educate their chil at their mercy. But this does not prevent us
dren; but Mr. Shaw denies that the school from hoping that we may in time improve the
exists to educate children; it exists to take
condition of the child by improving the in-
them off their parents' hands. And what is telligence of the parents. And what Mr. Shaw
this process of education like?
would have parents see, is that their posses-
4 With the world's bookshelves loaded with fas-
sion of the child does not involve the right
cinating and inspired books, the very manna sent
to do with it as they see fit, to coerce it into
down from Heaven to feed your souls, you are
satisfying their own ideas as to a career or a
forced to read a hideous imposture called a book, religion, and to playing generally the part of
written by a man who cannot write: a book from providence as if they were omniscient beings.
which no human being can learn anything: a book And as to the school, the same principle ap-


76
(August 1
THE DIAL
plies. It may be necessary to teach some similarity, they are both children of their
things dogmatically, but ... “The man who age. In the author's anxiety to free Chaucer
believes that he has more than a provisional of all stigma of unrighteous imitation, he
hypothesis to go upon is a born fool.” It is sometimes falls into tame personal expres-
not necessary to impress that fact upon the sions of faith, such as this: .. it is im-
pupil, but until a teacher has grasped it, he possible to think of Chaucer writing the
is not fit for his task.
Parlement, Hous of Fame, and Prologue to
GEORGE BERNARD DONLIN. the Legend in serious rivalry of foreign
models. I feel convinced that in these poems
he had a deeper, subtler purpose, even though
CHAUCER AND THE ROMAN DE LA ROSE.* at present I cannot say just what it was.
A very doubtful critical dictum is cited from
Few books in the whole realm of extant lit- Professor Kittredge: “The cynicism of the
erature have exerted a more profound and Merchant's Tale is . .. in no sense expres-
widespread influence upon literary men and sive of Chaucer's own sentiments, or even of
their work than did the Roman de la Rose in Chaucer's momentary mood. The cynicism
the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries in
is the Merchant's. It is no more Chaucer's
Europe. It belongs now to a dead past, a than Iago's cynicism about love is Shake-
past of obsolete or obsolescent ideas and speare's."
speare's. The comparison with Shakespeare
ideals, and few there are to do it reverence. here is rather unfortunate since Mr. Frank
All readers of Chaucer, however, will remem Harris has recently made out a very strong
ber that in his youth he translated a part of presumption of that very thing in Shake-
this immense and popular poem, while even
speare. A man of genius has more than one
the casual student must have noticed how in facet, and poets especially never feel the
his later work he adapted its technique and necessity of being consistent. The parts are
humanized (that is, humorized) its philoso-never greater than the whole; and we may
phy. Chaucer's debt to the two authors of be sure that if a poet ever invented a plausi-
the Roman, the gentle Guillaume de Lorris ble devil, he had a plausible devil in him the
and the cynical Jean de Meung, has been day he made the invention.
the subject of a deal of scholarly research The tables of parallel lines and passages
with the usual polar results, one school mak- appended are invaluable to the student; and
ing Chaucer a servile imitator and the other the book is really a masterly thesis if not an
erecting him into complete independence. epochal contribution to Chaucereana.
The most recent contribution to the sub-
THOMAS PERCIVAL BEYER.
ject, “Chaucer and the Roman de la Rose"
by Dean Spruill Fansler, has no extreme
thesis to maintain, and so in all probability THE PRESIDENT OF FRANCE ON FRENCA
wins closer to the truth; but it pays the pen-
GOVERNMENT.*
alty of too much qualification. It has no out-
A few years ago M. Raymond Poincaré
and-outness. Much of the time the author
wrote for a publication circulating princi-
appears to be differing -- just a little from
pally among young people in France a series
some other investigator who has stated con-
of simple articles descriptive of the origins
clusions in the same field. Still the book is
and workings of the French governmental
worth while in that Mr. Fansler has followed
a different and more significant method in
system, national and local. At the time nei-
ther he nor any other person could have fore-
his study; he has classified Chaucer's bor-
seen that in 1913 he would be elected to the
rowings according to the nature of the pas-
sages taken over. By this method he has presidency of his country and that earlier
arrived at some trustworthy conclusions on
writings of a supposedly ephemeral character
would suddenly be vested with a nation-wide,
the interesting question: which of the authors
and even a world-wide, interest. These things
of the Roman influenced Chaucer more?
however, have come to pass, and one of the
Briefly this is the answer: Chaucer went
to de Lorris for lessons in technique, especially the series of government articles in book
first consequences has been the publication of
in deseription, but was never a mere imi-
tator. He went to Jean de Meung for a
form, and in English dress, under the invit-
ing title, “How France is Governed."
rhyming dictionary, for bibliography, and for
M. Poincaré is fortunate in the fact that
encyclopædic knowledge on various subjects; the writings thus brought under unexpected
but he never accepted any wholesale carton
of Jean's opinion: where they show marked scrutiny are of such quality that they might
• How FRANCE IS
By Raymond Poincaré.
* CHAUCER AND THE ROMAN DE LA ROSE. By Dean Spruill
New York: McBride, Nast
Fansler, Ph.D. New York: Columbia University Press.
GOVERNED.
Translated by Bernard Miall.
& Co.


1914)
77
THE DIAL
well stand entirely upon their own merit. To static aspects of the French government ad-
a high order of legal scholarship the author mirably, but he has little or nothing to say
adds a rare fund of information acquired of those not less important aspects which are
through twenty-five years of experience as a dynamic.
dynamic. It is true that the French party
legislator and six years as a minister of state, system is complicated and difficult to describe
and he is a master of that lightness and sure in brief and general phrases. But there is
ness of touch which is the glory of French no good reason why there should not have been
writing upon political, as upon other, sub- included in the present volume at least one
jects. Simplicity and directness of statement chapter explaining how candidates for the
will render the book attractive to persons who Chamber of Deputies are nominated and how
are but beginning the study of government; they carry on their campaigns, showing how
yet the subject matter is sufficiently weighty party groups arise and act, and describing the
and authoritative to give the work a value for organization and principles of a few of
the most erudite expert in the field.
the more important groups, including the
M. Poincaré introduces his subject in a nat- Socialists.
ural and agreeable manner by devoting his On account of recent legislation raising the
earlier chapters to the history and organiza- period of active military service from two to
tion of the commune and the department. three years, a portion of the chapter on mili-
He then turns to the national government and tary service is already out of date.
in a general chapter sketches the growth of
FREDERIC AUSTIN OGG.
the French monarchy to the eighteenth cen-
tury, the changes wrought by the Revolution,
and the fundamental aspects of the state as
A MIDDLE-IRISH ROMANCE.*
organized to-day. Another chapter outlines The twelve volumes already issued by the
the development of the concept of national Irish Texts Society make a respectable show-
sovereignty from the time when Gaul was a
ing upon any book shelf, and all students of
Roman province to the establishment of the literature ought to rejoice that extended docu-
Third Republic and of its representative sys ments from the great storehouse of mediæval
tem based upon manhood suffrage. Although Irish manuscripts are thus made accessible.
it is not so stated, one may surmise that the Not that anybody is going to neglect the news-
indifference of voters which is exhibited so
paper or the latest novel to read these me-
frequently at parliamentary elections in diæval Irish histories and romances. Of
France is responsible for the forcefulness with necessity the English translations in this pio-
which the author seeks to inculcate the idea
neer series must be scrupulously literal; and
that under the present democracy abstention literal translations, even from languages
from voting is “both a piece of foolishness which like French and German are more akin
and a civic desertion." The exclusion of to ours than Irish, are seldom attractive to the
women, he asserts, is justified "only by con-
general reader. This matters little. The
siderations of opportunism or by the resis material is accessible in trustworthy form, and
tance of custom.
many people will find that its novelty over-
The bulk of the volume consists of chapters balances the tedium of a literal translation.
dealing successively with the constitution, the This mass of Irish writing cannot lack sig.
presidency, the ministry, the legislative cham nificance to a student of literature. Literary
bers, justice, public education, the budget influence, like electricity, passes from point
and taxation, and military service. Material to point in ways not obvious. The debt that
which might easily be presented in a fashion English literature owes to Irish has not yet
remarkable chiefly for dryness is put before been estimated. But no one can doubt that
the reader concretely and attractively, and such a debt exists. It is enough to recall that
not without occasional flashes of pertinent the beautiful story of “Sir Gawain and the
humor. It was doubtless only after reflection Green Knight,” the best of all English metri-
that M. Poincaré left out of the plan of the cal romances, has a strictly Irish plot; that
book a treatment of the rise, organization, and Queen Mab of "Romeo and Juliet" gets her
workings of political parties. The omission, name and characteristics from Queen Medb
however, must be adjudged a serious one. No of ancient Connaught fairy-lore; that the
description of the structure of the govern Brendan legend appealed to Tennyson and
mental system can convey a satisfactory idea Arnold, and that the Irish Finn Saga, trans-
of how France, or any other country, is mitted by Scotch story tellers, and dimly
governed unless it is supplemented with a
Being the Adventures of
characterization of the organizations and
Suibhne Geilt. Middle-Irish Romance. Edited, with
affiliations through which the people act in
Translation, Introduction, Notes, and Glossary, by J. G.
Irish Texts Society, Vol. XII. London: David
political matters. M. Poincaré describes the
• THE FRENZY OF SUIBHNE.
A
O'Keeffe.
Nutt.


78
(August 1
THE DIAL
reflected in Macpherson's Ossian, once set lit- bling of the blackbird to the sound of the
erary Europe ablaze. It is within the bounds cloister bell, the cry of the mountain grouse
of possibility that these stories published by to the voice of a beautiful woman, the chant
the Irish Texts Society may exert at some un of the hounds to the service of the church, and
expected point an effect upon the letters of a couch among the branches to the softest bed
to-day.
in Ireland. The love and appreciation for the
The text before us, “The Adventures of things of the forest, and the natural magic of
Suibhne Geilt," is well edited, and the intro the story, may appeal to the reader of to-day.
duction is good, although a connection urged
ARTHUR C. L. BROWN.
between Merlin and Suibhne probably lacks all
foundation. The story is told in prose, with
poems interspersed after the manner usual in
CHRISTIANITY ON TRIAL.*
early Irish. Suibhne (Sweeny) was an Irish
In his early days, Rudolf Eucken was
king of the seventh century, who incurred the keenly interested in religious problems; but
curse of St. Ronan at the battle of Magh Rath,
and in consequence went crazy (Geilt); In Philosophy (first at Basel, soon afterward at
in 1871, having been appointed Professor of
his madness he was perhaps transformed into Jena), he sought to suppress the religious
a bird, or anyhow he believed that he was a
interest altogether," and devoted himself
bird, and could fly from tree to tree, and even
accomplish long journeys in the air.
whole-heartedly to academic philosophy. A
maniacs in Irish and Scandinavian story have gradually have ceased to have any functional
lesser man, under these circumstances, might
been credited with similar volant exploits. relationship to the world at large; but such
That some madmen, and some saints as well, atrophy was not possible to Eucken's ener-
possessed supernatural powers of leaping or
flying was evidently a widespread belief, and getic and sympathetic nature, and as he says,
“the old interest would not die.” In the
a study of this supposed phenomenon of levi-
tation is an interesting investigation which sought to connect his philosophical problems
course of forty years, in which he increasingly
awaits some competent hand.
with the needs of human existence, the
Matthew Arnold long ago made us ac-
quainted with the natural magic of the ligious matters appeared continually more
importance of taking a definite stand on re-
Celts. Although The Adventures of Suibhne
Geilt” is by no means a fairy story, it is per-
evident. Yet he held back, hoping that added
years and experience would enable him to
meated with natural magic. The mad king
treat the subject more worthily. At length,
flits from tree to tree and from forest to for-
however, he has felt free to write, realizing
est, and his wanderings in the open give a
chance for the poet to express a love of out-of-
the approach of old age, and the probability
that his powers will not increase. Thus, what-
door life, and a delight in the charms of this
ever we may think of Professor Eucken's
or that sequestered spot in Ireland. Nebuchad-
opinions, we must at least accord them the
nezzar dwelt with the beasts of the field and
ate grass like oxen for seven years, “ until his labor, not offered hastily to create a sensation,
respect due to the product of many years of
hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his
but after prolonged consideration and recon-
nails like birds' claws. King Suibhne's ad-
sideration.
venture reminds us of King Nebuchadnez-
zar's; but unlike the more ancient monarch, tion is the proposition that human life has a
The groundwork of Eucken's whole posi-
Suibhne never recovers from his madness. spiritual side which gives it its real meaning
The Irish story is also altogether separated and value. It is this postulate, in various
from the Biblical narrative, because in it we
forms, which gives validity to religion, and
inevitably take Suibhne's point of view and
leads us to deny the adequacy of any mech-
sympathize with him in his joys and sorrows
anistic conception of the universe. Although
in the forest.
Eucken professes himself opposed to prag-
King Suibhne sings to us of the frosty wind, matism, we find him justifying religion on
during winter's storm, of the squeal of the genuinely pragmatic grounds, those of human
necessity. It is not that God must be ap-
badgers, the bellowing of the stags, the yelp- peased, or that some plan of creation may
ing of the foxes, the calling of the hounds,
be carried out, but that we, living creatures
and again, when summer comes, of the clamor
on this earth, may reach our proper estate
of the cuckoo. Even the water cress and the
and significance. It is not necessary to de-
cold stream which supplied his food and
fine what we mean by “spiritual,” all his-
drink he describes as fair and clean. This
mediæval Thoreau prefers the cooing of the
* CAN WE STILL BE CHRISTIANS ?
Translated by Lucy Judge Gibson.
turtle dove to the talk of people, the war-
By Rudolf Eucken.
New York: The Mac-
millan Co.


1914)
79
THE DIAL
can we
our
tory and our own natures are eloquent as to Newton's head! At this point some would
that; nor is it difficult to prove that this urge that since man's spiritual nature is in-
quality is here, there, and everywhere in dan-herent and fundamental, it will take care of
ger of being crowded out of our lives. All itself; but to this it is replied that it re-
this may be freely admitted, and still we may quires cultivating, and will not develop with-
ask, why so much concern? Has it not always out effort; and moreover, that success is not
been thus, from the dawn of history? Has wholly a matter to be determined by the in-
not religion shown sufficient capacity for dividual, but must depend largely upon social
self-preservation ? Are we to suppose that conditions. Here we come to the question
this ancient instinct, rooted in the very na indicated by the title of the book :
ture of man, is now in danger of extinction ? adopt as own the Christian tradition,
Complacent natures may thus console them which has meant so much in ages past, and
selves, but even if the argument is valid, it now seems to be on the wane? At first, the
still remains true that whatever of spiritual answer seems to be in the negative. We posi-
value has been won and held in the past, has tively must reject the fundamental Christian
been gained and retained at the expense of dogma, believing it to be untrue, and even
strenuous effort. Our Jena philosopher, at incompatible with our present religious posi-
the very least, is successor to a long line of tion. Is this, then, to exclude ourselves from
defenders of the faith, illustrious supporters Christianity altogether? Professor Eucken
of our most cherished traditions.
discusses at length the Catholic and Protes-
The matter is, however, by no means so tant churches, and decides that it is impossi-
simple. The last century has transformed ble to seek alliance with either. There only
our manner of living and thinking, and the remains, as a last resort, a Christianity out-
new wine will by no means remain in the side of the churches, a new Christianity which
old bottles. Consequently those who care shall embody and transmit all the spiritual
for religion, but also love truth and respond gains of the past, while rejecting that which
to modern needs, find themselves between two is no longer of value. How this is to be de-
hostile camps, that of the dogmatists and veloped, the author does not clearly explain;
that of the materialists. It is impossible to but after all it is a fact that such a new
abandon the very foundations of religion, Christianity does exist, and is in many subtle
and sink into a crass materialism, which car ways transforming the religious thought of
ried to its logical end would destroy all we the world. Professor Eucken has not offered
deem most precious. It is equally impossible us anything really new; he has merely set
to ally ourselves with the churches, which forth the existing situation in clear and un-
continue to defend statements which we can mistakable language, calling us to sift the
no longer believe to be true, and uphold doc wheat from the chaff, sow it in the fertile
trines which offend our moral as well as our fields of our minds, and look forward to a
logical sense. Although our position is in a golden harvest. T. D. A. COCKERELL.
sense midway between these opposite ex-
tremes, it is better thought of as representing
a third corner of a triangle, as distinct and
BRIEFS ON NEW BOOKS.
salient as either of the others. Such a posi-
tion will be condemned by the materialists,
One of the most interesting con-
A Virginia editor
who will urge that while we abandon the
tributions to the history of the
more obviously erroneous premises of cur-
ante-bellum days. United States, which has ap-
rent religions, we nevertheless adhere to their peared during the past year, is the work which
consequences, being unable to perceive the Professor C. H. Ambler has entitled "Thomas
necessary connection. The orthodox relig. Ritchie, A Study in Virginia Politics." (Pri-
ionists will use exactly the same argument, vately published.) Whether or not History be
except that they will affirm that the rejected past Politics, politicians or statesmen,- the
premises are sound. Thus attacked from many or the few, have held the centre of the
both sides, with essentially the same weapons, stage of historical biography. It is indeed time
Eucken simply replies that the spiritual side to go behind the scenes and study the influence
of man exists, and did exist long before the exerted by the political manager, great or
present dogmas were invented; that (if the small, who has performed the function of
reviewer may supply an illustration not used organization and education in party politics.
by the author) the enemy's position is about Of course there have been such biographies,
as reasonable as that of a man who should but few of them thus far have avoided the
maintain that there could be no such thing faults that arise from hero worship or family
as gravitation, were we to believe that as a affection, or those which spring from narrow-
matter of fact the apple did not fall on ness of outlook, and ignorance of the larger
of


80
(August 1
THE DIAL
currents of History. Thomas Ritchie, of crowded Polk's term of office, and the rea-
Scotch descent, but through his mother con sons for Ritchie's comparative lack of suc-
nected with powerful Virginia families, was cess in the stormy years that followed until
born at Tappahannock in the Old Dominion, his retirement in 1851, form the closing topics
on November 5, 1778. After some legal edu- of Professor Ambler's work; and the interest
cation, some dabbling in Medicine, and some which attaches to these pages only serves to
experience in teaching, Ritchie moved to Rich make one question if some space might not
mond in 1803, and the next year was selected have been saved in the earlier part of the
under the patronage of Thomas Jefferson to
ob book for the fuller treatment of this later
edit the “Richmond Enquirer,'' newly estab- period. The work includes a few well-chosen
lished to present the true gospel of Repub- illustrations, a genealogical appendix and an
licanism in opposition to the Federalist index, while in the preface the author indi-
“Gazette." Ritchie died in 1854. Thus for cates the chief sources which he has used.
almost exactly a half a century did he con-
tinue a clearly marked career as a journalist,
Mr. A. E. Gallatin is one of
Timid praise of
- a career in which he made himself a type,
those wealthy young amateurs
James Whistler.
who deserve well of the collect-
or one may say, the type of the ante-bellum
Southern editor. In one great respect, he ing fraternity because, in printing slender
stood above the type. Most of the editorial monographs on artistic subjects (presumably
profession used their position as a means to
at their own expense), they patronize The
the attainment of political office: Ritchie Merrymount Press and thus, whatever else
always declined political preferment. Yet his they do, they at least put into circulation
biography is properly called: “A Study in (strictly limited) exquisite specimens of typo-
Virginia Politics," for Ritchie, as Professor graphical art worthy to enrich any case or
Ambler shows, dominated the political thought cabinet. We will not go so far as to say that
of his party in Virginia, and through his their physical appearance constitutes the sole
paper and his personal activities, expressed claim of Mr. Gallatin's two brochures, “Whist-
the wider influence of Virginia upon the ler's Pastels and Other Modern Profiles” and
Democratic Party in the South. Professor “The Portraits and Caricatures of James
Ambler's work is not free from faults of exe McNeill Whistler" (John Lane), on the con-
cution. In the earlier part of the book espe noisseur's attention, or gains for them a ready
cially the effect upon the reader is rather and even warm welcome that they could not
annalistic. One has rather too much the im- | hope to receive on any other ground. For,
pression that Ritchie's editorials have been obviously, in the former, at least, the author
strung together. There is a lack of unity and has satisfactorily performed a useful if minor
sequence. But as the work develops and as task, and his purely iconographical comments
Professor Ambler makes increasing use of are in a good tone and competent. But cer-
other sources than the “Enquirer,” especially tainly it cannot be denied that, in that part
the manuscript collections in the Library of of his work which at all pretends to criticism,
Congress, the treatment of the subject becomes the substance is very slight indeed. If it is
more satisfactory. Throughout the book, un possible to conceive of such a distinction, Mr.
fortunately, the presswork is bad and mis Gallatin may be called the “master of the
prints abound; and there are mannerisms of critical cliché." His style, such as it is, is
style such as the grating repetition of “True” almost wholly compact of the commonplace
as a syncopated clause in the sentence. But characterization, the trite turn of expression,
neither faults in the organization of materials, the conventional phrase. And even for these
misprints, nor stylistic idiosyncrasies seriously he does not always stand sponsor but, with
mar the value of the book. For it gives, per excess of caution, carefully introduces them
haps, the best insight into the ramifications between marks of quotation, as if to avoid any
of Virginia politics, from the time of Ran- possible implication of rashness in the expres-
dolph, Marshall, and Roane, to the time of sion of such extreme views! Here, better than
Rives, Tyler, Upshur, R. M. T. Hunter, and any further criticism or analysis of this style
Stevenson, that is now available. More than of Mr. Gallatin's, is an admirably illustrative
this, the author follows Ritchie from his ser example of the author's magisterial yet minc-
vice in Virginia to his service in Washing- | ing manner. The subject is Whistler's Vene-
ton, where in 1845 Ritchie undertook the tian pastels. They, says Mr. Gallatin, “were
editorship of the “Union” then founded by an entirely new note in art: as in all the other
the Democratic organization to support the various media he worked in, he not only mas-
administration of James K. Polk. The re tered it, but developed its possibilities as well.
lation of this appointment to the preceding Dr. Bode speaks of the neatness of execution
election of 1844 and to the difficulties which and the beauty of coloring' of the great Ver-


1914)
81
THE DIAL
A book of
prisons
Indian lore
for western
readers.
meer, and how aptly these words (remarkable that has developed under Hindu influence.
words!] could be employed in describing At the same time the effort to attain an alien
Whistler's pastels of Venice! ... His sub-point of view is always useful; and from this
jects were always unhackneyed and treated work one may gather not a little knowledge
in an entirely personal way. These pastels, of India's culture and religion. Perhaps the
with their amazing technique, - the lines are most striking feature of the volume is to be
broken, as in the Venetian etchings,-possess found in the illustrations by Indian artists
that 'impress of a personal quality,' as Walter working under the supervision of Abanindro
Pater said of Luca della Robbia, 'a profound Nath Tagore, C.I.E. All of them are sig-
expressiveness, what the French call intimité, nificant; a few of them, remarkable. To the
by which is meant some subtler sense of orig- | reviewer the pictures of “Buddha as a Men-
inality — the seal on a man's work of what dicant” and “The Final Release" were par-
is most inward and peculiar in his moods and ticularly attractive, although a critic more
manner of apprehension. The studies in black thoroughly versed in Indian art might prefer
chalk which Whistler made of Venetian pal some of the more recondite subjects. The
aces, ... contain as well as the pastels the material volume is pleasing throughout.
'impress of a personal quality.'” By which
we may infer, in the manner of a well-known
Prisons and prison customs of
humorist of the moment, that Mr. Gallatin
the past, criminals and their
and prisoners.
regards Whistler's work as both original and
ways, the desperate game that
exhibiting personality, only he does n't quite ities of law and order, the triumphs of de-
the felon plays against the constituted author-
like to say so right out! And yet let us com-
pliment the honesty of the writer whose con-
tective skill, the horrors of the_Spanish
science still requires him to refer back to
Inquisition, the butcheries of the Reign of
Pater, (chapter, page, and paragraph almost),
Terror, the history of Botany Bay, the rela-
tion between crime and superstition
notions that have so long since become the
common property of touch-and-go æstheticians,
and kindred themes are treated with an abun-
dance of illustrative anecdote by Mr. Tighe
A few months ago we spoke Hopkins in "The Romance of Fraud” (Dut-
briefly of the writings of Miss ton). In the sixteen chapters of the book
Margaret E. Noble, a gifted none is more readable than that describing
Irishwoman, who became a convert of the some of the time-killing devices of the incar-
Swami Vivekananda and devoted the last cerated; and among these interesting mention
years of her life to the task of winning occi is made of some more or less notable works of
dental readers to a sympathetic appreciation literature produced in prison. The Abbé
of Hinduism. As a part of her work she had Lenglet Dufresnoy, who had made seven or
planned a volume that should give in con eight involuntary visits to various State pris-
densed form much of the Ramayana and ons, declared them the best places in the
Mahabarata and should also contain brief ac-
world to work in.” Whenever he was arrested
counts of Krishna, Shiva, and Buddha. At he gave the summoning officer a cordial recep-
the time of her death only about a third of tion, asking only for time to pack his linen,
the book had been written, and its completion books, and manuscripts, after which he would
was entrusted to Ananda K. Coomaraswamy.
send a note to his publisher: “You will have
The outcome of their labors is now presented
the book I am engaged on in a very short time
in “Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists”
now, for, under His Majesty's good pleasure,
(Holt), a generous volume of four hundred
I am just being conducted to my study.
Mr. Hopkins devotes a chapter to the escape of
pages, in which are retold “almost all the
Colonel Rose and his companions from Libby
tales commonly illustrated in Indian sculpture
and painting.” Of course the book is writ- Prison, a tale more fully told by American
ten for the general reader and not for the
chroniclers, but not out of place as an in-
special student; but if it is judged on the
stance of justifiable fraud on the prisoners'
basis of its own modest aims it may be said to part.
fulfil its purpose laudably. Naturally, one
A few years ago the Dutch East
must differ very often from the frankly
Indies were considered well off
advocatory estimate of the authors. For in-
adjacent islands.
the beaten track of the globe-
stance, we cannot quite acquiesce in the state trotter, and it was thought something of an
ment that the Ramayana is “surely the best adventure to run down from Singapore and
tale of chivalry and truth and love of crea spend a few weeks in the land of the sarong
tures that was ever written”; nor is it easy and the kris. But then the Dutch colonial
to enjoy and praise many features that would government awoke to the possibilities of tour-
seem perfectly natural and beautiful to a mind ist travel, information offices were opened,
The attractions
of Java and its


82
(August 1
THE DIAL
attractive pamphlets in English were circu- marshes, an ascent of Mount Hood and the
lated, until to-day Americans swinging around swarm of butterflies discovered at play about
the world generally plan to spend at least a its summit, the cony and its rocky haunts,
fortnight in Java although they may pass by the mother instinct in birds and animals, and,
the equally attractive Philippines without a finally, a closing word on the splendid mate-
thought. Mr. Arthur S. Walcott has written rial resources of vigorous young Oregon
an account of his fifteen weeks of travel in such, in brief, are the contents of this suffi-
“Java and Her Neighbours" (Putnam). The ciently varied and at the same time not
book is designed primarily for the use of "the ununified collection of studies and sketches
ever-increasing army of travellers" and they picturing some of the things seen and heard
may read for themselves how easy it is to and enjoyed in a summer's outing on or near
travel in Java, how attractive are the hotels, the rolling Oregon.
the rolling Oregon. But our hasty summary
how comfortable the railways, and how smooth has omitted the most thrilling chapter of the
the roads. And then when they would explore book, a description of the marvellous rescue
the ports of the "Outer Possessions” they of a vast herd of cattle that had stampeded
may have recourse to the trim little ships in the night on the brink of a precipice, and
of the Koninklijke Paketvaart Maatschappij, that only the superhuman intelligence of
which, being interpreted, is the Royal Mail Peroxide Jim, a horse of wonderful speed and
Company. Mr. Walcott visited practically all pluck and initiative, saved from self-destruc-
the show places of Java, including the botan tion. "The Spirit of the Herd” is the name
ical gardens, the native principalities, the of the story
a true one, we doubt not — and
Buddhist ruins, and the accessible craters. He it reveals a considerable knowledge of cowboy
cruised through the eastern islands, touching life on the writer's part. At the other end of
at Bali, Celebes, Borneo, Ternate, Batjan, his scale of accomplishments, he gives us, in-
Amboyna, Banda, and others. And he finally cidentally, an original translation from the
visited the ports of West Sumatra and the Hebrew of a passage in Isaiah. Good illus-
beautiful Padang Highlands. But at no placetrations from photographs abound.
did he attempt the unusual, or anything that
the ordinary pleasure-seeking traveller might
not easily do. “I know of no regions of more
BRIEFER MENTION.
lovely and more varied scenery,
“and of no lands where so much that is The “Comprehensive Standard Dictionary”
strange and unusual may be seen at so little (Funk & Wagnalls) is an abridgment of the “ New
risk and with so little discomfort. His book Standard Dictionary” which contains slightly less
is the most helpful account of present travel-
than 50,000 words. It should prove an easily han-
dled reference book for use in schools and offices
conditions in Java and the adjacent islands
where a more complete work is not necessary.
that is available in English, and the illustra-
The fourth volume of “ The Drama League
tions are exceptionally good.
Series of Plays” (Doubleday) is a reprint of Herr
Hauptmann's “ The Sunken Bell” in the English
A love of literature and a love
A naturalist
translation made by Mr. Charles Henry Meltzer
in the wild of nature have combined to
some fifteen years ago. The critical analysis which
Northwest.
make Professor Dallas Lore
is printed as an appendix is by Mr. Frank Chou-
Sharp one of the comparatively few natural teau Brown.
ists who can write natural-history books that Of the seven new volumes of the “Loeb Classical
are also works of literature of a high order. Library” (Macmillan) which have recently come
His latest volume, “Where Rolls the Oregon” to hand, four belong to the Latin section. These
(Houghton), contains eleven narrative chap-
include works of Horace, Suetonius, Tacitus, and
Cicero. Professor C. E. Bennett of Cornell Uni-
ters (not all new to his readers, but all well
worthy of preservation in book form) of per-
versity is the translator of the Odes of Horace;
Dr. William Peterson of McGill University has
sonal experience amid the wild life and the
translated the “Dialogus," the “Agricola," and the
snow-capped mountains of our great North “ Germania” of Tacitus; Mr. Walter Miller bas
west. Younger readers may perhaps search translated Cicero's “ De Officiis "; and Professor
the map in vain for the mighty stream that J. C. Rolfe of the University of Pennsylvania has
gives its name to the book, but that has for a
translated Suetonius's “Lives of the Cæsars."
good many years been known as the Columbia Only the first volume of this last book is published
to date. Of the three volumes in the Greek sec-
River. The change from the name immor-
tion, two are devoted to a translation of “ Dio's
talized in poetry is to be regretted. Sea-birds
Roman History" by Dr. Earnest Cary, which is
and sea-lions, the raven of the Deschutes
to be complete in nine volumes, and one to St.
Cañon, a motor-car journey through the
John Damascene's “Barlaam and Ioasaph," with
sage brush, the fugitive life of the desert,
an English translation by the Rev. Mr. G. R.
the nearly-exterminated white heron of the Woodward and Mr. H. Mattingly.
;" he tells us,


1914)
83
THE DIAL
NOTES.
.
A new volume of Mr. Eden Phillpotts's Dartmoor
stories is to be called “ The Judge's Chair.”
It is proposed to issue “ Georgian Drawings,"
a collection of fifty reproductions of works by
young English artists, through Messrs. Constable.
The collected edition of Samuel Butler's works
will be completed with "A Year in Canterbury
Settlement and Other Papers,” which will be pub-
lished in the autumn.
Mr. Clive Bell's defense of post-impressionism,
“Art,” which excited much interest in England
early in the summer, will be published in this
country by Messrs. Stokes within a month.
The “Studies of Living Writers” series, an-
nounced in England by Messrs. Kegan Paul, is
contain a biography of Mr. H. G. Wells by Mr.
R. W. Talbot Cox, one of Mr. Arnold Bennett by
Professor J. R. Skemp, and one of M. Anatole
France by Mr. Geoffrey Cookson.
Five new volumes will be added to the Home
University Library” shortly. Mr. J. M. Robertson
has written the volume on “ Elizabethan Litera-
ture”; Miss Edith Sichel the one on The Renais-
sance"; Canon Charles the one on “Religious
Development Between the Old and New Testa-
ments”; Professor Sheperd the one on Central
and South America”; and Mr. Arnold Lunn the
The Alps."
M. Pierre Champion has been awarded the Prix
Gobert of 9000 francs by the French Academy for
his biography of François Villon. Like M. Ana-
tole France, M. Champion is the son of a learned
publisher and bookseller, whose shop on the Quai
Malaquais is often the meeting-place of famous
scholars. M. Champion's book on Villon was sug-
gested by the late Marcel Schwob, whose notes
were placed at M. Champion's disposal.
Mr. Elbridge Colby, of Columbia University, is
writing a critical biography of Thomas Holcroft,
member of the Corresponding Society with God-
win and Paine. Holcroft was novelist, journalist,
poet, critic, translator, dramatist, and editor by
turns. He stole "Le Mariage de Figaro " for the
English stage by committing it to memory while
attending ten performances and producing an
English version under the title of “The Follies of
the Day.”
one on
Clergy, The Unequivocating. Archibald Weir
Hibbert
College and its Faculty, The Small
Pop. Sc.
Committee System, The English, and the Cabinet.
E. R. Turner
Am. Hist. Rev.
Cup, The Struggle for the. E. Levick
World's Work
Dante's Influence on English Poets. W. A. Webb So. Atl.
Death, Significance of. C. J. Keyser
Hibbert
Devil-baby, A Modern. Jane Addams Am. Jour. Soc.
Dublin School for Industrial Efficiency. B. 0.
Flower
Rev. of Rev.
Editor, Troubles of an. G: A. Birmingham
McClure
Escape, The Story of My. Marie Sukloff
Century
Ethnic Factors in International Relations. Maurice
Parmelee
Pop. Sc.
Eugenics and so-called Eugenics. R. H.
Johnson
Am. Jour. Soc.
Food Supplies, 'Available.' z. F. Lyman
Pop. Sc.
Genius, Geographical Distribution of American.
Scott Nearing
Pop. Sc.
Germany: Land of the Sleepless Watchdog
Unpopular
Ghent, The Treaty of. F. T. Hill
Atlantic
Golf Championships, Shots That Won. J. D.
Travers
American
Greater Greece, Prospects of. T. L. Stoddard
Rev. of Rev.
Gunnery, How Our Navy Took First Rank in. H. W.
Lanier
Rev. of Rer.
Hawaii, Race Mingling in. E. J. Reece
Am. Jour. Soc.
Hereafter, The. J. Agar Beet
Hibbert
Heredity and Development, The Cellular Basis of.
E. G. Conklin
Pop. Sc.
Herne, James A. Hamlin Garland
Century
Hire Men by Machinery, To. Arno Dosch
World's Work
Hypnotism, Telepathy, and Dreams
Unpopular
Hypocrisy, Victorian. Annie Winsor Allen
Atlantic
Income Tax Discrimination. R. G. Blakey
So. Atl.
Individuality, Regulation and
Unpopular
Industrial Education, Spread of. Roy Mason Rev. of Rev.
Institutionalism and Mysticism. W. R. Inge
Hibbert
Irish Plays, Some. Elbridge Colby
So. Atl.
Kipling's Conception of India
Lippincott
Labor Fuss in Butte, The. C. P. Connolly Everybody's
Labor: “ True Demand " and Immigrant Supply Unpopular
Legal Materials and Modern English History. A. L.
Cross
Am. Hist. Rev.
Lincoln's Interview with Baldwin: w. L. Hall
So. Atl,
Literary Fund, North Carolina. W. K. Boyd
So. Atl.
London Theatre, The First. T. S. Graves
So. Atl.
Motherhood and the State. A. J. Nock
Atlantic
Mountains, Removing Blinding Curse of. Constance
Leupp
World's Work
Mysticism and Logic. Bertrand Russell
Hibbert
Nitrate Deposits, Origin of. W. H. Ross
Pop. Sc.
Ocean Ports, Mid-Continental. J. H. Barnes Rev. of Rev.
Opera Singer and the Public, The. Mary Garden - American
Pageant and Masque of St. Louis. George P.
Baker
Wo d's Work
Pageant and Masque of si. Louis. Arthur
Farwell
Rev. of Rev.
Pictures, Pleasure in. Rossiter Howard
Pop. Sc.
Poetry, American J. L. McMaster
So. Atl.
Post-Modernism. J. M. Thompson
Hibbert
Presidential Vote of 1912. E. E. Robinson Am. Jour. Soc.
Property, Disfranchisement of
Unpopular
Protestantism, German, of To-day. A. D. M'Laren Hibbert
Pure Food Law, Farce of the._B. J. Hendrick McClure
Railroads, Man Who Dreams. E. Hungerford Metropolitan
Railways, Three Ways with. Garet Garrett
Everybody's
Railway Junctions
Unpopular
Representatives, English, Concentration of. A. B.
White
Am. Hist. Rev.
Religion, Survival of Savage Elements in.' i. T.
Farnell
Hibbert
Rich, Middling, Minor Uses of the
Unpopular
Rodin's Note Book. Judith Cladel
Century
Roughing it on the Rat. Emerson Hough Everybody's
Rural Land Segregation. Clarence Poe
So. Atl.
Sacraments and Unity. Canon Adderley
Hibbert
School, Half-Time. Walter A. Dyer
World's Work
Schweitzer as Missionary. W. Montgomery
Hibbert
Sex in the Evolution of Mind. S. J. Holmes
Pop. Sc.
Slavs in America, The. E. A. Ross
Century
Social Organization. R. H. Lowie
Am. Jour. Soc.
Social Standard, Evolution of a. A. W.
Small
Am. Jour. Soc.
Socialist Movement in Belgium. É.
Vandervelde
Metropolitan
Syndicalism, An Experiment in
Unpopular
Taxation, Dynamic Ideals of. James Cunnison Hibbert
Tennis Drive, The Back-hand. P. A. Vaile Metropolitan
Tolstoy, Reminiscences of. Ilyá Tolstoy
Century
Training City-Bred Girls
Rev. of Rev.
Unsocial Investments
Unpopular
Vacation, The Efficient. Janet Rankin World's Work
Ward's Pure Sociology. J. M. Gillette
Am. Jour. Soc.
Wilkinson, General. I. J. Cox
Am. Hist. Rev.
Wilson and Little Business. Walter Lippmann Metropolitan
Wireless under Water. B. J. Hendrick
World's Work
Woman and Modern Education
Unpopular
Wood, William M. Edward M. Woolley
McClure
TOPICS IN LEADING PERIODICALS.
August, 1914.
Academic Leadership
Unpopular
Advertising, New Morals of. H. S. Houston World's Work
Agriculture in the Time of Virgil. G. W. Read
Pop. Sc.
Albany's New Water Front
Rev. of Rev.
Alcoholism, Europe's Reaction against
Rev. of Rev.
Aluminum Age, American Creator of. J. M.
Oskison
World's Work
America, Seeing. R. S. Baker
American
Anthropology, The Higher. Francis H. Johnson Hibbert
Asia Awake and Arising. Sherwood Eddy World's Work
Balkan Storm Centers. Dr. I. Yovitchévitch Rev. of Rev.
Books We Re-Read. W. B. Blake .
Century
Brazilian Wilderness, A Hunter-Naturalist in the.
Theodore Roosevelt
Scribner
Butte. John Reed
Metropolitan
Charity Franchise, The. R. W. Kelso
Am. Jour. Soc.
Chartres, An Hour in. R. S. Bourne
Atlantic
Chautauqua, Lecturing at
Unpopular


