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time to be imagined between scenes; while the added elements of deficient stage machinery and absence of a curtain would make a frequent change of scene jar on the dramatic illusion. The Greek poet therefore had to group the action around one place and one time; whatever else was necessary to the action such as battles, etc., was introduced by means of the reports of heralds, which were an integral part of the drama. The so-called unity of action or arrangement of events in a sequence of cause and effect was perhaps more strictly maintained than in modern times.

The paper further pointed out that Aristotle, the acknowledged authority of the French classical school, while he lays especial stress on the unity of action and mentions the unity of time, nowhere alludes to the unity of place. Violations of the unities were then mentioned both in Greek tragedy and in the modern classical and romantic drama. Instances were shown where the French dramatists adhered to the unities and violated all probabilities. In the absence of a chorus the need of a strict observance of the unity of time and place was wanting and the romantic school represented by Shakspeare freely violated both.

In the subordination of incident and diction to the central idea of the drama the ancients were manifestly superior. Attention was called to the fact that while Greek plays were composed in the form in which they were acted, modern plays are usually "adapted" for the stage. The paper closed with a criticism, from the above mentioned points of view, of Shakspeare's King Lear and Browning's Best in the 'Scutcheon.

On November 25th, Mr. W. I. Hunt read a paper on

WIT AND HUMOR IN HOMER.

The epic poem is not naturally witty or humorous. Its dignity and sternness preclude small talk. So on Homeric battlefields stern irony and sarcasm are used in mocking an enemy, exulting over a fallen foe, or spurring on a friend. Irony is heightened by intensive particles which make the contrast greater between the speaker's real view and his statement, or by weakening particles which state as contingent that which the speaker looks upon as certain. Irony is also indicated by using words of pleasant meaning in a bad sense, or by stating that which is feared as the object of the action. "Draw near that you may die !"

While there is no lack of wit and humor in Homer, many things are treated seriously which we should look upon as absurd. Homeric wit is broad not subtle, objective not subjective. It has to do with external objects and is aimed at definite persons. There is sometimes a humor in the grouping of events, as in the comical scenes in which Aphrodite figures, or in the prize-fight between Odysseus and Irus. Odysseus in the cave of the Cyclops saves his life by a pun. There is more humor in the Odyssey than in the Iliad. In the Iliad the wit is largely irony and sarcasm, for the Iliad is a stern tragedy, while the Odyssey is a novel.

The Secretary translated, with comments, Professor Jebb's Greek Ode to the University of Bologna at its Eight-Hundredth Anniversary. Few scholars would attempt to compose an ode of one hundred and fifty verses in Pindaric style, dialect and rhythm. Probably no other living scholar would have been so successful as Professor Jebb. The ode is by no means a "cento," yet every stanza contains Pindaric idioms and reminiscences. Some of the most ethereal of Pindar's characteristics reappear here. The Greek hexameters, elegiacs, and Sapphic verses which have been composed and published occasionally during the last four centuries are all trifling and rude work, when compared with this ode.

PHILOSOPHICAL CLUB.

The papers presented have been

Oct. 23. Science and Theism. Mr. R. Nakashima.

Nov. 6. Nature and the Universal in English Poetry. Mr. J. H. Tufts.

Nov. 20. Philosophical Basis of Ritschl's Theology. Professor Russell.

Dec. 4. Hebrew and tween Body and Soul. Dec. 18. Pessimism.

Greek Conceptions of the Relation be-
Mr. F. C. Porter.

Mr. B. M. Wright.

CURRENT LITERATURE.

In a little book which bears the title of "FROM FLAG TO FLAG,"* a lady of southern birth, whose home was in Louisiana at the outbreak of our "civil war," tells the story of some of the experiences which she and her husband passed through, as they ran "from flag to flag," to Mexico and Cuba, in the search for a place of refuge. The story is told so gracefully, it is so free from all bitterness of spirit-the numberless privations which she endured were borne with such courage, and with such a cheerful spirit that no one can read the book without admiration for the brave and accomplished authoress.

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She had been herself present in April, 1860, at the Democratic Convention in Charleston, when one after another of the Southern delegations refused to ratify the adoption of the "platform" that had been submitted, and "filed solemnly out of the hall." She says that leaning over the gallery rail, and carried away by the excitement that prevailed, she saw "with unspeakable dismay that her "conservative and clear-headed" husband, when the other nine delegates from Louisiana marched out, remained seated. What followed is a matter of history. The "Confederacy" was born, and the feeling was general throughout the South that a new era of prosperity was to dawn.

