14
UNIVERSITY COURIER.
It is thought that the Seniors tied themselves in just for an advertising scheme.
LITERARY NOTES FROM THE CENTURY COMPANY. Mr. E. C. Stedman's essay on Emerson, which will be the chief literary feature of the April Century, is said to deal mainly with the poetic aspect of its subject. It will be accompanied by a portrait, engraved by Cole from a daguerreotype of Emerson taken when in his prime.
The April Century will contain six full-page illustrations, among them a picture, "At Sea," drawn with the graver, without previous drawing or photographing of the subject, by Elbridge Kingsley. It will illustrate one of John Burroughs's out-of-door papers. This picture is noteworthy as being particularly commended, and indeed, the only American engraver that was commended, by Seymour Haden in a recent lecture in New York.
Major Ben. Perley Poor has written for the April Century a paper on the "Capitol at Washington," containing many reminiscences of events that have taken place within its walls, as well as a history of the building. The article will be fully illustrated, including among its pictures a sketch of the scene in the Hall of Representatives during the Garfield Memorial Services, portraits of John Randolph of Roanoke, Daniel Webster, and others distinguished during more recent years.
OUR EX'S SONG.
When first we saw that list of exchanges Says we to ourselves,says we.
How widely that editor's reading now ranges ? ! ! Says we to ourselves, says we.
The students rejoice that we never choose To fill up our columns with such refuse. But give to our readers the latest of news. Says we to ourselves,says we.
The Oreads presented an unusually good program last Friday. During recess the Senior row varied the customary talking in the corridors. An apparently harmless amendment to the constitution excited a parliamentary fight of unusual proportions. Hutchings tried to run through a back-action resolution, while Miller spoke against time in opposition. Both gentlemen got rather warm. In the course of debate Miller wanted to know how many members came up for literary exercises, and how many to vote. Hutchings denounced the action of the "clique," that was, as he said, trying to gain control of the society. The president was somewhat confused at the start but finally straightened matters satisfactorily to all parties. The society "sat upon" the little plans of both Miller and Hutchings. Linley distinguished himself, as usual, in raising points. R.
The Juniors can't just exactly see why a "planet becomes hotter as it becomes cooler." The theory seems plausible, but there seems something wrong somewhere. When they become Seniors—
JAMES E. MURDOCH.
The following from the Kansas City Times of the 13th :
Mr. James E. Murdoch, who is giving a series of recitals at Pythian hall, will be remembered from the interesting readings he gave in Kansas City a year or more ago. Mr. Murdoch of elocutionists in this country is confessedly at the head. He has given to the study of elocution, more particularly in the direction of the Shakespearean drama, a life time of hard, unremitting work. He has solved as far as can be done, the perplexities and mysteries of the Shakespearean text, and the reading of a play by him is a lesson to the audience, and in many instances a revelation. As far as mere elocutionary effect is concerned Mr. Murdoch has thoroughly mastered the principles of his art. To call him, in all respects considered, the finest reader in the country, is only to accord him a merited recognition. With therefore the claim of being a positive and careful expounder of the text, as well as a polished and correct elocutionist, he comes before the people as a literary treat, and should be the means of drawing an audience of culture and appreciation. The opening play of the series was "Romeo and Juliet," to be followed to-night by that most sprightly and saucy of Shakespearean comedies, "Much Ado About Nothing." This in turn will be followed by "Othello" and the "Merchant of Venice."
The Boston Transcript of the 26th speaks of him in the following glowing terms :
Mr. James E. Murdoch, who will make his first appearance in many years at the Boston theater on Sunday evening, is a fine example of the endurance of art against the encroachments of time. That an artist of Mr. Murdoch's gifts should retain his intellectual faculties in their full strength is not to be wondered at—similar instances are by no means rare. But though nearly two decades have passed since the great theater was filled, on more than one night, with an audience that was moved as one man with his stirring elocution, the voice and delivery have suffered no weakening of their powers—the one being as artistic and impressive and the other as rich and sonorous as ever. To hear Mr. Murdoch recite is a lesson in high art, aside from the delight to the refined sense. The simplest poem acquires a dignity, yet before perceptible, while the highest creation of the dramatist is set before us with all its beauties revealed in just its proper lights.
The following are the programs for his engagements here:
FIRST EVENING.
"Paul Revere's Ride"—H. W. Longfellow.
Drifting—A Poet's Revery—T. Buchanan Reed.
Selections from the Tragedy of Hamlet, in soliloquy, dialogue and scenes—Shakespeare.
Monsieur Tonson—John Taylor, editor of the London Sun, 1775.
Wounded and Mustered Out—Miller.
Pilot of Lake Erie, an unpublished poem—Frank Murdoch.
A Dramatic Sketch, introducing Samuel Weller to Pickwick, old Wardle and little Parker, the lawyer, incidents concerning the cloping lovers, Alfred Jingle and the spinster aunt, Miss Wardle—Charles Dickens.
"Paul Revere's Ride"—H. W. Longfellow.
Drifting-A Poet's Revery-T. Buchanan Reed.
Selections from the Tragedy of Hamlet, in soliloquy, dialogue and scenes—Shakespeare.
Monsieur Tonson—John Taylor, editor of the London Sun, 1775.
Wounded and Mustered Out—Miller.
Pilot of Lake Erie, an unpublished poem—Frank Murdoch.
A Dramatic Sketch, introducing Samuel Weller to Pickwick, old Wardle and little Parker, the lawyer, incidents concerning the eloping lovers, Alfred Jingle and the spinster aunt, Miss Wardle—Charles Dickens.
Othello.
SECOND EVENING.