84
[ August 1
THE DIAL
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THE DIAL
Semi-fflonthly Journal of Literary Criticism, Discussion, and Information.
PAGE
.
THE DI (founded in 1880) is published on the 1st and
16th of each month. TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION, $8. a year in
LORDS OF MISRULE.
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Foreign and Canadian postage 50 cents per year extra. RE We have been reading lately a book on the
KITTANCES should be by check, or by express or postal order,
payablo to THE DIAL. Unless otherwise ordered, subscrip-
new German literature by Percival Pollard,
tions will begin with the current number. When no direct a meteor of American criticism, who dazzled
request to discontinue at expiration of subscription is re-
ceived, it is assumed that a continuance of the subscription is
and died a few years ago. It has something
desired. ADVERTISING RATES furnished on application. of the mingled vitriol and honey, irony and
Published by THE HENRY O. SHEPARD COMPANY,
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Entered as Second-Class Matter October 8, 1892, at the Post three-quarters of a century. Like much re-
Office at Chicago, Illinois, under Act of March 8, 1879.
cent criticism of note Pollard's work is im-
pressionistic and it deals with the near and
Vol. LVII.
AUGUST 16, 1914.
No. 676,
the new
“What is that plant?" an artist
was asked, of some nondescript growth in his
CONTENTS.
picture. “That is the foreground plant,” he
replied. “I use a great deal of it.” So does
LORDS OF MISRULE. Charles Leonard Moore 91 the new school of critics. Values and dis-
CASUAL COMMENT
93 tance and aerial perspective may go hang for
Law and literature.—Why we have no high
all they care. They fight shoulder to shoulder
comedy.--Frenchwomen who write for a live-
with the artists and writers who are forcing
lihood.-Primitive college customs.—The sac-
rifice of a neat bit of imagery.-A library
their way to the front, and perhaps their
to suit the temper of the times.—Boy nature narrowness is a necessity. A phalanx has to
two thousand years ago.—The cowardice of be narrow to make any impression on the
their convictions.
opposing ranks.
COMMUNICATIONS
96
Besides the lack of a sense of proportion
Grocer-shop Criticism and Real Criticism.
which Pollard shares with most impression-
J. E. Spingarn.
istic critics, he has obliquities of outlook of
The Carnegie Foundation and Denominational
his own. It is well enough for a critic to have
Colleges. T. H. Johnson.
certain objects or persons of dislike. It makes
THE IRONY OF THE ENTENTE CORDIALE.
Percy F. Bicknell
But the unprejudiced
100
for lively writing.
AN AMERICAN ENCYCLOPÆDIA OF HOR-
reader has a right to allow for such imperfect
TICULTURE. John M. Coulter .
102 sympathies. Brahmins, we suppose, have
HEROIC VILLAINS. Homer E. Woodbridge 103
bowels; American millionaires are, at least,
NEW REPRINTS OF SAMUEL BUTLER.
vertebrate animals; and it is not actually a
Thomas Percival Beyer
105 penitentiary offence to indite a “best seller."
RECENT FICTION. Lucian Cary
106 These are red rags, however, which excite Pol-
Hewlett's Telling the Truth.- Scott's No. 13 lard to fury.
Washington Square.--Edginton's Oh! James !
His worst offence against the critical spirit
-Mrs. Mabie's The Lights Are Bright.-Miss
is his belief that the literature he has in view
Webster's The Sheep Track.-Merrick's When
Love Flies Out o' the Window.
is new and strange; that its excesses are more
BRIEFS ON NEW BOOKS
108 excessive, its abnormalities more abnormal
Wanderings with Milton.-A new study of
than have been known before. All literature
J. A. Symonds.—Eccentricities of a jour is a study of abnormalities, which is only to
nalistic genius.—A book of Celtic tales by
say that it is a study of human nature. The
Mr. Yeats.—Moralities and allegories.- The
absolutely sane, normal, standard human
science of happiness.- Napoleon's campaign
of 1814.-The use of color in architecture.-
being is a myth. The derelictions of one per-
An optimistic architect.—The origin of He son are to the right hand, the derelictions of
brew traditions.
another to the left. The enthusiasms of one
BRIEFER MENTION
113 seem insanities to another. “Everybody is
NOTES
queer but thee and me," said the Quaker to
NOTES
114
his wife, and I am not sure that thee is quite
.
113


92
(August 16
THE DIAL
right.”
To anyone who is versed in the Revo save the situation. They are the inspirers and
lutionary literature of a hundred years ago regenerators of man. To Nietzsche, follow-
the work of Bierbaum, Wedekind, and Schnitz- ing Schopenhauer, they were little better than
ler, and their English and French contempo- animals. “When you go among women, do
raries, will seem but a minor eruption of the not forget the whip,” he said. In most mod-
earthquake spirit.
ern German poets and playwrights, and in
There has been, or is, however, a period of a good many recent English novelists, there
expansion, of explosion. The sun has its is an almost total abandonment of the angel
cycle when it cools and contracts in compara- theory of womanhood. We know from Tacitus
tive peace, and then it has its cycle of sun that this fine respect for woman was a basic
spots, and so with literature. The long cool principle of Teutonic life. We know from the
ing period of the eighteenth century was old Irish poems and Welsh legends that it was
followed by the tremendous outburst which a dominant feeling in the Celtic race. It was
preceded and followed the French Revolution. the principle of Chivalry, and reinforced by
The shorter era which we denominate the the idealism of Dante and Petrarch has been
Victorian Age has been broken up by lesser implicit in all the higher literature of En-
upheavals of the same sort, marked by the gland and Germany. Even Goethe, after
appearance of such writers as Zola, De Mau Burns the most naturalistic as well as amo-
passant, Verlaine in France, D'Annunzio in rous of poets, holds a brief for the “Ever-
Italy, Shaw, Wilde, Wells in England, and womanly that leads us on.” The new writers,
the German writers we have named. It does whether in prose or verse, will have none of
not follow that the writers who best express
this. They are just as frankly appreciative
the spirit of their age, whether that be one of the physical charms of woman as the old
of contraction or expansion, are necessarily ones, but they do not look to her for light
the best. Down through the ages goes a
and leading. They are willing that woman
golden line of pure artists, who deal with the should be as immoral as man, provided she
permanent elements of human nature and gives him pleasure. As far as the making of
work with the enduring colors of art. Gray,
Gray, literature is concerned, this theory is just as
Collins, Keats, Tennyson, even Goethe, Scott, good as the other one. It is the theory of the
and Dickens in their best work, are beyond whole East, it is largely the theory of an-
or above the spirit of any age.
tiquity. Poetry is always saved by sensuous-
The Greeks had their Dionysian myth with ness; it is always damned by didacticism. In
its recurring festivals; the Romans had their the point of view of life, however, the chiy-
Saturnalia; the Middle Ages had their Lords alric theory certainly seems the better one.
of Misrule. Apparently humanity must at Women may object, as many of them are
intervals either let off steam, or go mad. En-doing to-day, to be set apart for goodness,
glish and German literature have been letting to be elected as the elevators of man. But
off steam at a great rate during the last the horrible examples of their fate in the other
twenty-five years.
direction which crowd the plays of modern
Nietzsche has been the philosopher of the Germany and the novels of modern England,
period. In most things he was the pupil of would seem to indicate that they had better
Schopenhauer, but he had a more glancing keep their place as goddesses if they possibly
and pungent way of putting ideas. Of course
there is practically nothing new in his thought. The turning away from religion and sacer-
There is enough revolutionary stuff in Emer- dotalism which Nietzsche voiced had more rea-
son to make a Nietzsche, but it was negatived son in it. The formalism of the churches had
and made innocuous by the conservatism and hardened into hypocrisy. The humiliations,
optimistic idealism in which it was wrapped the prostrations, the scourgings of the flesh
Carlyle preached the doctrine of the which they inculcated weakened man's soul
Superman though he did not use the word and body when they were practiced in reality;
which really belongs to Goethe.
and when they were a mere pretence made
Nietzsche revolted from Wagner because of his life a living lie. Better the frankest ani-
two things: the latter's trend toward relig-malism, the most ruthless trampling through
ion, even sacerdotalism, and his attitude the world, than this loss of initiative, this
toward woman. Women in Wagner always cloaked appearance. Of course the Super-
can.
up.


1914]
93
THE DIAL
man is no new apparition in either life or We rather smiled in the beginning of this
literature. Napoleon only brings up the rear article at Pollard's pet prejudices; but in-
of a long line of conscienceless conquerors, deed we consider that his polemic against the
and the Don Juans, Karl Moors, Manfreds, spinelessness, the timidity, the insipidity of
and Marmions are scattered over literature. American literature, is the best part of his
But when there is a democratic outbreak into book. Mediocrity is written large over most
this field of human effort, when it becomes of our contemporary work. We drive our
universal to be without religion or restraint, artists in color and line abroad, and they,
the thing is simply impossible. The Super- breathing the free intellectual air of Europe,
man of the suburbs, the Demogorgon of the develop until they loom large in the eyes of
department shop are ridiculous figures. And the world. But we condemn our stay-at-home
man is a thing of form and fear. His life is men of letters to live in an atmosphere of
short; the night is near; and if his need to dull provinciality which asphyxiates them. It
worship something did not constrain him, his is not that we do not know what is being
dread of the future would force him on his thought in the larger world. We do not stop
knees. Accordingly right on the heels of European ideas at our custom-houses, but we
Nietzsche, the herald of chaos, comes Eucken, impose an internal tax on American thinkers
with his vitalistic mysticism and his preach- and artists which crushes them into silence.
ing of redemption, and Bergson with his at The most advanced or outré European works
tempt to rear again the banners of Metaphysic are accepted with complacency by our readers
which Science had banished to the rear. Berg or playgoers, but any approach to sensuous-
son's system is a strong effort for synthesis ness by a native poet, any discussion of under-
after destructive analysis had done its worst; lying problems of life by a home thinker, any
it is a struggle to know in the region where questionings as to the providential arrange-
Science had said there was nothing knowable. ment which imposes the Morgans and Rocke-
But at bottom it is as material as the Science fellers on us by a compatriot economist, are
which it tries to displace or supplement. If frowned down upon, and in fact cannot get
there is nothing but Becoming; if the stream themselves printed. Like the Queen of Spain
of existence, “which runs, and as it runs, the American woman has no legs, and our
forever must run on,” is all; if there is no lords of finance control too many publications
Being to act and be acted upon by this flux and churches and professional parasites to
of things; if human life be only a series of have their doings questioned. Meanwhile vul-
unconnected moments; then immortality is a garity and triviality and utter literary rot
dream, and morality a matter of little moment. are rampant. The people who purvey this
Woman's rights, Socialism, the uplift of stuff get rich and the State rewards with
the masses, questions of education, all those Ambassadorships and high office the dealers
matters furnish material for contemporary in prose and verse twaddle or provincial plati-
European literature. And they are all lega-
And they are all lega- tudes. We had better let loose Lords of Mis-
cies from the French Revolution or some re rule, like those who are working in Europe
moter day. It is as if humanity had only to-day, rather than rest in this mediocrity.
marked time in the interval, and had now
CHARLES LEONARD MOORE.
suddenly started to keep step to the music
of the past.
The woman propaganda has
hardly yet caught up to the programme set
CASUAL COMMENT.
forth by Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin. Tom
LAW AND LITERATURE have their mutual
Paine, Godwin, Shelley, are still in advance
affinities as well as their mutual antagonisms.
of our most recent radicals. The community Though as a rule our practising lawyers enter-
idea of property ownership has been promul- tain a more or less unconscious contempt for
gated again and again. The discussion of mere literature," there are noteworthy ex-
all these things keeps the world from stagnat-ceptions - jurists who brave the derision of
ing, perhaps keeps oppression from becoming their professional brethren by cultivating the
too bitter. Most of them will sooner or later
muse in their spare hours. An eminent New
York lawyer (his name will be found below),
be put into practice. But we doubt if any
who has committed the indiscretion of writ-
millennium will result, or any appreciable ing some excellent magazine articles, now has
change in human conditions.
to submit to the jocosely ironical greeting from


94
(August 16
THE DIAL
a brother lawyer of distinction, “Well, how tion a social tradition that has been handed
is the poet to-day?" And another, who down for centuries. It has frequently been
once delivered an address on the author of said that it takes three generations to make a
'Brahma," is referred to, with similar tire- gentleman; but it takes more than three to
some persistence, as "the Emersonian law- develop a comedy of manners. Manners do
yer."
Literature's debt to men of legal not become a theme for satire until they have
training is too considerable for more than the been crystallized into a code; and, to laugh
briefest passing mention here. Walter Scott's politely, a playwright must have an aristoc-
name alone is enough to prove that the study racy to laugh at. The spirit of our people is
of Blackstone need not dry up the springs of inexorably opposed to the very idea of an
poetry and romance. Indeed, Blackstone him- aristocracy of birth; we cannot have an aris-
self is not without felicities of style. Lincoln, tocracy of wealth, since the phrase itself pre-
a lawyer of distinction long before he wrote sents an irresoluble contradiction in terms;
his Gettysburg address, is now recognized as a and we have hardly yet had time to develop
master of pure and vigorous and at the same an aristocracy of culture. To all intents and
time graceful English. Choate and Webster
purposes, the United States is still a country
are still read with enjoyment. One of the without an upper class, and the chaos of our
notable books of the present season, a book social system precludes the possibility of
that no intelligent reader can fail to find in social satire in our native drama. As Walter
teresting, is from the pen of a lawyer,— Mr. Prichard Eaton has pithily remarked, most of
Theron G. Strong's Landmarks of a Law-
our American comedies must be classed as
yer's Lifetime." Another New York lawyer,
Another New York lawyer, comedies of bad manners. We laugh uproari-
Mr. Joseph S. Auerbach, has just given us, in ously at impoliteness on our stage, because we
two scholarly volumes, a collection of his
have not yet learned to laugh delicately at
“Essays and Miscellanies,” wherein, both by politeness. We are amused at the eccentrici-
example and precept, he renders noble service ties of bad behavior, because we have not yet
to the cause of careful and correct English. | learned to be amused at the eccentricities of
He is a college graduate of the old school, the good behavior. High comedy is the last of all
school that knew not vocational training and
dramatic types to be established in the art of
bread-and-butter studies, the school that took
any nation, and until we have had time to
its teachings in sentence-construction and the develop a native comedy of manners we must
logical presentation of thought from the Greek
content ourselves with an appreciation of the
and Latin classics. From this apostle of cul social satires of our somewhat older cousins
ture let us quote, in closing, a few words on
In this particular domain of art
style: “Great thoughts and great emotions
America is still a province of Great Britain.
find their true interpretation, and are made
Not an immediately hopeful outlook for high
manifest in the infinite variety of the style of comedy in America; but as all things are pos-
illustrious, creative minds, as the several
sible to genius, it may be that some brilliant
strings of a musical instrument are waked to
native playwright will arise to refute the logic
harmony by the touch of the master. Style is
of Mr. Clayton Hamilton.
not something separate and apart from the
printed word, any more than in the concep FRENCHWOMEN WHO WRITE FOR A LIVELI-
tion of the devout worshipper, is God Himself HOOD do not yet equal in number their pro-
a being outside of and aloof from the throb- fessional sisters in England or in this country,
bing life of His universe; style is not mere but they are increasing, and their work com-
ornamentation and adornment of the uttered monly has a style and finish not so often
thought, but its very soul. And it finds elo attained by the English or the American
quent and persuasive voice, only when, as woman writer. In journalism, as the London
though within a great temple, men consecrate “Times” Paris correspondent remarks, the
themselves to the spirit of culture."
women are making their influence felt more
and more in France; and one significant evi-
WHY WE HAVE NO HIGH COMEDY,
like Sheri dence that they take themselves seriously, and
dan's “The Rivals” and “The School for are taken seriously by others, in this work, is
Scandal," and Goldsmith's “She Stoops to the fact that no woman writer for the French
Conquer,” and many more of that old order press is ever called a journaliste - a term
which every veteran play-goer cherishes in that would be deemed little short of defama-
fond remembrance, is explained by Mr. Clay-tory to her - but she enjoys the distinction
ton Hamilton in a preface to Sir Henry of being known as a femme de lettres or a
Arthur Jones's “Mary Goes First,” lately collaboratrice. The subjects that a woman
published in the Drama League series. He writer can handle better than a man are
says: “High comedy requires for its inspira- | numerous, and she no longer shows herself
overseas.


1914)
95
THE DIAL
nine,"
:
bashful about treating of those that prop-ments, thus: “Sally: You will excuse the
erly fall within man's domain. Some of the precipitancy with which I proceed in my en-
prominent women journalists, or “women of deavors to accomplish my connection with you.
letters, mentioned by the “Times” writer I expected last evening to have set off for
are Madame Brisson, editor (or, if the less Hanover this morning, and I could not endure
emancipated preferit, editress) of “Les the least uncertainty till I returned, therefore
Annales," known for her work in aid of girls' | I discovered my wishes respecting you to your
education, Madame de Broutelles, at the head Sire and Marm last evening, and they have
of “La Vie Heureuse” and “La Mode Pra- generously given me leave to marry with you.
tique,” famous for her successful efforts to I hope I shall never meet with your disap-
secure the dowering of a certain number of probation. Transported with Joy and Expec-
poor girls every year, and Mademoiselle Val tation I am Your sincere Lover, Nathan
entine Thomson, who conducts “La Vie Fémi Smith.” It is reasonable to infer that the
a journal that bids fair to accomplish charming Sally had already shown herself
notable results in the field of women's work, favorable to the ardent Nathan's suit.
especially in those departments having to do
with hygiene and philanthropy. Other women THE SACRIFICE OF A NEAT BIT OF IMAGERY is
journalists of Paris might be named who, as
one of the unavoidable consequences (ruth-
leader-writers, stand on an equal footing with lessly disregarded by those responsible) of
men and receive the same material recognition the digging of the Cape Cod Canal, which was
of their ability. It may indeed be not faropened with appropriate ceremonies July 29.
from the truth that, as one of these writing That gaping stretch of water, which now
Frenchwomen expresses it, “en France la
makes Cape Cod an island, does irreparable
femme est presque omnipotente." The Cail- | damage to the third paragraph of Thoreau's
laux-Calmette incident certainly reveals mo-
book named from the sandy peninsula tra-
mentous possibilities, not to say actualities, as
versed by him three times and then made the
to the Frenchwoman's influence in affairs of subject of a memorable work from his pen.
some importance.
The paragraph reads thus: “Cape Cod is the
bared and bended arm of Massachusetts: the
PRIMITIVE COLLEGE CUSTOMS, as occasionally
shoulder is at Buzzard's Bay; the elbow, or
referred to in time-stained letters or early crazy-bone, at Cape Mallebarre; the wrist at
memoirs, not seldom show an uncouthness
Truro; and the sandy fist at Provincetown,-
and rudeness that encourage one to believe
behind which the State stands on her guard,
that the academic world really does move in
with her back to the Green Mountains, and
the direction of better things. The recent her feet planted on the floor of the ocean,
publication of some century-old letters of
like an athlete protecting her Bay,— boxing
Dr. Nathan Smith, founder of the medical
with northeast storms, and, ever and anon,
schools at Dartmouth, Yale, Bowdoin, and the
heaving up her Atlantic adversary from the
University of Vermont, reveals some curious lap of earth, — ready to thrust forward her
fashions in student pranks a hundred years other fist, which keeps guard the while upon
ago. Writing in 1814 from New Haven, where
her breast at Cape Ann.” What might will
he had two sons at college, to his wife at Han-
there henceforth be in that “bared and
over, he says: “We have lately had some diffi-
bended arm” now that it is severed at the
culty in the School between the cooks and the
shoulder, and what protection can that “sandy
scholars. A cook abused one of the scholars
fist” afford to the bay it has so long guarded,
in the kitchen and the scholars put the cook
now that the enemy is free to steal in behind
under the pump and pumped him, as it is
that fist in the outrageous fashion made both
called. I think, however, it will be settled possible and easy by those who have so cruelly
without much difficulty. Solon was one who
amputated the arm? However, there may be
helped to pump the cook, but so many assisted
a grain of comfort, of a utilitarian 'sort, in the
in the thing that the blame will be light on
reflection that what is poetry's loss is com-
the individuals." Then, as now, there was
merce's gain; and we still have, and are likely
safety in numbers where breaches of discipline to retain, the consolation of the unimpaired
were concerned. While quoting from this pugilistic capabilities of that “other fist” at
curiously interesting collection of letters, one
Cape Ann.
is tempted to give a sample of the love-letters
of that time by reproducing Nathan Smith's A LIBRARY TO SUIT THE TEMPER OF THE
written proposal of marriage to the daughter TIMES, composed of more than fifteen thou-
of General Jonathan Chase, of Cornish, N. H. sand volumes bound in the finest manner, and
The letter is dated at Cornish, January 22, lately catalogued in a handsome privately
1794, and runs, without preliminary endear- | printed octavo of one thousand and twenty-


96
(August 16
THE DIAL
..
two pages, with frontispiece showing a part again. That is what will happen if you won't
of the splendid collection, is the possession of take me. Mother said to Archelaus : 'It quite
Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel John P. Nichol- | upsets him to be left behind.' It was good of
son, U. S. V., of Philadelphia. Colonel Nich- you to send me presents on the 12th, the day
olson is Recorder-in-chief of the Military you sailed. Send me a lyre, I implore you.
Order of the Loyal Legion of the United | If you don't, I won't eat, I won't drink;
States, and the military library he has col- there now!”' To this lad the old adage evi-
lected is in many respects worthy of the dently took a slightly modified form,—“Vita
much-misused adjective unique. Nearly every sine musica mors est,” though we are left in
important work is considerably extended by darkness as to the issue of the threatened
the insertion of autograph letters, rare plates, hunger strike. How the fond father must
maps, and other illustrative material. The have chuckled at his young hopeful's tremen-
handwriting of Grant, Sherman, Sheridan, dous earnestness of purpose and vigor of
Meade, Thomas, McClellan, Pope, McDowell, utterance !
Lee, Jackson, and others of note in connection
with our Civil War, is to be seen in many an THE COWARDICE OF THEIR CONVICTIONS was
inserted letter or other document. Here, too, signally displayed by those in session at the
is preserved the original manuscript of one recent annual convention of the National Edu-
of the volumes of the Comte de Paris's his cation Association when, after manifesting a
tory of this conflict; and Jefferson Davis's friendly attitude toward the self-appointed
inaugural address and his messages to Con- simplifiers of our spelling, they refused to
gress are here to be found, under a Richmond sanction the use of the simplified forms in the
imprint, as also General Buell's notes on official publication of their own proceedings.
Shiloh, in his own handwriting. Grant's An ideally simple and regular system of spell-
memoirs are enriched with his letter to Pem- | ing, like an ideally logical and grammatical
berton, written at Vicksburg, March 2, 1863, scheme of language, will be forthcoming in
and also with eighty-two plates, eight maps, an ideally systematized and standardized
and many clippings. Sheridan's memoirs, in (that is, an intolerably faultless) world,
a presentation copy, are extended to four vol- which, fortunately for us, we shall not live
umes by the insertion of much valuable mat to see. Meanwhile the denaturizing of our
ter, and Sherman's to eight volumes by a orthography is discussed and urged, recom-
similar treatment. To those interested in the mended to others and, with prudent forbear-
literature of warfare, and especially of our ance, avoided in practice by most of those who
own struggle to preserve the Union, this col- theoretically favor it. One is reminded of the
lection is priceless; and it is no wonder there
old fable of belling the cat. -a laudable enter-
is a feeling in Philadelphia that it should not, prise in the abstract, but presenting in the
like the famous Lambert library recently dis- concrete certain insuperable difficulties.
persed, be suffered to pass eventually under
the auctioneer's hammer, but should be ac-
quired by the city and preserved in a suitable
building.
COMMUNICATIONS.
GROCER-SHOP CRITICISM AND REAL
BOY NATURE TWO THOUSAND YEARS AGO was
CRITICISM.
much like boy nature to-day. Boys are the
(To the Editor of THE DIAL.)
stiffest of conservatives, and there is little if
I have followed with some interest the discussion
any change, from century to century, in the
of “ Literary Criticism in American Periodicals”
typical boy's unwritten code. As an illus-
begun by Professor Bliss Perry in the “ Yale Re-
tration of the eternal boyish there has come
view and continued in a leading article on
down to us a Greek letter written on papyrus “Grocer-shop Criticism” in a recent issue of THE
and dating back, it is conjectured, to the sec DIAL. Professor Perry brings a heavy indictment
ond or third century of our era. It was un against periodical criticism in America; but after
earthed on the site of Oxyrynchus, is now in reading his censure and your comment, I find it
the safe keeping of the Bodleian Library, and easier than before to explain why criticism has
its contents, as already made public in trans-
with us risen to no higher levels. For while in a
lation, are as follows: “Theon to his father country which is, in the realm of ideas, one of the
most conservative in the world, it is neither new
Theon, greeting. It was a fine thing of you
nor surprising to find even so authoritative an
not to take me with you to the city! If you
organ of opinion as your own thrown into a panic
won't take me with you to Alexandria I won't
when brought face to face with a new idea, still it
write you a letter or speak to you or say good is surprising if not new to find The DIAL accept
bye to you; and if you go to Alexandria I from the pen of a distinguished scholar in our
won't take your hand nor ever greet you oldest university the theory that the processes of


1914]
97
THE DIAL
literary criticism are the same as those which the books. The suggestion had an impressive sound,
grocer employs in weighing his commodities. but it was no more valuable than a suggestion to
Possibly it may be absurd to argue when the include in a book on horses all the horsey things
cause is so hopeless; but surely it must have in the world, including race-track touts, horse-
occurred to you that the grocer's scales measure radish, clothes-horses, and hippopotamuses. An
weight while the literary critic is concerned with Italian scholar once attempted a task of this kind,
quality,- a thing not so easy to compute, even for and in the jumble of science, jurisprudence, eco-
grocers. Surely it must have occurred to you that nomics, and “critical ” philosophy, literary criti-
while the weights and measures of a grocer are cism is reduced to a sorry state. The criticism of
possible of minute ascertainment and universal literature is, first of all, a distinct and separate art,
acceptance, measures of criticism can never be and involves the re-living in the critic's mind of
stated with the same precision, or even if so stated, the work which he is criticizing; it involves, that is
can never be certain of universal intelligence, not to say, a re-creation of the artist's work, before it
to mention universal acceptance. Pounds and rises above the work to become an act of judgment.
bushels may be readily converted into kilograms It is only as a metaphor that this art may be said
all the world over, and may serve to weigh or to have any connection whatever with the purely
measure Irish potatoes, Spanish olives, Arabian intellectual processes of “political, social, or eco-
dates, and Chinese ginger; but I challenge THE nomic criticism." It is this confusion which viti-
DJAL to state its literary standards with such pre ates the criticism of Matthew Arnold, from whom
cision as will make them applicable alike to the Professor Perry tamely receives it; and it is un-
literary output of Ireland, Spain, Arabia, and necessary to charge you with the same confusion,
China. Surely it must have occurred to you that since you confess it yourself: “ that THE DIAL has
while the grocer should aim at an external and upheld this view for upwards of thirty years is
mechanical standard wholly outside of the things well known to our (your) readers.”
which he measures, the mechanical and external are This charge, you will understand, involves
exactly what artistic standards should seek to neither the probity nor the value of your practice.
avoid. Surely it must have occurred to you that That THE DIAL has never yielded to the shameless
while a grocer can weigh turnips just as well even puffery and dishonesty characteristic of so much
if he hates and despises them, and need never periodical writing about books is incontestable. It
have tasted one in his life, the critic, on the other has always stated its honest opinions about them.
hand, must be called to his profession by a love But honesty of opinion is not criticism any more
of books, and can never judge rightly without real than honesty of character is statesmanship. It is
sympathy. Surely it must have occurred to you true that in our political life corruption has been
but I stand appalled at the thought of all the so blatant and pervasive that our present concern
things that should have occurred to you before seems to be rather with honesty than with states-
you committed yourself to Professor Perry's manship; and it may be true that in our literary
puerile metaphor of the grocer critic.
life our first concern now is with honest opinions
The fact is (and it is so important that it must rather than with creative criticism. If this is so,
be stated clearly and frankly) that both you and our periodicals are in the same stage of develop-
he have a wholly vague and confused idea as to ment as our politics; but surely the day must come
what criticism really means. I might pass lightly when honesty, alike in reviews and politics, will
over the illustration from the grocer-shop, but one be taken for granted, and a search be made, not
of the passages which you quote with approval for honest writers or honest men, but for true
from Professor Perry's article is unmistakable. The critics and true statesmen. We shall prepare the
real difficulty, he says, is that Americans are inter way for that day when we clarify the concept of
ested in “stock-market criticism,” in baseball “criticism” and make it plain what criticism
criticism," in " political, social, and economic criti really is.
cism,” even in "musical or dramatic criticism," There is one other confusion of thought which
but not in the “criticism of books.” Now, the you share with Professor Perry, and which I
first essential to any understanding of what criti should like to use this opportunity of making
cism is, is to understand that the word when used clear. I do not intend to defend what you are
in connection with “baseball criticism” po pleased to call my “foolish vaporings,” but I think
litical criticism” has no more to do with the word it only fair that you should permit me to clarify
“ criticism” when applied to literature or other at least one point in my own doctrine which you
art, than a clothes-horse has to do with a real horse, apparently completely misapprehend. Your edi-
or a geometrical circle with a literary circle, or a torial, as I understand it, includes among other
progressive euchre party with the Progressive things a defence of critical judgment as an essen-
Party, or a firing line with a line of verse. I am tial element in the act of criticism, and you imply
afraid that the confusion is hopelessly entrenched that in my lecture on “ The New Criticism” I have
in our thought, but it is the duty of journals like thrown the idea of critical judgment to the winds,
THE DIAL and of scholars like Professor Perry to and invite the critic to enjoy without judging.
clarify such confusion and not to make it denser. Nothing could be clearer, however, than that this
I remember that a friend of mine, hearing of my is not my point of view, and that I have insisted
intention to write a History of Literary Criticism, always that a critic must judge books as well as
once suggested that I include in it a history of the enjoy them. In my lecture I distinctly pointed
critical spirit in all forms of intellectual activity, out that the failure of modern impressionistic
rather than merely a history of the criticism of criticism consists in the very fact that it disre-
or


