing and reaping of crops, there is ness, spaciousness; comfort and beauty in architec-
nothing in the material way that men do more im ture; and something more than a mere hint of nature
portant than building. It provides work and wages in trees and gardens, are necessary. People left
for many classes of men — architects, artisans, crafts to themselves huddle together, as witness the
men, mechanics, laborers. It furnishes them with many-storied houses of Rome, of old Paris, of Edin-
hearths about which their lives centre, and gives burgh, and the narrow streets and courts of scores
them innumerable picture galleries outside to gaze of other cities. There is undoubtedly a charm and a
upon. And when the life and glory have departed picturesqueness in the gloom and haphazardness of
from a place, the ruins of its buildings draw the feet such constructions. The accidental is often happier
of travellers to wander among them. They are like than the designed. Baron Haussmann swept away a
broken caskets where rich scents have been confined good part of the romance of Paris when he remod-
and still exhale the perfume of the past. Nature elled that city. But democracy demands the best;
itself has no memories, but a ruined temple or tower it demands the healthfulness, the comfort, the room
ever makes a brave fight for its founders or its and privacy, which formerly the nobles only could
families against oblivion.
obtain.
The fascination of great cities, — what a won It demands these things, but it does not get them.
derful thing it is ! All roads led to Rome.
It is doubtful whether the multitudinous rows of tiny
thousand years or more its frontiers and its roofs, its houses, as much alike as pins in a paper, or the
theatres and its baths, its gardens and its thronged gloomy blocks of apartment buildings whose funereal
ways, glittered in the imaginations of all Europe, lured appearance suggests that they are prepared for the
Gaul and Briton and Spaniard and African to the urns of the departed, are much better than the
For a


154
[March 1,
THE DIAL
happy-go-lucky living-places of the past. Better able, therefore, that among the possessors of vast
arrangements for health, they may have; but their fortunes in America no one has come forward to
dreary monotony strikes terror into the beholder, build a city of his own, from the egg up.
One of
and must reduce the vitality of those who live in them might do what the great conquerors of the
them to the lowest ebb. One could only retain one's past did, or Constantine, or Peter the Great.
senses in them by being continually intoxicated. Imagine a modern City-Builder acquiring, in a
Worse, perhaps, than our domestic architecture favorable and dominating position in this country,
in America are our business avenues, with their a tract of land a hundred miles square. It might
medley of all styles - sham Greek, sham Gothic, stretch from the mountains to the sea, and have
sham Arabic, and the native dry-goods box set upon every variety and diversification of surface-val-
end and punched with holes. Our great public leys, forests, lakes.
leys, forests, lakes. What a pleasure it would be to
buildings have largely been kept respectable by assemble together the directing minds of such an
being imitations, copies of similar structures abroad. enterprise — engineers, architects, landscape garden-
At one time in our career we did build with charm
ers, masters of sociological and sanitary science
and a certain originality. The old colonial erec and with them plan the great design. Ordinary
tions, with their simple lines and hand-wrought de mortals haunt the cities of the past to draw from
tails, stand out wherever they are found, in pleasing their memories sustenance for the heart and mind.
contrast with the furious and eccentric things around In such a palace, we say, occurred this event of his-
them. That America can ever produce an entirely toric splendor and importance. From such a house
new style in architecture, seems improbable; but went forth a romance which has warmed the world.
some of our greatest buildings have an American At this tavern gathered together the wits and men
note in them which differentiates them from any of fame whose words are on our lips. But such a
thing done before. For instance, there is something City-Builder as we imagine could almost dictate the
in the great flights of steps to the Capitol at Wash course of events, —could develop glorious and beau-
ington which recalls that oldest architecture of tiful happenings, as we do novel or perfect plants.
America, the pyramidal buildings of Yucatan and In the beginning it would be necessary to pro-
Central America. And the great feature of the vide means of transportation and communication;
Capitol at Albany, the transverse stairways of the to lay out roads and sewers and subways. The
façade, is simply a transmogrification and glorifica-Road alone has hardly begun to be treated with de-
tion of the old Dutch stoop, the dominant thing in cent attention by man. What possibilities of joy
colonial architecture both in Albany and New York. are in it — not merely in the roadbed itself, which
We have undoubtedly developed a new architec may be supposed perfect in our dream city, but in
tural note in the Babel-like towers of our great its directions, its prospects, its enclosing trees and
cities. Size is an element of power, and vertical hedges and walls. Fruit-trees and flowers could be
height is the most impressive kind of size. These
These planted along it, free to all travellers. Bowers and
buildings are really impressive; under certain con seats and pavilions should be erected at points of
ditions of lighting or of weather, they are remark best prospect or in places of secluded charm.
ably picturesque. But their details are generally For our dream city should be a woodland city, a
bad, — the details of ordinary buildings forced out park city. There should be a great many more
of all proportion. And against them is their unsub trees and flower-beds than human beings. Means
stantiability, apparent or real. It is a daring and of transportation the most direct and most unob-
inartistic thing to build towers and cliffs of cobwebs trusive should radiate from the more solidly-built
and lace-work.
central mart to every part of the domain. But the
Modern inventions in transportation and com people should mainly live in delightful villages, on
munication have entirely changed the conditions of mountain-side or in valley, by lake or sea. And
the laying out of a great city. With the telephone though the architecture of the buildings and houses
and the automobile, there is no reason why news should not be restricted to one style or mould, there
papers should not be published in sylvan dells and should be a harmony of conception, a toning together
stock exchanges have their habitat on wooded heights. of effects, which practically do not exist anywhere
But probably convenience will always dictate that to-day in the modern world.
a city should have a central nucleus, a limited area Such an ideal scheme might easily be realized by
devoted entirely to the business needs of the com great wealth in the hands of a man of bold thought
munity. But the domestic life of the people can be and unselfish devotion. But even if it is too vast to
scattered over many square
miles.
be practical, there is enough for such a man or men
Of all the purposes of public good to which great to do in transforming our present cities into really
private wealth can be devoted, there is probably and delightful places of abode. Two-thirds,
none open to fewer objections than building. A perhaps, of the architecture of our towns needs to
man who puts up a fine structure of any kind not be swept away, for simplicity and beauty to take
only gratifies himself, but improves his neighbor's its place. Streets should be more beautifully aligned,
property and gives pleasure to multitudes who may and the woods and grass made to march over many
live or come in view of it. It seems a little remark. squalid areas. CHARLES LEONARD MOORE.


1912.]
155
THE DIAL
1
editor took a copy of the book and read it. Sequel :
CASUAL COMMENT.
