Kansas University Weekly.
347
Prof. Carruth's New Book.
We copy from the Lawrence Journal the following excellent review of Professor Carruth's latest work :
Scheffel's Ekkehard, with an introduction and notes by W. H. Carruth, Ph.D., professor of the German language and literature in the University of Kansas. New York, Henry Holt & Co, 1895. XXXVII 499 pp.
This book of Professor Carruth's adds another title to the lengthening list of works of the University faculty. It is an edition of one of the best of modern historical novels, prepared especially for the use of college classes. It bears witness to the editor's talent as teacher in the clear conception of the powers and needs of the students to whom it is addressed. Taking for granted the student's familiarity with the general principles and forms of the language, without which he should never be reading such a considerable work as Ekkehard at all, he has not encumbered the notes with grammatical explanations and references, or unnecessarily diverted the attention of the reader from the content and literary interest of the novel. Rather he has dealt with his text and by his treatment forced the student to deal with it as a piece of literature, to be understood and enjoyed as such. Naturally in an historical novel his notes are concerned chiefly with the historical materials which the author used and the local geography of its scenes, and they have been prepared with abundant scholarship and great care. Over the making of them an admirable sense of proportion has presided, and they are always kept subordinate to the text. Such condensation of statement has been achieved that it is remarkable how much information has been put into the narrow limits of thirty-five pages. The notes are supplemented by a map, a portrait of Scheffel, and other engravings, but chiefly by an introduction which opens the horizon of the student and points him to the wider meaning of the novel as connected with the literary movement of its day and as illustrating the imaginative treatment of history of which the historical novel is the product. The discussion of the historical novel which it contains is admirable, and shows what advantage a text book for college classes may derive from having as editor not merely a skillful teacher and accurate scholar, but an accomplished literary artist and critic as well. It will contribute to the view now beginning to be discovered in various quarters, that the novel has earned its right to be considered as seriously as the drama or any other form of literary composition. Altogether this edition of Ekkehard is such as the intelligent and serious reader, whether in college or out of it, will find it a pleasure to have in hand, and we could wish that its circulation might not be confined to the classroom. The publishers have seconded their editor well, and given the book good, clear type and an attractive dress.-A.G.C.
The Orators' Night.
The thirteenth annual oratorical contest came off Friday evening in the University Chapel. Not very many people were present, but there should have been, they would have received entertainment and instruction, too, that would have amply repaid them for their expended time and exertion. At eight o'clock the gavel of President Flint rapped the audience into quiet. On account of the non-presence of William Henry Harrison Piatt the invocation was dispensed with and the quartette for the occasion gave us "Father's Lullaby." It was well rendered, con expressione, with this exception: Sherman's smile is stictly non-lullabyatic in effect. R. R. Brewster then took the floor in defence of "Popular Education," and told us wherein it was a relative, (perhaps cousin), of patriotism. He talked to us twenty minutes by a stop watch, and told us many things we had never heard before, at least in that tone of voice. R. R. has a good voice, and it was not its fault that he didn't win. Let not discouragement sieze us, however, for there is time enough yet and a place for us all—the base ball team will need a strong-voiced coacher on third base. Yet no joking, Mr. Brewster delivered a very fine oration. In his flights of oratory he grew both eloquent and warm, each time concluding by wiping the