98
(August 16
THE DIAL
gards this element of critical judgment. I said in the judgment of literature; the division of
then and I say now, that enjoyment and judgment literature into different species or genres, such as
always fall“ short of their highest powers unless lyric, comedy, tragedy, epic, pastoral, and similar
mystically mated,-judgment erecting its edicts vague abstractions; the theory of style, conceiving
into arbitrary standards and conventions, enjoy- style as something separate from the work of art
ment lost in the mazes of its sensuous indecision." itself; the conception of the drama as a mechan-
There is no conflict, then, between you and Pro ical rather than a creative art, involving a knowl-
fessor Perry on the one side and myself on the edge of the rules of the theatre rather than the
other, so far as the idea of judgment in criticism movements of the human heart; the idea of tech-
is concerned. We differ, however, in this,- that nique as distinct from the essence of art itself;
you are willing to accept what I have called “ arbi- the theory of the influence of race, time, and
trary standards and conventions” whenever they environment on the work of men of letters; and,
have come to us from the past, and I have made finally, the theory of the "evolution" of litera-
it the study of my life to find out exactly what ture. It may be that I have been mistaken in
these conventions are, and to point out in exactly conceiving some of these theories to be arbitrary
what respect they are arbitrary and outworn. standards of taste, but that is not the main ques-
Among the instruments of criticism which I be tion involved. The main problem is merely this -
lieve to have been outworn in this way are the old whether criticism should attempt to be creative in
empirical “rules” according to which classical the sense of re-creating the artist's work in its
criticism in a former age judged every work of own mind, and then, and only then, evolving its
art. A Latin poet like Horace, brought face to judgment; or whether it should unthinkingly hold
face with a new play, would have said, “ This is to the old standards and conventions that have
a bad play because it disobeys the old rule that come down to us from the past, and mechanically
not more than three speakers shall be on the stage accept a work of art only in so far as it agrees or
at any one time." A French classicist like Boileau, disagrees with these traditional standards. The
brought into contact with a new play, would have question at issue between us, then, is not whether
said, “This is a bad play because it disregards the the critic should judge literature, but how he
old rule that the theme of every play shall not should judge it; not whether he should forego all
extend beyond twenty-four hours." An English judgment, but whether he should judge rightly or
reviewer like Lord Jeffrey, brought into contact wrongly;- in a word, whether the critic's touch-
with a new poem, would have said, “This is bad stone should be external and mechanical or internal
poetry because it disregards the old rule that an and vital.
heroic couplet should come to a distinct close at Professor Perry, I think, has done me an injus-
the end of every two lines." And a Victorian tice in summing up my position by quoting a few
American like Professor Perry, brought into con- phrases of mine torn from their context; and thus
tact with a new work of art, would in similar distorted, it may seem an easy thing to controvert my
manner say,
“ This is a bad work of art because position even with the vague and graceful argu-
it disregards the rules which happened to be ments of Victorian tradition. Many a Bohemian
popular at the time when I received my academic gathering, he says (I have not his article at hand
education."
and can merely paraphrase from memory), repeals
If modern criticism has learned anything what the Ten Commandments in the fervor of midnight,
ever as the result of its self-searching during the only to find in the disillusion of the next morning
last one hundred years, it has learned this: that that the Ten Commandments "will not budge." I do
arbitrary standards and rules have never deter not intend to confuse the issue by being drawn into
mined the merit of any work of art and never can an argument that involves not only Biblical
determine its merit. So that looking about for a exegesis but the philosophy of history and the
new and more vital method by which to test beau- relativity of morals; but I must protest at having
tiful things, criticism has found it only in this the ethical standards of a primitive folk imposed
the attempt, first, to discover what the artist him not only on universal history but on the criticism
self has tried to do, and then to judge his achieve of all literature. It would be too obvious a retort
ment,- not by any standards which the artist to say that the Decalogue did budge between
himself did not choose, but only by the goal which “ Exodus” and “ Deuteronomy," and budged still
he himself set out to arrive at. We can no longer more before "Romans” was reached, where the Ten
say to an artist, whether he be poet or painter: Commandments are actually reduced to four. It
“ Your work is not good because it disregards would be still easier to point out that there is not a
standards set for you by other people.” We can single commandment out of the ten which has not
say to him, and we do say to him if we are really been disregarded from Old Testament days to our
creative critics: “You have attempted to do this own, and the disregarding of which has not been
or that, and what you yourself have tried to do justified by the moral conscience of men,-whether
you have apparently achieved, or failed in.' it be the edict against murder, disregarded for den-
Among the arbitrary standards and conventions turies in the code of the duello and to-day in the
which I believe to have dominated criticism too code of war; whether it be the edict against steal-
long, and which modern thought must eradicate ing, which has been disregarded and is still disre-
from the whole field of critical thought and activ garded by every nation on earth — in our own
ity, I indicated in my lecture on “ The New Criti time by England in the Transvaal, by Italy in
cism” some of the more popular and authoritative, Tripoli, by the Balkan States in Macedonia, and
such as the application of a purely moral standard l by the United States in Puerto Rico;- or whether


1914 )
99
THE DIAL
it be any of the other of the Ten, which have never enter most positive objection. It lumps in a single
had the same consideration by men.
class the large number of educational institutions
But this, after all, is only a side issue; the founded by religious denominations and not eligible
important fact is that any comparison between the to participation in the Carnegie Foundation, and
judgment of an act in practical life and the judg characterizes them all as flouting the very idea of
ment of a work of art must inevitably be false. a university by establishing sectarian tests for their
If there is one common concept which has ap teaching. If the writer of this indictment had
parently impressed itself on philosophic thought looked over a list of the institutions thus charged
from the days of Plato to our own, it is that with sectarian narrowness and contempt for uni-
there is a fundamental distinction between the versity ideals, he would have found therein more
useful or mechanical arts on the one hand and the than one institution entitled to high rank as uni-
liberal arts on the other. Any comparison of the versities, using the term in its strictly technical
method of criticism with the method used in the sense, as distinguished from the college, devoted to
practical conduct of life or in the mechanical undergraduate work. (It must be remembered,
operation of any of the useful arts and sciences however, that the Carnegie Foundation is open to
must in itself be fundamentally false. There is colleges as well as to universities.)
then no connection whatever between the Deca But the list of institutions cut off from partici-
logue and the standards of criticism, and Professor pation in the Carnegie Foundation fails to tally
Perry might have said with an equal appearance with this indictment not merely because it in-
of truth, but an equal fundamental falsity, that cludes genuine universities, of high order. It
many a Bohemian gathering repeals the Ten Com includes also a large number of colleges against
mandments in the fervor of midnight, only to find which the charge of sectarian narrowness in their
in the disillusion of the next morning that teaching is wholly unjustified. It is a well-known
cabbages do not grow on grapevines.
fact that a few institutions have passed from the
If I were to attempt to sum up the whole matter, excluded to the accepted list by technical changes
I should say this — that art is simply the en in their charters, occasioning no change whatever
deavor of the human mind to express itself, to in the spirit, purpose, or content of their class-
give shape in words or in marble or on canvas room work. Others which could have accomplished
to its fancy and its imagination; and all that we the same end with just as little change have re-
can ask of it is that it shall be a true and vital frained from doing so because of a desire to avoid
expression. We cannot ask it to compete with even the appearance of a willingness to sacrifice
practical life, or with utilitarian arts. We can principle for material gain. These colleges which
simply say that since beauty is its own excuse for do not receive the benefit of Mr. Carnegie's pension
being, the imagination achieves its end when it fund have educated a large share of the men now
expresses itself. No edict ever enunciated by the composing the faculties of the colleges and uni-
masters of criticism can hold water a single versities which do receive that benefit. The nar-
moment after a great work of art imposes its new row-minded man is found occasionally on either
beauty upon us. All we can ask of it is whether side of the line. His narrowness has its roots in
it has obeyed the laws which it itself has evolved the frailty of human nature, not in his connections
in the moment of its creation — not whether it as a Presbyterian, a Progressive, a Protectionist,
has been true to others, but whether it has been or a Pragmatist. His narrowness may break out
true to itself.
J. E. SPINGARN. at any point, and it may rage all the more nar-
Amenia, N. Y., August 2, 1914.
rowly in the institution that concerns itself least
with the individual beliefs of its teachers. A
governing board may occasionally be narrow-
THE CARNEGIE FOUNDATION AND
minded. This, however, is the exception, not the
DENOMINATIONAL COLLEGES.
rule, and it takes no very exhaustive research to
(To the Editor of THE DIAL.)
unearth the fact that board narrowness is not con-
An article in THE DIAL for July 16, headed “A fined to one side of the Carnegie Foundation line.
Live Wire,
,” has much with which the present Mr. Carnegie, of course, had the right to his own
writer can heartily agree. According to the most selection of institutions which he would aid. I
reliable accounts the President of the New York am not offended by his choice, though I do believe
City Board of Education, Thomas W. Churchill, that he would have made it on a different basis but
has shown himself wholly unsuited to such a posi- for a false idea of the real nature of most American
tion, and something more than the interests of denominational colleges. I do not like to see THE
the schools must have been behind Mayor Mitchell's DIAL, which has stood always for keen insight and
action in reappointing him. In one paragraph, broad sympathy, contribute to the spread of that
however, the writer of the article in question says
false idea.
W. H. JOHNSON.
of Mr. Churchill:
Granville, Ohio, August 1, 1914.
" It was only the other day that he distinguished
himself by a violent onslaught upon that worthiest of
A study of Blake by M. P. Berger, which was
educational philanthropies, the Carnegie Foundation, printed in France for private circulation some
on the ground, forsooth, that Mr. Carnegie does not years ago, contained, in Swinburne's opinion, the
choose to extend his benefaction to institutions that best explanation of Blake's symbolism. The book
flout the very idea of a university by establishing is now being translated into English by Mr. D. H.
sectarian tests for their teaching."
Conner for publication under the title of “William
To the latter part of this sentence I wish to Blake: His Mysticism and Poetry.”


100
(August 16
THE DIAL
the
The New Books.
be not unwelcome before passing on to less
personal matters.
“Blowitz had the adventurer's love of the
THE IRONY OF THE ENTENTE CORDIALE.*
wealthy and powerful. In him, poverty or failure
excited no pity, and one who afforded him no copy
A Liberal member of Parliament, in a recent
was a 'nobody,' the lowest rank to which a man
anxious and somewhat tumultuous session of
could descend. A criminal on a large scale excited
that legislative body, declared with some heat friendly interest on rascality that amounted to
Blowitz's imagination, and he dwelt with an almost
that the best that could be said for the Entente genius. In those days Blowitz was a journalist,
with France after eight years was that it was and nothing but a journalist, devoted to The
going to land England in a war simply be Times body and soul, and ready to sacrifice his
cause a few German soldiers wanted to cross very life to his professional duty.”
Belgium. He might easily have given stronger Through President Grévy's son-in-law, Dan-
emphasis to the irony of the Anglo-French iel Wilson, of Scottish paternity, though not
understanding. Because of the mad act of a of Scottish birth as is Sir Thomas Barclay, the
Servian fanatic a great nation at the other latter gained a footing of some intimacy with
extremity of Europe finds herself involved the Grévy household, and became a frequent
in a tremendous conflict as the ally not only guest at the Thursday lunches to which the
of the country with which her African inter President invited his closer political friends.
ests brought her to the very verge of war “It was at these lunches,” says the author,
not many years ago, but also of the empire “that I laid the foundation of those political
whose rapid expansion has been a long-stand-associations wwhich afterwards enabled me to
ing and ever-increasing menace to that nation secure support for the Entente, where it might
in the East — the empire, too, that came so otherwise have been difficult.”
near to open hostilities with this western Sir Thomas's connection with “The Times”
European power by reason of the Dogger was severed in 1882, when he resigned his
Bank incident in the course of the Russo- place in order to devote himself to French law
Japanese war.
practice; and since 1900 he has taken a most
An account of the origin and growth of the active part in the agitation for amicable rela-
present friendly relations between England tions with France. But as early as 1894 he
and her hereditary foe across the Channel has drew up what he calls “a plan of action on
just appeared from the pen of him who has how to make England and France friends,"
done more than any other one person to pro a schedule now published by him in his book
mote those highly desirable relations. “Thirty and bearing marks of thought and insight.
Years,” by Sir Thomas Barclay, is made up With the opening of the new century he saw
chiefly, as its sub-title indicates, of “Anglo- what he considered a favorable opportunity
French reminiscences," covering the years for starting the movement. Let the story be
1876-1906. It was in 1876 that Sir Thomas, told as far as possible in his own words.
not yet knighted and hardly more than a boy, “I believe I once heard luck' defined as a
entered the service of the London “Times" courageous insight into the capabilities of a chance.
and was sent to Paris where he was, of course, At any rate, I have always so regarded luck.
subordinate to the mighty Blowitz, whose jour-
Chances of all kinds and qualities abound. The
nalistic prestige was even then beyond dispute, difficulty is just to distinguish among them. I was
on the lookout for a chance to launch the great
or at least he stood second only to Emile de
idea that England and France by their geograph-
Girardin. Born in Bohemia, of obscure Se-
ical position, by their political affinities, by their
mitic origin (though he was fond of proclaim- differences of character which made them indis-
ing himself a Slav), he spoke with some pensable to each other's intellectual development,
fluency, but “with a rolling Slavonic intona- by the divergency of their industrial and artistic
tion,” as his one-time associate and friend tells activity which made the one the complement of
us, French, German, Italian, and Spanish. the other, had a joint and not a competing mis-
His English, curiously enough in one holding sion in the world; that they would benefit as much
so important a position on the foremost En- | by their friendship as they were losing by their
glish newspaper, is said to have been execrable. antagonism; that England and France as democ-
He could not even distinguish between “How racies, having nothing to gain by war, were neces-
do you do?” and “Good-bye,” but jumbled sarily agents of peace; and that their friendship
the two comically in his greetings, often using
would be a first step towards the abatement of
them both in the same breath. A few further
those armaments which the Emperor of Russia in
words descriptive of his peculiar genius may
1898 had justly described as “a crushing burden
more and more difficult for nations to bear.'"
* THIRTY YEARS. Anglo-French Reminiscences (1876-1906). Early in 1901 Sir Thomas was invited to
By Sir Thomas Barclay. With portrait. Boston: Houghton
deliver the address at the approaching annual
Mifflin Co.


1914)
101
THE DIAL
meeting of the French Arbitration Society, comes the semi-official assurance of the "Nord-
and though there was a very small attendance deutsche Allgemeine Zeitung” to the German
owing to an unusually severe snowstorm, the public, soon after the signing of the agree-
occasion turned out to be little short of epoch ment, that there was no cause for apprehen-
making, thanks to the action of the “Figaro”? sion in the Anglo-French understanding; and
in publishing the address after its editor had it is perhaps provocative of a satirical smile
all but refused to give his endorsement to to recall the Kaiser's Bremen speech of March
what he characterized as merely a beautiful 22, 1905, in which he described the German
dream. Other newspapers all over France re- Empire (we quote from our author) as 'a
printed the speech, and the leading British quiet, honest, and peaceful neighbour; and
journals gave it their attention, but in every added that if ever history should come to
instance with a caution that showed each to speak of a German world-wide Empire, or a
be waiting for some one else to add the appro world-wide dominion of the Hohenzollerns,
priate word of assent or dissent. Nevertheless this empire, this dominion, would have been
the speaker was so far encouraged that, as he founded upon conquests gained not by the
tells us, he made arrangements to devote all sword but by the mutual confidence of those
his time and means henceforward to his self nations which press towards the same goal.”
imposed task. It was the French peace socie In Germany, as in France, Sir Thomas Bar-
ties that gave him the first emphatic support; clay let his voice be heard in favor of friend-
then followed endorsements from chambers of lier relations with England. He has also
commerce and trade associations, and soon the exerted his influence to promote industrial har-
movement had gained considerable headway. mony, being the founder of the International
“My life for the next two years was one of
Brotherhood Alliance and a vigorous sup-
wild activity, a life of sleeping in trains, speaking porter of arbitration and conciliation in all
sometimes several times a day, sometimes twice in trade disputes. With what feelings he con-
one evening. I invented (oh, mother necessity!) templates the present glaring signs of retro-
a quick-change shirt, a quick-change dickie, a gression in the affairs of international peace
quick-change tie, a travelling bag adapted to my and industrial concord may be surmised. They
requirements, and at all times packed and ready
cannot be feelings of unmixed satisfaction.
for use at a moment's notice. In America it
Not to leave with the reader the impression
amused my friends to see me turn into evening
that the book under review is a mere record
dress, quite decent enough to pass muster, in ten
minutes."
of peace-promotion, it should be said in clos-
This activity was not without gratifying re-
ing that the writer's pages abound in anecdote
and incident and character-sketch, in the re-
sults. After much public discussion and par- production of many a shrewd or witty remark
liamentary deliberation the convention or
from persons of eminence, in observations and
agreement of April, 1904, was signed, and
there dawned upon Europe what the prime chiefly of public interest, and in evidences
reflections on a great variety of matters,
mover in this momentous business was pleased
of various kinds that show the author to be
to regard as a new era. He himself received
numerous tributes in recognition of his public
both a many-sided man of the world and also
services: the King conferred a knighthood,
an accomplished scholar and man of letters.
He it was who with a number of French
France made him an officer in the Legion of
Honor, and congratulatory letters from emi-
friends successfully urged the formation in
nent men in both countries poured in upon
Paris of a Shakespeare committee to coöperate
him. His activities had extended even to our
in the proposed Shakespearean celebration two
own quarter of the globe, and here he had years hence, a committee headed by M. Ana-
made many friends in the course of his tole France as président d'honneur and not
advocacy of more cordial Anglo-American re-
lacking in other distinguished names. It is
lations. His “fellow-townsman of Dunferm to be noted in passing that, as a consistent
line,” as he calls Mr. Carnegie, was of course Liberal, he is strongly in favor of woman
one of these, and Secretary Hay was another, suffrage, as he demonstrated when he was in
some notable words from whose lips the writer Parliament not long ago.
takes occasion to record. “Mr. Hay one day “Thirty Years" is a thoroughly interesting
observed to me, ” he says, “that the Fathers book, and a timely one, though its timeliness
of the Constitution had made a deplorable mis- is partly of a sort not at all expected or de-
take in investing the Senate with executive sired by its author. A variety of appended
powers, for it simply meant that the Secretary matter, a good index, and a frontispiece por-
of State passed his life with discouragement trait from a water-color drawing, complete
in his soul and anger in his language."
the volume's equipment.
Curiously significant at the present time be-
PERCY F. BICKNELL.


102
(August 16
THE DIAL
AN AMERICAN ENCYCLOPÆDIA OF stand as a record, and to prepare an entirely
HORTICULTURE.*
new one, new in its scope and in its title,
“The Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture."
The subject of horticulture has never
reached the stage of general interest in the point, the geographical limitation disappears
Although prepared from the American stand-
United States that it attained long ago in
from the title, since it could not and should
England. We have developed horticulture
not be observed. The new work will be com-
largely in its commercial aspects, but the cul: plete in six volumes, and this increase in size
tivation of plants just for the pleasure of
is some indication of the great increase in the
cultivating them and of associating with them
magnitude of the subject.
has not appealed very strongly to the Ameri-
In the former Cyclopedia, the plants treated
can, who prefers to buy what he wants with
the minimum trouble. But the development and Canada.” This means that one consult-
were largely those “sold in the United States
of parks and country places has begun to
change this sentiment, and plants are coming could find in the Cyclopedia an authoritative
ing the lists of nurserymen, seedsmen, etc.,
into their own, not merely as sources of food, statement in reference to the plants offered
but as sources of pleasure. The publication for sale, and suggestions as to culture. The
of a great work on horticulture, therefore, is
new work accepts this basis in general, but it
timely, and should go far toward stimulating
is interpreted to include also the offerings of
further an interest that is already aroused.
Bailey's “Cyclopedia of American Horti- Species no longer of interest to horticulturists
European dealers to the American market.
culture" began to appear in 1900, and the
are excluded, for “dead entries” would make
four volumes were completed in 1902. It was the work too voluminous and would not serve
intended to be a complete record of North
its purpose of being a current record. Of
American horticulture as it existed at the
close of the nineteenth century. For more
course, many plants cultivated in botanic gar-
dens, public parks, and private grounds will
than a decade, therefore, this work has been
not be found in the new Cyclopedia. A quo-
the standard authority upon the plants cul-
tivated in North America, and upon the general aim of the work:
tation from the preface states compactly the
methods of culture. During this decade, how general aim of the work :
“ The Cyclopedia aims to account for the plants
ever, the horticultural interests of the United
horticulturally grown within its territory which are
States and of Canada have become much ex-
now the subjects of living interest or likely to be
tended, not only on account of the tropical introduced, to discuss the best practices in the grow-
connections that have been established, but ing of the staple flowers and fruits and vegetable
also on account of the greatly increased inter crops, to depict the horticultural capabilities of the
est in the introduction of foreign plants. The states and provinces, to indicate the literature of
somewhat provincial horticulture of the the field, and incidentally to portray briefly the
United States has disappeared, and the whole lives of the former men and women who have
world has been laid under tribute for plants
attained to a large or a national reputation in horti-
suited to our extremely diversified conditions.
cultural pursuits.”
In addition to this, the interest in the culti-Concisely stated, the new Cyclopedia has
vation of plants has extended beyond flowers, two main purposes : (1) the identification of
vegetable gardens, orchards, and field crops species, so that one may recognize the cultural
and includes now woody plants, from shrub plants he meets; and (2) the cultivation of
beries to forest plantations. Not only has plants, so that one may know the approved
there been a great change in the scope of
methods of growing plants for different pur-
horticultural operations, but methods of plant- poses. The first purpose can be carried out
breeding have developed with remarkable very definitely and precisely, but the second
rapidity during the last decade. The enor-
purpose is beset with difficulties. The cul-
mous amount of experimental work in genetics
tural conditions in North America are as nu-
and in soil studies has resulted in practical
merous and varied as are the assemblages of
applications that have revolutionized many
native plants. Directions for one region can-
of the methods of obtaining and handling
not apply to all regions, so that competent
plants.
plant-breeders in one region may contradict
It is obvious that the old Cyclopedia was
equally competent plant-breeders in another
sadly out of date, and had become a valuable region. The editor, therefore, calls attention
to the fact (and it needs emphasis) that no
historical record rather than a presentation
of the horticultural interests of to-day. For-
one can grow plants by a book. He can read
tunately, the editor decided to let the old work statements of standard practice, but with this
as a basis, he must experiment with his own
* THE STANDARD CYCLOPEDIA OF HORTICULTURE. Edited by conditions. Every one who grows plants suc-
L. H. Bailey. New, rewritten, and enlarged edition. Volume
I., A-B. Illustrated.
cessfully, therefore, must have enough initia-
.
New York: The Macmillan Co.


1914)
103
THE DIAL
tive to be more or less of an experimenter, also general topics. For example, such topics
to whom the experiences of others are sug are treated as alpine plants, annuals, ants,
gestive, but for whom his own experience is aquatics, arboretum, arboriculture, autumn
final.
colors, bees, biennials, birds, botanic gardens,
The introductory matter in the first volume, breeding of plants, British North America,
which comprises 180 pages, as contrasted with etc.
nine pages in the old work, is another illustra A single illustration may be used to show
tion of the larger scope of the new work, which the method of treatment in the case of culti-
seeks to serve more people in more ways. vated plants. Under Apple will be found
There are pages of "explanations" which
explanations” which twenty-one profusely illustrated pages, treat-
enable the users of the work to understanding this important fruit from every point of
abbreviations, authorship, keys, etc. An en-
view.
After a preliminary historical state-
tirely new feature, extending through seventy- ment in reference to the origin of apples in
eight pages, is "A Synopsis of the Plant general, and noteworthy varieties, and also an
Kingdom," by Mr. Karl M. Wiegand, which is account of the general range and method of
a very complete, illustrated outline of the cultivation, apple-growing in different regions
classification of the plant kingdom, from the is discussed, with an account of the favored
thallophytes to the seed plants. Of course the forms, the cultural methods, and the impor-
vascular plants receive the most attention. To tant enemies.
tant enemies. The apple regions discussed
those who are familiar only with the few separately are Northeastern states, Canada,
plants under cultivation, this marshalling of Southern Alleghany Mountain region, Mid-
the whole plant kingdom will be most impres- continental or plains districts, Western moun-
sive, and they will also be able to see where tain states, Oregon and Washington, and
the plants they know fit into the general | California. Such a presentation will be a
scheme.
mine of information to every one interested
Then there is a key to the families and in apple-growing in any region.
genera, which, with its index, comprises about It is needless to comment upon the fitness
seventy pages. This was certainly a laborious of Professor Bailey to undertake the direction
and difficult undertaking, and evidently the of this great work. No one else has had so
editor consented to include it only under pres extensive a grasp upon general horticulture
sure. It is intended to help the cultivator of for so long a time; so that any presentation
plants to determine the name of any plant that organizes his experience may be taken as
cultivated in America, including also the wild an authoritative presentation of horticulture
flowers commonly offered for sale. In other as it exists. This does not mean necessarily
words, it is a manual of the cultivated and horticulture as it might be and will be; but
more common wild plants of America. Those it does mean that this record of horticulture
who have prepared manuals will appreciate as it is omits nothing important and states
what such a task involved. The test of a key each situation with full knowledge.
comes in using it, so that no one can tell in
JOHN M. COULTER.
advance whether this key will serve its pur-
pose or not.
HEROIC VILLAINS. *
One of the interesting helps provided is a
long list (twelve pages) of the English equiva Is there a well-defined class of plays in
lents of Latin names of species.
which the rôles of villain and hero are
cific names mean something characteristic of merged? If so, where did this sort of play
the plant, but to most persons the meaning is come from? What is the origin of the villain-
not obvious, so that this list of translations hero's character, and what appeal does he
will be very helpful. Then, of course, a glos make to us? How must he be drawn to inter-
sary is necessary in using keys and reading est us most deeply! These are some of the
descriptions.
questions that Dr. Boyer tries to answer in
This introductory manual, occupying nearly
his present study, which was written as a
two hundred pages, is really an introduction thesis for the doctor's degree at Princeton.
to an intelligent use of the Cyclopedia for The title of the book at once suggests difficul-
those who have had no training in botany, ties of classification. Dr. Boyer of course uses
and many who are growing plants success “hero" in the sense of protagonist.” “Vil-
fully have had no such training.
lain” he discusses at some length, finally
The first volume begins with Abaca and
arriving at this definition: “a man who for
closes with Byrsonima, and most of the titles a selfish end wilfully and deliberately 'violates
are signed, so that responsibility is fixed. The standards of morality sanctioned by the
titles are exceedingly variable, including not
# THE VILLAIN AS HERO IN ELIZABETHAN TRAGEDY.
merely the names of cultivated plants, but Clarence Valentine Boyer. New York: E. P. Dutton & Co.
Most spe-
By


104
[ August 16
THE DIAL
audience or ordinary reader." This is not trepidity and brilliance of a Richard.” Why
altogether satisfactory; it would seem for in not? He was never intended to be a Richard.
stance to include Antony, though Dr. Boyer But your critic with a theory is always con-
maintains that Antony “is not a villain be- demning things for not being what they were
cause he is not trying to advance his own never intended to be.
interests." This quibble suggests that the Aside from such distortions due to bad clas-
test for villainy is going to raise some nice sification, the chief weakness of the book is its
points in casuistry; and it does. Take the tendency to regard poetic justice as essential
case of Vindici in "The Revenger's Tragedy,” to good drama. On this point the author's
a clear example, according to Dr. Boyer, of attitude wavers somewhat, but in general he
a villain-hero. Technically he can be brought seems to feel that at least the virtuous should
under the definition; but it is safe to say that not be allowed to suffer too much, and the
he did not appear a villain to the Elizabethan scoundrels should be made conscious that
audience, and would not so appear to a mod their sins have brought adequate punishment.
ern reader if the reader were not searching “No tragic effect is produced” in the “Re-
for plays of the villain-hero type. Certainly venger's Tragedy," for instance, because "the
he is not the villain of the piece; in fact he truth is not driven home that the fate of the
is on the whole the least villainous person in guilty is any more inevitable than that of the
it, and his cruel vengeance would be fully jus-guiltless. The reader feels like inquiring
tified by Elizabethan ethics. Or consider where this “truth” is “driven home" in
Macbeth, who also in Dr. Boyer's catalogue "Lear” or “Othello." So also “Measure for
is writ down a villain. No doubt he becomes Measure" is severely criticized because the
one in the course of the story; but he is not Duke's solution of the difficulty “is not cal-
in any sense a villain when he wins our sym culated to restore a respect for law, nor is it
pathy; and this simple fact, not considered by in the slightest degree appropriate to Angelo's
Dr. Boyer, makes a great difference in the wickedness. Our sense of justice is outraged.'
dramatist's problem.
This is the old, old fallacy of Shakespeare
The question who is the protagonist would criticism, which persists in spite of exposure.
seem less likely to cause trouble; but the de On the whole Dr. Boyer has failed to show
sire to magnify the importance of the villain that there is a distinct class of villain-hero
hero type of play has led Dr. Boyer to regard plays with its own peculiarities of technique.
the villain as protagonist of several impor- Plays with this characteristic seem to have
tant plays in which the chief interest and sym little else in common; and most of them could
pathy of the audience is claimed by some other be more satisfactorily classified elsewhere. He
character. “Othello," for instance, is in has failed also in his attempt to connect such
cluded because it is a play with two protag- plays with Seneca. None of the plays dis-
This very fact should have warned cussed shows any relation to Seneca's “Thy-
the author that it is not to be treated as if it estes” or “Medea, in which Dr. Boyer
were in the same class with “Richard III.”; thinks the type originated; only one of them,
yet he calmly proceeds to test Iago by the and this one of the least important, shows any
standards he has derived from Richard. Per-direct Senecan influence. The early plays on
haps the clearest instance of the distorted the Senecan model do not, even in Dr. Boyer's
criticism which results from forcing plays into judgment, belong to the villain-hero type; and
a class where they do not belong is the case the early plays which he regards as of this
of "The Duchess of Malfi." "The Duchess of type are not at all Senecan. But he has suc-
Malfi” is a powerful and brilliant story play, ceeded in making an interesting study of dif-
intensely tragic in tone. “Cymbeline” would ferent kinds of villains; what he has to say
be its nearest analogue, if the tragic element of the development of the revengeful villain,
in “Cymbeline” had received more emphasis for instance, is extremely suggestive, though
In both plays the emphasis is more on story we may not be able to agree with his view of
than on character; in both the heroine is the Iago as the perfect exemplar of the type. A
most interesting person, and the next in inter- greater merit is his clear account of the in-
est, by a long remove, is the villain. If you fluence of the Machiavellian or pseudo-Mach-
can imagine what would happen to “Cym- iavellian ethics upon the Elizabethan villains.
beline” in the hands of a critic who regarded He shows pretty conclusively that “Machia-
it as a villain-hero play with Iachimo as pro-
vellismº on the English stage is largely
tagonist, you will have a tolerable idea of how traceable to Gentillet's “Anti-Machiavel,
Webster's play fares at the hands of Dr. published in 1576 and translated by Simon
Boyer. He regards Bosola as the hero, and Patericke in the next year. Lorenzo in “The
complains that “he is not great enough,” he Spanish Tragedy” and Marlowe's Barabas
has no grandeur of soul,' he lacks the in established the type for the stage, and were
onists."


1914)
105
THE DIAL
followed by a long series of “Machiavellian" cent fiction proves Butler to be the legitimate
villains. This is much the most valuable part Elisha to those two eighteenth century Elijahs
of the thesis, and it was on this line that Dr. of irony, DeFoe and Swift. Indeed there is
Boyer's investigation began. But he was led a very close connection between DeFoe's
astray by the will-o'-the-wisp of a definite 'Shortest Way with Dissenters” and “The
villain-hero type of play, and by the wish to Fair Haven. Both are works of ironical
show that Aristotle was wrong in saying that orthodoxy which had a success almost past
the fall of a bad man into adversity cannot belief. Humor must have been dead in the
be tragic. Now in all Dr. Boyer's list there Church of England in 1702, that so many
is only one possible exception to Aristotle's loyal souls welcomed seriously with pious joy
dictum,— "Richard III.” “Macbeth” is not | DeFoe's suggestion to hang every Dissenter.
an exception; for it is not the fall of a bad And it must have been sorely afflicted in 1873
man which makes “Macbeth” tragic, but the when Canon Ainger derived such comfort
suffering and ruin of a man originally good from Butler's argument that, since Strauss
and great. “Richard III.” has seemed to admitted the death of Jesus and other heretics
some critics an exception, but is it really one? admitted that he was seen alive after his
Is it not strong and brilliant melodrama rather supposed (but fictitious) death, the whole
than tragedy? Surely the emotions it rouses orthodox position was historically vindicated.
are not of the same kind as those inspired by Forty years have passed; yet this book of
“Hamlet” or “Lear.” Nevertheless, Dr.
Nevertheless, Dr. theological controversy is remarkably up-to-
Boyer thinks, it inspires awe, pity for the date, and is furnishing material for current
waste of great powers, and fear of the force popularizations of a view which in the me-
of evil personified in Richard; and these, he diæval seventies must have represented its
maintains, are tragic emotions. But even if author, to the devout who chanced upon it,
we admit his point, - and it is open to attack, as a creature horned, hoofed, and damned.
- one play is a rather narrow foundation for The editor points out in his introduction to
an important addition to the theory of tragedy. | the new edition an interesting relation be-
Two or three slips in proofreading may be tween this successful irony and Butler's ob-
worth noting: Cynthio for Cinthio (p. 116); security during his lifetime. Reviewers, he
Lassurioso for Lussurioso (p. 151); and Ar says, who had been taken in by “The Fair
treus for Atreus (p. 178).
Haven,” “fought shy of him for the rest of
HOMER E. WOODBRIDGE. his life. ... The word went forth that Butler
was not to be taken seriously, whatever he
wrote, and the results of the decree were ap-
NEW REPRINTS OF SAMUEL BUTLER.*
parent in the conspiracy of silence that
greeted not only his books on evolution, but
It seems fairly evident that the seventy his Homeric works, his writings on art, and
years of immortality" which Samuel Butler his edition of Shakespeare's Sonnets." This
predicted for himself are now, twelve years opinion seems altogether plausible; some-
after his death, well under way. This result thing like the fact is antecedently probable
has been brought about largely through the in order to explain how a writer of Butler's
attractive new editions of his chief works force, humor, and perspicacity should require
which have been appearing at intervals for discovery by the generation following his own.
several years past. The most recent of these But even when handled by the most viva-
are “The Humor of Homer” and “The Fair | cious, theology has few charms for the present-
Haven.”
day general reader, who cares very little
The sub-title of the latter volume bears a whether Strauss or Butler or Dean Alford
forbidding aspect: "A Work in Defence was right. And so the other of these two
of the Miraculous Element in our Lord's reprints, “The Humor of Homer," will
prove
Ministry upon Earth, both as against Ra- of immeasurably greater interest. A valuable
tionalistic Impugners and certain Orthodox feature is the Memoir by Mr. H. Festing
Defenders, by the late John Pickard Owen, Jones, which though written only to do tem-
with a Memoir of the Author by William porary service until Mr. Jones's full work
Bickersteth Owen.' But let the uninitiated on Butler appears, is nevertheless the best
reader not be deceived. There is much juicy | account of Butler's life at present available.
reading even here. This grave and magnifi The contents of the volume, consisting of
two lectures before the Working Men's Col-
* THE HUMOR OF HOMER, and Other Essays. By Samuel
Butler.
With a biographical lege, London, one before the Somerville Club,
sketch of the author by Henry Festing Jones, and a portrait.
and a number of short essays contributed to
New York: Mitchell Kennerley.
THE FAIR HAVEN. By Samuel Butler. Edited, with an "The Universal Review” during 1889 and
Introduction, by R. A. Streatfeild. New York: Mitchell
Kennerley.
1890, show Butler at his miscellaneous best.
Edited by R. A. Streatfeild.