Dr. Mitchell received a telegram announcing the ac-
BEWARE OF THE BEGUILING BOOK-AGENT, is the ceptance of his terms, and serial publication began.
burden of a song that cannot be too often chanted in What became of the other author and his crowded.
the ears of both private buyers of books and library out novel? Dr. Mitchell says he does not know.
officials. The February number of Public Libra-
ries” does well to print Miss Ange V. Wilner’s cau NOTABLE LIBRARY CONFERENCES OF THE COMING
tions on the subject, as contained in a paper recently SUMMER call for some skilful manipulation of the
read before the Illinois Library Association. Sub- library worker's engagement schedule, and, in most
scription books, as has been repeatedly pointed out, instances, some close economy of time and money
should as a class be viewed with suspicion; and when in order not to miss the good things that are going.
the subscription book is offered by an agent the wise Foremost in importance to American librarians is,
person becomes doubly suspicious. “It is a fact,” of course, the annual A. L. A. conference, to be held
says Miss Wilner, " that the most expensive way of this
year at Ottawa, the second Canadian city having
buying subscription books is to buy of the book agent. the honor to entertain the American Library Asso-
We all know how the bargain catalogues tell us of ciation, Montreal (in 1900) being the first. Then
subscription sets, "publishers' price $150, our price there are the various conventions of the State library
$80,' etc., etc. You may remember that in 1910 the associations, that in California at Lake Tahoe, June
Appleton Co. offered their New Practical Cyclopedia 17–22, in conjunction with the county librarians'
at $18 for the six volumes, selling only through book conference, being among the most important. Fur-
agents, but now they are selling the same work in thermore, the yearly meeting of the Library Asso-
the open market at $9.75.” The cajoleries of the ciation of the United Kingdom at Liverpool in
modern salesman, trained in accordance with the September will tempt our eastern librarians espe-
latest psychological principles as set forth by Profes- cially to indulge in an ocean voyage. Indeed, the
sor Scott and others, are indeed hard to withstand; honorary secretary, Mr. L. Stanley Jast, has already
but, as Miss Wilner further remarks, a later opportu issued a general invitation to all and sundry American
nity to buy at a reduced price the temptingly offered library workers to lend their aid, and their presence,
subscription book of real worth, will in most cases in making the coming gathering an Anglo-American
not be very long in presenting itself. Let us, then, one. To obtain full particulars concerning programme
harden ourselves to the blandishments of the sleek and local arrangements the expecting attendant
and plausible travelling salesman and patronize as should address both Mr. Jast, at 24 Bloomsbury
a rule only our tried and trusty book dealer. Square, London, W.C., and Mr. G. T. Shaw, the
honorary local secretary, at the Liverpool Public
THE AIRY HEIGHTS OF AUTHORSHIP, of exception Library. But how, one seems to hear asked, with a
ally gifted authorship, where the proverbial “ plenty pitiful two or three weeks’ vacation, and on an exigu-
of room at the top” is forever destined to remain
ous salary, is all this to be managed? Well, it is
but scantily occupied, must offer to the few and fit difficult, that's a fact.
such thrilling mountaineering as no alpine climber
has ever experienced. A significant illustration of ELIMINATION OF WASTE IN EDUCATIONAL EF-
the ease with which these heights are scaled by the FORT is of course desirable in every community.
properly equipped, while the less sturdy and agile About a year ago the Council for Library and Mu-
are left hopelessly in the rear, is offered by a curious seum Extension in Chicago issued an instructive
experience of Dr. Mitchell's that has recently found booklet on the “ Educational Opportunities of Chi-
its way into print. “Hugh Wynne " was in process cago,” with a view to the better coördination of the
of revision, and the author, not yet willing to part
work of the many
institutions engaged in promoting
with the manuscript, sent to Mr. Gilder an elaborate the city's intellectual life. Two years earlier there
synopsis of the story, offering the serial rights to had appeared in Buffalo a pamphlet entitled "Means
"The Century” on certain terms. Mr. Gilder re of Education and Culture Offered to Day Workers
plied that acceptance was simply impossible since the by the City of Buffalo.” And now Mr. Walter L.
magazine was made up for eighteen months ahead Brown, librarian of the Buffalo Public Library, con-
and a novel by another author was about to run in tributes a further utterance on the same general
serial form. Two other prominent magazines were theme. “Educational Unity” is the title of a paper
then approached, with like results. Then the Cen- reprinted from the January “ Bulletin of the Ameri-
tury Company was offered the book for immediate can Library Association " after having been origi-
publication, and it was accepted unread. Five thou- nally presented at a meeting of the Council of that
sand copies were printed and a few sample copies association. The quintessence of the whole ques-
had been sent out, when some members of the staff, tion is found in the following passage: “It is diffi-
after reading the romance, appealed to Mr. Gilder cult to bring about a closer cooperation with the
(who had meantime been to Europe and returned) | present lack of any central authority to exercise con-
to find out why the story had not first been turned trol. We believe the time has come to ask at least
to account as a serial in the magazine. The same if some means to this end cannot be found, so far
reply was made as to the author himself; but the as it concerns the various institutions which receive


156
[March 1,
THE DIAL
.
LIBRARY
SYSTEMY
support from the municipalities. It might, perhaps, copy – which he probably never will. Nevertheless,
be brought about through the forming of an educa- though it may not be as great an honor to be pirated
tional commission, which should at least advise the in America as to be lawfully reprinted by Tauchnitz
scope and direction of the efforts of such institutions. in Germany, yet it ought not to be altogether dis-
Such a commission might be made up of representa- pleasing to find one's literary wares so valuable as
tives from the governing boards of the different to be worth stealing. Would not the elder Dumas,
institutions, or the executive officers, or both, and in if he were alive now, enjoy the spectacle of his mul-
addition to formulating the lines of work, it might be titudinous cheap reprints, and even the sight of
a clearing house of suggestions for coöperation and those sufficiently numerous novels, like “The Coun-
extension.” Mr. Brown's paper gives instances of tess of Monte Cristo," which enterprising publishers
wasteful duplication of activity in his own city, and have fathered upon him just because his name is
a thoughtful reading of it can hardly fail to carry one to conjure with ?
conviction.
