The University Courier.
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others would tend to lessen the number of divorces.
In the discussion which followed Professor Blackmar said that the disgrace of the whole system was due to the fact that those who wanted a divorce only to marry again were sure to obtain it, and that those who really deserved a divorce frequently failed to do so.
University Extension.
Prof. Blake lectured Friday before the University extension class in K. C. It contains over 300 members and is in charge of the Y. M. C. A. and probably the largest class in university extension in the west. The proceeds from the sale of tickets, amount to over $700. This is strong testimony as to the success of Prof. Blake's work.
His subject last Friday evening was "The Heating Effects of Electricity", with special reference to the heating of houses, cooking, forging, welding, reduction of ores and the method of producing aluminum by electricity. The arc and incandescent lights were discussed with special reference to the lighting of the "World's Fair Grounds."
Prof. Dunlap has two classes in Univeristy extension work, one in Lawrence on Thursday evening, the other in Leavenworth on Tuesday evenings. The subject before the Leavenworth class was "Lord Byron." This class is strong and probably the largest in the state.
The Language Conference.
The Language Conference held its meeting last Thursday at the residence of Mr. B. W. Woodward, to hear a paper by Mrs. Anna B. McMahan, of Quincy, Illinois, on "The New Motive in the Novel." Mrs. McMahan is well known as the author of several volumes of essays, as a book reviewer, and especially as a guide and lecturer for literary clubs. She is the leading spirit of the Friends in Council of Quincy, Illinois, and has directed the work of the Friends in Council, of Topeka, and the Zodiac Club, of Lawrence.
Love has always been the dominant interest
of life, and hence of the artistic treatment of life. Probably it always will be. But in the earlier works of fiction it was almost exclusively the period before marriage which was selected by the novelist, the hopes, fears, estrangements, trials, and final victory of young lovers, always ending with marriage and the assumption that "they lived happily ever after." This was the treatment of Walter Scott and Jane Austen.
Much later the field of married life was entered upon. Here it was natural that the mishaps of ill-assorted marriages, and the wiles of the would-be destroyer of marital felicity should occupy a large share of attention. But for a long time the solution of these complications lay chiefly in some outside circumstance, usually in the timely death of one or more of the complicating persons. But within a comparatively short time there has appeared a new method of treatment, a treatment that makes special claim to the merit of realism. This new method is to consider the marriage problem expressly as such, and to make the tragedy of the situation arise from the fact and nature of marriage. The novel of this later school does not inveigh against marriage or directly suggest its abolition, but uses marital infelicity as a Fate from which to derive its tragic situation. The differences of the method were shown in brief sketches of "Annie Karenina," "Roger Hunt" and "A Human Document."
Mrs. McMahan finds in the novels of this school a failure to take the higher and not at all unreal stand-point of nobly bearing the suffering and unhappiness which arise from uncongenial unions. She looks forward to a newer and better motive in the treatment of the tragedy of married life: the recognition of the fact that perfect happiness is not to be expected in this life, in marriage or out, and that wisdom will make use of all experience for the development of character; in a word, overcoming of obstacles and christian toleration of differences in marriage instead of fatalistic succumbing to unhappiness. The novel that is to come will employ this motive.
The paper was discussed by Prof. Canfield, Mr. Woodward and several others. Indeed the discussion was just well under way when it was interrupted by the departure of the author to take a train. The meeting was one of the most profitable of the year, and the Conference is greatly indebted to Mrs. McMahan, as well as to the hospitality of Mr. Woodward.