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About Yale Alumni Magazine | View Entire Issue (April 15, 1897)
12 YALE ALUMNI WEEKLY THE BOOK SHELF. [Conducted by ALBERT LEE, '91.] “Were Literature.” The guestion as to what real litera- ture is, has been asked more than once, and as many times answered; and no doubt, if the replies of the wise men and the learned were brought together they would harmonize fairly well. Pro- fessor Woodrow Wilson in his collection of essays, ‘“‘Mere Literature” (Boston: Houghton, Mifflin & Co.), puts the query again, and himself answers it. His statement is that the essence which makes a piece of writing “Literature” is reality. ‘A description written as if with an undimmed and seeing eye upon the very object described; an exposition that lays bare the very soul of the matter; a’ motive truly revealed; anger that is righteous and justly spoken; mirth that has its sources pure; phrases to find the heart of a thing, and a heart seen in things for the phrases to find; an unaffected mien set out in language that is its own—such are the realities of literature. Nothing else is of the kin.”’ That is a long sentence, but it is full of wisdom and there is material in it for thought. I wish there were space to quote further, but we shall have to be satisfied here with the briefest of ex- tracts, in the hope that they may act as sign-posts toward a journey through the book itself. Professor Wilson differentiates very clearly and pleasantly between scholar- ship and literature, and the manner in which he does this is typical of the clear, epigrammatic form of the essays in the book, which treat particularly of literature. ‘‘Scholarship,’’ he says, “‘is the realm of nicely adjusted opinion. Tt is the. business of scholars to assess evidence and test conclusions, to dis- criminate values and recken probabili- ties. Literature is the realm of convic- tion and vision. It speaks individ- ual faiths. Its ground-work is not eru- dition, but reflection and fancy. . . If literature use scholarship, it is only to fill it with fancies or ship it to new . standards, of which of itself it can know nothing.” s From the general production of lit- : erature, Professor Wilson turns to that © special field in which he has shown himself a careful laborer, and talks of the writing of history. It is perhaps interesting to quote his idea of how the writing of history should be done It “must be based upon original re- search and authentic record, but it can no more be directly constructed. by the piecing together of bits of original research than by the mere reprinting together of state documents.” He then goes on. to illustrate his idea with a very clear example,. and one that comes right home to most of us. He says that whoever wishes to write the history of the early days of our nation, must saturato himself with the opinions of those times and look at events not from the Nineteenth century, but from the Seventeenth. ‘Let the historian, if he be wise, know no more of the history, as he writes, than might have been known in the age and day of which he is writing. A trifle too much knowl- edge will undo him. It will break the spell for his imagination. . .°*.* He must look far and wide upon every de- tail of the time, see it at first hand, and paint as he looks; selecting, as the artist must, but selecting while the vis- ion is fresh, and not from old sketches laid away in his notes. . . . The historian needs an imagination quite as much as he needs scholarship, and con- summate literary art as much as can- dor and common honesty.” In the essay on “A Calendar of Great Americans” is given the best definition of the American Constitution that I have ever seen. Professor Wilson ex- plains the difference between the En- glish and the American idea of liberty and of Constitutional Government, and shows how the consideration of consti- tutional questions is different in the two countries. ‘“‘The American consti- tutional statesman constructs policies like a lawyer. The standard with which he must square his conduct is set him by a document, upon whose definite sentences the whole structure of the government directly rests. That docu- ment, moreover, is the concrete embodi- ment of a peculiar theory of govern- ment. That theory is, that definitive laws, selected by a power outside the government, are the structural iron of the entire fabric of politics, and that nothing which cannot be constructed upon this stiff framework is a safe or legitimate part of policy. Other nations have had written constitutions, but no other nation has ever filled a written constitution with this singular- ly compounded content, of a sound, legal conscience and a strong national purpose.”’ The discussion of great Americans in this essay is highly interesting, and Professor Wilson gives very fresh ideas, on the great men of our history. He points out the strength and weakness of their characters and shows which, were foreigners in their methods and which were distinctively American. Ot Lincoln, whom he considers as one of our truly great Americans, he says. ‘He was not fit to be President until he. actually became President.” the chief value of this essay isi that it! will suggest lines, along which profit-\ able courses of reading may be taken, for it surely points out a number of very interesting subjects which every. American should wish to be familiar with. ed ‘The Pomp of the Lavilettes.” Although perhaps not quite so good as some of his earlier books, ““The Pomp of the Lavilettes’ by Gilbert Parker, (Boston, Lampson, Wolfe & Co.,) is much better than his book of short stories which he published last Fall. The scene of the present tale is laid in Canada—that .land which Mr. Parker is rapidly making his own, in a literary sense—Bonaventure is the little French village, which wit- nesses the comedies and the tragedies of his tale, and the incidents are drawn at the time of the rising under Papineau. One of the best drawh characters is that of Ferrol, the Irish- man. It is he who marries one of the Lavilettes, having made love to the other—but he deservedly dies. There is lots of life and motion and considera- ble vigor to the story, and there is no doubt about its being interesting, in spite of the fact that Mr. Parker sometimes stoops to effects that might be considered more suitable to the melo-drama than to literature.. —— of Science With Theology.” The Honorable Andrew D. White, 53, the newly appointed ambassador to Germany, will carry the prestige of a fresh literary success when he cros- ses the sea. His Warfare of Science with ‘Theology in Christendom, (D. ‘Appleton & Co.,) has attracted more ‘“ Warfare -“gerious- attention thai any book of it general kind published for a long time, and its sale is said to continue to be very large. The book has aroused much interest in England, where all the principal journals have devoted much space to its considera- tion. “Whe History of Oratory.” (Reviewed by a Yale Debater.) With the revival of public speaking in the~ Universities, Professor Sears’ book on ‘‘The History of Oratory” may be considered a timely contribution to the bibliography of the subject. The book presents a history of the art of speaking by giving a sketch of typical men who have been great in oratory, with an analysis of their work. The sketches are of necessity brief, and treat of the orator’s life only as it relates to his art. The analyses are truly critical and in them the author shows an intimate knowledge: of the oratory of all-ages. The principles of eloquence for which each of the great masters stand are considered and also the cause of the beginning, and growth, decadence and revival of the art. There is always something disap- pointing in studying the triumphs of orators. There is always that in the man himself which defies analysis or re- production on the printed page. In the recent talk on Daniel Webster, whom he knew personally and whose great efforts he heard, Prof. E. J. Phelps spoke of this point particularly. He said that many asentencein Webster’s oration we would now pass over with- out a second thought, which were among the most effective of the speech in which they were contained, simply from the manner and spirit of the man himself as he uttered them. This pow- er, Mr. Phelps attributed to personal magnetism, the same quality which makes a great actor. As he expressed it, ‘“Webster seemed to be able to place his finger on the imagination of his hearers,’’ whereupon the whole scene rose before them, more vividly than would have been possible in the spoken WoOI! «. But the student may also use his imagination, and in some measure, bring himself, under the spell of the master. Of particular interest is the author’s view of the present condition of orato- ry. Its low estate is due to a recon- struction period in matters of legisla- tion and a commercial era in the world Perhaps. at large. The Universities, however, in all things are the first to catch the returning light and the revived inter- est in public speaking among students may be taken as harbinger of a revival in oratory. Fresh hope is given by the intercollegiate debates of the East and the oratorical contests of the West. From these academical performances it is not a long step to the court room, the people’s platform and the commemora- tive