THE SEABOARD AIR LINE FREE TRAVELLING
THE CALIFORNIA COUNTY
LIBRARY SYSTEM carries in its very name a pleasing
which has aroused such interest in the library world, suggestion of largeness and beneficence and of expe-
resembles many of nature's most valuable products ditious, businesslike methods, so that one conceives
in being a plant of slow growth. From the latest an immediate desire to be a resident on this same
issue of News Notes of California Libraries " it Seaboard Air Line of freely-circulating literature.
appears that as yet only fourteen of the fifty-seven The system was organized by the late Mr. St. John,
counties in the State have adopted the system, and vice-president and general manager of the Seaboard
that the current annual appropriations for its support Air Line Railway, which binds together with ribbons
range from fifteen thousand dollars in Alameda of steel six of our Southern states where the scarcity
County to one hundred and twenty in Modoc. The of library facilities, and indeed of any sort of read-
number of branches maintained varies from twenty- ing matter, is extreme. This first of free travelling
six in Sacramento County to an inappreciable num library systems in the South, financially aided by
ber indicated by a blank in four of the other counties. Mr. Carnegie and enjoying the able superintendence
It is not surprising to find the northern and central of Mrs. Eugene B. Heard of Middleton, Georgia,
counties more active in this movement than are the has acted as a potent factor in bringing about library
southern. An examination of applicants for county legislation in the six commonwealths concerned, and
librarianships has recently been held at the State hundreds of small towns and of public schools have
Library and at the Los Angeles Public Library, and been moved to establish permanent libraries of their
in this connection the following official announce And so it appears that the big railroad sys-
ment is of interest: “Experience has shown that tem is not always and in all respects an all-devouring
only persons who have lived in the State and have octopus of conscienceless greed. For further interest-
done library work in a way to gain a personal knowl. ing details of the growth of library extension in the
edge of California conditions really understand the United States the reader should consult the late
county library plan for California. The aim of the public document on that subject prepared by Mr.
examination is to see how thorough is the applicant's John D. Wolcott, acting librarian of the national
knowledge of the conditions under which the
county Bureau of Education, and now separately reprinted
library work must be carried on, and of the problems from the current Report of the Commissioner of
to be met in the work as it is actually being done Education.
in this State. . . . And those who do understand IN HER SECOND CENTURY OF LITERARY ACTIVITY,
what we are doing and what we hope to do, will not Miss Caroline A. White, one hundred and one years
find the examination difficult.” That personality and young, puts to shame those of us who pusillanimously
appearance count for something in the examination
entertain even the bare thought of beginning to take
appears from the examining board's insistence upon in sail at the half-century line, or at the sixtieth or
a personal interview with the candidate — an “oral
even the seventieth milestone. In the quiet and refine-
examination” they call it.
ment of her home at Upper Norwood, Miss White
is reported to be still busy with her pen when the
AN INSTANCE OF LITERARY PIRACY perhaps impulse to write visits her. A voluminous magazine
already familiar to some of our readers is the cheap, contributor, she has put forth but one book, "Sweet
paper-covered, wretchedly-printed “Love Adven- Hampstead,” dealing with the historic, literary, and
tures of a Milkmaid,” with no indication of author. artistic associations of London's northern suburb,
ship, appealing by the crude illustration on its cover and enjoying sufficient vogue in its day to get into
to the class of readers with whom questions of author a second edition. Befriended and encouraged by
ship are quite irrelevant. The book proves to be Thomas Hood, Miss White sent her first literary ven-
a transmogrification of Mr. Thomas Hardy's story ture to Douglas Jerrold's “Shilling Magazine," which
of nearly thirty years ago, " The Romantic Adven- accepted it; and she recalls with satisfaction that she
tures of a Milkmaid,” the typographical errors in never had a manuscript returned either from that
the anonymous reprint being such as would probably periodical or from “Ainsworth's Magazine.” In the
make the author shudder if he were to encounter a middle of last centary she assumed the editorship of
own.


1912.]
157
THE DIAL
.
“The Lady's Companion," and continued to edit the officials of distinction. From the first librarian's first
paper for sixteen years, when the proprietor died report it appears that, so far as was known, not “in
and publication ceased. Naturally she has many any instance a wilful, and in only one instance an ac-
interesting recollections of Hood and other writers cidental, injury was done to a book, and in the latter
of his time.
case the damage was voluntarily and cheerfully made
NOTEWORTHY NEGRO SCHOLARSHIP that might good,” and only one book was lost, and that was
well puzzle and confound the experts in heredity paid for. In the record of city appropriations for
and eugenics was that of the late Edward Wilmot the library's maintenance for the ten years from
Blyden, A.M., D.D., LL.D., a native West Indian 1901 it is pleasing to note two instances in which
of purest Ethiopic strain, a rejected applicant for the amount granted considerably exceeded the
admission into some of our colleges about 1850, and amount asked for, while in every other instance the
soon afterward heard of from Liberia, as having response has been generous, either equalling or fall.
gained an education there and risen to the presidency ing but little short of the demand. The people of
of Liberia College. The secretaryships of state and
Boston value their splendid library and give it their
of the interior in the Liberian government were at loyal support. Excellent portraits and views, with
different times held by him, also the commissionership a map showing the location of the library and its
to this country from Liberia; and after resignation branches and stations, and a full index, are note-
of his college presidency in 1884 he took up inde worthy features of this elaborate account of our
pendent work among the Mohammedans of Sierra oldest large public library.
Leone. Proficiency in eight languages, including
Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and Arabic, was acquired by
THE MULTIPLICATION OF ADVANCED STUDIES,
him, his specialty being Arabic. Author of several
which in the last decade surpasses all that was un-
scholarly works and many lesser productions, he
dertaken of that sort in the preceding century, still
enjoyed the acquaintance of scholars of distinction goes forward in a kind of geometrical progression.
and other noted men. What pre-natal or post-natal
At the University of Wisconsin alone the seeker for
influence was it that so compellingly turned to lit special knowledge is lured by such variously attract-
erature and learning this descendant of countless ive courses as these lately announced for the second
generations of African savages?
semester of the year: Semitic epigraphy, the his-
torical background of the gospels, the appreciation
JANE AUSTEN ON THE AMATEUR STAGE, as preº of Latin poetry, the topography of Rome, the phil-
sented recently by the Mount Holyoke College girls osophy of art, typical theories of life, contemporary
in Mrs. Steele Mackaye's dramatization of “ Pride Asiatic politics, European government, industrial
and Prejudice," is reported a more pronounced suc evolution, the distribution of wealth, the biology of
cess than might have been expected, and indeed than water supply, practical hygiene and sanitation, indus-
was actually expected, in the case of a play so little trial bacteriology, journalism for technical students,
dramatic in its action, so dependent upon portrayal the teaching of English composition, collodial chem-
of character of a not very demonstrative sort. Ún- istry, advanced geography, and a graduate course in
doubtedly the sympathy and the culture of the audi- geology. Thus, but in greater wealth of detail than
ence contributed almost as much as the clever acting can here be indicated, do star-eyed science, divine
of the college seniors to the hearty enjoyment of the philosophy, and the delights of literature combine
evening. The departure from the usual custom of to promote the intellectual life in this our so-called
presenting an original play lent additional interest
materialistic age.