106
(August 16
THE DIAL
As one would very naturally expect, the three in Cheapside” are quite the most delicious
essays entitled collectively “The Deadlock in bits of fooling since Swift's time. The com-
Darwinism” are the poorest. It is the anomaly ment on Wordworth's "Lucy,” in which from
of Butler's life that a writer of his humor and the information that Lucy's death made a
sense of proportion should have seriously de considerable difference to the poet, and the
voted a large part of his life to pseudo-scien- lines,
" And few could know
tific haggling over Darwinism. Perhaps this
When Lucy ceased to be,"
is only a post factum judgment, incited by the
fact that Butler, so modern in theology and
he builds up the theory that Lucy was prose-
art and criticism, is yearly growing more cuting Wordsworth for breach of promise ;
antiquated in science.
whereupon the poet, abetted by Southey and
“Thought and Language” is better reading,
Coleridge, murdered her, - this is altogether
as well as a more convincing scientific docu: worthy of Isaac Bickerstaff and his prediction
ment; but it does not approach the interest we
of the death of Partridge the astrologer.
There are three Samuel Butlers. If "Erew-
find in the papers on art, especially “The
Sanctuary of Montrigone” and “A Medieval
hon” had been a racehorse it would have
Girl School." In the intelligent levity which
been got by “Hudibras” out of "Analogy."
characterizes Butler's treatment of mediæval
Years ago the present reviewer tried to under-
church art there is nothing of the ill-nature
stand the bygone satire of the former, and
that one cannot miss at times in his contro-
for one whole term of school tortured himself
versies, and especially in his novel, “The Way
by crawling out of bed at four in the morn-
of All Flesh, where the fallacies are too
ing to learn the “Analogy" by heart (ironical
near to be treated with urbanity. In the
phrase, for the heart was not in the work).
paper on “A Medieval Girl School” he takes
And with these superior advantages, he claims
occasion to justify or explain his apparent the right to prefer the Samuel Butler who
cynicism:
wrote “Quis Desiderio ...?" to either of
the others.
“And after all, what is the essence of Chris-
tianity? What is the kernel of the nut? Surely
THOMAS PERCIVAL BEYER.
common sense and cheerfulness, with unflinching
opposition to the Charlatanisms and Pharisaisms
of a man's own times ... [It is] in speaking the
RECENT FICTION.*
truth, in finding the true life rather in others than
in oneself, and in the certain hope that he who loses One test of a novel is to read it on a train.
his life on these behalfs finds more than he has
It is perhaps not a fair test and it is cer-
lost ... I should be shocked if anything I had tainly not an objective test. Some readers
ever written or shall ever write should seem to
find travel so much a bore that anything to
make light of these things. I should be shocked
also [and here we find his mind reverting to the
read is better than nothing and others find
Black Virgins of mediæval art, the satire in the
reading while travelling forty miles an hour
Iliad and so on) if I did not know how to be
(even over the best of road-beds) so uncom-
amused with things that amiable people obviously
fortable that nothing is better than anything.
intended to be amusing.”
But for that matter there is no situation for
But let us come finally to the best. “For reading that is not open to similar objections.
mere reading,” says Butler in “Quis Desi There are persons whose particular pleasure
derio ..?” “I suppose one book is pretty
it is to read in bed and others who would
much as good as another.” To this gentle never think of such a thing. There are read-
judgment we must demur, for the first three ers who can enjoy no book to the full unless
papers in this volume are far and away the
they can read it aloud and there are read-
best for “mere reading” that Butler offers. ers - or listeners — who actually prefer to
True, “The Humor of Homer” contains some-
be read aloud to. I know of no circumstance
thing besides “mere reading. In it is found or set of circumstances which is especially
the core of his later work on “The Authoress
favorable to the author whose book it is my
of the Odyssey,' as well as considerations, business of the moment to read.
There are
not found elsewhere in his writings, concern-
books which I have stayed up all night to
ing the broad humor of the Iliad, in its treat-
By William Hewlett. New York:
ment of women and of gods especially. We Duffield & Co.
No. 13 WASHINGTON SQUARE. By Leroy Scott.
may not here discuss Butler's attractive
Houghton Mifflin Co.
theory in regard to the Homer of the Bated OH! JAMES! By H. M. Edginton. Boston: Little, Brown
Breath, but we find it highly amusing, very THE LIGHTS ARE BRIGHT. By Louise Kennedy Mabie.
saving to the face of the poems, and worthy
New York: Harper & Brothers.
By Nesta H. Webster. New York:
of some serious investigation.
WHEN Love FLIES OUT O' THE WINDOW. By Leonard
“Quis Desiderio ...?" and “Ramblings
New York : Mitchell Kennerley.
ܕܕ
* TELLING THE TRUTH.
Boston :
& Co.
THE SHEEP TRACK.
E. P. Dutton & Co.
Merrick.


1914)
107
THE DIAL
Mr. William Hewlett's new novel, “Tell the
finish and there are books which I have so deserted, thought to spend their honeymoon
far escaped finishing. But I must in honesty | in it. Such a plot finds its best use on the
admit that a novel must interest me very much stage. The let-down at the end — since the
before I can read it on a train. I almost always more elaborate the scheme the more disap-
have a novel with me during the fifty minutes pointing the final solution -- is inevitable.
morning and evening that I spend in getting to Mr. Edginton's novel is a more imaginative
and from the city and I almost never read it. farce than Mr. Scott's. It depends not so
All of the six novels below have had the op-
much on complications - although these are
portunity of that fifty minutes and none of
achieved — as on an idea. How farce does
them has been equal to it - which is only to
gain by an idea! Mr. Edginton's immoder-
say that when I did read them it was rather
ately successful British business man suffered
more as a duty than as a pleasure.
the double misfortune of a perfect wife and
an innocent heart. She simply would not
ing the Truth,” falls just short of being as
interesting as the moving panorama to be
spend his money. When he could stand it no
longer he found other young women who
seen from my train. Its flippancy of tone
would. Nobody believed that his relations
strikes one at once as annoying rather than
with these young persons were innocently
as amusing. One of the early pages, in which
avuncular. Even his wife's first thought was
the first-person narrator is telling of an occa-
of divorce - though her second was a happier
sion during his boyhood when he was so
one. The whole is a kindly, humorous com-
affected by the beauty of a scene in Kent as
ment on the struggle between the sexes,
to ejaculate that it was a “ripping place” is
"The Lights Are Bright” is old-fashioned
an example of Mr. Hewlett's quality :
romance with a villain, a hero, and a beautiful
“I wanted to expatiate on its beauties, to de-
young woman who needs three hundred pages
scribe the picturesque aspect of the village green,
in which to discover her own mind. That the
the duck pond, the quaint red-roofed cottages, the
distant woods on fire with November sunshine, the setting is in some respects contemporary
spirit of tranquillity and aloofness brooding over
steel mills in the foreground and the Missabe
the place. But all eyes were upon me.
I was
range in the background - is incidental.
a schoolboy. Something mildly humorous was Miss Webster's novel is a serious attempt.
expected of me. Like the comedian in a panto The “sheep track” is the conventional way
mime, I had to get my laugh. All this, or some-
of upper middle-class society. Her reaction
thing like it, passed through my mind in a flash,
to it is reasonable rather than vigorous. She
and I answered: “We found a jolly tuck-shop
understands how necessary it is to most of
there. There was a general laugh, as I had known
there would be, but it woke no triumphant echo in
those who travel it, how dangerous it is to
my childish breast. My brother turned away with
those who cannot or will not follow it, and
a 'pooh!' of banished interest. I knew that I had how misleading it is to young persons pos-
failed, that I had not done myself justice, that I
sessed of fine instincts, or energy, or special
had been the veriest slave of convention. And, capacity. But she has no satisfactory idea
what was worse, I knew that he did n't know it. of the sort of persons to be found in the sheep
That was the most damned mortifying part of the track; those she presents are not much to the
whole business!”
point. Her heroine is an attractive girl —
None of the remaining five novels is much and that is well. An attractive girl adds as
worse or much better than Mr. Hewlett's. much to the possibilities of a serious novel as
Mr. Leroy Scott, who once wrote a novel to those of a farce or a Victorian romance.
about a labor leader or the like, has conceived | Indeed, it might be shown that the creation of
"No. 13 Washington Square”' in the vein of an attractive young woman is possible only to
broad farce. The complications of which the the serious novelist. But I am most unwilling
story is made centre about a leader, or more to talk about “creation” in connection with
precisely, the leader of New York society. a novel like "The Sheep Track."
Mrs. De Peyster could not make her annual Mr. Leonard Merrick's boom has by now so
trip to Europe because her railroad failed to flattened that I may speak of him in kindly
declare a dividend so she planned secretly to terms without being understood to regard him
spend an economical summer in her Fifth
with awe.
“When Love Flies Out o' the
Avenue residence. Her plan would have Window," a novel several years old in En-
worked better than it did if her son had not gland but now published on this side for the
made a similar one. She had disinherited him first time, is competently done that is all.
because he wanted to go to work. He had
He had It is briskly yet nicely written but it drops
immediately married the nice but ineligible easily into the incredible ending. Novels are
girl he was in love with. The two, having not made by so amenable a talent.
every reason to believe the family mansion
LUCIAN CARY.


108
[ August 16
THE DIAL
6
BRIEFS ON NEW BOOKS.
sure of him in his neighborhood, and in his neces-
sities of sympathy and intelligence, - that I could
With the tenth volume the
volume the well wait his time,- his unwillingness and caprice,
The final volume
of Emerson's publication of “The Journals — and might one day conquer a friendship. It
Journals.
of Ralph Waldo Emerson”
would have been a happiness, doubtless to both
(Houghton) is complete, and the index at last
of us, to have come into habits of unreserved inter-
makes the work available for the purposes of
course. It was easy to talk with him, there were
the student. It is a cause of some incon-
no barriers, — only, he said so little, that I talked
too much, and stopped only because, as he gave
venience that though the index references are
no indications, I feared to exceed. He showed no
by volume and page, the numbers of volumes
egotism or self-assertion, rather a humility, and,
do not appear on the binding, or even on the at one time, a fear that he had written himself
title-pages, but only on the half-title. The out. One day, when I found him on the top of his
editing, throughout, though showing no re hill, in the woods, he paced back the path to his
markable scholarship or acumen, has been house, and said, 'This path is the only remem-
done in an intelligent and sympathetic man-
brance of me that will remain. Now it appears
ner that will be grateful to those who recall
that I waited too long."
the crude mutilation of Hawthorne's literary Notwithstanding an occasional entry like this
remains. The manuscripts on which these the student who hoped that the publication of
volumes are based contain jottings of many
Emerson's Journals would reveal the secrets
sorts, and are to be adequately described by of his personality was destined to disappoint-
no one word. Besides the entries that might ment. Unlike other diarists, he never shows
be expected in a “journal" proper there are himself for a moment in undress. There is no
memoranda suggested by reading, and count pose, no indication of self-consciousness; the
less notes that seem to have no reference to fact that he did not show himself more fully,
the especial day. As the publication of the that apparently he could not do so if he would,
correspondence with Carlyle called attention constitutes the baffling peculiarity of his na-
to the fact that Emerson was not great as a ture. If the Journals are disappointing in
letter-writer, so these journals emphasize the their revelation of biography and personality,
fact that he is not eminently a diarist. Notes they may also to some be disappointing in
of facts and pregnant comments thereon are
their contribution to our knowledge of Emer-
not wanting; but the former are often dryly son's philosophy. They give much data from
concise, and the latter rarely reveal much of which to trace his intellectual development,
the author. Only occasionally do we find a but there are frequent gaps to be supplied.
passage like this from the last volume, which, It was in these manuscripts that the author
notwithstanding its length, must be quoted first jotted down many of the sentences that
for its content and its charm of phrase.
he afterward used in lectures and essays, and
“ Yesterday, May 23, we buried Hawthorne in it is a proof of the sureness of his taste that
Sleepy Hollow, in a pomp of sunshine and verdure, those which he chose for use are usually better
and gentle winds. James Freeman Clarke read the than those which remain for publication now.
service in the church and at the grave. Long- | In the ten volumes are of course hundreds of
fellow, Lowell, Holmes, Agassiz, Hoar, Dwight, worthy thoughts, strikingly expressed; but
Whipple, Norton, Alcott, Hillard, Fields, Judge one may sometimes read for pages without
Thomas, and I attended the hearse as pallbearers. finding as many telling phrases as he will meet
Franklin Pierce was with the family. The church
in one paragraph of the Essays. This state-
was copiously decorated with white flowers deli-
ment of what the Journals do not give is but
cately arranged.
was unwillingly
shown,- only a few moments to this company of
a warning to the reader who might expect
his friends. But it was noble and serene in its
too much, or expect the wrong things. They
aspect,-- nothing amiss,- a calm and powerful offer, if not so intimate a revelation of the
head. A large company filled the church and the man as we might wish, the best revelation we
grounds of the cemetery. All was so bright and
shall ever have. To the careful student of
quiet that pain or mourning was hardly suggested, almost any topic connected with Emerson they
and Holmes said to me that it looked like a happy are rich in material that can be found no-
meeting. ...
where else, and every lover of Emerson should
“I thought there was a tragic element in the be grateful for their publication.
event that might be more fully rendered - in the
painful solitude of the man, which, I suppose,
could not longer be endured, and he died of it.
There is something pleasingly
Wanderings
“I have found in his death a surprise and dis-
old-fashioned about Mr. Alden
with Milton.
appointment. I thought him a greater man than
Sampson's “Studies in Milton”
any of his works betray, that there was still a (Moffat). The author has obviously long
great deal of work in him, and that he might one steeped his mind in his subject, and in much
day show a purer power. Moreover, I have felt that is even remotely connected with it, after
The corpse


1914)
109
THE DIAL
a leisurely, brooding fashion quite exceptional among the adherents of the reformed religion
to-day among American writers of "books were endeavoring to rise above the ordinary
though still flourishing in En- level of Puritan dogmas.
level of Puritan dogmas. The third essay,
gland (witness the latest works of Mr. Stop on “Certain Aspects of the Poetic Genius,
ford Brooke). Such concern for Milton, is a readable presentation (though devoid of
particularly, is valuable in America at the originality) of what the title suggests, the cen-
present time; since our general attitude of tral theme being the nature of Milton's own
mind is surely, in these days, more remote genius.
from Milton's, and more in need of what his
Certainly there is room for a
can give us, than it has been in the past or is
A new study
again likely to be. Not altogether desirable,
of J. A. Symonds. compact life of John Addington
Symonds. The excellent biog-
however, is Mr. Sampson's complete freedom
raphy compiled by his friend H. F. Brown is
from a certain nervous consciousness which too expensive for the ordinary reader to own,
leads the average present-day writer, in grap and too full for his needs. Mr. Van Wyck
pling with a great classic, to mass the most Brooks has undertaken to supply the lack of a
striking of his own views in the foreground, convenient short study with this little volume
carefully deprecating minor points and his entitled “John Addington Symonds" (Ken-
debts to previous critics. For the “Studies” nerley). For his facts he relies chiefly upon
evince not enough distinction of style and Brown's book, though he has made some use of
personal viewpoint to carry their leisurely the biographies and letters of Jowett, Steven-
method with real success. This fact is un son, and other friends of Symonds. Without
fortunately thrust upon the reader near the adding anything of importance that is new,
very beginning of the first and most im-
he furnishes a fairly satisfactory outline of
portant of the essays, “From Lycidas to Symonds's career, putting the emphasis
Paradise Lost," when he is confronted, in
mainly upon his philosophy of life, his writ-
connection with Milton's early sonnet to the ings, and his literary friendships. We could
nightingale, with ten pages of comment upon wish for a somewhat fuller account of his
the poet's not very characteristic admiration family life, and this might have been added
for this bird, which had become so conven without enlarging the book unduly. Unfor-
tional a figure in Renaissance poetic scenery.
tunately Mr. Brooks's criticism is vitiated and
In this connection, too, our author makes the his whole view of Symonds's life is biased by
surprising error of treating Satan's tuneful
his own philosophy of violent individualism.
temptation of Eve in her dream (Paradise Lost,
This can best be illustrated by his comment
Bk. V., l. 35ff) as “Adam's love-song to his
on Cellini. “May it not also be said that, like
new-found bride”; no such love-song occurs all true artists, Cellini was an ideal man ?
or is mentioned in the course of the poem. The Transgressing every moral law, he erred only
reader should not infer from this instance, in relation to the social background — and it
however, that the author has read his Para-
is the task of society, not of the individual, to
dise Lost altogether skippingly, in search of provide the proper background.” Society did
passages to illustrate his points. The essay not, in Mr. Brooks's opinion, provide the
proceeds to take up in chronological order the
proper background for Symonds. His real
remaining sonnets produced during Milton's
life was the tragedy of the artist who fails to
so-called middle period, endeavoring to relate
express himself in art; and the chief reason
each very fully with the poet's personality, for his alleged failure was that he had been
his life, and his greater works. Sometimes put through a "grinding mill of respectable
the relationships expatiated upon are too far-
education”; “he fell out of the hands of his
fetched. For instance, although one must feel
father only to fall into the hands of Jowett.
continually in Paradise Lost the fervor of
. : All the powers that be restrained him,
the Puritan rebellion, one does not like to be levelled him, coerced him.'' If his individ-
told explicitly that “it is Satan himself that
uality had been properly encouraged by his
most nearly presents a reflex of the great Pro- education, “he might have left such a perma-
tector," and to have several splendid pas-
nent book as the Opium Confessions or Amiel's
sages of the poem quoted merely on this text.
Journal." As it is, “the conclusions of
The second essay in the book, “Milton's Con- Symonds reduce themselves, upon analysis, to
fession of Faith," more insistently illustrates sanity and common sense; and it appears
the author's undue thirst for comparisons. certain that nothing is more perilous to long
The parallels he cites between Milton's relig- life in literature than sanity and common
ious ideas and those of George Fox are often sense when they are not founded upon clair-
either too strained, or else too obvious for voyance. The fallacy of this sort of criti-
anyone acquainted with the common and quite cism is so obvious as scarcely to need pointing
natural methods by which the better minds out; yet no delusions are nowadays more


110
(August 16
THE DIAL
popular than that the best possible education half a dozen private secretaries simulta-
consists in following the slope of one's inner neously stretched on the rack by the imperious
inclinations, and that the craziest individual “J. P.," as they styled him among them-
vagaries have more literary value than reason selves, it will be seen what a surplus of
and common sense. In justice to Mr. Brooks irritability this brilliantly gifted victim of
it should be added that he does not stick con nervous prostration and other harrowing ail-
sistently to his theory, and that he generally ments felt himself obliged to work off on
furnishes the facts by which the reader may those about him. That his mind was still in
correct his judgments. Thus he complains such a condition as to reveal, in spurts and
that Professor Conington was a hard man, flashes, its astonishing powers of memory and
who tasked Symonds unmercifully," and that discernment and creative force, is one of the
in coming under his influence Symonds "ex many marvels of his incalculable personality.
hibited his unhappy faculty for stumbling During a quarter-century of physical disa-
into the wrong hands." Yet on the next page bility and of restless roamings in quest of
he says: “That Conington's influence, how relief from his sufferings Mr. Pulitzer retained
ever limited, was most helpful to him . is his vigorous control of the great newspaper
proved by his later statement that while Jow he had created, and his tyrannical will lit-
ett taught him to write, Conington taught him erally flogged his quailing body to death. The
to see that literature is something by itself, book closes with the sudden and not undra-
not part of an iridescent nebula.' Mr. matic termination of the great editor's hercu-
Brooks is willing to admit, too, that Symonds's lean labors. Coming as the narrative does
habit of hard work (gained in that“ grinding from one rigorously drilled by Mr. Pulitzer
mill of respectable education'') often stood himself in that scrupulous accuracy in mi-
him in good stead; but he does not see that nutest details which he insisted on as the prime
Symonds's education, by strengthening his essential in all his secretaries and in the edi.
moral fibre, probably saved him from becom torial staff of his journal — from one, too,
ing the victim of ineffectual artistic velleities. who has evidently studied the clear and con-
Finally, it is to Mr. Brooks's credit that he cise presentation of thought in literary form
fairly describes the comparative serenity of - the book rather startles its readers by dis-
Symonds's later view of life, and the fulness playing in its very first chapter a somewhat
and happiness of his last years. Symonds's conspicuous instance of inaccurate and in-
final attitude is perhaps best expressed in his consistent statement. On page 29, after ex-
translation of the prayer of Cleanthes the plaining that the bridge of the distinguished
Stoic, which deserves to be better known: invalid's yacht was placed unusually far aft
“Lead thou me, God, Law, Reason, Motion, Life! "to prevent any walking over Mr. Pulitzer's
All names for thee alike are vain and hollow: head when he sat in his library, which was
Lead me, for I will follow without strife,
situated under the spot where the bridge
Or if I strive, still must I blindly follow.” would have been in most vessels,” the author
If the reader can allow for the author's bias, calmly contradicts himself nine lines farther
he will find the book a useful one. Unfortu- | down by saying that “immediately under the
nately it is not supplied with an index.
bridge was Mr. Pulitzer's library. . " And
in a later chapter he, or possibly the printer,
Eight months of nerve-racking gives a certain famous king of Syracuse the
Eccentricities of
a journalistic experience in trying to gratify name of “Heiro the Second." The volume is
genius.
the whims and soothe the irasci- supplied with portraits of Mr. Pulitzer at
bility of a blind and broken-down man of various ages and in sundry attitudes.
brilliant genius and extraordinary powers are
chronicled in Mr. Alleyne Ireland's "Joseph
There is rather less of self-
Pulitzer: Reminiscences of a Secretary”
conscious pose and more of true
(Kennerley). The incidents leading up to
by Mr. Yeats.
poetic beauty in Mr. W. B.
Mr. Ireland's entrance upon his arduous Yeats's “Stories of Red Hanrahan” (Mac-
duties, the long and severe testing to which millan) than in most of his recent work. To
he was pitilessly subjected by the exacting in-be sure, Mr. Yeats does not here entirely
valid, and the almost incredible rigors (in- escape
escape self-consciousness; the philosophy
cluding treatment that was, in its form if not veiled so lightly by old magic and folk-lore
in its spirit, nothing short of abusive and themes and by scenes from peasant life is
insulting) that he was expected to bear and tagged in the author's epilogue as an expres-
apparently did bear with smiling amiability, sion “of one subject, the war of spiritual
are related with a calm frankness and cir- with natural order.” This dualism, common
cumstantiality that captivate the reader. When to all mystics, might, if the poet respects his
it is added that the author was only one of audience, and why write thus unless he does?
>>
A book of
Celtic tales


1914)
111
THE DIAL
2
The science
- be left to his readers to define. Hints of drama; that three demonstrate the evil results
it are plentifully given on every page. Red that follow from yielding to temptation or
Hanrahan, whose name in the title shows his from making worldly wealth or advancement
leading part in the book, what is he but a the object in life, and are thus the predeces-
personification of the author, and through sors of tragedy in its finished form; that two
him of the visionary race of learned Irish exhibit the crisis that comes to all who at the
poets in general? His quest for eternal beauty end of misspent lives must face death, and of
leads him after the Sidhe to the loss of his these two “Everyman” makes an instant ap-
true earthly love, leads him over the world peal to modern audiences; and, finally, that
a homeless wanderer feared and cursed by three deal with religious and political contro-
the commonplace and literal, leads him versy, a favorite subject for drama at all
through dreams of the terrors of limbo and times. In the course of Professor Mackenzie's
of the joys of a shadowy heaven to a lonely treatment each Morality is considered in de-
deathbed on the moors, poor of mortal com tail, its plot outlined at some length and its
fort but illuminated by glimpses from the allegorical interpretation somewhat unneces-
eternal realm of white-armed queens whose sarily expounded. A chapter is devoted also
eyes “are blue as ice.” It is all very exqui- to miracle plays that have allegorical elements
sitely suggested, as in the line from the Vision and another to nine plays that have Morality
spoken by an Irish Francesca in Hell, whose features. An excellent discussion of the
"long hair trembled about her as if it lived Moralities considered in relation to their orig-
with some terrible life of its own.” “It was inal audience closes the volume.
but the blossom of the man and the woman
we loved in one another, the dying beauty of
It is not strange that books fol-
the dust and not the everlasting beauty."
lowing an established literary
of happiness.
again in the word of Hanrahan on the place
tradition in one country are out
of that eternity. “It is very near us that of their element when translated not merely
country is; it may be on the bare hill behind into a foreign medium but into a foreign
it is, or it may be in the heart of the wood.” mode of thought. This is notably true of
The mysticism is completely there, and the the essay bearing the misleading title, “The
“natural magic” that expresses it, wherefore Science of Happiness," by M. Jean Finot.
-- the question is a rather weary sigh over the While undoubtedly possessed of some charm
ways of poets who insist on their message in the original, with the inevitable loss of this
wherefore the unnecessary tag? A prosaic quality in the translation the volume becomes
label on a fabric of cloudy sunshine and little more than the rhapsodical reflections of
shadow!
one who has deliberately undertaken a theme
If one were to judge from the and is conscientiously bound to write a book
Moralities
definition alone which Professor upon it. The work is so intently optimistic
allegories. Mackenzie gives of a Morality as to lose all perspective of the vital point
in his “The English Morality from the Point at issue. Nor does it discuss matters in any
of View of Allegory” (Ginn), one would be more than the usual form of literary allusion
inclined to share the general prejudice against and weak philosophic assumptions. This
this type of play. His definition is as follows: judgment may seem severe, and is justified
“A Morality is a play, allegorical in structure, only in terms of the appeal of such a volume
which has for its main object the teaching of to English readers. Considered in its native
some lesson for the guidance of life, and in setting, it an artificial essay without nota-
which the principal characters are personified ble message, yet wholly acceptable to ordinary
abstractions or highly universalized types. standards of criticism. (Putnam.)
From the point of view of allegory as well as
from that of the ultimate function of these
Mr. F. Loraine Petre has con-
Napoleon's
plays as conceived by their makers the moral
campaign
tinued his series of studies of
element was all in all; but what gives the
of 1814.
Napoleon's later campaigns by
Morality its merit both as an independent art a brief volume on that of 1814. Its title,
form and as a phase in the development of “Napoleon at Bay" (Lane), suggests the des-
the drama is its function as a play. It was perate situation of the Emperor after the dis-
this element, too, which gave the play its chief astrous struggle with the allied armies in
contemporary interest. So it is that when one 1813. Mr. Petre remarks that when the cam-
examines Professor Mackenzie's list of gen paign of 1814 also ended in disaster Napoleon
uine Moralities, as he groups them on the basis and his soldiers might have exclaimed with
of his definition, one finds that twenty-four Francis I. after Pavia, “All is lost save
represent a “conflict between Virtues and honor!” It is a question if that was not gone
Vices" and are therefore of the very stuff of too. The game had been dubious at best.
and


112
(August 16
THE DIAL
Three-quarters of a million Frenchmen had others, especially in such numbers, serve little
already been sacrificed within two years on purpose but personal advertisement, or rather,
the battlefields of Russia and Germany. Na- | betrayal.
betrayal. In the absence of anything but
poleon proposed to sacrifice half a million rough empirical precepts in the first part of
more, thousands of them men of family. Had the book, the careless historical notes which
they responded to his call, it would have meant follow can furnish little but precedents for
the decimation of a whole generation. Mr. blind imitation — they are given, it is said
Petre does not discuss the moral aspects of indeed, in hopes that they may prove of practi-
the situation, but deals with the detailed mili cal value. It is difficult to see how, without
tary operations. He errs, if at all, in fixing artistic principles, the author can turn out
his attention so exclusively upon the move books on art at such a rate. Perhaps, however,
ments of troops, leaving comprehensive views it is this very lack of principles which prevents
of the progress of the campaign for the con him from compacting his work, and permits
cluding chapter. His work is to be commended him to impose such an unnecessary burden on
for the solidity of the judgments it expresses. the public.
He is not inclined to ascribe, as do some of his
predecessors, Napoleon's victories to an almost
In the "The Ministry of Art"
An optimistic
supernatural foresight. He points out, for architect.
(Houghton), Mr. Ralph Adams
example, that in the case of Champaubert,
Cram has collected a series of
Montmirail, and Vauchamps much was due to
seven lectures and addresses given by him at
a succession of happy chances. Not until the
intervals during the past few years. Being
first day's fighting did Napoleon become aware
himself an architect of distinction, it is natural
how widely separated Blücher's corps were.
that the larger part of his generalizations
The author's treatment of the final movements
should deal with architecture rather than the
of the campaign, when Napoleon threatened
other arts. The prevailing note of these ut-
the communications of the allies, is also illu-
terances is highly optimistic - an interesting
minating. The volume is provided with sev-
attitude, considering how much we hear about
eral excellent maps and battle plans.
the hopelessness of modern architecture. But
Mr. Cram sees limitless and glittering possibili-
Mr. James Ward's new book,
ties opening before every artist of this day and
The use of color
in architecture.
“Color Decoration in Architec-generation, -"a new light on the hills, a new
ture" (Dutton), belongs to a type
word on the wind, a new joy in the heart."
too common, especially among a certain class Being invited to address the Royal Institute
of English writers on art. The recipe is simple,
of British Architects in London, in 1912, he
the making easy : two or three half-understood
chose for his subject “American University
quotations from Ruskin; reproductions of a
Architecture." This historical survey, told
number of fine things already often published,
in a most engaging manner, will seem to many
and of an equal number of the author's own
the most valuable chapter in the book, since
designs unlikely to be republished; a few
it interprets definite facts in the light of our
arbitrary and contestable dicta from the writ- | civilization and atmosphere. It is striking to
er's experience; a superficial historical review
note this American voice of authority, speak-
— all padded out by heavy type and wide ing to his fellows overseas, and claiming kin-
spacing to a hundred and thirty pages or so,
ship to the monks in the dim monasteries of
and by thick paper to the semblance of a vol-
the Dark Ages, thus: “Like them, we cherish
ume. Ruskin's advice against striping mould-
and conserve all that was great in our greatest
ings in contrasting colors is so unambiguous past ... leaving to our successors the equal
that it is difficult to see how any man in his
but not more honorable task of voicing in
senses could make himself believe that such
novel and adequate form the new civilization
alarming results as those of Plates VI. and XI.
we are helping to create." The publishers in
are legitimate exceptions to it; or to see how
their choice of paper, type, and delicate tints
any man quoting it with approval could per-
in the binding have contributed to the charm
petrate such things at all. The drawings by of this pleasing volume.
W. Davidson of early color decorations in sev-
eral English parish churches, in themselves the
Modern Biblical scholarship has
best feature of the book, may perhaps be new. Hebrew'traditions. essayed to trace the similarities
They are certainly worthy of a separate pub-
of its traditions with those of
lication with adequate discussion; in a brief Babylonia to the Hebrew exile of the sixth
general book such as Mr. Ward's they have century, B. C. In fact, this opinion has taken
undue emphasis. One or two of the author's deep root in some quarters. But Professor
designs, such as the one given in Plate VIII., Morris Jastrow, Jr., author of the most com-
would be acceptable in such good company; plete work extant on Babylonian religion, in
.


1914)
113
THE DIAL
his recent book, “Hebrew and Babylonian
NOTES.
Traditions” (Scribner), takes issue squarely
Miss Gertrude Tuckwell, the literary executrix
with that thesis. He concedes the close rela of the late Sir Charles Dilke, is preparing a biog-
tion that exists between early Hebrew and raphy of him.
Babylonian traditions, but lays down the
Mrs. Florence Barclay's new novel, “ The Wall
thesis that these close bonds are not due to
of Partition," will be published by Messrs. Putnam
any late contact of the two peoples. The an in the autumn.
cestor of the Hebrews came from Babylonia Mr. Basil King's new novel, “ The Letter of the
and carried with him the traditions and beliefs Contract,” will be published immediately by
of his forebears. Not only so, but many of Messrs. Harper.
these traditions were the common property of 66 Oxford Garlands" is the title of a new series
the early Semites both in Babylonia and far of small anthologies which will be issued by the
ther west. The Babylonian records of the Oxford University Press.
creation, of the sacred garden, of the deluge, A new edition of “Bullfinch's Mythology," in
are preserved in more than one form. Indeed, one volume, with thirty-two illustrations, is an-
the inscriptions can be compared word for nounced by Messrs. Crowell.
word with the Biblical stories. Their similar Sir Douglas Mawson's new book, " The Mawson
ities are astonishing and establish at once an Antarctic Relief Expedition,” will be published in
early relationship. But the most startling the autumn by Messrs. Lippincott.
facts, and those upon which Professor Jastrow Mr. Howard Sutherland's book on immortality,
builds his book, are just those in which the “ The Promise of Life,” will be published in the
traditions totally differ from each other. These
autumn by Messrs. Rand, McNally & Co.
differences are seen in the significant religious Mr. E. H. Lacon Watson has written a novel
ideas of the two traditions. The Hebrew entitled “ Cloudesley Tempest,” which is announced
record has been purged of the primitive poly- for publication in England by Mr. John Murray.
theism that colors the Babylonian account. “ Crab Apples" is the title of a volume of
Its ethics and ideals are all of a far superior sketches of Hungarian society by_Miss Olga Dar-
order, and bespeak for the Old Testament
day which are said to resemble Herr Schnitzler's
writers and prophets a loftier conception of
Anatol dialogues.
the ruler of men and the world, and thus of
M. Henry Bordeaux's new novel, “ La Maison,"
the people whom they represented. Professor
has been translated into English by Mrs. Louise
Jastrow has abundantly proved his thesis, and
Seymour Houghton and will be published by
Messrs. Duffield.
shown wherein the later Hebrew traditions
The “ Practical Book of Period Furniture," by
are vastly superior to the other divergent de-
Mr. Harold Donaldson Eberlein and Mr. Abbot
velopment seen in Babylonian documents.
McClure, is to be an early issue in Messrs. Lippin-
cott's “ Practical Series."
The second volume of Mr. Compton Mackenzie's
BRIEFER MENTION.
trilogy of novels of which the first was called
“ Youth's Encounter" in its American edition will
The edition of Macaulay's “ History of En-
be published in the autumn.
gland” (Macmillan) which Professor Charles Hard Mr. Joseph Conrad's new novel, “ Victory," is
ing Firth has edited is the first illustrated edition. now completed, but is not likely to be published
Three of the six volumes have now been published.
before spring. The scene is laid in the Eastern
They give evidence that the body of illustrations seas of some of his early books.
to be drawn upon for Macaulay's narrative is an Mrs. Hubert Bland has made a selection of the
especially rich one. Professor Firth has been able essays her husband wrote for the “ Sunday Chron-
to secure unusually fine photographs of pictures icle” which it is to be hoped will be published in
from the Sutherland Collection, the National Por this country as it has been in England.
trait Gallery, and from many private sources. A Mr. W. L. Cribb is the author of " Greylake and
number are excellently reproduced in color.
Mallerby," a novel of Lincolnshire which Messrs.
Four new volumes have just come to hand in Holt will publish on August 22. At the same time
the “Everyman's Library (Dutton). They are this company will publish a novel entitled “ Love's
Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell's autobiography, “Pioneer Legend,” by Mr. H. Fielding-Hall.
Work for Women,” with an introduction by Mrs. “ The Rise of the Working Class,” by Mr.
M. G. Fawcett; Colley Cibber's “Apology for His Algernon Sidney Crapsey;
Algernon Sidney Crapsey; “Canadian Nights,"
Life,” prefaced by the appreciation of Hazlitt; | by Mr. Albert Hickman; and “Living up to Letch-
James A. Froude's “ The Life of Benjamin Dis- wood," by Mr. Julian Street, are among the books
raeli”; and Frederic Seebohm's “The Oxford announced for immediate publication by the Cen-
Reformers." All these books are worth reprinting tury Co.
for one reason and another, and the first, in par Mrs. Josephine Daskam Bacon has written the
ticular, is a record of courage and intelligence story of a young society woman who develops the
deserving of wide circulation.
ambition to do something in the world, which
72