occasion. And so we may come again to another time of real oratory. The situation in the world at large. seems to indicate such a result. And. so the necessity is present, and pre- eminently for collegiate speakers, of gathering the lessons left by the mas- ters of the art in the past that, profit- ing by their successes and failures, the men of the present and future, may know how they can best instruct, con- vince and persuade. To such study, Professor Sears’ book is a most helpful contribution. Advisory Committee Appointed. The Advisory Committee, consisting of one graduate each from Yale and Harvard, has been appointed for the purpose of deciding all disputes that may arise in making arrangements for the athletic contests to take place be- tween these two Universities during the next four years. The two gentlemen appointed are Walter Camp, ’80, whose connection with Yale athletics needs no repetition here, and James J. Stor- row, jr., who was a previous captain of a Harvard crew, and has recently lent his services as coach. The appoint- ment of these two gentlemen was made in accordance with the provisions of the well-known athletic agreement drawn up by Mr. Camp and Dr. Brooks. No occasion has yet arisen to require the services of this Committee. The Latest and Finest Violet. ii, MU he Crown Orchidia THE NEW CROWN SERIES In seven delicious odors, extra quality. The Crown Violet The Crown Ambre The Crown Chypre ‘I'he Crown Crab-Apple Blossoms The Crown Peau d’Espagne i I Each in a beautiful Carton. : Gee For sale by all leading dealers in Perfumery. Crown Perfumery Co., London, Makers of the universal favorites, CRAB-APPLE BiLossoms and MATSUKITA THE NEw GROWN VIOLET auniad ib mHSUBNEC Y The Crown White Rose Price $1.25, PERFUMES and the CROWN LAVENDER SALTs asked for all over the world. + JUST OUT. A NEW HISTORICAL NOVEL. | By Gilbert Parker. | THE POMP OF THE LAVILETTES. Price, $1.25. in The Bookman. Courier. history of Canada. —Canadian American. ness of fresh-sawn pine. .. ‘ * Four Books by Charles G. D. Roberts. THE FORGE IN THE FOREST. Being the narrative of the Acadian Ranger, Jean de Mer, Seigneur de Briart, and how. he crossed the Black Abbé}; and of his adventures in a strange fellowship. ‘‘Tt is a story to shake the torpor from the brain and to keep the soul alive. Itis charged with romance and works like wine. Professor Roberts . . a story that will repeat itself in our dreams for many a long day.”—Jas. Macarthur ‘*An Acadian romance that for its splendid purpose, the wonderful endurance, and manhood and womanhood of its characters, as well as the pure poetic imagery of the tale, ought to place it among the classics of that lovely, lost land.’’--Boston A HISTORY OF CANADA. With Chronological Chart and Map of the Dominion of Canada and Newfoundland. rectitude necessary for the work with the imagination of a poet... . fore highly interesting to learn that Mr. Charles G. D. Roberts is bringing outa His work is likely to possess just that unusual quality to which we have referred. It will be conscientious, and it will be written out of a sensitive poetic temperament.—New York Tribune. THE BOOK OF THE NATIVE: a Volume of Poems. ‘‘In poetic insight and delicate touch Prof. Roberts’s verse constantly excels.”’ “ Verses capable of inspiring the reader with reverence for nature and with de- lightful desire to find its meaning.’’— Boston Globe. EARTH’S ENIGMAS: a Volume of Stories. ‘¢Thereis in Mr. Roberts’ stories of life in the Canadian logging-camp a wonderful freshness of atmosphere: one seems to hear the rush of the flooding water ; to see the dazzle of the blue, wind-swept, sun-thrilled sky ; to smell the pungent pleasant- f : The book is among the worthiest collection of tales, alike from the standpoint of ethics and of literature, that has_ been given to the public in many a literary day.’”’—Boston Transcript. . has written Price, $1.50. Price, $2.00. Price, $1.00, net. Price, $1.25. and staying interest.’’—Boston Courier. taste.’’>—Boston Beacon. (LOWELL LECTURES.) WIVES IN EXILE: a Comedy in Romance. By William Sharp. *‘The conception of ‘ Wives in Exile’ is one that cannot fail to win an immediate ‘““This book ought to prove a panacea for the blues.”’—Boston J ournal. yaa This is one of the most delightful comedies in romance of the season. . . . It is pure, clean fun, of a refined, intellectual type, and it leaves no unpleasant after- - Pictures of Russian History and Russian Literature. By Prince Serge Wolkonsky. Price, $2.00, net. Price, $1.25, net. LAMSON, Boston. ‘*Tt is not often that a history gets itself written by a man who combines all the . Itis there- WOLEEE & CO. London. New York. | |