to the occasion. The simple scenery required was
designed and painted by members of the class, the
THE INTRICACIES OF COPYRIGHT are enough to
chief outside help apparently being in the matter of
bewilder the average person. The new British Copy-
costumes of the eighteenth century. Altogether, the
right Act, as printed for circulation by the Society
of Authors, fills seventeen large pages of rather fine
preparation of the piece must have been to the stu-
print, divided into sections, sub-sections, and sub-
dents participating quite as valuable, in the way of
education, as a formal course in eighteenth century praiseworthy act the eye alights on such minutely
sub-sections. Among the manifold provisions of this
English literature.
particular, but probably not too particular, clauses
A HISTORY OF THE BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY has as the following: “Infringing,' when applied to a
been prepared by the librarian, Horace G. Wadlin, copy of a work in which copyright subsists, means
Litt.D., and published in a handsome octavo volume any copy, including any colorable imitation, made
by the trustees. Beginning with the first agita or imported in contravention of the provisions of
tation started for a free library by the mercurial this Act.” “ For the purposes of the provisions of
Alexandre Vattemare, the philanthropic Frenchman this Act as to residence, an author of a work shall be
who visited Boston in 1841 and conveyed to the city deemed to be a resident in the parts of His Majesty's
a gift of books from Paris, the history traces the dominions to which this Act extends if he is domi-
increasingly rapid growth of the library idea and ciled within any such part.” And all these clauses,
of the library itself down to the present time, with and subsidiary clauses, were needed merely to assert
appreciative sketches of its deceased benefactors and a workman's right to the product of his toil!


158
[March 1,
THE DIAL
• The crane,
66
“ kokoro” is “heart” or “desire”; “yori” is a post-
COMMUNICATIONS.
position meaning "from"; "su-tachishi” means “nest-
left”; “matsu” is “pine”; “wa” is an emphatic
A MODEL JAPANESE POEM.
particle, often indicating the subject, or the important
(To the Editor of THE DIAL.)
word, of a sentence; “taezu means "continually,"
It is, no doubt, well understood, in literary circles in “constantly"; and “touramu means “ visit."
America, that a Japanese poem is, like Japanese art, A literal translation, verse by verse, with the same
quite unique. In fact, versification in Japan is con-
number of syllables in each line as in the original, reads
sidered one of the fine arts. And “ versification” is an as follows:
appropriate term, for a Japanese poem is generally manu-
“The old crane also,
factured. There are certain very rigid forms, and only
Forgetting not his birthplace,
Very willingly
a few, for verse; and these forms are well known by all
The pine with the nest he left
fairly educated Japanese. In schools, moreover, the
Continually visits.”
Japanese are carefully taught both the theory and the
practice of versification. Therefore, it may be said that,
Professor Murata, one of my colleagues in the First
Higher School, has favored me with a poetical transla-
in Japan, poeta et nascitur et fit.
tion, as follows:
The most common form of a Japanese poem is that
called tanka, or “tiny ode,” which consists of only thirty-
forgetting not his dear old home,
one syllables, arranged in five verses of respectively five,
Oft comes unto the nest on yonder pine
Wherein his mother taught him first to fly."
seven, five, seven and seven syllables. Such a brief
poem must necessarily be quite concise and suggestive
ERNEST W. CLEMENT.
or impressionistic. It has been truly said that a Japan Tokyo, Japan, February 2, 1912.
ese poem is a picture, or even only the outline of a pic-
ture, to be filled in by the imagination. And this must
be even more positively affirmed of the hokku, which ST. ANTHONY'S SERMON TO THE FISHES.
contains only the seventeen syllables of the first three
(To the Editor of THE DIAL.)
verses of the tanka. And yet it is possible to express,
or rather to suggest, a very beautiful scene in only XLI., page 16,700, appears a poem- perhaps doggerel
In the Warner Library of American Literature, Vol.
seventeen syllables. One excellent example of this tini-
in form — entitled “St. Anthony's Sermon to Fishes,"
est form is the following:
which is marked “,
“anonymous. .” It
opens as follows:
“Kare-eda ni
U no tomari keri
* Saint Anthony, at church,
Was left in the lurch;
Aki no kure."
So he went to the ditches
Which means literally:
And preached to the fishes," etc.
“On a withered branch
Most of the verses end with the refrain:
A crow's perching
An autumn evening."
“No sermon beside
"Had the carps.”' (eels, pikes, etc.) “so edified.”
It does not take a very strong imagination to fill out
that picture.
Though when the sermon is ended, it comes to this:
“Much delighted were they
For an example of the longer form, I should like to
But preferred the old way.”
present one which received high honors at the recent
Imperial Poetry Contest in the Palace. The subject I once had what was, on the whole, a much worthier ren-
given out by His Imperial Majesty was “ A Crane on a
dition of this legendary tale — just a waif clipped from
Pine," although, from the indefiniteness of Japanese
some paper,
which is now hopelessly lost. Either
words, either or both of those nouns might be plural.
the same author tried again; or one writer's scheme was
Over 29,000 tanka on this subject were sent in to the
before the other; or, as is most probable, both trans-
Imperial Household Department; but only fifty-eight | lated quite literally from some foreign source. As I
were selected as eminently worthy, and only twenty-one
remember, that too was anonymous, but it began:
enjoyed the rare distinction of being read in the presence
“Saint Anthony, one day, found the church empty Sunday,
of His Majesty. Among these was one by an old man,
So he goes to the river, a discourse to deliver."
a primary school teacher in the country; it reads as Then it details how the fish
follows:
“Came swimming and squirming in shoals to the sermon."
Ashitatsu mo
In this form, however, the common refrain is
Moto wo wasurenu
“But all said they never
Kokoro yori
Heard sermon so clever."
Su-tachishi matsu wa
Taezu touramu.”
Even when the carps “went back to their carping,"
Now, it may be well to proceed with an analysis of
“the eels to good living,” “the pikes to their thieving,"
etc.,
this poem word by word, somewhat in the present fash-
“Yet all said they never
ion of parsing ad nauseam and dissecting to pieces the
Heard sermon so clever."
real masterpieces of English literature. In this case,
however, such a course is quite necessary to an appre-
I should be very glad to know from any of your readers
ciation of the conciseness and suggestiveness of this
where the latter form of the poem can be found, or to
“ tiny ode.”
see it reproduced, still more to learn whence, if it can
“ Ashitatsu” is a poetical word for “crane ”; “mo
be ascertained, the two were derived or translated, as
is emphatic and means “also " or "even”; “moto” is
embodying the quaint old legend of the good saint of
Padua.
"origin” or “birthplace”; “wo" is the sign of the
S. T. KIDDER.
objective case; “wasurenu
forgetting-not"; McGregor, Iowa, Feb. 23, 1912.
66
means
66


1912.]