114
(August 16
THE DIAL
Messrs. Appleton will publish at once under the
title of “To-day's Daughter."
The third and last volume of Mr. J. D. Beres-
ford's series of novels recording the history of
Jacob Stahl will be published in England in Jan-
uary. The second volume, “A Candidate for
Truth,” was published two years ago by Messrs.
Little, Brown & Co.
Mr. H. G. Wells's new novel, “ Bealby," which
is running serially in “Collier's Weekly," opens
in a vein of rollicking farce. Its manner is much
nearer that of “Kipps” or “The History of Mr.
Polly " than that of “ The New Machiavelli
“ The Passionate Friends."
Herr Arthur Schnitzler's “Liebelei” will be
issued this month under the title of Playing
with Love," by Messrs. McClurg. “The Pro-
logue to Anatol,” which is to be included in the
translation, was not printed with Mr. Granville
Barker's paraphrase of the Anatol dialogues.
or
LIST OF NEW BOOKS.
[The following list, containing 108 titles, includes books
received by THE DIAL since its last issue.]
BIOGRAPHY AND REMINISCENCES.
Life of Francis Galton. By Karl Pearson. Vol-
ume I.; illustrated, 4to, 242 pages. G. P. Put-
nam's Sons.
William Gray of Salem, Merchant: A Biographical
Sketch by Edward Gray. Illustrated, large 8vo,
124 pages.
Houghton Mifflin Co. $4. net.
Oscar Wilde and Myself. By Lord Alfred Douglas.
Illustrated, 8vo, 306 pages. Duffield & Co.
$2.50 net.
Wagner as Man and Artist. By Ernest Newman.
Illustrated in photogravure, 8vo, 386 pages.
E. P. Dutton & Co. $3.50 net.
With Mr. Chamberlaip in the United States and
Canada, 1887-1888. By Sir Willoughby Maycock.
Illustrated, large 8vo,
278
pages. London:
Chatto & Windus.
Life and Letters of Nathan Smith, M. D. By Emily
A. Smith; with Introduction by William H.
Welch, LL.D. Illustrated, 8vo, 185 pages. Yale
University Press. $2.25 net.
HISTORY.
The Whig Party in the South. By Arthur Charles
Cole, Ph.D. 12mo, 392 pages. Oxford University
Press.
Chronicles of Three Free Cities: Hamburg, Bremen,
Lübeck. By Wilson King. Illustrated' in color,
etc., 8vo, 464 pages. E. P. Dutton & Co. $4. net.
Reconstruction in North Carolina. By J. G. de
Roulhac Hamilton, Ph.D. Large 8vo, 683 pages.
Columbia University Press. Paper, $4. net.
A Short History of the Egyptian People. By E. A.
Wallis Budge, Litt.D. illustrated in color, etc.,
12mo, 280 pages. E. P. Dutton & Co. $1. net.
The History of England: From the Accession of
James the Second. By Lord Macaulay; edited
by Charles Harding Firth, M.A. Illustrated in
color, etc., large 8vo. Macmillan Co. $3.25 net.
Jahrbuch der Deutsch-Amerikanischen Historischen
Gesellschaft von Illinois. Compiled by Julius
Goebel. 8vo, 359 pages. Chicago: German
American Historical Society of Illinois. Paper.
Memoirs as a Source of English History: The Stan-
hope Essay, 1914. By L. Rice-Oxley. 12mo, 54
pages. Oxford: B. H. Blackwell.
GENERAL LITERATURE.
Essays. By Alice Meynell. 12mo,
266
pages.
Charles Scribner's Sons.
The Literature of the Egyptians. By E. A. Wallis
Budge, Litt.D. Illustrated in color, etc., 12mo,
272 pages.
E. P. Dutton & Co. $1. net.
The Birds of the Latin Poets. By Ernest Whitney
Martin. 8vo, 260 pages. Stanford University.
Paper.
Chants Communal. By Horace Traubel. 12mo, 194
pages. New York: Albert and Charles Boni.
$1. net.
The Evolution of Technic in Elizabethan Tragedy.
By Harriott Ely Fansler, Ph.D. 12mo, 283 pages.
Chicago: Row, Peterson & Co. $1.25 net.
DRAMA AND VERSE.
The Mob: A Play in Four Acts. By John Gals-
worthy. 12mo, 76 pages. Charles Scribner's
Sons. 60 cts. net.
Modern Anglo-Irish Verse: An Anthology Selected
from the work of Living Irish Poets. By Padric
Gregory. 12mo, 375 pages. London: David Nutt.
Lyrics of GIl Vincente, with the Portuguese Text.
Translated by Aubrey F. G. Bell. 12mo, 130
pages. Oxford: B. H. Blackwell.
Elin Songs of Sunland. By Charles Keeler. Third
edition, enlarged; decorated, large 8vo, 115
pages. G. P. Putnam's Sons. $1.50 net.
The Battle of the Seven Arts: A French Poem. By
Henri D'Andeli; edited_and translated by Louis
John Paetow. 4to. Berkeley: University of
California Press. Paper.
At the Shrine, and Other Poems. By George Her-
bert Clarke. 12mo, 146 pages. Stewart & Kidd
Co. $1.25 net.
The Man You Love: A Play in Four Acts. By Rob-
ert A. Kasper. 12mo, 149 pages. Richard G.
Badger. $1. net.
Through Realms of Song. By Isaac Bassett Choate.
12mo, 196 pages. Boston: Chapple Publishing
Co., Ltd. $i. net.
FICTION.
The Story of Duclehurst: A Tale of the Mississippi.
By Charles Egbert Craddock. 12mo, 439 pages.
Macmillan Co. $1.35 net.
Ten Minute Stories. By Algernon Blackwood.
12mo, 271 pages. E. P. Dutton & Co. $1.35 net.
Oh! James! By H. M. Edginton. Illustrated, 12mo,
321 pages. Little, Brown & Co. $1.30 net.
Telling the Truth. By William Hewlett. 12mo, 292
pages. Duffield & Co. $1.25 net.
The Lights Are Bright. By Louise Kennedy Mabie.
With frontispiece, 12mo, 289 pages. Harper &
Brothers. $1.25 net.
The Vanished Messenger. By E. Phillips Oppenheim.
Illustrated, 12mo, 332 pages. Little, Brown & Co.
$1.30 net.
Flying U Ranch. By B. M. Bower. Illustrated in
color, etc., 12mo, 260 pages. G. W. Dillingham
Co. $1.25 net.
The Wasp. By Theodore Goodrich Roberts. Illus-
trated, 12mo, 352 pages. G. W. Dillingham Co.
$1.25 net.
That Affair at Portstead Manor. By Gladys Edson
Locke. 8vo, 266 pages. Sherman, French & Co.
$1.25 net.
Goddess of the Dawn. By Margaret Davies Sulli-
van. Illustrated in color, etc., 12mo, 341 pages.
G. W. Dillingham Co. $1.25 net.
The Great Amulet. By Maud Diver. Revised and
rewritten edition; i2mo, 504 pages. G. P. Put-
nam's Sons. $1.35 net.
The Pirate of Panama: A Tale of the Fight for
Buried Treasure. By William MacLeod Raine.
Illustrated, 12mo, 316 pages. G. W. Dillingham
Co. $1.25 net.
The Greenstone Door. By William Satchell. 12mo,
399 pages.
Macmillan Co. $1.25 net.
Matthew Ferguson: A Romance. By Margaret
Blake. Illustrated, 12mo, 538 pages. G. W. Dil-
lingham Co. $1.25 net.
An Unfinished Song. By Mrs. Ghosal (Srimati
Svarna Kumari Devi). 12mo, 219 pages. Mac-
millan Co. $1.50 net.
Captain Desmond, V. C. By Maud Diver. Revised
and rewritten edition; 12mo, 450 pages. G. P.
Putnam's Sons. $1.35 net.
An Armenian Princess: A Tale of Anatolian Peas.
ant Life. By Edgar James Banks. 12mo, 252
pages. Richard G. Badger. $1.25 net.
Erna Vitek. By Alfred Kreymborg. 12mo, 131
pages. New York: Albert & Charles Boni.
$1. net.
TRAVEL AND DESCRIPTION.
Hunting in the Arctic and Alaska. By E. Marshall
Scull. Illustrated, 8vo, 304 pages. John C. Win-
ston Co.
Travel and Politics in Armenia. By Noel Buxton
and Harold Buxton; with Introduction by Vis-
count Bryce. Illustrated, 12mo, 274 pages. Mac-
millan Co. $1.50 net.
Iceland: Horse Back Tours in Saga Land. By
W. S. C. Russell. Illustrated, 8vo, 314 pages.
Richard G. Badger. $2. net.


1914 ]
115
THE DIAL
PUBLIC AFFAIRS.- POLITICS, SOCIOLOGY, AND
ECONOMICS.
An Economic History of Russia. By James Mavor,
Ph.D. In 2 volumes, 8vo. E. P. Dutton & Co.
$10. net.
Our Many-sided Navy. By Robert Wilden Neeser.
Illustrated, 8vo, 220 pages. Yale University
Press. $2.50 net.
Juvenile Courts and Probation. By Bernard Flex-
ner and Roger N. Baldwin. Illustrated, 8vo, 308
pages. Century Co. $1.25 net.
Studies in Taxation under John and Henry II. By
Sydney K. Mitchell, Ph.D. 8vo, 407 pages. Yale
University Press. $2. net.
Report of the International Commission to Inquire
into the Causes and Conduct of the Balkan Wars.
Illustrated, large 8vo, 410 pages. Washington:
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
Problems of Child Welfare. By George B. Mangold,
Ph.D. 8vo, 522 pages. Macmillan Co. $2. net.
Reducing the Cost of Living. By Scott Nearing.
12mo, 343 pages. George W. Jacobs & Co.
$1.25 net.
International Relations of the United States. Large
Svo, 357 pages. Baltimore: American Academy
of Political and Social Science. Paper.
Children in Bondage. By Edwin Markham, Ben-
jamin B. Lindsey, and George Creel; with Intro-
duction by Owen R. Lovejoy. Illustrated, 8vo,
411 pages. Hearst's International Library Co.
$1.50 net.
Shall I Drink? By Joseph H. Crooker. 12mo, 257
pages. Pilgrim Press. $1. net.
Religion and Drink. By E. A. Wasson, Ph.D. 12mo,
301 pages. New York: Burr Printing House.
The Question of Alcohol. By Edward Huntington
Williams, M.D. 16mo, 128 pages. New York:
The Goodhue Co.
Our Mexican Conflicts. By Thomas B. Gregory.
Illustrated, 12mo, 158 pages. Hearst's Interna-
tional Library Co. 50 cts. net.
ART AND MUSIC.
New Guides to Old Masters. By John C. Van Dyke.
New volumes: Madrid - Critical Notes on the
Prado; Vienna, Budapest – Critical Notes on
the Imperial Gallery and Budapest Museum.
Each with frontispiece, 16mo. Charles Scribner's
Sons. Per volume, $1. net.
The Charm of the Antique. By Robert and Eliza-
beth Shackleton. Illustrated in color, etc., 8vo,
300 pages. Hearst's International Library Co.
$2.50 net.
Orchestration. By Cecil Forsyth. Large 8vo, 517
pages. 'Musician's Lil y." Macmillan Co.
NATURE AND OUT-DOOR LIFE.
Manual of Fruit Insects. By Mark Vernon Slinger-
land and Cyrus Richard Crosby. Illustrated,
12mo, 503 pages. Macmillan Co. $2. net.
Bird Paradise: An Intimate Account of a Lifelong
Friendship with Bird Parishioners. By John
Bartlett Wicks. Illustrated, Svo, 272 pages.
George W. Jacobs & Co.
The Training of a Forester. By Gifford Pinchot.
Illustrated, 12mo, 149 pages. J. B. Lippincott
Co. $1. net.
RELIGION AND THEOLOGY.
A Grammar of the Greek New Testament in the
Light of Historical Research. By A. T. Robert-
son, LL.D. Large 8vo, 1360 pages. George H.
Doran Co. $5. net.
Paul and the Revolt against Him. By William
Cleaver Wilkinson. 8vo, 258 pages. Griffith &
Rowland Press. $1. net.
The Last Incarnation. Translated from the French
of A. Constant. 12mo, 171 pages. Richard G.
Badger. $1. net.
The Layman Revato: A Story of a Restless Mind
in Buddhist India at the Time of Greek Influ-
ence. By Edward P. Buffet. 4to, 106 pages.
New York: Douglas C. McMurtrie. $2. net.
Through the Bible Day by Day: A Devotional Com-
mentary. By F. B. Meyer, B.A.; arranged by
James McConaughty. Illustrated, 12mo, 218
pages. Philadelphia: American Sunday-School
Union. 50 cts. net.
PHILOSOPHY AND PSYCHOLOGY.
The Great Society: A Psychological Analysis. By
Graham Wallas. 8vo, 383 pages. Macmillan Co.
$2. net.
Feeble-mindedness: Its Causes and Consequences.
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Greek Philosophy. By John Burnet. Part I., Thales
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The Statesman's Year-book, 1914. Edited by
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Writings on American History, 1912. Compiled by
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EDUCATION,
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Yale
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The Thinking Hand; or, Practical Education in the
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First volumes: Learning and Doing, by Edgar
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State and County Educational Reorganization: The
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The Future of Education. By F. Clement C. Eger-
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Report of the Commissioner of Education for the
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Washington: Government Printing Office.
Two Years before the Mast. By Richard Henry
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Scott, Foresman & Co. 40 cts. net.
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News, Ads, and Sales: The Use of English for Com-
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The Kitchen Garden and the Cook: An Alphabetical
Guide to the Cultivation of Vegetables with
Recipes for Cooking Them. Collected and ar-
ranged by Cecilia Maria Pearse. 8vo, 283 pages.
E. P. Dutton & Co. $1.50 net.
The Art of Being Alive: Success through Thought.
By Ella Wheeler Wilcox. 12mo, 200 pages. Har-
per & Brothers. $1. net.
The Philosophy of Radio-activity, or, Selective In-
volution. By Eugene Coleman Savidge. 8vo,
159 pages.
William R. Jenkins Co. $1.50 net.
The Source, Chemistry, and Use of Food Products.
By E. H. S. Bailey, Ph.D. Illustrated, 8vo, 517
pages. P. Blakiston's Son & Co. $1.60 net.
Low Cost Recipes. Compiled by Edith Gwendolyn
Harbison. 12mo, 208 pages. George W. Jacobs &
Co. 75 cts. net.
The Apsley Cookery Book, Containing 503 Recipes
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12mo, 268 pages. London: J. & A. Churchill.
Literature for Children. By Orton Lowe. 12mo, 298
pages. Macmillan Co. 90 cts. net.
Home University Library. New volumes: Chaucer
and His Times, by Grace E. Hadow; The Wars
between England and America, by Theodore
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General Nursing. By Eva C. E. Lückes. Ninth edi.
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Co. $1.25 net.
The Rousing of Parkside. By William Ganson Rose.
16mo, 61 pages. Duffield & Co.
How to Play Baseball: A Manual for Boys. By
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116
(August 16
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THE DIAL
A Semi-Monthly Journal of Literary Criticism, Discussion, and Information.
THE DIAL (founded in 1880) is published on tho 1st and
16th of each month. TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION, $8. a year in
advanos, postage prepaid in the United States and Mexico;
Foreign and Canadian postage 50 cents per year extra. RE-
MITTANCKS should be by check, or by express or postal order,
payablo to THE DIAL. Unless otherwise ordered, subscrip-
tions will begin with the current number. When no direct
request to discontinue at expiration of subscription is re-
osived, it is assumed that a continuance of the subscription is
desired. ADVERTISING RATES furnished on application.
Published by THE HENRY O. SHEPARD COMPANY,
632 So. Sherman St., Chicago.
Entered as Second-Class Matter October 8, 1892, at the Post
Office at Chicago, Illinois, under Act of March 3, 1879.
Vol. LVII.
SEPTEMBER 1, 1914.
No. 677.
CONTENTS.
PAGE
SERIALS VERSUS NOVELS
125
PICTURES AND WORDS. Charles Leonard
Moore
127
CASUAL COMMENT
129
A protest against unreason.- Translated
writings of José Rizal.— The martial muse.-
An inexhaustible source of sinewy English.
Mementoes of George Borrow.- Easily dis-
couraged library-users.— Humors of a ducal
correspondence.- The library as a promoter
of reform.— The Belgians of Cæsar's “ Com-
mentaries.” Summer work of the public
library.-A poem's centennial.- Why women
do not buy more books.- The fascination of
forbidden fiction.— The ancient dispute as to
the authorship of the Waverley novels.
COMMUNICATIONS
133
Mexico's First Book. Henry Lewis Bullen.
A Poet's Plaint. P. F. B.
In Defence of Autograph-hunters. John
Thomas Lee.
The Banished Books. L. T. D.
THE RELEVANCE OF WAR. Edward B.
Krehbiel
135
THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SCIENTIFIC
MAN. T. D. A. Cockerell
136
THE GERMAN EMPIRE. Frederic Austin Ogg 138
LOLLARDY AND THE REFORMATION IN
ENGLAND. W. P. Reeves
139
MOUNTAINEERING IN CANADA. Lawrence
J. Burpee :
141
BRIEFS ON NEW BOOKS
142
The future of Mongolia.— Early papers of
Bret Harte. - The place of Japan.- Expe-
riences of a militant suffragist.— Alaska in
winter.— The noisome fly.—A study of
Henry V.-A study of naval efficiency - The
evolution of criminal laws and courts.
BRIEFER MENTION
146
NOTES
146
TOPICS IN SEPTEMBER PERIODICALS 147
LIST OF NEW BOOKS
148
SERIALS VERSUS NOVELS.
Why is it that English novels are better
than American novels ? It will readily be
replied that the audience to which the serious
literary artist may appeal is much larger in
England than in the United States. But this
reply does not take into account the fact that
the better English novelists find at least half
their audience in the United States. This
was true at least as long ago as the time when
George Meredith was trying to find a public.
He took comfort in his American readers,
who, he said, were the first to pay him the
tribute of buying his books in considerable
numbers. It is true now, when novelists like
Mr. Wells, Mr. Galsworthy, and Mr. Conrad
have quite as many admirers on this side of
the Atlantic as on the other. At this point
it will be replied that audiences have nothing
to do with the matter while individual artists
have everything to do with it. Perhaps this
is the reply of wisdom. But there is an eco-
nomic consideration to be noted.
The actual demand in the two English-
speaking countries may be the same; the
method of supply is not. The United States
is above all others the country of the maga-
zine. It has been said, doubtless with a touch
of exaggeration, that the United States pro-
duces more magazines than all the other coun-
tries of the civilized world together. Other
countries produce books. Even Japan pub-
lishes six or seven times as many books per
capita as does the United States. England,
though it is second only to the United States
in the profusion of its periodicals, is still a
country of book-readers.
There are some-
thing like ten times as many books published
in England as in the United States. The re-
sult is that novels are written in England for
readers of books; in the United States for
readers of magazines.
Possibly the American temperament - if
there is such a thing — is by nature devoted
to the magazine and not to the book. Possi-
bly the tremendous production of magazines
in this country is an expression of the race
which occupies it. But it seems more probable
that an accident in the shape of the second-
class postage rates has been the potent factor
.
.
.
.
.
.
.


126
(Sept. 1
THE DIAL
in building up the magazine at the expense gent appreciation and in the case of another
of the book. At any rate there is no denying the lowest common denominator is that of the
that in the past thirty years and more the tens of thousands of "educated persons” the
government regulations have been much more principle is the same. Cases might be cited in
favorable to the magazine business than to the which the first condition produced a more re-
book business. It has apparently been more spectable work of art than the second !
profitable to supply the demand for reading But this is not all. It is not only that mag-
matter in the form of weekly or monthly azine fiction must please (and especially must
periodicals than in the form of single volumes. not offend) the majority. The limitations of
It goes for nothing that hardly one in a the serial form are peculiarly cramping to the
dozen American novels is actually published genius of the novel. If the novel is anything
serially in a magazine. The point is that not it is loose. Fine novels have been written
one in a dozen American novels is written re which were not loose. But always the novel
gardless of the possibilities of serial publica- has returned to looseness. Any critically
tion. It would be strange if many of them selected list of the dozen great novels would
were written regardless of these very concrete be unusual if it contained two that were writ-
possibilities. Serial publication offers, in addi ten to a formal pattern. But no pattern ever
tion to the book royalties, from $500 to $5000 chosen by an artist in fiction is as elaborate
to the fortunate author who secures it for his as that to which the serial is pressed to ad-
novel. What we say to our American novel- just itself. No artist would ever willingly
ists is this: Write the kind of novel that can choose to produce one climax after another
be printed in a magazine before it is printed at brief intervals in his narrative and no
in a book, and we will pay you a bonus of, artist would ever ask that his narrative be
say, $2500. England says nothing of the read in instalments. Finally, no artist would
kind.
The English magazines use fewer suggest that fifty thousand words be cut out
serials than do ours and pay far less for those of the middle of his novel as was done by
they do use.
an American editor in the case of one of
The limitations of magazine publication are Mr. Wells's recent books.
patent enough. A magazine is dependent on It may be objected that the disadvantages
finding a large public and finding it quickly. of serial publication are in process of disap-
The circulation of such a weekly as the pearance. Some commentators — in sharp
“Saturday Evening Post” or such a monthly disagreement with the rest of us — have found
as the “Cosmopolitan” is practically outside new willingness in certain magazines to deal
the possibilities of the circulation of novels frankly with sex or with the industrial ma-
when the element of time is taken into ac jority or with some other matter subject to
count. And the magazines which print fic taboo. At least one writer has developed a
tion but which have not achieved such a formula for writing fiction in which situa-
circulation as either of the two we have men tions intended to titillate are cautiously re-
tioned endeavor to get just such a circulation. solved in a manner calculated to appease Mrs.
There are a few apparent exceptions; but we Grundy. His freedom, however new or old.
venture to say that there is not a magazine is a freedom that no artist ever wanted and
of high quality published in the United States that no artist ever took: it is a freedom
which has not refused serial publication to a to lie. The difficulties of serial publication are
novel for the reason that the editor did not inherent difficulties. They may be modified
dare to print it.
but they can never be abrogated.
Success, even success of prestige, means To say, then, that America is the country
catering to the tastes and deferring to the of the serial while England is the country of
prejudices of the more conventional and the the novel is to say that America is the home
less appreciative minds among the hundreds of Mr. Booth Tarkington and Mr. Robert W.
of thousands of possible readers.
It means
Chambers and Mr. Winston Churchill while
appealing to the lowest common denominator. | England is the home of Mr. Joseph Conrad
If in the case of one magazine the lowest com and Mr. H. G. Wells and Mr. John Gals-
mon denominator is that of the millions who worthy. Or is it? Is the comparison wholly
have lacked either the natural endowment or fair?
the opportunity necessary to develop intelli If it is not fair it is because the accident


1914)
127
THE DIAL
of birth is a factor. The individual artist does the Moving Picture business seems to be grasp-
supremely count. He does find his way in ing the players and the playhouses in its grasp.
spite of the difficulties. We believe quite To the players it offers a simultaneous exhibi-
simply that if there is a young man of genius tion of themselves at a hundred, perhaps a
for the art of fiction in the United States
thousand places. To the public it offers a
to-day nothing but sudden death will prevent
cheaper entertainment than has ever been
known before. It is curious to hear people
him from speaking to us in his own fashion
in remote villages discussing the merits of Mr.
regardless of the demands of serial publica- Bosworth or Mr. Bunny, as the inhabitants of
tion. But if the comparison is partly fair cities used to talk of Booth or Irving. We
it is because novels such as some six or a dozen
may dislike to see the drama “flicker down to
English writers have been giving us are (with brainless pantomime"; we may object to have
an exception or two to be noted a generation the theatre poet and the novelist turned into
from now) the product of talent rather than
makers of dumb-show scenarios. But the new
of genius, the result of honest intelligence art is not on probation; it is overwhelmingly
and sturdy craftsmanship rather than of any
triumphant.
spark of the divine fire. And to talent the
And as a means of education, as a substitute
conditions of life and of publication—they are
for travel, even as a subsidiary form of enter-
nearly the same thing - do truly matter. A
tainment, it has proved its value. But we do
not believe that the impressions it makes are
nation which bribes its young writers to do
deep or permanent. We do not believe its
clever serials rather than sound novels is
excitements will ever rival those of the great
forced to wait long not only for that represen arts. “I go to the Moving Pictures because
tation of its manners which it is the novelist's I don't have to think,” said an acquaintance
business to furnish, but also for that imag to us. The “tired business man” has dictated
inative interpretation of its life which it is the course of the drama for a good while, and
his privilege to make.
apparently he now has something that suits
him better. But an art which eliminates
thinking and, to a great extent, sympathetic
emotion is not likely to go far. When photog-
PICTURES AND WORDS.
raphy itself was first introduced it was gen-
We remember seeing not long ago in a news erally thought that the death-warrant of the
paper a group of eight small pictures which artist had been signed. But photography has
admirably briefed or summarized one of the been found a brainless and soulless substitute
novels of Mr. Hall Caine. Underneath them for the thinking mind, the creative hand.
was the legend "Why read novels ?” It did Picture writing is probably the oldest of
seem superfluous in the face of such short the graphic arts. To represent things and
hand. But in books and magazines the illus-ideas by symbols certainly antedates the rep-
trations seem to be getting the upper hand resentation of them by words. And always
of what is illustrated. Newspapers are be among the ignorant or undeveloped the pic-
coming a mass of photographs from life with torial art assumes immense importance. Chil-
merely a trickle of commenting text. People dren get their first education from picture
seem to go through business and games, to per books. When reading was almost a hieratic
form heroic deeds, to get married or hanged, art as among the ancient Hindus, Persians,
not for any interest in these things themselves, and Egyptians, or among Europeans a few
but simply as an excuse for posing before a hundred years ago, pictures were almost the
camera. And then there are the Moving Pic-only means of impressing religious or histor-
tures!
ical notions upon the masses. Perhaps it
We have had many a special wonder in the would be truer to say that only since the in-
way of inventions to overcome us in recent vention of printing has the universal reign of
years, the telegraph, the telephone, wireless, the word come in. It is only natural then that
the bicycle, the automobile — but none of these the people should catch at the visible repre-
is more miraculous in essence or has spread sentation of things and actions when it is
over the world so instantaneously as the Mov- offered them.
ing Pictures. Events have been taught to The partial eclipse of words, however, is a
record themselves, so that Time seems to merge serious threat to intelligence. Speech is man's
into Eternity. Yesterday is abolished ! highest prerogative; language is his all-con-
The Theatre, too, as it has existed from the quering weapon. Nations trained, either by
beginning of the world, seems in a fair way the spoken drama or the printed book, in the
to be abolished. Like a myriad-armed octopus use of noble, significant, and delicate language,


128
[ Sept. 1
THE DIAL
are certainly likely to be more civilized and to mankind; how much more then must it
powerful than if they should be content to thrill when it can have real locomotives going
get ideas flashed upon their brains by the at real speed, real collisions, real battles, mur-
means of pictures. Imagine the effect upon ders, and all the incidents of moving life.
an audience of the presentation of “ The Plato condemned poetry because the actual
School for Scandal” in pictures; all the wit world being the mere shadow of the primal
and malicious phrase and delineation of hu- Ideas, the poet was working at second hand
man nature left out, and nothing given but and giving an imitation of an imitation. But
the dumb show of the scenes! Or “As You Plato was probably wrong. The poet, work-
Like It" or "Macbeth” produced with all ing from the materials furnished him by
their poetry and infinite suggestion of lan- | nature, seems to reassemble them into some-
guage omitted. Then imagine this method ap- thing that approaches the God-sprung Ideas.
plied to all plays past, present, or to come, and As has often been pointed out, Achilles is
surely it would breed a race of unparalleled truer and more potent than Alexander,
stupidity. Spectacle the Moving Pictures can Hamlet than Charles V., Shakespeare's Rich-
give, though certainly not with the effective ard III. than the actual tyrant of England.
ness of figures and masses in the round, fixed, Passing through the alembic of a poet's mind
or moving in real space and distance. The these figures have acquired a validity and uni-
coarser and more violent kind of action they versality that they did not have in life. Nay,
can give; but violence seems almost a neces we will go farther and say that natural scenes
sity as it is in pantomime. The exhibition of rarely come up to the concentrated images of
finer shades of feeling and thought, of matters them presented us by the poets. Has anybody
interior and spiritual, must be abandoned. but Shakespeare ever seen
The Moving Pictures produce something like
“Jocund day
the same effect as witnessing the performance Stand tiptoe on the misty mountain top” ..
of a play in an unknown language. We re-
member seeing Salvini in “King Lear,” and, such a rush of impressions, such a sense of
Has anyone ever got from an actual oak wood
though of course familiar with the play, the
multitudinous power as Keats furnishes in
lack of instant recognition of the spoken word
the following lines?
made us feel that the great actor was a Jew
peddler trying to sell Goneril a bill of goods.
“ As when upon a trancèd summer night
Of course our whole criticism is predicated
Those green robed senators of ancient woods,
on the idea that the Moving Picture shows are
Tall oaks, branch charmed by the earnest stars,
Dream, and so dream all night without a stir,
pushing the real Theatres aside, are taking
Save from some gradual solitary gust,
over to themselves the entertainment and in-
Which comes upon the silence and dies off
struction of the great masses. There could
As if the ebbing air had but one wave.'
be no possible objection to them if they were
kept in proper subordination.
Art betters nature by importing into it the
Charles Reade, who always held a brief joys and fears and passions of mankind; by
Charles Reade, who always held a brief joining together remote things in unforeseen
for the Theatre, in one of his stories rebukes similitude; by giving us at once the object
a young poet for imagining that certain of
his lines have merit in themselves apart from
itself and its profound meaning. And art
works this magic more potently by the use of
the intonation and look of the actress who
words than by any other method at its dis-
utters them. The lines “O'er my bowed head,
though waves of sorrow roll, I still retain the
posal.
empire of my soul” have merit and we can
So far as we have got in the history of the
hardly imagine any elocution or gesture which
world words are the most lasting, if not the
would improve them. On the other hand, only lasting things. Language, frailer, more
critics have debated whether really great immaterial than cobwebs, lives when every-
dramas can ever be acted up to the idea which thing else perishes. In the hands of men en-
we form in reading them. Charles Lamb de- tirely great as Bulwer's Richelieu observes,
nied that “King Lear” could be adequately it conquers the conquering sword. It covers
performed and deprecated the bringing of it and outreaches all the other arts. It expresses
upon the stage as a desecration. How much ideas, which music cannot do. It records ac-
less satisfactory, then, must be the perfor- tions in time, which sculpture does not, and in
mance of any play with language, which is its space where stationary painting, at least, fails.
very soul, omitted.
It can give us impressions of color and call up
One cause of the immense success of the sensations of taste.
Moving Pictures is their realism. The real The Moving Pictures, having got rid of this
pump upon the stage has always been a joy great intermediary of language, give us real-


1914)
129
THE DIAL
:
ity raw from the shambles of life.
Of course
century boy (like the learning of the seven-
the scenarios require a certain amount of pre-teenth-century judge) taught him the exact
paratory planning and the acting a modicum reverse. Something has happened. What is
of art. In a way the business is a culmination it?” Obviously, as the author points out, it is
of the realistic movements in literature and the unconscious application of the inductive
art of modern times, and it serves the inau- method of reasoning, and the general frame of
gurators of these movements right to have the mind consequent upon that mode of reasoning.
guiding reins taken out of their hands. The It is not beyond hope that the absurdity of war
egotism of human beings always tends to push will one day be as patent as the absurdity of
idealistic and significant art aside for what is witchcraft.
seemingly literal representation, and the Mov-
ing Pictures cater to this egotism. We are
TRANSLATED WRITINGS OF JOSE RIZAL, the
afraid the business will have to run its course
Philippine patriot, hero, and martyr, as his
and will result in an indefinite postponement compatriots are fond of calling him, and the
of a really great literary, dramatic, and pic- gifted author of noted works in prose and verse,
torial rebirth in our modern world.
are brought to our attention in the June
“Bulletin of the Philippine Library." Of
CHARLES LEONARD MOORE.
these products of his pen, the best known are
the novel, “Noli Me Tangere,” translated by
CASUAL COMMENT.
Mr. Charles Derbyshire under the title, “The
Social Cancer," and the poem, “Mi Ultimo
A PROTEST AGAINST UNREASON will have Pensamiento," known in English as “My Last
weight only with the reasonable. Nevertheless Thoughts." Versions of the novel and of the
it is to be hoped that even in this mad age Mr. poem are numerous in other languages also.
Ralph Norman Angell Lane's “Arms and El Filibusterismo" is another popular novel
Industry” (discussed at greater length on of Rizal's, turned into English by Mr. Derby-
another page), a worthy sequel to “The Great shire under the title, “The Reign of Greed.”
Illusion, ” will cause some salutary thinking. Other works of his procurable in our tongue
At the very close of his very timely book, after are cited: “By Telephone,” “The Monkey
speaking of the cessation of religious wars in and the Tortoise: a Tagalog Tale, "The
the civilized world, he adds: “So with con- Philippines a Century Hence,
" with other
flicts between the political groups. They arise writings by Rizal, “The Indolence of the Fili-
from a corresponding conception of the rela-pino,” and “Elias and Salome." The Philip-
tion of military authority to political ends - pine Education Publishing Company of
those ends for which governments are founded Manila appears to be the publisher of all or
— the protection of life and property, the pro most of these works, though an abridged
motion of well-being. When it is mutually adaptation of the “Noli” was issued in 1901
realized by the parties concerned that security by McClure, Phillips & Co. under the title,
of life and property, like the security of truth, "An Eagle Flight.' Books about Rizal, pub-
is not derived from military force; that mili- lished by the Manila house already referred
tary force is as ineffective, as irrelevant, to the to, are as follows: “Lineage, Life, and Labors
end of promoting prosperity as of promoting of José Rizal,” by Mr. Austin Craig; “The
truth, then political wars will cease, as relig- Story of José Rizal, the Greatest Man of the
ious wars have ceased, for the same reason and Brown Race, a shorter memoir from the
in the same way." How this change in the same pen; and “Rizal, the Filipino Patriot,
world's mental attitude, in what it agrees to by Mr. Craig and Miss Mary H. Fee. This last
regard as common sense, is to come about, may appeared serially in "Philippine Education,
perhaps be in a rough way conjectured from and may not be procurable in book form. Fur-
another paragraph of the same chapter. "Two ther translations from Rizal, and among them
hundred and fifty years ago an educated man, “The Vision of Friar Rodriguez,
with a lawyer's knowledge of the rules of templated by Mr. Craig, who is certainly doing
evidence, condemned an old woman to death his part to spread the fame of this greatest
for changing herself into a cow or a goat. Ask man of the brown race."
a ten-year-old boy of our time whether he
thinks it likely that an old woman would or
could change herself into a cow or a goat, and THE MARTIAL MUSE, from the time of
he will almost always promptly reply, “Cer- Tyrtæus, the lame schoolmaster, kindling by
tainly not.' ... What enables the unlearned
What enables the unlearned his rude lines the Spartans to brave deeds in
boy to decide right where the learned judge their war with the Messenians, in the seventh
decided wrong? You say it is the 'instinct' of century before our era, has given to the world
the boy. But the instinct of the seventeenth much stirring verse and some that is of an
>>
ܕ ܕ
are con-


130
(Sept. 1
THE DIAL
excellence little short of the highest. It is too have my habitation in the tents of Kedar!”
early to look for any considerable poetic prod- Why can we no longer write in this vigorous
uct from the present European conflict, but a and at the same time picturesque fashion?
notable sonnet from Mr. Alfred Noyes's pen Mr. Joseph S. Auerbach, in a recent extended
has already reached our shores by cable to the essay on "The Bible and Modern Life," pleads
New York “Times.” We take the liberty to for a return to the Bible both as a book of
reprint this clear-toned message from one of religious truth and as a literary model; and
the most earnest of pacifists.
he incidentally calls attention to Lincoln's
“ Thus only should it have come, if come it must,
well-known indebtedness to the Scriptures for
Not with a riot of flags, or a mob-born cry, his strong and admirably idiomatic style as a
But with a noble faith, a conscience high writer and speaker. The Gettysburg oration,
And pure and proud as heaven, wherein we trust. as he remarks, is thickly sprinkled with
We who have fought for Peace have dared the “words of Bible memory” and phrases born
thrust
of Bible reading and Bible inspiration.”
Of calumny for Peace and watched her die,
Her 'scutcheons rent from sky to outraged sky Among them he notes the following: four-
By felon hands, and trampled into dust.
score, conceived, brought forth, dedicated,
consecrated, gave their lives that that nation
“ It is God's answer. Though for many a year might live, hallow, resting-place, increased de-
This land forgot the faith that made her great, votion, last full measure,
unfinished work,
Now, as her fleets cast off the North Sea long endure, resolve, new birth, perish from
foam,
the earth. Take these away, and much of
Casting aside all faction and all fear,
the solemn music has died out forever from
Thrice armed in all the majesty of her fate,
Britain remembers, and her sword strikes
this inspiring Battle Hymn of consecration to
home."
the Republic.”
Another sonnet born of the war and likewise
MEMENTOES OF GEORGE BORROW are desired
communicated to the above-named journal for the enrichment of the museum into which
comes from Mr. William Watson. It is ad- the Borrow house at Norwich has been turned
dressed, in taunting accents, to “The Troubler since the late celebration there in his honor.
of the World," and begins :
A curious contrast is presented by the two
At last we know you, War Lord. You that flung marked personalities that are, in the minds of
The gauntlet down, fling down the mask you
many of us, associated most intimately with
wore.”
the shire town of Norfolk,- George Borrow
It ends:
and James Martineau. And the contrast is
“ And not by earth shall he be soon forgiven heightened and made to take on a somewhat
Who set the fire accurst that flames to-day.”
comical aspect by the image of young Borrow
The silence of Mr. Kipling at this juncture, undergoing disciplinary treatment at the
when a warlike strain from his lyre would hands of the schoolmaster while the unwilling
naturally have been expected, is cause for Martineau fills the office of flogging-horse, a
wonder.
disservice that the castigated one never forgot
AN INEXHAUSTIBLE SOURCE OF SINEWY EN- and never forgave. But it is not to this inci-
GLISH, as has been repeatedly pointed out in dent that attention is now called. The city
the past, and will be, we hope, repeatedly librarian of Norwich, Mr. George A. Stephen,
pointed out in the future, is the King James asks publicity for the following: “On the
version of the Bible. In the literature that occasion of the George Borrow celebration in
is nearer in time than we are to the makers Norwich last year, the house in which Borrow
of that version, it is a pleasure to note the resided with his parents when in Norwich was
evident influence of the biblical style upon the acquired by Mr. A. M. Samuel (then lord
phraseology of many of the best writers. mayor of Norwich) and presented by him to
Opening at random Izaak Walton's "Lives," the Norwich Corporation with the view of its
we chance upon the following reference to the being maintained as a Borrow Museum. The
unworthy spouse foisted upon Richard Hooker Norwich Public Library Committee has just
by the artful Mrs. Churchman: “Now, the undertaken to collaborate in the development
wife provided for him was her daughter Joan, of the literary side of the museum, and would
who brought him neither beauty nor portion; therefore gladly welcome donations or infor-
and for her conditions, they were too like mation respecting the whereabouts of any
that wife's, which is by Solomon compared Borrow letters and manuscripts, engravings,
to a dripping house: so that the good man or photographs of Borrow's friends and places
had no reason to rejoice in the wife of his described in his works, and other items of
youth; but too just cause to say with the holy Borrovian interest." Communications may be
Prophet, Wo is me, that I am constrained to addressed to Mr. Stephen.