One of the first events which is described is a flag-raising on her own plantation, which was near Baton Rouge on the Mississippi. Her house was full of guests at the time that the "Confederate Congress" at Montgomery "adopted a device for a flag." Her husband was absent from home. But, on reading the description of the proposed flag, it was at once determined by the enthusiastic visitors at her house that one should be manufactured and unfolded from a staff on the river front. It was soon loosened to the breeze with wild enthusiasm. They danced round and round it; they sang and shouted "in very

* From Flag to Flag: A Woman's adventures and experiences in the South during the war, in Mexico and Cuba. By ELIZA MCHATTON-RIPLEY. New York: D. Appleton & Co. 1889. 12mo, pp. 296.

exuberance of spirit." The steamers on the river, as they passed, whistled and rang their bells. The passengers and crews cheered and waved to them with hats, newspapers, and handkerchiefs, saluting "the first Confederate flag raised on Louisiana soil." But "to-day," she says, " of all that joyous party, I am, with the exception of my son, then a very small boy, the only one living," All went well for a time, till "one magnificant morning in early summer, the whole river, the silence on whose surface had remained now many weeks undisturbed, was suddenly, as if by magic, ablaze with the grandeur of Federal gunboats, and transports with flags and bright-colored streamers flying from every peak, their decks thronged with brilliantly uniformed officers. We stood upon the veranda with streaming eyes and bursting hearts; the gay strains of Yankee Doodle,' as they floated o'er the waters, filling our souls with bitterness unspeakable, and we watched the victorious pageant until it anchored amid blare of trumpet and beat of drum beside the deserted landing of our dear little city." Now came the battle at Baton Rouge. Breckenbridge was defeated, and the house and every out-building on the plantation were soon crowded with the terrified population of the city seeking to escape from the bombardment. Her husband now found himself in danger of speedy arrest; and, with scarcely time for preparations of any kind, with his wife and children went out from his beautiful home, and commenced those long wanderings which the wife has here described. She says: "So I rode away from Arlington, leaving the sugar-house crowded to its utmost capacity with the entire crop of sugar and molasses of the previous year, for which we had been unable to find a market within our lines,' leaving cattle grazing in the fields, sheep wandering over the levee, doors and windows flung wide open, furniture in the rooms, clothes, too fine for me to wear now, hanging in the armoires, china in the closet, pictures on the walls, beds unmade, table spread. It was late in the afternoon of that bright, clear, bracing day, December 18, 1862, that I bade Arlington adieu forever."

It is with regret that we remember that our limits will not permit us to follow with even the slightest detail the story of the long journeyings of the little family who had so suddenly found themselves homeless. The story, as we have already said, is one of countless adventures and of great hardships, not only patiently but uncomplainingly endured; and, we must not forget now to

add, that in all these hardships and disasters that befell them, they were never so cast down that they were not ready to seek out and assist with a generosity that seemed unfailing, all who were in greater distress than themselves. And so, with brave hopefulness for themselves, and constant helpfulness for others, the years wore away till the "war was over," and then the reader finds in this closing sentence that which still further enhances the respect and admiration with which he has followed the fortunes of this brave "Southern" woman. She says: "Thus faded the Confederacy. We prayed for victory—no people ever uttered more earnest prayers-and the God of hosts gave us victory in defeat. We prayed for only that little strip, that Dixie. land, and the Lord gave us the whole country from the Lakes to the Gulf, from ocean to ocean-all dissensions settled, all dividing lines wiped out-a united country forever and ever!"

WILLIAM L. KINGSLEY.

BRITISH LETTERS.*-We think that we are doing a service to a large number of people by calling attention to three little volumes of charming selections from "British Letters," edited by Mr. Edward T. Mason. There is not a dull paragraph among all these pages! The author has culled from numberless volumes of the "letters" of British celebrities the very best passages from their best letters, and has grouped them under thirteen different "subject-headings" in such order as seemed most logical and illustrative. The character of these passages may be gathered from a few of the "subject-headings" which we note : -"Manners, Customs, and Behavior:"-" National Traits :"— "Friendship:"-"The Family:"-" The Town :"-" The Country:"-" Out-of-doors :" etc., etc. It should be understood that it has not been the plan of the editor to give whole letters, but he has picked out only the plums from each. We will transfer a small part of one of these plums, which is found in a letter of Norman Macleod, under the sub-heading of "Whim and Fancy." The letter was written to his mother on his fifty-sixth birthday. He says: "You must acknowledge that you took a very great liberty with a man of my character and position, not to ask me whether I was disposed to enter upon a new and important state of

* British Letters, illustrative of Character and Social Life. Edited by EDWARD T. MASON, editor of "Humorous Masterpieces." New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons. 1888. Three vols., 16mo. pp. 306, 266, 297.

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