THE DIAL
159
The New Books.
ment of his previous work, “ Robert E. Lee, the
Southerner." It did not stop with that, how-
ever; it " finally assumed the proportions of
A HERITAGE OF AMERICAN
a biography ”- an unusually full and fascinat-
PERSONALITY.*
ing one. It adds to the treatment of Lee's
per-
If in this era, when our minds are bent upon sonal character, the theme of the earlier book,
peace, there be anything we can find to admire an elaborate study of his military career and of
in war, it is that nobility in human character
“ his relation to the civil power of the Confed-
which the dire stress of conflict sometimes re erate Government."
veals. What chiefly we look for in battle is It has, unfortunately, some faults, both ex-
murderous hatred; the more, then, can we appre- ternal and internal.
ternal and internal. The former are due to a
ciate those spirits which touch its pitch and yet slight carelessness in the details of literary com-
are not defiled, which radiate instead an unsus- position. They are partly excused by the large-
pected “sweetness and light.” Our American ness of the author's undertaking; but surely
Civil War is one of the awful tragedies of his-' | so good a literary artist as Mr. Page should not
tory; yet from it rise two personalities that go perpetrate a sentence such as “ No more were
far to redeem the havoc of the struggle. We Jackson or Johnston,” nor should he head a chap-
shall never think back upon that time without a ter "Lee's Audacity - Antietam and Chancel-
shudder; yet we shall never forget that it gave lorsville," when the chapter is devoted in toto
us Lincoln and Lee.
to the first-named battle. He has, further, a
The character of Lincoln, though by no means provoking habit—largely to be explained by his
universally understood, has been studied from method of arrangement of discussing a given
many angles and appraised at something near point on the instalment plan, with long inter-
its proper value. Not so with Lee. The South-
vals of foreign matter between the several instal-
ern chieftain has been viewed in the main from
ments. Readers would be better satisfied if the
but two standpoints, and these have been more explanation of such questions as Hooker's inde-
or less extreme. The average man in the North cision at Chancellorsville and Grant's relations
has had a conception of him hardly flattering ; with Butler were concentrated in single passages
the average man in the South has had a dif- instead of being dispersed over much space.
ferent conception, but one not much closer to The internal faults are more serious, because
the truth. Too few have thought of Lee in they impair in some measure the high value of
connection with our national life and traditions. the volume. Mr. Page disclaims any purpose
Something more than a year ago the present of panegyric, and his attitude toward the peo-
writer expressed the belief that if the Ameri- ple of the North is that which Charles Francis
can people would repair their greatest neglect Adams, Lincoln's minister to Great Britain,
of the legacy derivable from a single character expressed toward Southerners : “ They also are
in their history, they would have to acquaint my countrymen.” Yet one cannot help feeling
themselves thoroughly with the real nature of that he holds a brief for Lee and for Virginia.
Lee.” At that time there was but one volume
His contention that final success is not tbe test
on Lee—the “ Recollections and Letters” by his of military genius is, in the light of his refer-
son - which offered the means of adequate in ence to Hannibal and Napoleon, reasonable
sight; and this volume afforded the material for
enough; but we may admit Lee's greatness with-
judgment rather than the final utterance itself.
out maintaining that his generalship was flaw-
Recently, however, two books have appeared, less. The study of Lee's character shows the
which, taken together, are well-nigh if not en-
same tendency to exaggerate: Lee comes about
tirely definitive. They are complementary to as near the ideal as anyone could wish, but he
each other; they issued from the press almost
was a real human being after all. And why so
simultaneously; one is the work of a “F. F. V.”
many commendations of Virginia, when the ob-
student of Lee's, while the other was written by ject of our scrutiny is the individual hero? Mr.
a descendant of a well-known family of Massa- Page halts between two opinions : he wishes to
chusetts abolitionists.
show us the great superiority of the man, and
Mr. Page’s volume was begun as an enlarge at the same time he is anxious to bring up
the
*ROBERT E. LEE: MAN AND SOLDIER. By Thomas State to the same exalted height. Our sus-
Nelson Page. With portrait and maps. New York: Charles picions are aroused when we read, “ Lee's char-
Scribner's Sons.
LEE THE AMERICAN. By Gamaliel Bradford, Jr. Illus-
acter I deem absolutely the fruit of the Vir-
trated. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co.
ginian civilization which existed in times past.”


160
[March 1,
THE DIAL
“ He was
Then follow statements that we cannot recon liance on God and in the precepts he conveyed
cile. He calls Lee “ The noblest gentleman of to his son: “ To be obedient to all authority,
our time ”; yet elsewhere he asserts that “noble and to do his duty in everything, great or
as he was, ten thousand gentlemen marched be small.” His serene dignity and purpose to serve
hind him who, in all the elements of private shone forth resplendent in defeat.
character, were his peers.” It is a pity that indicted for treason by a grand jury composed
fervor and a divided purpose mar in some de- partly of negroes"; "to his death he remained
gree the fine disinterestedness and symmetry of a prisoner on parole.'” Yet he set calmly about
the work.
his task of healing discord and building up the
But when these reservations have been made, devastated South. High positions and large
there is still a vast deal in the volume which is salaries were offered him - everything," said
altogether praiseworthy. The accounts of Lee's his daughter, “ but the only thing he will ac-
various campaigns are full and interesting. By cept: a place to earn honest bread while en-
a happy device, the author sketches the main gaged in some useful work.” Finally he became
outlines of each, then tells of it again at much president of a struggling denominational college,
greater length, in painstaking detail, and with and gave the rest of his life to its betterment and
constant attention to the exact movements of that of its students. His salary was only $1,500
each corps and division. In this way general a year; but he rejected another offer of lucra-
information is followed by that which is minute, tive employment with these words: “I have led
and the reader need not stop for the latter un the young men of the South in battle ; I have
less he chooses. Along with the operations in seen many of them die on the field; I shall de-
the field is unfolded a knowledge of the extra vote my remaining energies to training young
ordinary difficulties under which Lee labored. men to do their duty in life.”