1914 )
131
THE DIAL
EASILY DISCOURAGED LIBRARY-USERS, who, injured wife “to her mother and father-in-
after a feeble attempt to profit by the wealth law concerning the bad behaviour of her hus-
of printed matter placed at their disposal, band, the management of his estate, and her
abandon the enterprise and are seen no more plans for the marriage of her son, and other
in the halls of literature, are known to every things."
things.” All that took place two centuries
librarian. “These are some of my trials,” ago, the actors have been dead and forgotten
whined the wealthy host to his guest, John nearly as long, the paper on which the domes-
Wesley, when the fire in the grate refused to tic drama is written must be yellowed with
burn and the smoke came out into the room. time, and the ink faded; but think how real
Some of the trials of faint-hearted book- and tear-compelling and laughter-provoking
borrowers in St. Louis have been inquired into
the various incidents of that family tragi-
by Dr. Bostwick, as narrated in his current comedy must once have been. The autograph
yearly Report of the St. Louis Public Library. record of Peregrine's peccadilloes is to be had,
A thousand printed cards of inquiry, with let us inform the reader, for fifteen guineas.
return cards attached, were sent to as many
addresses, asking the reason or reasons for
THE LIBRARY AS A PROMOTER OF REFORM can
failure to re-register and continue in the
exert a powerful influence throughout its com-
enjoyment of the library's privileges. Only munity. Conspicuous for its activity in this
six hundred and eleven of these cards reached
respect is the Newark (N. J.) Public Library,
the persons addressed, and only one hundred
with its monthly “house organ,
“The
and eight elicited replies. Excuses ranged Newarker," as its mouthpiece in advocacy of
from the unanswerable one of death through all kinds of civic betterment. Its recent
the valid ones of removal from the city and espousal of the cause of the shade-tree has
ill health, down to the frivolous pretexts of doubtless tended to the beautification of the
“dislike of shelf arrangement,” “too much city's streets and the summer comfort of its
picture-show," and "too many steps to climb citizens. In Boston at the present time a
to enter building.' It is true the fine new
lively campaign, instituted by the Chamber
library building at St. Louis, with its impos- of Commerce, is in progress in the interest of
ing façade and majestic flights of steps, is safety to life and limb in the city's crowded
rather formidable of approach to the aged, the thoroughfares. Doubtless the local libraries
rheumatic, and the otherwise deficient in loco-
are doing something, through the distribution
motive agility. Let the little wayside libraries of reading matter, to save a few lives and pre-
and deposit stations of the rural districts be
vent a few bumps and bruises and broken
thankful for their easy accessibility and limbs — while, it is to be noted with depreca-
deprecate the assumption of any such Carnegie tion and abhorrence, all Europe seems bent on
magnificence and stateliness as might repel
a programme involving the senseless slaughter
rather than invite the true lover of books and of thousands and the maiming of as many
reading for their own sake.
more. At Chippewa Falls (Wis.) the public
library has lately given its aid to the outward
HUMORS OF A DUCAL CORRESPONDENCE are
purification of the city - for its inner or spir-
faintly glimpsed in an entry that we open to
itual refinement it has, of course, always
by chance in the catalogue and price list of labored.
labored. A Clean City Day was celebrated,
antograph letters and manuscripts for sale by
and patrons of the library found in the books
Messrs. Maggs Brothers, at 109 Strand, Lon-they borrowed reminders of their duty in the
don. Item 1553 is a collection of letters be-
form of bookmarks containing timely admoni-
tween members of the ducal family of Leeds,
tions headed by the words, "Fly Catechism,
and among them are mentioned thirty-six mis-
or "Fly Hints," or “Ten Commandments
sives from Peregrine, the second Duke, to his Regarding Open Lots,” or other similar cap-
wife Bridget. "All of them," we are assured,
tions. The grand truth that no man, not even
“are most affectionate letters . . . discussing
a librarian, liveth to himself, is impressing
the public and private affairs with which he
itself on our library workers in a manner un-
dreamt-of in the past by a Magliabecchi, a
was engaged and domestie matters: in several
most pathetically acknowledging his worth-
Naudé, a Panizzi, an Edwards, or even by a
Winsor or a Spofford.
lessness, begging forgiveness, and promising
better conduct in the future, which promises
were apparently never kept, to judge from the THE BELGIANS OF CÆSAR'S “COMMENTA-
several similar letters.'' This penitent Pere RIES,”as some readers will have been reminded
grine, who never got beyond vain remorse for by the course of recent events in western
his repeated lapses from virtue, is the subject Europe, were the bravest of the Gallic tribes;
of certain passages in five letters from the or, in the familiar language of the original,


132
[ Sept. 1
THE DIAL
“Horum omnium fortissimi sunt Belgae, prop home as a novelty." Perhaps there may be
terea quod a cultu atque humanitate provin- / here a seed-corn of suggestion for other
ciae longissime absunt, minimeque ad eos mer libraries and librarians.
catores saepe commeant, atque ea, quae ad
effeminandos animos pertinent, important; A POEM'S CENTENNIAL is to be celebrated at
proximique sunt Germanis, qui trans Rhenum
Baltimore this month with an unexampled
incolunt, quibuscumque continenter bellum series of musical, memorial, oratorical, spec-
gerunt. And on a later page (book two, tacular, aquatic, athletic, and other perform-
chapter four) we learn: “Plerosque Belgas
ances, in the presence of a brilliant assemblage
esse ortos ab Germanis, Rhenumque antiquitus from far and near. For a week and a day
transductos propter loci fertilitatem ibi con-
(Sept. 6-13) the writing of “The Star-
sedisse, Gallosque, qui ea loca incolerent, Spangled Banner” a century ago will be com-
expulisse, solosque esse, qui patrum nostrorum memorated and appropriate tribute paid to its
memoria, omni Gallia vexata, Teutones Cim. author, Francis Scott Key, though many of
brosque intra fines suos ingredi prohibuerint." the exercises announced on the programme are
In other words, when the Teutons of that day, of a nature little related to poetry of any sort,
together with the Cimbrians, wished to enter but of a variety that promises something
the Belgian territory in arms, in defiance of attractive to all who may attend. Parades of
international law, the sturdy Belgians with various sorts, an abundance of oratory,
un-
held their consent and gave the said Teutons veilings and dedications, historical pageant, a
and Cimbrians convincing proof of their deter-ball, a water carnival, and, finally, a “peace
mination not to be intimidated or overrun by day” will fill to overflowing the week set apart
any arrogantly assertive military power from for this memorable celebration. In the dis-
beyond the Rhine. “Sicut patribus, sit Deus play of objects of historical interest at the
nobis !” might well be the watchword at Liége Peabody Galleries will be found the original
and Namur and Brussels and Antwerp in manuscript of Key's famous verses, now the
these days.
precious possession of Mr. Henry Walters,
SUMMER WORK OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY is
and also a copy of the broadside or hand-bill
always much diminished in volume as com-
that first showed the verses to the public in
pared with winter's strenuous tasks. Long, print. Chief among the pilgrimages planned
dreamy afternoons for the reading of poetry
to outlying places of interest will be that to
and romance, the building of air-castles, the Frederick, birthplace and burial place of this
planning of ideal libraries for ideal communi-
patriotic son of the land of the free and the
ties, and indulgence in other fascinating pas-
home of the brave.
times, are at this season not unknown to the
WHY WOMEN DO NOT BUY MORE BOOKS is
custodian of the people's books. Other and
more active and perhaps, in respect to visible psychologically explained - or, at least, an
Dr. Otto
time is also not unknown. At the Minneapolis Sex and Character.” After proving, to his
results, more profitable employment of the explanation is attempted — by
Weininger in his recent remarkable work,
Public Library, for instance, the librarian goes
out and hunts for work when work fails to
own satisfaction, that women have no souls
come to her.
We read in the Report for last except so far as they possess male attributes
year : “During the summer months the
and hence are not genuine women, he says, in
library was, to a large extent, a public reading "If a woman possessed an “ego' she would
a chapter on male and female psychology:
room only. Much time was then spent by the
librarian in visiting the homes to get the par-
have the sense of property both in her own
ents’ signature for the children's cards. Many however, is much more developed in men than
case and that of others. The thieving instinct,
of the parents either do not understand the
need of going to the library for such a pur-
in women. So-called 'kleptomaniacs' (those
pose, or will not take the time or trouble to do
who steal without necessity) are almost exclu-
SO.
Beginning with October, there was
sively women. Women understand power and
steady increase in circulation of more and riches, but not personal property. When the
better books. Children, especially, got over
thefts of female kleptomaniacs are discovered,
the idea of just taking a book home for some-
the women defend themselves by saying that
thing to carry, so the other fellow' would it appeared to them as if everything belonged
see that he or she could have a library card to them. It is chiefly women who use circu-
also. The length of time they keep the books lating libraries, especially those who could
grows longer; over half the books that are quite well afford to buy quantities of books ;
issued one day do not now return the next. / but, as a matter of fact, they are not more
They are really read, and not simply carried strongly attracted by what they have bought
a


1914]
133
THE DIAL
than by what they have borrowed.” Library Mexico's first printed book was “ Doctrina Chris-
workers have long noted that women borrow tiana en la lengua mexicana y castellana," printed
ers far outnumber men borrowers, and they in the City of Mexico “en casa de Juan Crom-
will now doubtless be glad to know the reason.
berger año de mill y quinientos y trienta y nueve.”
The actual printer was Juan Pablos, an Italian,
who brought the printing plant to Mexico as
THE FASCINATION OF FORBIDDEN FICTION, the
agent for Cromberger. Cromberger, a German,
fiction banned by the public library, is well
was at the time the leading printer of Seville, and
known to be all but irresistible. Likewise the
was granted the exclusive privilege of printing in
restriction placed upon novel-borrowing by Mexico. Cromberger never came to Mexico. The
nearly all public libraries, a restriction limit- denial of freedom of printing in Spanish-speaking
ing each card-holder to one work of prose America under the rule of Spain is doubtless the
fiction at a time, generates a vehement desire
chief source of the chaotic condition of Mexican
affairs. For three centuries the ecclesiastical cen-
for two or more, so that any removal of this
bar would seem to threaten a speedy emptying sorship was absolute. “ The Inland Printer” of
of the fiction shelves, or at least the shelves of of printing in Spanish-speaking America, based
August contains a careful summary of the history
newer fiction, at the hands of the eager novel-
mainly on the published works of Señor Medina.
readers. But what actually results when the
HENRY LEWIS BULLEN.
limitation is done away with? At the Man-
Jersey City, N. J., August 17, 1914.
chester (N. H.) Public Library, as announced
in its current yearly Report, the bars were let
A POET'S PLAINT.
down a year ago, to the extent of allowing two
(To the Editor of THE DIAL.)
novels at a time to each borrower, but instead
The poet's vision is not always beatific: the
of a consequent increase in the proportion of ineffable sadness of our lot, as well as its unspeak-
fiction circulated the records show a decrease;
able joy, appeals to him. In reading again — and
which may be taken as illustrating once more not for the second or third time, either those
the undesirability of what is freely offered us, too-little-known poems of the late Francis Fisher
as compared with the charm of the interdicted. Browne collected in a small volume entitled “ Vol-
unteer Grain," I was struck by these lines from
THE ANCIENT DISPUTE AS TO THE AUTHORSHIP
“Retrogression," unfortunately so timely at pres-
ent:-
OF THE WAVERLEY NOVELS, a dispute that had
its rise one hundred years ago, has some points
“ Weep, Nature, for thy perverse child,
Thy youngest, Man; whose father, Time,
of resemblance to the later controversy still Dowered him with passions fierce and wild, -
feebly raging over the authorship of Shakes-
A heritage from out the slime.
peare's works. Like the latter, this literary
“ Where his progenitors maintained
wrangle gave occasion to the spilling of con-
Existence by unceasing strife,
siderable ink, including printers' ink. A And slowly through the ages strained
book entitled “Who Wrote the Earlier Waver-
Their way to higher forms of life,-
ley Novels?” discussed the question with all “ Of which we said, our race and age
the zeal and much of the bias displayed by the Were the consummate flower and fruit ...
Baconians of the present day in their elab-
Now our old savage heritage
Asserts in us the latent brute."
orate special pleadings. Its author, William
John Fitzpatrick, proved to his own satis To these stanzas, of so melancholy and humili-
faction that Scott's relation to “Waverley,”
ating an appositeness, it may be fitting to add the
*Guy Mannering, “Rob Roy," "The admonitory lines with which the same poet's “ Mes-
sage from Judea ” closes :-
Antiquary,” and “The Tales of My Land-
“If wrong could ever right a wrong,
lord,” was, at the utmost, nothing more Or life could be by death restored,
intimate than that of editor or compiler. How had the ills the centuries throng
Been banished from Thy Earth, O Lord!
COMMUNICATIONS.
"Oh, listen to the gentler voice
That bids all hate and violence cease;
MEXICO'S FIRST BOOK.
And trust sad Earth may yet rejoice
Within the blessed reign of peace.”
(To the Editor of THE DIAL.)
P. F. B.
The reference in THE DIAL of July 16 to Mex-
Malden, Mass., August 22, 1914.
ico's first book is incorrect. There has been much
divergence of information on this subject, but the
IN DEFENCE OF AUTOGRAPH-HUNTERS.
researches of Señor José Toribio Medina, author
(To the Editor of THE DIAL.)
of “Introduccion de la Imprenta en America” I have read the interesting paragraph in your
(Santiago, Chile, 1910) and compiler of the mag issue of August 1 apropos of a recent sale of
nificent eight-volume bibliography, “La Imprenta Stevenson autographs in London. Rarely have I
en México” (Santiago, 1907-1911), may be ac had occasion to find fault with THE DIAL for
cepted as final. According to Señor Medina, 1 indulging in harsh, immoderate, and ill-chosen


134
(Sept. 1
THE DIAL
a
sermons
on
language. But I must now give voice to a com-
THE BANISHED BOOKS.
plaint against the first two sentences of the para-
(To the Editor of THE DIAL.)
graph in question, wherein the author is styled
s victim who is “pestered” by autograph-
Will the modern architect, or more justly
hunters. Expressions so undeserved seem to indispeaking, the real estate promoter, the jerry builder
cate that the writer of them has been gullible places of men to the buildings of Carnegie, leaving
and “congestion"—drive all books from the dwelling
enough to accept as a verity the petulant remarks
of authors who pretend to be much annoyed by the
us only the thin pabulum of ten cent magazines
so-called “autograph fiend." These outbursts, not
and the daily papers which may, with no reproach
always meant to be taken seriously, were very
of conscience, be piled up with the garbage pail
and sent down each night to the janitor?
properly characterized by the late Adrian Hoffman
In the nineteenth century every self-respecting
Joline as “A Certain Affectation of the Great."
Be it far from me to defend the autograph-
gentleman had a “library" just as every lady had
ber“ parlor.” Its books may have filled only the
hunter in everything he does, for his conduct is
often reprehensible; but surely he is not wholly
shelves of a black walnut “ seckertary” and the
room itself may have been the resort of smokers
bad. Often he is intelligent, amiable, courteous,
persuasive, and withal a pleasing flatterer. He is,
or the gathering place of the family — to save
to say the least, a benefactor to the small celebrity,
“ cluttering” the parlor; but there it was, with
66 The Moral View of Railroads,"
and a not unjust penalty upon the large one.
“ True Grace Distinguished from the Experiences
Many a struggling author has been made happy by
of Devils,” “ On Female Reserve”-descended
a letter from this particular variety of " fiend
which showed genuine appreciation. It cheered
from great-grandfather; Tupper with grand-
him and made him feel that he was somebody after
mother's name on the fly leaf; Weems's life of
Washington (presented to father at school), and
all, even if the critics had treated him shabbily or
Baxter's “ Saints' Rest” (given mother in her girl-
ignored him entirely.
I am convinced that authors retain some human
hood); rows of old school books, dog-eared and
characteristics, and are far from being displeased tattered; “ sets” of essayists, historians, poets,
novelists.
by requests for their autographs. But, of course,
Mounted precariously on
it would never do to permit this lamentable weak-
a chair, running a
ness to become generally known; therefore hauteur
small, eager finger over this haphazard collection,
is feigned to keep the autograph-hunter properly
a new world opened to the child of yesterday when
“ Elizabeth of Siberia or the “Rollo Books” had
humble.
No, the seeker of autographs is not wholly bad. palled.
There are innumerable demons more to be dreaded,
But look over the plans of to-day in the current
architectural magazines — dens, living rooms, sun
pitied, or despised, as the case may be. The auto-
graph-hunter has his faults, Heaven knows, but he
rooms, reception rooms, music rooms, play rooms,
is an angel (although he may not always reveal
billiard rooms, cold rooms, flower rooms, servants'
himself) compared with those other persons who
hall, sculleries — rooms for everything and every-
body except books.
pursue every man and woman of sufficient promi-
nence to attract their baleful attention.
And certainly no modern apartment house of
There is the ambitious young author who sends
commerce into which we move this year and out
his works -- in manuscript
with the modest re-
the next, offers resting place for the literary heri-
quest that you read them and find him a publisher;
tage of the family. There are no book shelves
the person devoted to charity who has heard that
unless there be a cubby hole back of the mock
you are always “ kind to the poor,” and proffers ingly given its three feet of wall space, and the
fireplace or a lonely “sectional bookcase" grudg-
a child or two for adoption, or asks you to lift a
mortgage and receive the blessing of him who is
mistress implores, “Whatever you give us at
ready to perish; the young woman who has heard
Christmas, don't give us a book.”
that you are rich and requests you to buy her a
A few current magazines, “best seller" from
piano; the photograph-collector who honors you
cent a day” library, lie on the table; one can
by asking for your likeness — large size -- in six buy a dictionary or a cook book two inches long,
different positions; the genealogical fiend who is
especially designed for the cliff dwellers of our
sure you are related to him and asks for your cities, but to hunt up a fact in an encyclopædia
family tree; the intrusive individual who wants to or refresh one's memory of a half-remembered
find out your peculiarities that he may exploit poem means a trip to the nearest “branch" of
them in the public journals, - surely the thought Carnegie.
of these demons should cause the author to be
And what is to become of the children with no
indulgent and look with amenity upon the auto-
half-forgotten memories to revive, with no long
graph-hunter!
rows of queer books to rouse their curiosity, no
It seems to me that a very readable article might
“ sets” to browse among?
be written on the subject of “ The Other Fiends," Their book knowledge is of the “This book is to
and I am sure that the much-abused autograph- be kept one week only. Not returnable” sort; their
collector would enjoy it hugely. He has himself final state an incurable mental indigestion caused
been painted in dark colors so long that the reading by swallowing volume after volume of “ The Great-
of such a dissertation would be balm to his soul. est Novel of the Day" on schedule time.
Who will write the article? JOHN THOMAS LEE.
L. D. T.
Madison, Wis., August 17, 1914.
Pittsfield, Mass., August 24, 1914.
a


1914)
135
THE DIAL
The New Books.
final aim of both economics and morals; “that
morality is not some abstraction to which the
conduct of men, to their hurt, must conform,
THE RELEVANCE OF WAR. *
but is, on the contrary, the codification of the
general interest; that conduct on the part of
In "Arms and Industry” Mr. Norman
the whole, which will best serve the interests
Angell comes again to the defence of the prop-
ositions first submitted to the reading public interest of society.'
of the whole ... that is to say, the self-
." Thus morality and self-
some five years since in “The Great Illusion."
interest are identical and not at variance.
The extensive notice and earnest discussion
The “Influence of Credit upon Interna-
provoked by that work made it instantly tional Relations” is a consideration of the
famous and the effect it is having on public place of banking in the new international
opinion everywhere gives good ground for the polity. The point emphasized is, not that in-
opinion recently expressed by a prominent ternational finance has made the world a
Western educator that Mr. Angell is the father
financial unit — for this has been true for
of a new political philosophy that is destined
some time — but rather that international
to have a profound influence in human affairs.
credit has produced a highly developed system
Mr. Angell's contentions are summarized
of sensory nerves; and, what is more, it has
by himself in the work at hand as follows:
done this recently, so that for the first time
Save only in a narrow juridical sense ... the in history we have at hand the means of dis-
nations which form the European community are
covering the actual effect of both strife and
not sovereign, nor independent, nor entities, nor
rival, nor advantageously predatory; nor does the coöperation as factors in international rela-
tions. The soundness of this contention has
exercise or possession of the means of physical
coercion determine the relative advantage of each; been strikingly illustrated by the effect of the
nor is physical coercion within their borders the present war in Europe on the world's finance.
ultimate sanction of social organization, of law
The fourth lecture, “The Place of Military
and justice. Military power is irrelevant to the Force in Modern Statecraft,” deals with the
promotion of the aims, moral and material, postu- all-important distinction between military and
lated in that statement of political principles' police force. Military force is, at bottom,
upon which militarism rests."
predatory; as such, it no longer serves any
This theme is amplified in the six papers
useful purpose.
The only legitimate use of
which make up the volume. Each paper is the force in present-day society is to defend our-
substance of a lecture given under different selves against the predatory acts of others;
auspices and, as might be expected, there is that is, to neutralize their predatory force.
a good deal of repetition. An excellent sum-
But this is precisely what is attempted by
mary appears as an introduction.
police force in seeking to maintain order;
The first lecture, “The Need for Restate police force prevents one party from infring-
ment of Certain Principles, and the Grounds ing the rights of another, it maintains a fair
of Inquiry," takes the position that the
balance. The domestic security of peoples
accepted theories of international polity are
called civilized rests not at all on their having
misconceptions which misrepresent the funda in the state a great military force; on the
mental principles of human association and contrary is assured by the circumstance that
coöperation and consequently produce wide-
this military force shall not be used against
spread moral results, affecting society inju- them, and by a social convention not to use
riously in many ways. The fundamental any but police force. This is the very basis of
misconception is that concerning the part that civilization.
physical force plays in human affairs; for the
“Two Keels to One not Enough" is the title
rôle of force has been entirely altered by the given to Mr. Angell's remarks in a debate
increasing commercial interdependence of na-
before the students of the Cambridge Union
tions and the consequent division of labor. between himself and Mr. Yerburgh, President
The second paper, “Moral and Material of the British Navy League, on the motion
Factors in International Relations,” discusses
"That the safety of the British Empire and
the charge that "Angellism" is unmoral and its trade can only be secured by an unques-
sordid, because it is based on gross material- tioned British naval superiority maintained
ism and national self-interest. Mr. Angell upon the basis of two keels to one of capital
takes the ground that the alleged "sordid ships against the next strongest European
ness” of his views is the result of mental con- | Power, and the full necessary complement of
fusion; that the well-being of society is the
smaller craft.” The supporter of the motion
offered the usual argument that unless En-
* ARMS AND INDUSTRY. A Study of the Foundations of gland maintained control of the sea her com-
International Polity. By Norman Angell. New York: G. P.
merce would eventually pass to other hands.
Putnam's Sons.


136
[ Sept. 1
THE DIAL
Mr. Angell replied, in substance, that the Ger Similarly, the “ Old Pacifism attacked
mans had already, in spite of the unquestioned war on moral and religious grounds, or on the
superiority of the British navy, gained com basis of the self-interest of society. The “New
merce at Great Britain's expense; that even Pacifism” proclaims the irrelevance of war
if Germany could defeat England's navy and to the ends, either moral or material, for
annex Canada (or any other colony), she which states exist. This is the new interna-
would not be able to engage in any trade with tional polity.
that country that she is not free to engage in Though Mr. Angell's style is often involved,
to-day. Chiefly, however, did Mr. Angell what he has to say is always compelling. His
attack what he considered the fundamental new book is not only most instructive but
fallacy of his opponent's position in discuss- profoundly stimulating, and deserves to be
ing a problem that involves two nations, in widely read.
terms of one. If it was good policy for Great
EDWARD B. KREHBIEL.
Britain to have a superior navy, it must also
be good policy for Germany,— whose people
are no less civilized. . . . So that Mr. Yer-
THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SCIENTIFIC
burgh's solution for achieving security for
MAN.*
two parties likely to quarrel was for each to
be stronger than the other! Manifestly this It is probable that the work of Lester Ward
was impossible. Accordingly the Navy League, will never attain that place in the public esti-
instead of seeking to influence public opinion mation to which it is in a sense entitled. As
along these impracticable lines, should direct | Professor Ross said, he never reached the
its energy and money into useful channels, people, but he reached the people who reached
and begin by considering international prob- the people. In the days when laissez faire
lems as they are, as two-sided instead of one was popular, Ward produced his “Dynamic
sided questions. It should approach the Sociology”; a weighty protest against the
Anglo-German problem as the relations of current attitude, and a successful one. It was
Canada and America have always been ap no small wonder that this comparatively
proached. In the case of the latter all efforts young man from Illinois, who had grown up
were directed to cultivating amity and elim- with no particular educational or social advan-
inating military equipment; with the result tages, and had settled down to a quiet life in
that there exists a feeling of amity and mutual civil service at Washington, should be able to
security between the states involved. The serve as the herald of a new era. In the
same condition could be achieved with Ger-
account he gives us of the conception and
many if men only conscientiously tried; as development of his book, we see how his orig.
they would, if they were but taught to see the
inal and independent mind reacted in the
fundamental fallacy of the militarist's phi- presence of events and ideas, and evolved out
losophy.
of the turmoil a philosophy of action. To-day
It is pertinent to note that the auditors of
his main position is accepted as a matter of
the debate endorsed Mr. Angell's position by
course, and it is difficult to appreciate his
a vote of 203 to 187.
originality.
The last of the lectures is entitled “Con-
At the same time, utterly unable to confine
cerning the International Polity Movement."
itself to narrow channels, Ward's mind flowed
It makes clear in what respects "Angellismº in other directions, and in particular that of
departs from the “ Old Pacifism.” The con-
botany. He tells us that it might have been
crete illustration is as follows: Jones had zoology or what not, but botany was for him
greatly wronged Thomas and then disap- at that time the most accessible of the natural
peared; and ever since Thomas had declared sciences. So, while appearing before the
that he would kill Jones should he reappear. world as the apostle of a new sociology, Ward
One day he learns that Jones has returned. was zealously collecting the flora of the Dis-
Immediately certain of Thomas's friends ap-
trict of Columbia, and publishing a standard
peal to him on moral and religious grounds work on that subject. It was but a short step
not to carry out his threat; others appeal to
from the study of living plants to that of
his self-interest by pointing out the evil con fossil ones, and here again the door of oppor-
sequences to him of his proposed deed. But tunity stood open. The splendid old palæo-
Thomas is resolved. Then comes a third party botanist Lesquereux was coming to the end of
who points out that the man who has returned
his life's work, and the heavy task of dealing
is not the Jones he is supposed to be, but
with the important materials arriving in
another person altogether, that the original
Jones died years ago. Obviously this argu-
A Mental Autobiography. By
Lester F. Ward, LL.D.
Illustrated. New
ment would be entirely effective.
* GLIMPSES OF THE COSMOS.
Volumes I.-III.
York: G. P. Putnam's Sons.


1914)
137
THE DIAL
Washington from the government surveys
to human knowledge and thought, and not,
necessarily fell to a younger man. Ward left what did he succeed in getting printed? The
the Bureau of Statistics in 1881, and joined first paper reprinted, written at the age of
the Geological Survey, when he was put to sixteen, is a fearful production of the dime
work on the extinct floras of the United States. novelette sort, of no conceivable value to any-
In the course of time he produced a number body. Much of the other matter in the first
of large works of first-class importance; so volume has to do with ephemeral controver-
that many, who knew little or nothing of his sies of various kinds. Thus article 33 consists
sociological works, thought of him only as an of an attack on the postmaster at Eufaula,
eminent palæobotanist. Thus he came to live Alabama; while article 39 is an apology for
a sort of double life with two sets of friends the same, the whole thing having been based
and admirers. When the reviewer visited him on a misunderstanding. Perhaps the limit of
in Washington some fifteen years ago, he was unnecessary republication is reached in the
received by the botanist, who smilingly turned several anonymous reviews of his own book,
into the sociologist upon request, the object of “Dynamic Sociology,'
“Dynamic Sociology," which Ward con-
the visit being sociological. Although Ward tributed to the newspapers of Washington.
himself thus sharply distinguished between What are we to think of a writer who is not
his two main occupations, in another sense only willing to write laudatory reviews of his
they were inextricably fused. The botanical own work, but actually republishes them
and geological work had everything to do with among his contributions to thought? They
his basic scientific opinions, and therefore may, in part, be regarded as useful sum-
with his sociology. It is not too much to say maries of the author's views; but how seri-
that this actual contact with scientific data ously can we take such statements as these?
in detail and in the mass gave him a great “ That this book is destined to produce a pro-
advantage over those who were sociologists found impression upon the more thoughtful classes
alone, without any practical acquaintance with of society, and one that will grow with repeated
the details of scientific work. Toward the end and extended perusal, we can not doubt. That
of his life, Lester Ward desired to gather such a system of thought should have emanated
together the fruits of his labors, and give to
from an American is a most hopeful sign. ...
the public materials supplementary to his
Mr. Ward's system of philosophy will suffer
larger works, and valuable for the general tentious ones that have been brought forth on the
nothing in comparison with any of the more pre-
interpretation of his thought. Rejecting the
other side of the Atlantic, such as that of Mr.
idea of an autobiography, the outward cir-
Herbert Spencer."
cumstances of his life having been relatively
uninteresting, he conceived the plan of col-
A priori, we should say that the man who
lecting and republishing all his minor writ-
could puff his own literary product in this
ings. The plan, as now carried out, includes
way must be a humbug; yet Ward doubtless
everything which had been printed, except sincerely believed what he wrote, and more-
the large works, and a single article which has
over it was not far from being true. In spite
been lost. The titles of the books are entered
of this, the whole matter is ominous enough.
in their chronological order, and full details Regarded in the most favorable light, it
remains discreditable to American literature
are given as to how they came to be written
and printed. Thus, it is assumed, we are
and science that such proceedings should be
given materials sufficient for tracing the evolu-
not only possible, but in some quarters, at
tion of Lester Ward's thought, from the time least, considered natural and proper. The
when he first began to express it in writing opportunities afforded by anonymous review-
There are to be twelve volumes, of which ing have been so frequently abused, that it
three have appeared.
would doubtless be advantageous to abandon
it altogether. Bombastic publishers' an-
It is only fair to the author to state that he
recognized the worthlessness of many of the
nouncements also serve to indicate our lack
earlier writings, and the ephemeral nature of
of standards of dignity and decency, and the
others. He wished only to appear as he was,
authors concerned can hardly escape all
and had been, leaving the public to form its responsibility.
judgment of the whole. Whether this is fair No doubt Lester Ward's failings illustrate
to the writer or to the public, may well be an
in a large measure his views concerning the
open question. All of the past may be sig. coercive nature of the environment, and it is
nificant for the present and the future, but correct Wardian doctrine to condemn them,
for the practical purposes of life, most of it trying to create conditions unfavorable to
must be forgotten. We are inclined to ask, their recurrence in others.
what did Ward actually contribute of value
T. D. A. COCKERELL.