It is something of a revelation to learn how Mr. Bradford, far more than Mr. Page, has
great an advantage the Union forces possessed the sense of Lee's character as a part of our
in having a navy constantly at their disposal. national inheritance. He regards it not as a
It is equally surprising to know how important sectional but as our common possession. His
it was to the Confederacy to protect the Trede- dedication reads:
gar Iron Works at Richmond. More astonish “To the young men both of the North and of the
ing still is the information we obtain of how Lee
South who can make or unmake the future of the
was hampered by the inefficiency of the Con-
America of Washington, of Lincoln, and of Lee."
federate government. The government had
Three other passages that I cannot forbear quot-
theories about making the war one of pure de ing at length show the depth of his insight and
fense ; it hoped that by refusing to ship cotton
the rightness of his attitude :
to Europe it could force recognition ; it tried to
“ Abandon all these local animosities, and make your
sons Americans. What finer sentence could be inscribed
hold the entire country, instead of concentrat-
on the pedestal of Lee's statue than that ? Americans !
ing its armies; it insisted that the army elect All the local animosities forgiven and forgotten, can we
its officers; it failed to punish desertion; it for not say that he too, though dying only five years after
bade Lee to pick bis own chief of staff ; it the terrible struggle, died a loyal, a confident, a hope-
cramped his strategy by forcing him to submit
ful American, and one of the very greatest ?”
his plans for approval ; and it managed miser-
“One was a man of the eighteenth century, the other
ably the forwarding of supplies. Mr. Page
Mr. Page of the nineteenth; one of the old America, the other of
maintains that Lee would certainly have made the new. Grant stands for our modern world, with its
a third invasion of the North had his troops had
rough business habits, its practical energy, its desire to
do things no matter how, its indifference to the sweet
proper shoes and clothing, and that he would
have struck Grant a fatal blow in the Wilder-
grace of ceremony and dignity and courtesy. Lee had
the traditions of an older day, not only its high beliefs,
ness had not his men been so widely dispersed but its grave stateliness, its feeling that the way of doing
for subsistence. In the face of such obstacles, things was almost as much as the thing done. In short,
and of well-equipped armies numerically stronger
Grant's America was the America of Lincoln, Lee's the
America of Washington. It is in part because of this
than his own, Lee's struggle was truly heroic
difference, and because I would fain believe that with-
and pathetic.
out loss of the one we may some day regain something
The key to Lee's character Mr. Page finds of the other, that I have given so much thought to the
in its likeness to that of Washington, Lee's portrayal of Lee's character and life.”
model. He was a humane, self-sacrificing,
“ America in the twentieth century worships success,
pious man — if possible, more pious even than
is too ready to test character by it, to be blind to those
Jackson. The secret of his life lay in his re faults success hides, to those qualities that can do with-


1912.]
161
THE DIAL
out it. Here was a man who failed grandly, a man I suppose, an art which is not psychology, because it
who said that “human virtue should be equal to human deals with individuals, not general principles, and is not
calamity,' and showed that it could be equal to it, and biography, because it swings clear of the formal sequence
so, without pretense, without display, without self of chronological detail, and uses only those deeds and
consciousness, left an example that future Americans words and happenings that are spiritually significant.”
may study with profit as long as there is an America.
After explaining the dangers, both subjective
“ A young sophomore was once summoned and gently
admonished that only patience and industry would
and objective, that threaten the psychographer's
prevent the failure that would inevitably come to him
poise, he maintains that the chief advantage in
through college and through life.
studying great men is in finding their resem-
“But, General, you failed,' remarked the sophomore, blance to ordinary mortals. He parts company
with the inconceivable ineptitude of sophomores. with the believers in Lee's absolute perfection
“I hope that you may be more fortunate than 1,'
when he shows us that Lee was the barest trifle
was the tranquil answer.
“Literature can add nothing to that."
aloof, and that the invasion proclamations were
In reaching an understanding of Lee's char- prompted by sound common-sense as well as by
acter, Mr. Bradford has discarded legend and
and lofty principles. But the purpose is not to be-
engaged in exhaustive research. “A complete little his subject. It is rather to inspire us.
bibliography of sources, ,” he declares, “ would
The process need not be, as might seem, disillu-
be practically a bibliography of the war litera-
sioning. Mr. Bradford's method is that of thor-
ture both Northern and Southern." Yet he does ough sanity; yet he finds Lee “a human being
as lovable as any that ever lived.” “I have
not present, as does Mr. Page, in epic narrative
a multitude of facts about Lee's career. Nor
loved him," he declares, “and I may say that his
does his familiarity with the background of
influence upon my own life, though I came to
gen-
eral conditions upon which Lee's actions were
him late, has been as deep and as inspiring as
projected — his knowledge of the social and any
I have ever known.”
moral issues, and of the larger phases of the
Mr. Bradford's chapter on “ The Great De-
technical and administrative problems — lure cision” shows us that Lee's actions were guided
him from his peculiar theme. Happily, we are
“strictly and loftily by conscience.” The se-
promised the fruitage of these by-studies in a
verest test came at the outbreak of hostilities.
subsequent volume, “ Portraits of the Confed- Then, as always, Lee excluded personal con-
siderations; but he was not satisfied with either
eracy. Wise readers will not expect the forth-
coming studies to reveal any such ideal as Lee. party.
“ While I wish to do what is right,
The other leaders had merits and weaknesses :
he wrote, “I am unwilling to do what is wrong
we may be sure Mr. Bradford will be blind to at the bidding of the South or of the North.”
neither. He will show the men as they were,
He felt that the destruction of the old balance
and that is all we can ask.
between local and central authority would “be
Here, as I have suggested, Mr. Bradford has
an end to Republican government in this coun-
made it his purpose to portray Lee's soul. He
try"; on the other hand, he considered slavery
has shown this in the various relations suggested
a moral and political evil” an evil which a
by the titles of all the chapters save one: “The
decision for the South would force him to up-
Great Decision," " Lee and Davis,” “Lee and
hold. “It is precisely this network of moral
the Confederate Government," " Lee and his conditions,” affirms Mr. Bradford, “that makes
Army," "Lee and Jackson," " Lee in Battle,"
his heroic struggle so pathetic, so appealing, so
“Lee as a General,” “Lee's Social and Domes irresistibly human. . : . Lee is one of the most
tic Life,” “ Lee's Spiritual Life,” and “ Lee
striking, one of the noblest tragic figures the
after the War.” It will be seen that Mr. Brad world ever produced.” The most perfect com-
ford falls in with the new school of writers who
ment on his life is his own statement that to do
in their treatment of historical figures lay stress
our duty is “ all the pleasure, all the comfort,
upon character rather than upon deeds. So
all the glory we can enjoy in this world."
vital and so valuable is this aim, and so suc-
The chapters on Lee's relations with Davis,
cessful is Mr. Bradford in carrying it out, that
with the Confederate government, with his army,
readers will be especially interested in his own
and with Jackson, are absorbing. Of these, the
comments on his method of approach. These
first two show his fine modesty and courtesy;
comprise an attractive and illuminating ap-
they also show his patience under trying diffi-
pendix, “Lee and Psychography.” He says:
culties that lead Mr. Bradford to write, “ He
“ What I have aimed at in this book is the portrayal
was never free.” The third explains his extra-
of a soul. We live in an age of names, and a new name
ordinary hold upon his men through the confi-
has recently been invented-psychography. This means, dence he inspired, his personal magnetism, his


162
[March 1,
THE DIAL
..
of peace."
own love for his soldiers, and his recognition of fact that, “ so far as his limited opportunities
the fact that he was leading an army of Ameri will allow us to judge, he was a thinker in edu-
can freemen. The fourth shows his wisdom in cation as he was a thinker in war"? His pro-
dealing with the most inflexible personalities. gramme was one of constructive labor: “Tell
Nothing is more characteristic of him than the them they must all set to work, and if they can-
suggestion through which he reconciled differ not do what they prefer, do what they can.'
ences between Jackson and A. P. Hill: “ He
A summary so meagre as has here been given
who has been the most aggrieved can be the is likely to mislead. It is earnestly recommended
most magnanimous and make the first overture that every good citizen, every student of worthy
personality, read for himself Captain Lee's
The chapter on “Lee in Battle" reveals to « Recollections and Letters" of his father, Mr.
us again that nice balance of Lee's gifts which Page’s absorbing biography, and Mr. Bradford's
accounts for Alexander's dictum “ Probably no study of Lee's inmost character. The last must
man ever commanded an army and at the same be considered an altogether indispensable book.
time so entirely commanded himself." The Its discriminating analysis is supported by a
treatment of “ Lee as a General ” shows the wealth of humanized evidence and vital illustra-
enormous difficulties with which he had to con tion, and it gives a superb and convincing por-
tend, and finds four outstanding military quali- trayal of the actual soul of Lee. One wonders
ties: organizing power, boldness, rapidity and as he reads it whether the resurrection of human
perhaps energy of action, and a knowledge of character is not almost the equal of great crea-
human nature. The last quality enabled him tive writing — especially when the character
to deal effectively with subordinate and foeman. resurrected is one so noble as is here portrayed.
Mr. Bradford thinks it the chief of his military
GARLAND GREEVER.
merits, and hence believes Colonel Henderson's
words are the most satisfying eulogy:
6 He
was the clearest-sighted soldier in America.”
THE LATEST EDITION OF THACKERAY.*
In - Lee's Social and Domestic Life” we see
his dignity, not stiff and pompous, but natural,
There have already been at least six note-
and softened by the inborn deference of the true worthy editions of Thackeray's complete works,
democrat. He had charm and thoroughgoing beginning with the “ Library Edition ” of
kindliness; his inherent moderation bordered a 1867-9, and ending with the “Biographical
little on reserve. In “Lee's Spiritual Life" we
Edition" of 1898-9 - two editions for each
learn that the bent of his character was - abso-decade from 1869 to 1899, with innumerable
lutely moral and practical.” He had passions cheaper reprints of either the whole or a part of
and sensibilities, but he kept them under con-
the great novelist's writings. To these numer-
trol. Perhaps he was a little too precise, a little ous editions is now added another, the “Cen-
too scrupulous; yet we like to think of him as tenary Edition de Luxe,” enriched with notes
worrying a little after Gettysburg because he of both biographical and bibliographical inter-
could not lay his hands upon officials to whom
est from the competent pen of Mr. Lewis Mel-
he might pay his taxes. He had no desire for ville, and not only reproducing the original
rank or honors, no jealousy, no impatience un-
Thackeray illustrations and some others by
der criticism, no wish to justify himself at the artists of his time, but also presenting a new
expense of others even when those others were series of drawings, some five hundred in num-
at fault. His religion was “a pure and vivify ber, by Mr. Harry Furniss. The volumes are
ing light”; it was compact of love. God was substantial octavos, attractively bound in blue
the cardinal fact of his life.
and gilt, and sufficiently capacious to contain
" Lee before the War” is the only chapter even the longest of the novels within the covers
which is largely narrative. It further traces
It further traces of a single book each. The “Vanity Fair,” for
early influences and the growth of high motives example, runs to seven hundred and forty-six
which were to govern him so thoroughly when pages, with Thackeray's drawings in the text
his role became conspicuous. - Lee after the
and Mr. Furniss's in full-page plates.
War” presents a period as instructive and in Worthy of more than brief mention is the
spiring as any in his life. Whatever he did * THE WORKS OF WILLIAM MAKEPEACE THACKERAY.
was sure, as Grant asserted, to have tremendous Centenary Edition de Luxe. With bibliographical intro-
influence in the South. What, then, shall we
ductions by Lewis Melville, and five hundred new plates
by Harry Furniss. In twenty volumes. New York : The
say of his restraint, of his hopefulness, of the Macmillan Co.


1912.]
163
THE DIAL
in
6 Artist's Preface with which each volume and the “ fat coachman,” a small, boyish figure,
is provided, and wherein the latest illustrator is on the wrong side of the box. These and
of Thackeray takes the reader into his confi- other inconsistencies touched lightly upon by
dence and points out some of the peculiar diffi- Mr. Furniss are matters of curious interest to
culties confronting the pictorial interpreter of us now, rather than ground for complaint; but
the novelist's works. In preparing illustra- they probably add somewhat to the perplexities
tions for “ Vanity Fair,” for instance, shall the of the modern artist who wishes to make his
modern artist bring his designs into some har own illustrations to Thackeray not too incon-
mony with Thackeray's own and clothe his sistent with one another and with the familiar
characters in early Victorian costume, or shall designs of the novelist himself.
he risk the discord of letting his historically As a test, and a severe one, of the artist's
correct drawings clash with the accompanying sympathetic imagination and technical skill,
Victorian conceptions ? Strange enough to us Beatrix offers difficulties enough, and the reader
now is Thackeray’s explicit reason for prefer- will examine with interest the depiction of her
ring contemporary costume to that of a genera- in her varying moods by the illustrator's pencil.
tion earlier, the actual period of the story. Rightly enough Mr. Furniss holds that “the
“When I remember the appearance of people interest of the story to artists, and I venture to
in those days,” he says in a footnote at the end think to the reader as well, centres in Beatrix and
of his sixth chapter, 6 and that an officer and her mother, with Esmond between the two, like
lady were actually habited like [illustration Garrick between comedy and tragedy. Esmond
inserted], I have not the heart to disfigure my is, after all, but the walking gentleman-perhaps
heroes and heroines by costumes so hideous, we ought to say the fighting gentleman
and have, on the contrary, engaged a model of this play bearing his name. He is artistically
rank dressed according to the present fashion.” the foil to the mother and daughter in whom the
As Mr. Furniss takes occasion to observe, we interest lies, the mother for her part the foil to
of the present day look back upon the early Beatrix: so it comes to this, Beatrix dominates
Victorian monstrosities of crinoline and other all, and one would have thought, at least I have,
peculiarities of dress as exceedingly unbecoming, but hardly dare to suggest that the title of the
whereas the costume of the Waterloo period book should have been • Beatrix.'” A captivat-
strikes the eye as unusually pleasing, and has, ing creature Mr. Furpiss makes of her, but
moreover, in ladies' dress at least, a certain sim- frankly despairs of doing justice to the author's
ilarity to fashions not unknown to the twentieth conception, and goes so far as to maintain that
century. Consequently the costumes he has no brush or pencil can produce a satisfactory
drawn are not so strange and repellent to the likeness, although, strangely enough, the sculp-
modern reader as are those of 1845, drawn by tor might succeed in the undertaking.
the author himself.