138
(Sept. 1
THE DIAL
THE GERMAN EMPIRE.*
its career as a participant in world politics.
A short time ago there was published in The consequence has been the continued ani-
Germany an ambitious coöperative work bear-mosity of those nations which in times past
ing the title “Deutschland unter Kaiser
unter Kaiser had been accustomed to share the supervision
Wilhelm II.” Among the various sections
of the world's larger affairs. In no small
contributed by experts, one of rather special measure, Prince von Bülow would have us be-
promise was that devoted to “Deutsche Poli- lieve, the upbuilding of the German army, and
tik,” written by the former Imperial chan- especially the augmentation of the German
cellor, Prince von Bülow. And, although it fleet, is attributable to the international ten-
appears that the Prince's treatment of his sion caused by this unyielding and ill-con-
subject was at all times cautious, and not in cealed grudge of the older states.
frequently colorless, the sketch which he has The maritime rivalry of Germany and
written is, none the less, well worthy of a wide Great Britain is discussed very much as any
and thoughtful reading; so that the enterprise orthodox Navy Leaguer might be expected to
which has brought it within the reach of En discuss it. To the author English policy ap-
glish readers is to be commended.
pears perfectly natural, and even defensible.
The Ex-chancellor's book is made up of a “The alpha and omega of English policy has
series of brief subsections dealing, one by one, always been the attainment and maintenance
with a great variety of topics. It falls into of English naval supremacy. To this aim all
two principal parts, the one relating to for other considerations, friendships as well as
eign policy, the other to home affairs. Now enmities, have always been subordinated. It
and again the author takes the reader into his would be foolish to dismiss English policy with
confidence and tells things which previously the hackneyed phrase perfide Albion. In real-
were unknown or but half suspected; and oc- ity this supposed treachery is nothing but a
casional passing allusions and expressions of sound and justifiable egoism, which, together
opinion, coming from a political personage of
with other great qualities of the English peo-
such experience and eminence, take on a high ple, other nations would do well to imitate."
degree of interest and significance. Most of Having admitted as much, the Ex-chancellor
the time, however, as has been intimated, the goes on to maintain that Germany's interests
facts stated are familiar, and the interpreta as a nation compelled her to enter upon a
tion of them is guarded and conventional. Of course which was “bound to inconvenience
the real reasons, for example, of the Prince's England”; although he contends that En-
retirement from the chancellorship under fire gland should have recognized more clearly
in 1909 nothing is told, at any rate nothing that the international policy of Germany has
that the world did not already know. Perhaps been defensive and not, as was the interna-
it is too early to expect from Prince Bülow tional policy of Spain and France, so persis-
frank revelations of the sort which Bismarck | tently opposed by the English in earlier
made in his memorable “Gedanken und Erin-centuries, offensive. “There is absolutely no
nerungen.'
ground," it is asserted, “for the fear that
In his discussion of German foreign policy with the rise of German power at sea the Ger-
the author begins by laying emphasis upon the man love of battle will be awakened. Of all
inhospitable attitude assumed by the older the nations of the world the Germans are the
Powers toward the newly created Empire of people that have most rarely set out to attack
forty years ago, and he goes on to maintain
and conquer.
.. Without boastfulness or
that the achievements of the Empire in the exaggeration, we may say that never in the
domain of international politics are the more course of history has any power, possessing
noteworthy by reason of the unusual suspi- such superior military strength as the Ger-
cion and jealousies directed toward her by mans, served the cause of peace in an equal
Great Britain, France, and Russia. The opin- | measure. This fact cannot be explained by
ion is avowed that, with the exception of our well-known and undoubted love of peace.
France, the surrounding nations would have . . As a matter of fact, peace has primarily
become reconciled to Germany's new measure been preserved, not because Germany herself
of political power, if only the process of did not attack other nations, but because other
growth had terminated with the founding of nations feared a repulse in the event of their
the Empire. That event, however, was not the attacking Germany. The strength of our
end, but the beginning; and even before armaments has proved to be a more effective
the new position in Europe was entirely se-
guarantee of peace than any in the last tumul-
cured the Empire had entered actively upon tuous centuries.''
* IMPERIAL GERMANY. By Prince Bernhard von Bülow. An Anglo-German alliance, warmly advo-
Translated by Marie A. Lewenz, M.A. With frontispiece.
New York: Dodd, Mead & Co.
cated in some quarters, seems to Prince von


1914)
139
THE DIAL
Bülow clearly outside the bounds of practica- with the conduct of the government. The
bility. But, in his opinion, war between the writer recognizes that, in Germany as else-
two powers will never come, provided (1) Ger- where, parties are inevitable. But he pleads
many shall maintain a fleet which cannot be for a diminution of obstructionist and irre-
attacked without very grave risk to the at- sponsible party spirit. Without considering
tacking party, (2) there shall be no undue or himself a party man, he confesses to a general
unlimited indulgence in shipbuilding and sympathy with the views of the Conservatives;
armaments, and (3) nothing shall be allowed although in its attitude in recent years upon
to force an irremediable breach between the the reform of the Imperial finances this party
two countries, such as would have resulted had has been, he believes, entirely in the wrong.
the German Government acceded to the desires The Liberal party, he admits, has many ele-
of the Anglophobe elements at the time of the ments of strength and to it the country owes
Boer War.
a large debt of gratitude. Both Conservatism
The author's view of the course of his coun and Liberalism, it is declared, are not only
try's home affairs is pessimistic. He affirms justified, but "necessary for our political
that, with the exception of a few bright spots, life.
the history of German home policy is a record The growth of the popular vote of the Social
of political mistakes. No people, he says, has | Democrats since 1890 is pronounced “a very
found it so difficult as have the Germans to serious matter”?; and it is contended in per-
attain solid and permanent political institu- fect candor that, so long as it may prove im-
tions, and his conclusion is that, despite the possible to detach the voters from the Socialist
abundance of merits and great qualities with cause, it is the duty of the Government and
which the German nation is endowed, political of all supporters of the existing order to
talent has been denied it. It is not, he affirms, coöperate to reduce (as was so successfully
that the Germans lack political knowledge. In done in 1907) the quota of Socialist deputies
the study of political science they have gone in the Reichstag. The conviction -- which the
as far as any people. It is rather that they results of the elections of 1912 would seem
lack the art of proceeding from insight tó utterly to belie- is expressed that the result
practical application. “Politically, as in no of such policy will be the alienation of large
other sphere of life, there is an obvious dis numbers of voters from a party which they
proportion between our knowledge of political have found to be unsuccessful. The Ex-chan-
things and our power. For the German cellor asserts frankly that he will leave un-
the knowledge of political things is usually a answered the question of "where the blame
purely intellectual matter, which he does not lies” for the catastrophe of 1912, when the
care to connect with the actual occurrences number of Social Democratic seats was raised
of political life.” The fundamental reason for from forty-three to one hundred ten. But he
the German's alleged inability at this point is reiterates that it is the duty of every German
found in his excessive individualism and his ministry to combat the movement until it is
lack of a sense of the common good; which, defeated or materially changed”; and he
in a manner, is but to reiterate the caustic
argues at length that, however harmless may
observation of Goethe to the effect that the
be the rapprochements of the Government and
Germans are very capable individuals but the Socialists in France and Italy, such devel-
wretchedly inefficient in the bulk.
opments in Germany could be attended only
Speaking of political matters, the Ex-chan- by the gravest dangers to the security and
cellor asserts boldly that, considering the order of the Empire.
peculiarities of the Imperial governmental
FREDERIC AUSTIN OGG.
arrangements, the parliamentary system as it
is operated in Great Britain and France would
not be desirable in Germany. He admits read LOLLARDY AND THE REFORMATION IN
ily enough, however, that the parliamentary
ENGLAND.*
system has its advantages, the chief of which,
in his opinion, arises from the fact that the
In the early Victorian period Foxe's “Book
great political parties are educated by expe-
of Martyrs" was taken from its place beside
rience and sobered by responsibility in con-
the Bible on the centre-table and edited in
As a
trolling, while in power, the affairs of the eight volumes for the library shelves.
country. In Germany, and in other states not
force in English politics and religion it was
governed by a parliamentary majority, parties then decently interred. In taking notice of
manifest "a great deal of conviction and very
Foxe's great work, scholars found something
little feeling of responsibility." Their pri-
to condemn and more to wonder at, for it
mary vocation becomes that of criticism, often • LOLLARDY AND THE REFORMATION IN ENGLAND,
torical Survey, By James Gairdner.
to the embarrassment of those actually charged
.
An Hig-
Volume IV., edited by
New York: The Macmillan Co.
William Hunt.


140
(Sept. 1
THE DIAL
may be called the first English history from were heretics. One can but wonder how long
sources. For three centuries it had confirmed they continued so; perhaps no longer than
Englishmen at home and overseas in the be the word is found in the records. Only a con-
lief that the so-called martyrs of the national sistent ultramontanism could carry the term
Church were really martyrs, and that what into Elizabeth's reign, however necessary it
they had stood for was right. There were might seem to be with reference to Henry
nine editions in folio of Foxe's book printed the Eighth, to the boy Edward, and to the
between 1563 and 1684. Copies were in opponents of Mary. No foreign ambassador
cathedrals and parish churches; there was one could make out a worse case for Henry and
at Stratford-on-Avon.
Edward than does Dr. Gairdner, nor more
To understand, therefore, the significance sympathetically relate the constant distresses
of the “Book of Martyrs” in modern political of the unhappy dévote Mary, dependent upon
and religious thought one should be prepared the Emperor and incapable of understanding
to make a careful study not only of English her people. In his faithfulness to a point
history but also of English literature. Few of view, Dr. Gairdner makes us feel the trag.
men are prepared for such a task, and in edy of her situation more keenly than does
selecting his title “Lollardy and the Refor- Tennyson. But the reader can hardly fail to
mation in England” one feels that the late ask what was actually the orthodox point of
Dr. Gairdner, who died before he had fin view then, political as well as religious. Was
ished the fourth volume, undertook to ex it the Emperor's? Was it the Pope's? Was
pound the conditions that inspired Foxe's it that of the French King? The objection
book. As a lifelong student and editor of to the term “heretic” as applied to the fol-
British Government Rolls and Records he was lowers of a national Church in England re-
better fitted than anyone else to make use of sides in the religious connotation of the word;
the mass of material first unlocked by his whereas the Lollards from Wyclif's time, in
genius and industry. For however one may their doctrines of sovereignty, righteousness
object to Dr. Gairdner's use of terms, or to as a test of title, and nationalism, were polit-
his sense of proportion, all must agree that ical as well as religious heretics. It is not
the narrative and descriptive details so accu accidental that Wyclifite doctrines are incor-
rately recorded and to most readers so novel porated in the Thirty-nine Articles of the
will preserve the work in spite of contro Church of England and became the law of
versies which his treatment is bound to excite. the land.
To the student of history or literature these From what has been said of Dr. Gairdner's
four sober volumes are more exciting than the point of view, and of his faithfulness to the
latest novel. The reason is that Dr. Gairdner records — he commends Foxe for the same
has given us no academic exposition; one kind of trustworthiness - one may not criti-
might indeed contend that in spite of elab- cize his treatment of the literature of the
orately accurate faithfulness to his sources he time. But the critic of English and Scottish
seems to have been untouched by the methods literature of the sixteenth century would be
of historical study of such contemporaries as hard put to it in regarding that literature
Poole, Stubbs, Maitland, and Pollock. But it “heretical.” He would doubtless say many
would be idle to complain that he has failed pungent things; but the criticism would be
to do what he had no mind to do. One can so unsympathetic as to be worthless. But how
not read far without perceiving that his pur is the history of the English Reformation
pose, quite baldly stated, is to offset the still to be written without a profoundly sym-
age-long influence of the "Book of Martyrs" pathetic understanding of that literature?
and to make a kind of argument instead of Government documents and diplomatic cor-
a scientific exposition.
respondence are well; but in movements orig.
In so doing the historian takes a position inally “of the people, by the people, and for
that is simply fascinating by reason of its the people" - a phrase said to be Wyclif's-
difficulties. He must have a point of view the literature must be reckoned with. The
contemporary with the events narrated. And first Reformation dramatist Dr. Gairdner
this point of view must be not that of the characterizes as “the notorious, foul-mouthed
forces at work which were ultimately domi Bale." To one ignorant of Bishop Bale's ac-
nant, but of those that were not. He must be tivity such an allusion is quite misleading. It
the champion of a lost cause. Hence from is far from satisfactory to dispose of the first
Wyclif's day to that of “Bloody Mary” all historian of English literature with unpleas-
English citizens opposed to Rome are here ant epithets. One cannot imagine the Oxford
tics." His use of the term he finds warranted editor of Bale's "Index," Mr. R. L. Poole,
by the documents. These persons were called betraying such a prejudice.
heretics by the authorities, and therefore they In these volumes the English Martyrs ap-
as
-


1914 ]
141
THE DIAL
.
pear as a pretty disreputable lot. They were of perhaps a mile on one side and an over-
wrongly, when not merely foolishly, zealous hanging cornice of soft snow above ready to
in an unworthy cause. Such a point of view break away at any moment. This dangerous
is impracticable; it is too remote from that bit of work, which came perilously near an
of other competent critics. To the inevitable unjustifiable risk, was only attempted because
question, why should the distinguished his the party had reached a point where the
torian have expounded his material as he did, goal was almost within sight, and there was
the answer may be found in social phenomena absolutely no other way of reaching it. The
of Dr. Gairdner's later years rather than in temptation was irresistible, and it must not
the period of the English Reformation. be forgotten that the climbing party was an
W. P. REEVES.
exceptionally strong one, consisting of two
experienced amateurs and two thoroughly
competent Swiss guides. Many things are
MOUNTAINEERING IN CANADA.*
possible to such seasoned climbers which
would be sheer madness to a party of novices.
Within the last few years the varied attrac-
While the conquest of Sir Sandford formed
tions and practically limitless possibilities of
the culmination of several seasons' work, it
the Canadian Rockies have become widely is after all only an incident, though a
known through such books as Wilcox's "The
notable one, in a long and exceedingly enter-
Rockies of Canada," Outram's “In the Heart
Outram’s “ In the Heart taining story of camping, trail-making, moun-
of the Canadian Rockies,' Hornaday's tain-climbing, surveying, and scientific obser-
“Camp-fires in the Canadian Rockies,' and
vation in the heart of a primeval wilderness.
Coleman's “The Canadian Rockies.” Of the Throughout the book one constantly comes
other great section of what is called the Ca-
upon such vivid bits of description as this
nadian Alps, the Selkirk Range, compara picture of an early morning tramp across one
tively little, however, has been written, and
of the great glaciers:
that little is not readily accessible. Only two
“ The stillness up among the great peaks before
books have hitherto been available, and of
sunrise, when everything stands clasped in the firm
these Green's “Among the Selkirk Glaciers” grip of the frost, is impressive in the extreme.
is long out of print, and Wheeler's elaborate Each rivulet is hushed, snow is hard, and only
work, “The Selkirk Range,” being a Canadian rarely is a fallen rock heard. An occasional creak-
government publication, is practically un ing of a glacier and the muffled booming of a
known to the general public. It is there-
torrent far down in the depths of some crevasse,
fore a matter for congratulation to those who as one passes, are nature's only sounds. In the
know something of the Selkirks that an ade- chill, melancholy twilight the awful majesty of the
mountains their inordinate bulk and eternal
quate description is at last available of this
solidity — is felt intensely as a deeply solemn
region of magnificent peaks, glittering snow chord. Not until the growing brightness, creeping
fields, and deep emerald valleys. Mr. Palmer's downward from the sky, bathes with gorgeous tints
book is the result of five seasons' mountaineer- each embattlemented crag and tender snowy crest,
ing and exploration in the Selkirks, particu- is the note of glowing beauty sounded. But then,
larly in the unknown country north of the in the keen inspiring freshness of the dawn, one
main line of the Canadian Pacific Railway. seems transported to another world.”
It is a record not only of competent topo The final paragraph of the book may very
graphical and scientific work, but also of travel well be quoted as a brief summary of the five
and mountain-climbing in a virgin region seasons' work, a very modest statement of
combining all the most fascinating elements valuable geographical and scientific work car-
of Alpine scenery. The author has proved his ried out under sometimes very disheartening
ability both to conquer high peaks and to give conditions:
his readers vivid impressions of the incidents “ Supported only by such necessities as could be
and rewards of mountaineering.
carried upon men's shoulders, we have wandered
Probably the most interesting chapters in through the main range from the fastnesses of
the book are those which describe the repeated Battle valley to the remote Mount Austerity; we
attempts, at last crowned with success in 1912, have fought our way up most of the important
to reach the summit of Mount Sir Sandford,
peaks that had already been climbed and have
the undisputed monarch of the Selkirks. The
effected the first conquests of more than fifteen
others, including the redoubtable Sir Sandford,
final climb, full of exciting incidents from
monarch of all. The veil of primeval obscurity has
start to finish, ended in a spectacular traverse
been torn from this obstinate mountain and its sur-
along the edge of a sheer cliff, with a drop roundings, the region has been mapped, and the
chief peaks, glaciers and streams named. If the
* MOUNTAINEERING AND EXPLORATION IN THE SELKIRKS.
Record of Pioneer work among the Canadian Alps, 1908-1912.
work has not always proved easy, the rewards
By Howard Palmer. New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons. have been out of all proportion and the memory
A


142
[ Sept. 1
THE DIAL
The future
of
of these days among the Selkirks will be a per the suzerainty over Mongolia. The writers are
petual refreshment and delight.”
plainly of the opinion that civilization in Mon-
The book is illustrated with two new maps golia will be greatly accelerated by this release
and over two hundred exceptionally fine from the yoke of China. A monthly news-
photographs. In a series of appendices the paper and a Russian-drilled artillery corps
flora, topography, glaciers, geology, and me are the first products, and an anti-Chinese
teorology of the Selkirks are dealt with in commercial movement of wide proportions is
such detail as was not possible in the body of in full swing.–The two-volume work by Mr.
the narrative. Altogether Mr. Palmer has Douglas Carruthers on “Unknown Mongo-
produced a most valuable and readable work lia” (Lippincott), with an introduction by
devoted to a region that has been too little the Right Honorable Earl Curzon and three
known or appreciated even by those who have chapters on sport by Mr. D. H. Miller, is a full
spent years in the neighboring Rockies. It is record of a serious piece of extensive travel
safe to say that with such a vindication of and exploration in 1910-11 along what was
their attractions as a splendid playground for then the Russo-Chinese_borderland. This
mountaineers and lovers of Alpine scenery, work also is pro-Russian in point of view but
the Selkirks will now come into their own, it is full of illuminating information and com-
and the region about Sir Sandford will be ment on the impending clash of interests in
as deservedly popular as Lake Louise and the Mongolia. The Chinese colonist as agricul-
Valley of the Ten Peaks.
turist is without a peer and as trader few can
LAWRENCE J. BURPEE. match him in persistency and shrewdness.
But he has not as yet brought to Mongolia
much of modern civilization, although the
BRIEFS ON NEW BOOKS.
post and telegraph have followed his footsteps
from China. The Russian, on the other hand,
Recent political changes in the
brings a more modern agriculture, better
Orient and the new Russo-
Mongolia.
transportation, and more direct connections
Chinese agreement regarding with the Western world. The contest is on
Mongolia bring this remote and little-known
and the Mongolians are turning with welcome
land into public notice and make particularly to the novelties of the Western invader. The
opportune the appearance of two works of
author's analysis of the helplessness of Mon-
travel and exploration in this land of nomads.
golia in the grasp of these two great contend-
The first, “With the Russians in Mongolia''
ing political and commercial interests is both
(Lane) by Messrs. H. G. C. Perry-Ascough and
keen and lucid. About one-third of the male
R. B. Otter-Barry is a narrative of a rapid population is withdrawn from a productive
traverse in early summer of 1910 from Kalgan share in the life of the people and is turned
across the inhospitable Desert of Gobi via
into a burdensome priesthood by the elaborate
Urga, the capital of Mongolia, to the Trans- system of Lamaism. The teachings inculcated
Siberian Railway near Lake Baikal. To this by this form of Buddhism destroy the military
Captain Otter-Barry added an extensive tour spirit while the priesthood absorbs and diverts
through the centre of Outer Mongolia and
those capable of intellectual and political
across the Chuyan Alps to Biisk on the river leadership. The work is amply illustrated
Go. The work is entertaining as a revelation with unusually interesting photographs of the
of the possibilities of travel in such remote
various tribes of nomads and of the barren
regions and instructive in matters of resources upland plains, snow-clad ranges, and vanish-
of the land, developed and undeveloped. It is ing lakes, and amply supplied with maps
also illuminating in the side-lights it throws
showing in detail the new territories now for
upon the existing commerce, long controlled
the first time subjected to accurate portrayal
by the Chinese, and ramifying to the remotest
by compass and plane-table.
corners of this barren land of magnificent dis-
tances by the slow agency of the caravans, of
pack horse, yak, or camel, and less frequently
“Stories and Poems and Other
by the crude creaking wagons whose ultimate
Uncollected Writings by Bret
goal was the Mongol market place in Peking.
Harte,' compiled by Mr. Charles
The main interest of the writers is, however, Meeker Kozlay and published in a limited edi-
political, and the book is especially valuable in tion (Houghton), is an attractive volume typo-
its analysis of the present political situation in graphically, and will form a welcome addition
Mongolia. Russia's efforts to build up a buffer to many collectors' libraries. The prose in
state between herself and China's rapidly this collection is more valuable than the verse,
transforming millions culminated in 1913 in a and of this the early sketches and tales are
new agreement which practically gives Russia most important. Few readers will agree, how-
Early papers
of Bret Harte.
11


1914)
143
THE DIAL
ܕܕ
ever, with the editor's remark that these show have been an ardent mountain climber for he
“ the same genius which we find later in more has much to say about volcanoes, mountains,
finished form.” The serious tales, in particu- lakes, hot springs, and earthquakes, and no
lar, are of the artificial and unreal sort that little modern geology is woven in with descrip-
characterized so much “polite literature” in tive passages and mythologic lore. The con-
the mid-century; and some of them were actu- cluding six or seven chapters deal with the
ally republished without credit in eastern people and their destiny. There are some
periodicals and annuals, where the later reader shrewd observations on education and religion,
who has chanced upon them never suspected the political fabric, and Japan as a colonial
that they were written by the author of "The power. But especially suggestive are the
Outcasts of Poker Flat." The fact is that chapters, “Where East Meets West,” and
when Harte contributed to the “Overland "A Peer into the Future.” “If the nine-
Monthly” “The Luck of Roaring Camp” he teenth century was the opportunity of the
began a new manner of which his earlier at-West, the twentieth is for the East,” he main-
tempts give little promise. The selections in tains, and in speaking of the increasing contact
the present volume show, however, a few char- of the races he comments upon the Western
acteristics of the author which may help to an treaty port settlements in the Orient. “The
understanding of his literary career. He was foreign communities in China and Japan, as
by nature strongly satiric, and both his sub-embodiments of Occidental civilizations, as
jects and his cutting ironical manner were microcosms of the West, might have accom-
often likely to be irritating. Absurd as was the plished much toward bringing East and West
attempt of the San Francisco press to suppress together. Who will say that they have lived
all reference to seismic disturbances on the up to their opportunities? Backed by their
Pacific coast, it is easy to see why his “Lessons respective nations and the old appeal to force,
from the Earthquake,” here reprinted, was they indeed aroused the East; but fifty years
resented by many would-be patriotic Western of intercourse have widened, rather than
ers. Harte employed his gift of satire to best bridged, the gulf." The treatment of Orientals
advantage in the “Condensed Novels," and in the West comes in for condemnation, but
this volume contains two or three literary bur the nationality of the author is evident when
lesques. Another striking characteristic of the we read that “Germany and the United States
young Western author was the breadth of his of America are the chief offenders." Nothing
reading. This may in part be explained by is said about the exclusion laws of Canada,
the fact that Harte had newspaper connections Australia, New Zealand, or South Africa. As
in the days when newspaper men were tradi to the future, Japan and China will be driven
tionally the representatives and the conserva into a mutually defensive League, which will
tors of literature in the West; but it also indi be no “Yellow Peril," for "aggressiveness
cates that he must have had tastes of his own. the chief attribute of the West in its dealings
The early writings give evidence of a wide with the East - is utterly foreign to the Chi-
acquaintance with English classics, and with nese character; prudence is the keynote of the
many of the myths and traditions of the older Japanese." And in the meantime Japan will
world. Among the miscellaneous papers, espe be the teacher of China, for “the real revolu-
cially those of later date, are some literary
tion that has taken place in China is the recog-
criticisms, mostly articles of the occasional nition of the fundamental value of material
sort. The editorial on the death of Dickens is strength.” The seventy-five illustrations from
somewhat disappointing, though the fact that photographs are generally out of the ordinary
it was written at a dash may account for its and are well reproduced, but the maps and
deficiencies. One turns to “My Favorite Nov- plans are less satisfactory.
elist and His Best Book" expecting another
In Lady Constance Lytton's
discussion of the same master, and is surprised Experiences
“Prisons and Prisoners”
to find an appreciation of the “Count of suffragist.
(Doran) is presented a remark-
Monte Cristo."
ably vivid account of the pains and penalties
A book about Japan which is visited upon those militant suffragists (though
The place
of Japon
different is “Japan's Inheri the writer's term is, of course, the philolog-
tance: The Country, its People ically objectionable "suffragette”) who glory
and their Destiny” (Dodd) by Mr. E. Bruce
in making themselves martyrs to their cause.
Mitford, F. R. G. S. The greater part of the The rigors of forcible feeding are pictured by
volume is devoted to a description, based upon the pen of one who has suffered them to the
wide personal investigation, of the physical | utmost, and has four times endured imprison-
features of Japan. Mr. Mitford has resided in ment as the consequence, freely courted, of
that country for some eight years and he must wilful violence and destruction of property.
>


144
[ Sept. 1
THE DIAL
Lady Constance writes about herself, her con peoples to the preservation of their racial
victions, her purposes and methods, with a integrity, their native languages, their native
frankness and fulness that make her book arts and crafts, and the natural resources of
extremely interesting from cover to cover. fish and fur. He is critical of the effect not
From being afflicted in earlier life with "an only of the parasites that follow in the wake
overmastering laziness and a fatalistic sub of the miner, and of our army posts and tele-
mission to events as they befell," she schooled graph officials, but also of the long distance
herself to a forcefulness and aggressiveness management of Indian education that sets
that ere long qualified her for high place times and seasons for school boys without
among the more demonstrative advocates of reference to movements of fish and game and
votes for women. But finding her name and turns out its scholars as literate paupers rather
social station a bar to that rigorous treatment than masters of their own language and adepts
which her acts invited at the hands of the police in the homely arts which make it possible for
and the prison authorities, she disguised and them to wring a frugal living from a reluctant
disfigured herself in an heroic endeavor to elim land. The Alaskan native races are doomed
inate the possibility of any favors being shown to speedy extinction unless the law forbidding
her by magistrates or jailers or wardresses, the sale of liquor to them is enforced and pre-
taking the nom de guerre, “Jane Warton." ventive medicine is applied to protect them
Hence the title-page of her book seems to indi from the ravages of diphtheria, measles, and
cate a dual authorship, announcing as it does tuberculosis. The writer is hopeful of their
that the work is written by Constance Lytton success as permanent settlers of the country, is
and Jane Warton, Spinster.” Jane Warton, skeptical as to the agricultural possibilities of
however, had not been many days in Walton interior Alaska and likewise of any consider-
Gaol (Liverpool) before her identity was sus able extension of the reindeer industry. Chap-
pected and she was released ere she had quite ters on Alaskan dogs and on photography in
wrought her own destruction by fasting and winter and cameras at high latitudes are of
the tortures of forcible feeding. It is probable practical importance. The book rings true
that she would have been set free in any case and the reader feels the genuineness of the
before her time was up. Whether or not one narrative, and notes the absence of fulsome
believes in the cause she represents and the exploitation of personal hazard in a story
methods she uses for its promotion, one must full of exciting incident. Fine illustrations, a
recognize in her an heroic soul; and though good map, and an ample index add to the use-
her book is not great as literature, it speaks to fulness of the work, which bids fair to become
the reader with the eloquence of unadorned a classic of mid-winter travel in the far north.
truthfulness and vehement earnestness. Two
portraits, a pleasing one of Lady Constance in
her proper character, and a grotesque carica-
A late volume in the recently
The noisome
ture signed by Jane Warton,'' accompany the
fly.
established “Cambridge Public
narrative and offer, by their contrast, con-
Health Series" is by Dr. G. S.
Graham-Smith on “Flies in Relation to Dis-
vincing proof of the writer's whole-souled
devotion to “votes for women.'
ease: Non-bloodsucking Flies” (Cambridge
University Press). Popular interest in the
The real Alaska of the pros- suppression and elimination of the plague of
pector and of the native Indian flies from city and country life is on the in-
winter.
and Esquimaux is that which is crease and "swat the fly" campaigns have
revealed in Dr. Hudson Stuck's "Ten Thou been in progress in many enterprising com-
sand Miles in a Dog Sled” (Scribner) not munities. This book gives reliable infor-
that of the coast-wise tourist or the tenderfoot mation on the appearance, structure, life-his-
enthusiast. The author is the archdeacon of tory, and breeding habits of the common flies
the Yukon and his duties as missionary of the which occur in our cities and towns. It also
Episcopal church afford ample opportunity gives the evidence of the agency of flies in
for winter travel in the interior of Alaska and spreading the bacteria which cause typhoid
for contact with Arctic cold below that experi- fever and other intestinal diseases, such as
enced by polar expeditions. It ensures an inti tuberculosis and diphtheria, and in distribut-
mate knowledge of Alaskan forests, tundras, ing certain non-bacterial diseases, and gives at
and rivers under their mantle of snow and ice, length the methods by which the plague of
as well as of the hardy, energetic, ever-hopeful flies may be prevented or controlled. There is
prospector, the mushroom mining camp and a deal of caution in the matter and manner of
the gentle, resourceful, hospitable, unmoral the book so that the reader is left with the
native peoples remote from our civilization. feeling that much is yet to be learned regard-
The author holds a brief for the right of these ing the actual extent to which flies are to be
Alaska
in


1914 )
145
THE DIAL
of naval
credited with the spread of disease. Enough that Mr. Wylie has treated. The volume con-
is surely known to justify all efforts to destroy tains an extended and illuminating account of
the fly which are being made. But the caution the efforts made, especially by the French, to
is wise. It is well to remember that the phrase prevent the outbreak of war, and the treacher-
"typhoid fly” may tend to obscure the fact ous diplomacy of the English king is shown
in the popular mind, that the fly is but one of in its true light. Mr. Wylie has also made a
many agencies in the spread of typhoid germs. detailed study of Henry's preparations for
The careful summaries of evidence regarding the invasion of France; of particular interest
the agency of the fly in spreading different is his account of how the venture was financed.
diseases in question and the conservative Students of English history will find Mr.
temper of the author will serve not only as Wylie's work a mine of interesting and valu-
ammunition for scientific attacks upon the able information; but the general reader is
problem of fly control and for stimulus to not likely to be attracted to a work in which
further bacteriological and epidemiological the general course of events is lost sight of in
research, but also, it is to be hoped, as a mild a maze of rather minute details.
corrective for those enthusiasts on this matter
whose zeal exceeds their knowledge and puts
The amateur possesses a certain
their critical faculty under anæsthesia. A
A study
advantage over the professional
very complete bibliography of nearly three efficiency.
hundred titles dealing with the biology of flies sal almost any subject of something more than
in presenting for popular peru-
and their relations to disease is appended. technical interest. He understands the lay-
Though written for the medical and biological man's point of view, knows what aspects of
reader the work is not so technical but that the the theme will especially appeal to him, and
general reader will find it replete with facts instinctively avoids a bewildering superfluity
clearly stated and discussions of problems of of scientific or technical terms. Mr. Robert W.
great sanitary and social interest.
Neeser, author of that popular presentation of
naval activities, "A Landsman's Log,' follows
The mention of King Henry V.
it up with a rather more detailed and formal
A study
of Henry V.
of England always brings up
account of our bluejackets' duties and daily
memories of his victorious career
drill, in a handsomely printed and illustrated
in France, and especially of the crushing
octavo entitled “Our Many-sided Navy
defeat that he administered to the astonished
(Yale University Press). He gives us a series
French at Agincourt in 1415. But the impor- of well-written and agreeably-instructive chap-
tance of Henry's reign is not to be measured
ters on the fleet at sea, the naval station at
by his doubtful military successes across the
Guantanamo Bay, the organization of the ship,
Channel; his domestic policies were in some
the daily life on shipboard, the battleship as
respects as far-reaching as his imperialistic
an educational institution, the engineering
ambitions. Mr. James Hamilton Wylie has competitions, athletics in the navy, the sailor
undertaken a detailed study of this interesting
as a soldier, the torpedo flotillas, gunnery
period, “The Reign of Henry V.” (Dutton), training, and target practice, with four
the first volume of which has recently appended papers on the navy's services in
appeared. It covers the first two years of the
times of peace, the organization and distribu-
reign and the contents make a solid volume of
tion of the navy at the date of writing, the
nearly six hundred pages. We are not
individual ship's organization, and the weekly
informed how many volumes are to follow;
routine on shipboard. If any landsman wishes
but if the author maintains the scale and
to know the variety and profundity of his own
proportion of the first, it will require at least ignorance in naval matters, and to correct a
three or four to complete the series. Mr. probable sufficiency of misconceptions, let him
Wylie has gathered together an immense
read Mr. Neeser's book, which is calculated to
amount of information, all of which he appears
make all its readers feel that if we must be
to have utilized either in the text or in his
burdened with a big navy, or what would once
several thousand footnotes, which comprise at
have been accounted such, it is some consola-
least two-thirds of the entire work. He deals tion to be assured of its admirable efficiency
with a great variety of facts and discusses and its constant readiness for emergencies.
almost every imaginable phase of the reign:
Continental diplomacy, British affairs, the
The ordinary layman who by
The evolution
civil strife in France, the Lollard movement, of criminal accident is caught in the meshes
the English church, hospitals, almshouses,
laws and courts
of a lawsuit is often mystified,
religious foundations, and the material neces amused, and exasperated by turns. He reads
sities of warfare are some of the larger topics Dickens's description of “how not to do it" in


146
(Sept. 1
THE DIAL
the Circumlocution Office and joins in the out-
NOTES.
cry against the absurd technicalities of the
A complete collection of the poems of Mr.
courts; if compelled to go into the fray to pro-
Edward Sandford Martin will be brought out
tect his interests he retains a lawyer and col- shortly by Messrs. Scribner.
lects a war fund to meet the inevitable costs of
Miss Helen Marshall Pratt's “ Westminster
litigation. In “A History of Continental Abbey" appears among the September announce-
Criminal Procedure” (Little, Brown & Co.), by ments of Messrs. Duffield & Co.
Professor A. Esmein, we have a learned ac-
The immediately forthcoming novel of Mr.
count of the evolution of modern criminal pro Robert Hichens is entitled “ Bye-ways.” Messrs.
cedure in all countries; for the American Dodd, Mead & Co. are the publishers.
editors have introduced extracts from other
Professor Joseph Jastrow's “ Character and
authorities to fill the gaps left by the French- Temperament,” a study of the sources of human
man. Many a puzzle is cleared up, many a mys- qualities, appears on Messrs. D. Appleton & Co.'s
tery is solved by this historical method. To meet autumn list.
a complex social situation by a primitive simple Mr. Stephen Graham describes his own experi-
method would not answer to the requirements. ences with a band of immigrants in his book, “With
Some absurdities remain to be corrected. The Poor Immigrants to America,” which Messrs. Mac-
conservatism of lawyers is vividly illustrated.
millan will publish this month.
An argument in favor of the jury system, bor-
In her forthcoming novel, “ The Witch," an-
rowed from England and never quite at home
nounced by Messrs. Houghton Mifflin Co., Miss
in France, is worth study by Americans. The
Mary Johnston goes back to the scenes and period
of her earlier stories
subject of public reparation to citizens
the days of Queen Eliza-
beth.
unjustly punished deserves more considera-
tion than it has yet received in any country.
A new volume by Mr. F. Hopkinson Smith,
To the lawyer and to the student of crimin-
which Messrs. Scribner will publish immediately,
ology this work is indispensable.
will describe Dickens's London, with illustrations
from the author's drawings in charcoal to accom-
pany the text.
Messrs. Chatto & Windus announce that Mr.
BRIEFER MENTION.
Edward Garnett's study, “ The Three Great Rus-
sian Novelists: Tolstoi, Dostoevsky, Turgenev,"
"The China Year Book, 1914” (Dutton) has which was held over from the spring, is now ready
been compiled by Mr. H. G. W. Woodhead, editor for immediate issue.
of the “ Peking Gazette," and Mr. H. T. Montague
“ The Winning of the Far West,” by Professor
Bell, formerly editor of the “ North-China Daily
Robert McNutt McElroy, will appear next month
News.” Its information is surprisingly recent.
from the press of Messrs. G. P. Putnam's Sons.
A very useful volume and one which is far It is designed as a continuation of Colonel Roose-
superior to many of its kind is “ Siam: A Hand velt's “The Winning of the West."
book of Practical, Commercial, and Political Infor-
Messrs. D. Appleton & Co. are bringing out in
mation” (Browne & Howell Co.), by Mr. W. A.
Graham, of which a second edition has recently Mexico," in which the author's purpose has been
book form Mr. John Reed's articles on “ Insurgent
appeared. A list of the principal topics treated in-
dicates the scope of the work: geography, science, the true character of the Mexicans.
to present to the American people an account of
races, history, social organization, education, gov-
ernment, industries, commerce, trade and treaties,
The poems of Emily Dickinson written by her
communications and transport, art, archæology,
to her “ Sister Sue,” and hitherto withheld from
architecture, music, dancing and the drama, relig-
the public, will now be published by Messrs. Little,
ion, language and literature, and bibliography.
Brown & Co. in an edition prepared by Mrs.
Martha Dickinson Bianchi, a niece of the poet.
The instructors in Latin in Williams College
have published a Selection of Latin Verse" (Yale
Mr. Arnold Bennett is said to have promised for
University Press). The volume contains one hun-
next spring the last volume of his “ Clayhanger"
dred and twenty-six pages of text, entirely with-
trilogy. After that he intends to give up writing
out notes, and is intended to meet the needs of
about the Five Towns, aiming to make life in Lon-
don and on the Continent the theme of his future
Williams freshmen. Brief explanatory notes are
work.
to follow later. It seems to us that for the small
amount of text given the price is needlessly high.
| Messrs. Methuen announce “ The Unknown
Various selections of the kind might well be pre-
Guest," a collection of psychical essays by M.
pared for sight reading in college classes, but the
Maeterlinck; new volume of poems by Mr.
condition of the average college student's pocket- Alfred Noyes; “The Bird of Paradise, and Other
book should be considered. The bulk of the Poems,” by Mr. W. H. Davies; and Selected
Williams volume is comprised within the time limits Prose of Oscar Wilde.”
of Lucretius and Juvenal, with a handful of selec During the autumn Mr. Mitchell Kennerley will
tions running down to Thomas of Celano and the add three new volumes to his series of critical
Dies Irae, in the thirteenth century.
studies of modern authors,—“Rudyard Kipling"
a
--
-
---
-