As illustrating Mr. Furniss's careful atten-
That Thackeray was by no means the ideal tion to minute details in his difficult task, let us
illustrator of his own more serious works, no one quote what he says in connection with Thack-
will deny; and this is attributed by Mr. Fur- eray's frequent raptures over the dainty feet of
niss to “ the fact that he thoroughly enjoyed his heroines. “ It is very seldom indeed,” he
throwing off unconsidered trifles, slight carica- affirms, “a pretty or a handsome woman has
tures and fanciful suggestions for initial letters small feet, or even good proportions. All artists
and tail-pieces, but that illustrating novels wor know that models with good figures have gen-
ried him. He was never satisfied with his own erally plain-frequently coarse - faces.
or other artists' rendering of his heroines, and I | Every haberdasher in selling hosiery demon-
doubt if I would have dared to illustrate him strates that the hand is the index to the foot,
had I lived in his day.” But that it was not but it may not be generally known that the hand
merely his heroines who gave trouble to Thack- is a complete reflex of the whole figure.
eray the draughtsman, is of course apparent This fact is, as I say, little known, otherwise I
even to a casual observer. In his
very
first am sure Tbackeray and other writers, dwelling
illustration to “ Vanity Fair,” the vignette upon the charms of their heroines, would have
accompanying the ornamental initial at the be- referred more to their perfectly shaped hands
ginning of the first chapter, he depicts an equi- | than to their pretty and impossible feet.” But
page absurdly out of harmony with his written this is carrying us pretty far into the domain
description of it in the opening paragraph. The of realism and away from romance, which neither
“two fat horses ” are the smallest of ponies ; | Thackeray nor his illustrator seriously intends.
O


164
[March 1,
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ance.
In comparing Mr. Furniss's drawings with the least of its admirable features. So much of
those of such famous earlier Thackeray illustra matter within the compass of twenty volumes
tors as Doyle and Walker, hardly any modern has of course imposed the necessity of a rather
reader can fail to find something in the later small print; but it is clear and, to any but
artist's conceptions thatgrips him with a stronger defective eyesight, large enough for comfort,
sense of reality than do the perhaps equally even if not for the luxury implied in the pub-
excellent drawings of Thackeray's own contem lisher's designation of the edition. At any rate,
poraries. Every illustrator of course breathes this centenary set of Thackeray's works worthily
more or less of the spirit of his age ; and so, helps to make memorable the year of its appear-
whether it be in the costume or attitude or bear-
PERCY F. BICKNELL.
ing of the characters he draws, or in something
far more intangible and indefinable — "atmos-
phere” is perhaps the word for it — there cer-
tainly is some quality in the work of an illustrator
NARRATIVES OF THE INDIANS OF THE
OLD NORTHWEST.*
contemporary with the reader, that is likely to
please him more than that of a much earlier The two substantial volumes on “ The Indian
workman in the same field. Hence, just as Tribes of the Upper. Mississippi Valley and
history and biography and romance have to be Region of the Great Lakes ” will be heartily
written over and over again for succeeding gen welcomed by all who are interested in original
erations, so the masterpieces of literature call narratives dealing with the Indian tribes of the
for fresh illustration with each new half-century Old West - the West traversed by Radisson,
or even less; or if the pictures are not actually Hennepin, and Lahontan, and later by Jonathan
drawn they are sure to be imagined by the reader Carver; and it is much to be regretted that the
for himself, which is not seldom the better way. scholarly translator and editor, Emma Helen
Mr. Melville's prefatory bibliographical notes Blair, did not live to receive the grateful ac-
are always very much to the point and frequently knowledgments of students and the reading
packed with information of more than biblio- public for having performed a difficult task with
graphical interest. The account which Mr. Eyre care and discrimination.
Crowe, at one time Thackeray's secretary and It may be said that the work constitutes, in a
amanuensis, gives of the work upon “Esmond” general way, a history of the Indian tribes of
engages our willing attention.
“ An appeal to the Northwest and the region of the Great Lakes,
an obliging attendant,” Mr. Crowe has related, from their first contact with civilization to
“ brought us through the now public portion of 1827, although there is a gap of a century be-
the library [of the British Museum], where, I tween the French narratives and those written
remember, on his touching a hidden spring in by American officials. The principal writings
what seemed to be beautifully bound folios, but included are the first complete English trans-
which were in reality only sham backs of these, lation of Nicolas Perrot's "Mémoire sur les
a door flew open, and we were in the presence Moeurs, Coustumes et Religion des Sauvages
of Sir Anthony Panizzi. He readily granted de l'Amérique Septentrionale"; a translation
permission to write in one of the secluded gal (the first) of that part of La Potherie's “ Histoire
leries, at a table placed in the midst of the vol. de l'Amérique Septentrionale ” relating to the
umes to be consulted. I sat down and wrote to
“savage peoples who are allies of New France";
dictation the scathing sentences about the great a letter of Major Morrell Marston, U.S.A., to
Marlborough, the denouncing of Cadogan, etc., the Reverend Dr. Jedidiah Morse (November,
etc.”
1820), concerning the Sauk and Foxes ; and a
The volume of “ Ballads and Verses, and report (January 15, 1827) on the manners and
Miscellaneous Contributions to · Punch,'” with customs of the same tribes, sent to General
its amusing pictures by Thackeray, Leech, and William Clark, Superintendent of Indian Af-
others, has allowed Mr. Furniss the freest range
* THE INDIAN TRIBES OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VAL-
to his fancy, and has also given Mr. Melville
LEY AND REGION OF THE GREAT LAKES. As described
an opportunity to present a fuller collection of by Nicolas Perrot, French Commandant in the Northwest;
bibliographical notes than usual. The “ Artist's
Bacqueville de la Potherie, French Royal Commissioner to
Canada ; Morrell Marston, American Army Officer; and
Preface, too, is of unusual length and interest.
Thomas Forsyth, United States Agent at Fort Armstrong,
In fact, the variety of readable matter contrib Translated, edited, annotated, and with Bibliography and
uted to this edition of Thackeray by other pens
Index, by Emma Helen Blair. In two volumes. With por-
traits, map, facsimiles, and views. Cleveland: The Arthur
than that of the novelist himself constitutes not H. Clark Company.


1912.]
165
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does not per-
fairs, by Thomas Forsyth, United States Indian cabin; and during all that time they cannot even eat
Agent.
there with the men, or eat food which has been pre-
pared by men's hands. It is for this reason that the
The English translation of Perrot's “Mé-
women cook their own food separately.
moire" is the most notable feature of the work.
“ The savages — I mean those who are no