1914 )
147
THE DIAL
H. S. Pritchett
by Mr. Holbrook Jackson, “Robert Louis Steven J. J. Weiss as dramatic critic of the " Journal des
son" by Mr. Frank Swinnerton, and “ George Débats," and afterward filled the same office for
Bernard Shaw" by Mr. Joseph McCabe.
the Revue des Deux Mondes." He wrote also
The career of Lord Charles Beresford, who re-
for the “Revue Bleue," and was conspicuously
tired as admiral of the British navy in 1911 and is
successful with his series of critical essays on mod-
now among the last of the great Victorian seamen, ern authors, a series subsequently issued in seven
is set forth in an autobiographical account of his
volumes under the general title, “Les Contem-
life, edited by Mr. L. Cope Cornford. Messrs. porains." His dramatic criticisms were likewise
Little, Brown & Co. will issue it in two large illus- republished, in ten volumes, with the title, “Im-
trated volumes.
pressions de Théâtre.” Amid these activities he
The third volume in the series of social studies found time to issue two volumes of poetry and
which the Century Co. is publishing for the Bureau
several books of fiction, as well as a number of
of Social Hygiene is in preparation. It is the plays and some political writings. But his literary
work of Mr. Raymond B. Fosdick, and will present,
and dramatic criticism constitutes his best work, in
under the title of “ European Police Systems," his
which he showed himself an original and charming
investigations of the police departments of twenty- School of criticism. The French Academy admitted
and at times a brilliant writer of the impressionist
two European cities.
him to membership in 1896, and few have been the
A useful list of books illustrating or discussing
Academicians who, first and last, have better de-
"American Local Dialects" is issued by the St.
served the honor.
Louis Public Library. Fiction, including many
novels having comparatively little dialect, is largely
represented. The classification is chiefly geograph TOPICS IN LEADING PERIODICALS.
ical, there are good annotations, in brief compass,
September, 1914.
and a concluding author index.
Mr. Lawrence J. Burpee, whose “ Pathfinders of
"Airy Navies." T. R. MacMechen
Everybody's
Agricultural Credit. Jesse E. Pope Quar. Jour. Econ.
the Great Plains," dealing with the explorations Alsace-Virginia, Afoot in. Tucker Brooke
Sewanee
La Vérendrye and his sons, has just been pub-
American Shipping. Sylvester Thompson World's Work
Americans, New. Walter E. Weyl
Harper
lished by Messrs. Glasgow, Brook & Co. of Toronto, Armies of Europe, The. F. L. Huidekoper World's Work
will issue shortly through the John Lane Co. a Barrès, Maurice. Randolph S. Bourne
Atlantic
Charm. May Tomlinson
Sewanee
volume of description and travel in the Canadian
Civil War, Reminiscences of. A. R. H. Ranson
Sewanee
Rockies and Selkirks, under the title “Among the College, The Critics of the.
Atlantic
Competitive price, Theory of. J. M. Clark
Canadian Alps."
Quar. Jour. Econ.
Copenhagen. Arnold Bennett
Century
“ The Changing Drama: Its Contributions and
Curtis, Early Letters of. Caroline Ticknor : Atlantic
Depreciation and Rate Control. Allyn A.
Tendencies," by Professor Archibald Henderson, is Young
Quar. Jour. Econ.
Educational Values. M. v. O'Shea
to be published next month by Messrs. Henry Holt
Pop. Sc.
Electricity, Positive. Sir J. J. Thomson
Harper
& Co. Based largely on a study of the drama in English as Humane Letters. Frank Aydelotte Atlantic
Atlantic
the theatres of Great Britain and the Continent, it
Eugenics and Common Sense. H. Fielding-Hall
Europe at War. L. E. Van Norman
Rev. of Revs.
aims to give a general survey of the subject and to Europe's Armies. T. Lothrop Stoddard
Rev. of Revs.
treat in more detailed manner some of its chief
Exuberance. Robert Haven Schauffler
Century
Fighting Armies, The. J. F. J. Archibald World's Work
creative contributions.
Finance, American, during the War. C. A.
Conant
Rev. of Reve.
What promises to be one of the most notable Food Supply, Europe's. James Middleton World's Work
biographies of the season is announced by Messrs. France, Automobiling in. Albert B. Paine
Century
France, Decreasing Population of. J. W. Garner Pop. Sc.
Houghton Mifflin Co. in “ The Life of S. F. B.
French Revolution, The I. Hilaire Belloc
Century
Morse," prepared from letters and journals by his Gallatin, James, Diary of.-I.
Scribner
Germanys, The Two. Oswald G. Villard Rev. of Revs.
son, Mr. Edward L. Morse. The first volume will Golf, Winning Shot in. Jerome D. Travers American
contain an account of the inventor's early training
Hebrews in America.
Century
Heredity, Cellular Basis of. E. G. Conklin
Pop. Sc.
and deal with the interesting though little known Heredity, Human, Decadence of. S. J. Holmes Atlantic
period of his life when he set out on a career of Holidays, American. Harrison Rhodes
Harper
Holland and France, Travels in. E. S. Martin
Scribner
distinction as a portrait painter. In the second Homer, Winslow, Art of. Kenyon Cox
Scribner
volume Mr. Morse presents in detail the story of
Illustrations in Books. Robert MacDougall
Pop. Sc.
Jefferson, Polly, Voyage of. Katharine M. True Harper
his father's important invention of the electric tele-
Johnson, Dr., in the Flesh. J. F. Rogers
Sewanee
graph, the difficulty in establishing his rights as Lawyer's Conscience, The. C. A. Boston
Atlantic
Literature, Variation of Species in. H. T. Baker Sewanee
the inventor, and the rewards that were finally his.
Literature and Life. Arthur C. Benson
Century
Literature's loss in the death of Jules Lemaître
Melodrama — Why I Gave It Up. Owen Davis American
Morris, William. Alan Dyce
Sewanee
will be accounted the greater because of his com Nhambiquara Land, In the. Theodore Roosevelt Scribner
parative youth — if the young people will allow
North Point, Battle of. T. M. Spaulding
Sewanee
Ocean Trade, Our, and the War. L. Marvin Rev. of Revs.
the word — he being only in his sixty-second year Ohio, The Old-time State Capital of.
when the pen dropped from his hand last month.
Howells
Harper
Pagan Morals. Emily J. Putnam
Atlantic
He was born at Vennecy, near Orléans, Aug. 27, Panama-Pacific Exposition, Color Scheme at the.
1853, finished his education at the Lycée Charle-
Jesse Lynch Williams
Scribner
Philanthropy with Strings. E. A. Ross
Atlantic
magne and the Ecole Normale Supérieure, then Railroad Over-capitalization.
taught literature at Havre, Algiers, Besançon, and
Ripley
Quar. Jour. Econ.
Rate Decision, The. Harrington Emerson Rev. of Revs.
Grenoble, but in 1884 turned from teaching to the Red Cross, The, of the Warring Nations. Arno
more congenial employment of writing, in which he
World's Work
Religious Beliefs, Changing. 'Hugh Black
Everybody's
had already met with some success. He succeeded Riston, Joseph. H. S. V. Jones
Sewanee
.
E. A. Ross
W. D.
W. Z.
Dosch


148
[ Sept. 1
THE DIAL
.
Rodin's Note-book - IV. Judith Cladel
Century
Scientific Administrator, Rise of. E. D. Jones
Pop. Sc.
Shakespeare, Fact and Theory about. Pierce
Butler
Sewanee
Sherman, William T.' Gamaliel Bradford
Atlantic
Sydney, Australia, Impressions of. Norman
Duncan
Harper
Symons, Arthur, and Impressionism. 'w. M.
Urban
Atlantic
Syndicalism in Italy. George B. McClellan
Atlantic
Telephone. Joseph Husband
Atlantic
Tolstoi's Art. Edward A. Thurber
Sewanee
Torres Straits, Coral Reefs of the. A. G. Mayer Pop. Sc.
Trust Problem, The. E. Dana Durand Quar. Jour, Econ.
“ Twelfth Night." William Winter
Century
Union Pacific Merger Case. Stuart
Daggett
Quar. Jour. Econ.
United States, Neutrality of the. c. . Hyde World's World
Virtues, The Useless. Ralph B. Perry
Atlantic
Volcanic Activities on the Pacific Coast. G. E.
Mitchell
Rev. of Revs.
War - Its Effect on the United States. "c. F:
Carter
World's Work
War, Alliances That Made the 'Rollo Ogden World's Work
War, Causes of. Albert B. Hart
World's Work
War, Expenses of the European. C. F. Speare Rev. of Revs.
War, Financial Aspects of the. A. D. Noyes World's Work
War, New Things in. J. S. Gregory
World's Work
War-storm, The. Frederick Palmer
Everybody's
Winds, Prevailing, of Atlantic Coast. Alexander
McAdie
Pop. Sc.
LIST OF NEW BOOKS.
[The following list, containing 56 tilles, includes books
received by The Dial since its last issue.]
GENERAL LITERATURE.
The Theatre of Max Reinhardt. By Huntly Carter.
Illustrated, 8vo, 332 pages. Mitchell Kennerley.
On Life and Letters : Second Series. By Anatole
France; edited by Frederic Chapman. 8vo, 338
pages. John Lane Co.
The Spirit of Life. By Mowry Saben. 12mo, 253
pages. Mitchell Kennerley. $1.50 net.
Loeb Classical Library. New volumes: Cicero's De
Finibus Bonorum et Malorum, translated by
H. Rackham, M.A.; Xenophon's Cyropædia, trans-
lated by Walter Miller; Suetonius, translated by
J. C. Rolfe, Ph.D., Volume II. Each 12mo. Mac-
millan Co. Per volume, $1.50 net.
The Democratic Rhine-maid. By Franklin Kent
Gifford. 12mo, 372 pages. New York: Devin-
Adair Co. $1.25 net.
The Gaunt Gray Wolf: A Tale of Adventure with
“ Ungava Bob.” By Dillon Wallace. Illustrated,
12mo, 314
pages. Fleming
H. Revell Co.
$1.25 net.
Under Cover By Roi Cooper Megrue; novelized by
Wyndham Martyn. Illustrated, 12mo, 300 pages.
Little, Brown & Co. $1.25 net.
White Dawn: A Legend of Ticonderoga. By Theo-
dora Peck Illustrated, 12mo, 306 pages. Flem-
ing H. Revell Co. $1.25 net.
The Gilded Chrysalis. By Gertrude Pahlow. With
frontispiece, 12mo, 308 pages. Duffield & Co.
$1.25 net.
Don Diego; or, The Pueblo Indian Uprising of 1680.
By Albert B. Reagan. Illustrated in color, etc.,
12mo, 352 pages. Alice Harriman Co. $2.50 net.
The Little Angel of Canyon Creek. By Cyrus Town-
send Brady. Illustrated, 12mo, 292 pages. Flem-
ing H. Revell Co. $1.25 net.
The Passing of the Fourteen: Life, Love, and War
among the Brigands and Guerillas of Mexico. By
Ransom Sutton. With frontispiece, 12mo, 313
pages. New York: Devin-Adair Co. $1.25 net.
The Man of the Desert. By Grace Livingstone Hill
Lutz. Illustrated, 12mo, 289 pages. Fleming H.
Revell Co. $1.25 net.
Silver Sand: A Romance of Old Gallaway. By S. R.
Crockett. 12mo, 348 pages. Fleming H. Revell
Co. $1.25 net.
Nancy the Joyous. By Edith Stow. With frontis-
piece in color, 12mo, 253 pages. Reilly & Britton
Co. $1. net.
The Little Red Chimney. By Mary Finley Leonard.
Illustrated, 12mo, 164 pages. Duffield & Co.
$1. net.
Dr. Llewellyn and His Friends. By Caroline Abbot
Stanley. Illustrated, 12mo, 320 pages. Flem-
ing H. Revell Co. $1.25 net.
The Woodneys: An American Family. By J. Breck-
enridge Ellis. With frontispiece, 12mo, 187
pages. New York: Devin-Adair Co. $1. net.
Everybody's Birthright: A Vision of Jeanne d'Arc.
By Clara E: Laughlin. Illustrated, 12mo, 144
pages. Fleming H. Revell Co. 75 cts. net.
The Bird-store Man: An Old-fashioned Story. By
Norman Duncan. Illustrated, 12mo, 136 pages.
Fleming H. Revell Co. 75 cts. net.
TRAVEL AND DESCRIPTION.
Egypt (La Mort de Philæe). By Pierre Loti; trans-
lated from the French by W. P. Baines. Illus-
trated in color, 12mo, 309 pages. Duffield & Co.
$1.50 net.
Alaskaland: A Curious Contradiction. By Isabel
Ambler Gilman, LL.B. With frontispiece, 12mo,
110 pages.
Alice Harriman Co. $1. net.
Our Villa in Italy. By J. Lucas. Illustrated, 8vo,
200 pages.
Duffield & Co. $1.50 net.
SOCIOLOGY AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS.
The Department of State of the United States: Its
History and Functions. By Gaillard Hunt, LL.D.
8vo, 459 pages. Yale University Press. $2.25 net.
The Rise of the Working-class. By Algernon Sid-
ney Crapsey. 12mo, 382 pages. Century Co.
$1.30 net.
Religion and Drink. By E. A. Wasson, Ph.D. 12mo,
301 pages. Burr Printing House.
EDUCATION,
High School Courses of Study: A Constructive
Study Applied to New York City. By Calvin 0.
Davis. 12mo, 172
pages. World Book
Co.
$1.50 net.
High School Organization. A Constructive_Study
Applied to New York City. By Frank W. Ballou.
12mo, 178 pages. World Book Co. $1.50 net.
Business Arithmetic. By C. M. Bookman. 12mo,
250 pages. American Book Co. 65 cts.
Makers of the Nation. By Fanny E. Coe. Illus-
trated, 12mo, 384 pages. American Book Co.
50 cts. net.
Principles of Cooking. By Emma Conley. Illus-
trated, 12mo, 206 pages. American Book Co.
50 cts. net.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Monumental Classic Architecture in Great Britain
and Ireland during the Eighteenth and Nine-
teenth Centuries. By A. E. Richardson, Illus-
trated in photogravure, etc., large 4to, 124 pages.
Charles Scribner's Sons.
DRAMA AND VERSE.
Songs of the Dead End. By Patrick MacGill. 12mo,
167 pages.
Mitchell Kennerley.
Songs and Poems. By Martin Schütze. 12mo, 127
pages. Chicago: The Laurentian Publishers.
My Lady's Book. By Gerald Gould. 12mo, 54 pages.
Mitchell Kennerley.
The Thresher's Wife. By Harry Kemp. 12mo, 32
pages. New York: Albert & Charles Boni.
Mary Jane's Pa: A Play in Three Acts. By Edith
Ellis. 12mo, 174
pages. Mitchell Kennerley.
$1. net.
Poems of William Cullen Bryant. With portrait,
12mo, 371
pages. “Oxford Edition." Oxford
University Press.
FICTION
Perch of the Devil. By Gertrude Atherton. 12mo,
373 pages.
F. A. Stökes Co. $1.35 net.
Saturday's Child. By Kathleen Norris. With front-
ispiece in color, 12mo, 531 pages. Macmillan Co.
$1.50 net.
The Lay Anthony. By Joseph Hergesheimer. 12mo,
327 pages. Mitchell Kennerley. $1.25 net.
The Twenty-fourth of June: Midsummer's Day. By
Grace S. Richmond. Illustrated, 12mo, 404 pages.
Doubleday, Page & Co. $1.25 net.
Granite. By John Trevena. 12mo, 482 pages. Mit-
chell Kennerley. $1.35 net.
The New Mr. Howerson. By Opie Read. 12mo, 460
pages. Reilly & Britton Co. $1.35 net.
Canadian Nights. By Albert Hickman. Illustrated,
12mo, 365 pages. Century Co. $1.30 net.
The Call of the East: A Romance of Far Formosa.
By Thurlow Fraser. Illustrated, 12mo, 351 pages.
Fieming H. Revell Co. $1.25 net.
The House. By Henry Bordeaux; translated from
the French by Louise Seymour Houghton. 12mo,
409 pages. Duffield & Co. $1.35 net.


THE DIAL
A Semi-Monthly Journal of Literary Criticism, Discussion, and Information.
BOOKS OF THE COMING SEASON.
THE DIAL (founded in 1880) is published on the 18t and
16th of each month. TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION, $2. a year in
advance, postage prepaid in the United States and Mexico;
Foreign and Canadian postage 50 cents per year extra. RE-
MITTANCES should be by check, or by express or postal order,
payable to THE DIAL. Unless otherwise ordered, subscrip-
tions will begin with the current number. When no direct
request to discontinue at expiration of subscription is re-
ceived, it is assumed that a continuance of the subscription is
desired. ADVERTISING RATES furnished on application.
Published by THE HENRY O. SHEPARD COMPANY,
632 So. Sherman St., Chicago.
Entered as Second-Class Matter October 8, 1892, at the Post
Office at Chicago, Illinois, under Act of March 3, 1879.
Dol. LVII. SEPTEMBER 16, 1914.
No. 678.
CONTENTS.
PAGE
BOOKS OF THE COMING SEASON
183
THE ASIATIC AND THE GREEK SPIRIT IN
LITERATURE. Charles Leonard Moore 185
CASUAL COMMENT
187
The poet on the battlefield.- Fiction and
fact. --A book for the present hour.— Library
science as a reformatory agent.— Library
spirit'unquelled by earthquake and fire.-
War's effect on literary production.- Par-
liamentary poetics.— The author of “The
Great Illusion.”— The art of typography:-
Educational side shows.-A biblical settle-
ment of the Shakespeare-Bacon question.-
The influence of the French press.—The liter-
ary life and the active life.- Balm in books.
COMMUNICATION
192
The Women of Wagner. John L. Hervey.
BEHIND THE SCENES IN PARIS. Percy F.
Bicknell
195
DRUMMOND OF HAWTHORNDEN. Herbert
Ellsworth Cory
197
THE QUINTESSENCE OF “ MODERNITY.”
Archibald Henderson
201
CLASSIC ARCHITECTURE IN ENGLAND.
Sidney Fiske Kimball
202
RECENT FICTION. Lucian Cary
203
Baroness von Suttner's When Thoughts Will
Soar.- Read's The New Mr. Howerson.-
Mrs. Atherton's Perch of the Devil.— Mrs.
Ghosal's An Unfinished Song.- Trevena's
Granite.-- Hergesheimer's The Lay Anthony.
BRIEFS ON NEW BOOKS
205
Characteristics of Joseph Chamberlain.- The
golden age of Portugal.- Uncalled-for
attacks on Oscar Wilde.--- The exacting pro-
fession of forestry.-A chapter in our public
land history.-A Shakespearean itinerary.-
Correspondence of an American statesman.
BRIEFER MENTION
• 207
NOTES
208
ANNOUNCEMENTS OF FALL BOOKS. 209
(A classified list of the new books planned
for publication during the coming Fall and
Winter season.)
LIST OF NEW BOOKS
227
There is usually nothing more exciting to
read at this season of the year than the pub-
lishers' announcements. Every goose is so
much a swan before the autumn flight of books
has actually begun that even those descrip-
tions which are supplied by the young men
whose business it is to write enthusiastically
of every book their employers publish seem
credible. The disappointments of other sea-
sons, the books that promised so well in the
advance notices and turned out so badly in
the reading, are forgotten. The desire that
the new books worth reading (and keeping)
will be many is too keen to admit the proba-
bility that they will be few. It seems that
there never were so many interesting things
coming. And though this year the war in
Europe gives a certain advantage over pub-
lishers' announcements to the front pages of
the newspapers, it is an advantage easily over-
estimated. Not that the publishers have over-
estimated the interestingness of the war news.
Despite their concern as to the effect of the
war upon the book trade they have gone
ahead to announce as many books this year as
they did last year, or more. A few impor-
tations have been postponed or withdrawn,
but they will rapidly be replaced by books
on the war' and its causes. Professor Hugo
Münsterberg is even now, we are informed,
dictating many pages a day of a book con-
ceived since August 1 on “The War and
America.” That there will be many others
goes without saying.
These books will belong, in so far as they
discuss contemporary social forces, quite as
much to economics or sociology as to history:
they might be lumped off inclusively under
the heading of "social criticism." That is a
heading which cuts across the formally classi-
fied list of fall books which we publish in
another part of this issue of THE DIAL, but
one which does describe a kind of book which
has greatly increased of late years. Indeed,
some of the most valuable and stimulating
books written in English during the last ten
or a dozen years would come under this head-
.
.


184
(Sept. 16
THE DIAL
?? has com-
mas.
ing Professor Thorstein Veblen's“A Theory to the war, but it will probably be worth wait-
of the Leisure Class” and Mrs. Olive | ing for. Mr. Compton Mackenzie, who last
Schreiner's “Woman and Labor” are capital year gave us “Youth's Encounter,
examples. There is perhaps no book to be pleted the story there begun under the title of
published this season which promises to equal “Sinister Street.” Other novelists who have
either of those two. We do not find here (or promised sequels or the completion of trilogies
anywhere else) a title that stands out as the have been dilatory. Mr. J. D. Beresford is an
book of the year. But there are a number of exception. The third volume of his Jacob
titles that promise well. One of these is Mr. Stahl trilogy will not be published until next
Herbert Croly's “Progressive Democracy" spring, but it is ready for the printer. In
and another is Mr. Walter Lippmann's “Drift the meantime he has written “The House in
and Mastery: An Attempt to Diagnose the Demetrius Road.'
Demetrius Road.” Miss Ethel Sidgwick, who
Current Unrest." Professor Edward Als- has written two immensely clever volumes of
worth Ross, who has contributed many a the history of Antoine in "Promise" and
piquant phrase to current social criticism, is “Succession," has turned aside this season to
the author of "The Old World in the New," write “A Lady of Leisure." Mr. Arnold
a study of the different races of Europe in Bennett has not finished the story of Hilda
the United States which has been appearing Lessways and Edwin Clayhanger. Mr. Martin
serially in the “Century." Mr. Frederic C. Andersen Nexö's four-volume novel, “Pelle
Howe's new book is to be called “The Ameri- the Conqueror,
the Conqueror," is complete in its Danish
can City." Of a different order, though original, and the English translation of the
doubtless written for the sake of the applica- second volume will be ready in a month or
tions to present society which their researches two. If it is as good as the first volume it
have enabled them to make, are Mr. and Mrs. will be as well worth reading as any novel
Walter M. Gallichan's new books. Mr. Gal. likely to be published between now and Christ-
lichan writes on "Women under Polygamy"
But all the novelists are not writing
and Mrs. Gallichan on “The Age of the trilogies and all the promising ones are not
Mother Power.” We have some doubt as to on the other side of the Atlantic. Mr.
whether this age ever existed, but we shall be Coningsby Dawson, who made such a hit last
interested to hear about it just the same. year with "The Garden without Walls," is in
Miss Ellen Key is to be represented this sea England, but only until the war is over. His
son by "The Younger Generation" and Mr. new novel is called “The Raft.” Mr. Samuel
Havelock Ellis by “Impressions and Com- Hopkins Adams has written a novel about an
ments.” Two French books from opposite American newspaper, “The Clarion," which
camps are M. Georges Sorel's “Reflections on may be the newspaper novel we have long
Violence" and M. Emile Faguet's “The expected and have never seen. A new Ameri-
Dread of Responsibility.” M. Faguet is a can novelist who may be worth while is Mr.
defender of aristocracy; M. Sorel of syn Edward C. Venable, the author of "Pierre
dicalism.
Vinton: The Adventures of a Superfluous
The fashion of human documents" is IIusband.” Of novels by popular, or familiar.
allied to the fashion of social criticism, Our American writers there is no end. That some-
contemporary curiosity about life, so fresh where in the list there will be a genuine piece
and so wide, takes the form of personal con of artistry is too much to believe but not too
fessions in the popular magazines and of much to hope.
courses in sociology in the universities. Some It seemed for a time as if the drama might
human documents take the form of biog- dispute the novel's popularity. The list of
raphies, as does Miss Marie Sukloff's “The books about the theatre grew astoundingly
Life Story of a Russian Exile,” and some are and publishers began actually to print plays
anonymous novels, as is but we refrain for readers. If the drama has not really
from calling special attention to any anony-challenged the novel it is perhaps because it
mous confession until we have seen it.
has been so much more written about than
Of novels which we do not hesitate to men written. No publisher's announcements are
tion there are a number. Mr. Wells's new complete this season without a book on the
one, “The Wife of Sir Isaac Harman,” will theatre, whereas many houses seem content
hardly be ready before Thanksgiving, owing / without any plays to publish. So few plays


1914]
185
THE DIAL
worth publishing are being written. Mr. father will be ready shortly; and Mr. Edward
Shaw's are an exception. A new volume is L. Morse's biography of his father, S. F. B.
to be expected from him, though no definite Morse, is announced. Of more journalistic
announcement of it has been made to date. interest, perhaps, are Mr. S. S. McClure's
In addition there are a number of transla- | “My Autobiography,”? “Mrs. Pankhurst's
tions from foreign dramatists, and a comedy, Own Story," and Mrs. Katherine O'Shea's
“Van Zorn,” by the American poet, Mr. Life of Charles Stewart Parnell. The third
Edward Arlington Robinson. Of books about and final volume of the life of Disraeli which
the theatre, we note “The Modern Theatre,'' W. F. Monypenny began has been written by
by Mr. Hiram K. Moderwell; “The Modern Mr. G. E. Buckle. Sir George Trevelyan has
Drama," by Mr. Ludwig Lewinsohn; “The completed his “George III. and Charles
Changing Drama," by Mr. Archibald Hen-Fox," the volumes making, with his previous
derson, and a college text-book which should four volumes on “The American Revolution,”
be of general interest, Professor George P. an unusual contribution to history. The list
Baker's “The Technique of the Drama. might be extended, but suffice it to say that it
Poetry is not as well represented in the includes the usual batch on Napoleon. A num-
autumn lists as we should have liked. Mr. T. ber of works of history are temporarily post-
Sturge Moore's volume, “The Sea Is Kind," poned. The new volume of the “Cambridge
which contains in addition to new poems a Medieval History," which happens to be
selection from his earlier volumes, looms “Germany and the Western Empire,” is one
larger to us than anything else. A number of these. Some histories will doubtless have
of American poets are, however, to be repre-
to be revised next fall, or the year after, or
sented. Mr. Nicholas Vachel Lindsay, Mr. whenever the war ends. And that event will
Ilarry Kemp, and Miss Harriet Monroe are be the occasion of several wholly new ones, to
among these.
Mr. James Stephens's new say nothing of all the other sorts of books that
volume is indefinitely postponed. Mr. Frank it will make necessary or possible.
lin H. Giddings, who is professor of sociology
at Columbia, is the author of "Pagan Poems.”
We hope they are as good as some of his
THE ASIATIC AND THE GREEK SPIRIT
lectures.
IN LITERATURE.
The list of belles-lettres is hardly as long
Matthew Arnold had a way of calling cer-
as usual, but there are a number of good
tain styles of writing which he disliked “Asi-
titles in it. Mr. Henry James is publish-atic.": Doubtless the specimens he had in
ing his “Notes on Novelists and Some Other view were deserving of opprobrium, but the
Notes." Mr. Gilbert Chesterton has a new word connotes too much to be used merely in
volume of essays ready, except for the title. reproach. To the Greek mind in its clearness,
The famous article on poetry which Theodore moderation, and reasonableness the vast, over-
Watts-Dunton wrote for the Britannica is at
whelming, and mysterious conceptions of Asia
last to be reprinted. A new book on Mr. were repugnant, and all who have inherited
or been trained in the Attic mood must share
Shaw, an unusually sensible one, we hear, has
been written by Mr. Joseph McCabe. Mr.
the horror of the extravagant and the im-
measurable.
Richard Curle has endeavored to account for
But after all Asia is the mother of minds.
Mr. Joseph Conrad, and to infect us with his
even of the Greek mind. Æschylus at least is
enthusiasm for that admirable artist's work.
Asiatic in conception and execution. The
Finally, we should like to mention Mr. Clive Greeks, however, in the main reduced every-
Bell's book, “Art." It is said to be a well- thing to the measure of humanity, the gods,
written defence of post-impressionism. nature, philosophy. The vaster religions and
The division of travel and exploration con-
systems of thought of Asia made but little
tains many titles but lacks a book of such
account of the human unit. Where there were
interest as the one about Captain Scott's expe-
such hordes of men, man ceased to have any
dition, yet many readers will want Mr. Roose-
great value.
It would be hard to overstate how much the
velt's “Through the Brazilian Wilderness."
world owes to the Greek reason, to its ideal of
Mr. Karl Pearson has already published
limited perfection in art and literature. In
the first volume of his life of Francis Galton; eighteen centuries it struggled in Europe
Count Ilyá Tolstoy's reminiscences of his against Asiatic ideals embodied in Christianity
.


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(Sept. 16
THE DIAL
and Mohammedanism. Homer was pitted speech simply and universally true. Our souls
against the Bible. The Schools fought against may be moved, shaken by his utterances but
the people, for the mob is always Asiatic in they recover with a "Yes, but!” He is a
its instincts. The profound and mysterious Pope who has declared his infallibility with-
elements of human thought rose again and out the aid of a Council. This is particularly
again from the depths. Folk-lore wrought the the case in regard to politics and the large
Romantic reactions against the Classic spirit. affairs of men. With his predecessor Shelley
On the other hand, Science with its precision and his successor Tolstoi, he stands forth as
and common sense, the naturalistic and realis- the protagonist of the poor and oppressed.
tic tendencies in art and literature, have been He seems to think, however, that two classes
on the side of the Greek mood. They have of men, rulers and ruled, are made of different
shorn the supernatural of its power; they kinds of flesh. To him material success in life
have made against the domination of the idea. is a crown of infamy; poverty and failure
More recently the great European philoso- the signs and sorts of saintship. We fear that
phers have drawn from the reservoirs of Asi- there is no such class division of mankind into
atic thought. Schopenhauer, Nietzsche, and sheep and goats. The poor are just about as
Eucken to a large extent, are inspired by good and bad as the rich and powerful. The
Persia and India. Vedantic, Buddhistic, Zoro difference between them is due to chance, luck,
astrian doctrines are dominant in European industry, and intellect. The failings and
philosophy. That the basic ideas of these doc- faults of the great are more visible, more ad-
trines are essentially different from those of vertised. And of course they can be more
Greek thought, it would be vain to assert. But fatal to the world.
the Greeks gave a human, cheerful, day But with all its drawbacks what a vast, sig-
light turn to their speculations, in comparison nificant, and powerful world is that projected
with which the huge pessimisms and nega- by Victor Hugo. He is the supreme rhetori-
tions of Asia are appalling things of the dark. cian of verse, a rhetorician so affluent, varied,
It seems to us that the two dominant poets and brilliant that he almost persuades you that
of the last century, Victor Hugo and Lord art is nature. Yet we feel that his work is
Tennyson, are good exemplars, respectively, of rather of the brain than of the blood. In
the Asiatic and the Greek spirit. Their lyric, ballad, and narrative poetry he falls
careers were parallel; there was storm and short of poets whose work is the effluence of
stress in Hugo's life, and stress if not storm their whole beings; he falls short of Burns,
in Tennyson's; both ended victoriously. Goethe, Coleridge, Keats, even of Musset and
Probably no one who ever lived had less use Verlaine. Three or four of his plays have a
for the Greek virtue of “the mean
vivid life; not merely the life of the stage,
Hugo. He was always dealing in extremes, but a phantasmal splendor that thrills us in
in politics, in art, in language. Anything less the reading of them. They carry with them
like ordinary, average humanity than his the seeds of reproduction. Without going into
gigantic and single-motived creations could the question whether the Cyrano and L'Aiglon
hardly be conceived. Each of them is the em of the living Rostand are greater or less than
bodiment of an idea and they struggle with
Hernani and Marion Delorme, it is obvious
other ideas embodied as natural forces or
that they are of the same order. Two of his
edicts of fate. But this is right enough. The novels, “Nôtre Dame” and “The Toilers of
day of the maker of mythologies is not over.
the Sea," are creations from the idea, pushed
In spite of realism and the photographing of as far as this style of work can be carried.
one's neighbors, it is the great typical figures They will always remain as monuments of
which stand on the forefront of literature. what the human mind can do when playing
The only question about Hugo's is whether
with nature and humanity. Hugo's mind was
they have enough of the blood of humanity to not unlike a kaleidoscope where a few bits of
vein their mountainlike proportions. Too glass and colored ribbon can be made to evolve
often they seem made after à recipe: they intricate and magnificent patterns. In "Les
are machines rather than mortals. The human Misérables,” however, there is more than the
mind never rejects the impossible, but it does idea - there is life, and it is the wide wings
refuse the improbable. It is not so much even of this book which have carried Hugo's fame
that Hugo's people lack reality, but that they farthest over the world. Truth to nature is
lack desirability. Few readers, we imagine, stamped upon Fantine and Cosette, Gavroche
read themselves into his men and women. and Marius. It is a singular thing that God-
As with his creations, so with his language. win, driest of writers, should have supplied
His fiery affirmations have to be taken with a material for two great poets,- Shelley and
grain of salt. Seldom does he flower into | Hugo. The central theme of “Les Misérables”
" than


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more
is very similar to that of “Caleb Williams, lads, and idylls of Tennyson's early prime,
and Jean Valjean and Javert have their while they will give but scant regard to the
prototypes in the earlier book. But the dif- plays of his age and pay but an awed attention
ference between the two works is like the to the long poems of his maturity. The in-
difference between a tree in winter and the spired singer became the conscious artist.
same tree plumaged with foliage,- a pavilion “The Princess” is Shakespeare's “Love's
of shade and a citadel of birds.
Labour's Lost” brought up to date
On the whole, however, the characteristic elaborate but less sparkling. The trouble,
feature of Hugo's work is the dominance in philosophically, with "In Memoriam” is that
it of the idea, and it is this which relates him it is not thorough. It has not the trumpet
to the Asiatic type. Probably no poet more tones of victory, or the tragic wail of defeat.
impresses us with vastness, profound depths, Compared with the pessimisms, negations, and
existence in itself. As is the case with his profundities of recent philosophic thought,
pupil Swinburne, part of this impression may Tennyson's meditations are lame enough. The
be due to a trick. In analys