ALUMNI PUBLICATIONS

Century Readings for a Course in AmericanLiterature, edited and annotated by FRED LEWIS PATTEE '88. pp. 898+59. New York: The Century Company.

The modern teaching of literature in schools and colleges, with its emphasis upon the reading of masterpieces rather than upon the study of textbooks about masterpieces, has led in recent years to the publication of a large number of anthologies and books of selections. Professor Pattee now adds another to the list, but his volume contains so many new and valuable features that it is certain to be welcomed by teachers of American literature.

The principles governing the editor in his choice of works to be included is thus stated in his introductory note: "The selections have been made from three standpoints : first, literary excellence and originality; second, style and individuality of the author; and, third, light thrown upon the period of the author and upon the growth of the American spirit. The. last of these has been kept constantly in mind, for it has been considered by no means the least important of the three. The book is not only a handbook illustrating American literary art and its gradual evolution during more than a century: it is, if the compiler has done what he considers his duty, a handbook in Americanism, an interpretation of the American spirit by those who have been our spiritual leaders and our Voices." The selections are grouped according to the four periods: the Beginnings, 1787-1830'; the New England period, 1830-1860; the transition, 1860-1870; and the National period, 1870-1914. More than a hundred different authors are represented, ranging from Benjamin Franklin to O. Henry; and the selections chosen include nearly all types of literature that have yet been produced in this country.

The shortcomings of the volume are only those common to all such books of selections. The desire to give a fully comprehensive view of the field of American letters has led to the inclusion of such a vast number of minor writers that there is danger that the student will lose his sense of proportion and will not give sufficient weight to the few really great literary figures the country has produced. This, however, is a fault easily corrected by the teacher. A more serious flaw in the make-up of the book is the inclusion of isolated chapters from American novels. The reading of single chapters out of books which are artistic units in themselves is utterly valueless to the student seeking a knowledge of literature, and the space given to the printing of such selections in this volume might much better have been devoted to further and fuller selections from our most important poets and essayists.

The excellencies of Professor Pattee's work are many. His judgments seem to be sound, and he has contributed several really new features to a book of this sort. His inclusion of short stories to illustrate the history of the development of that particularly American literary form is original!, and is accomplished with such skill that the student is offered a most complete and accurate survey. A larger number of well chosen pieces of literary criticism, of selections from the humorists of the mid-nineteenth century, and of excerpts from recent authors than is to be found in any other book of American selections yet published is a further mark of distinction for this volume. The brief biographical summaries and the concise notes on difficult passages are written with care and discrimination. The volume is well indexed, both by authors and first lines.

"Jacob Harold Gallinger (late a Senator from New Hampshire) Memorial Addresses delivered in the Senate and the House of Representatives of the United States has just come from the press of the Government Printing Office. This volume contains a memorial address in the Senate by Hon. George H. Moses '90 and an address in the House by Hon. Sherman E. Burroughs '94.

Collier's for January 10 contains a story "Mine Enemy's Dog" by Ben Ames Williams '10.

Fred H. Harris '11 is the author of an illustrated article "Skiing over the New Hampshire Hills" in the February issue of the National Geographic Magazine.

"Instinct", by Professor Francis H. Herrick '81, an address delivered before the Zoological Department of the University of Illinois, is printed in the Western Reserve University Bulletin for November, 1919.

The New Hampshire State Board of Education has recently published in pamphlet form an address by Hon. Frank S. Streeter '77 at the Conference of Superintendents and Headmasters at Durham, N. H., December 31, 1919. This address is entitled: "The new School Law: The Joint Responsibilities of the State Board, Commissioner, Superintendents and Local School Boards and the Teacher Problem."

The Proceedings of the Second Pan American Commercial Conference, just published, contains an address, "Pan Americanism , by Hon. John Barrett '89. This volume also contains Mr. Barrett's report as Director General of the Pan American Union.

The Bulletin of the American Library Association dated July, 1919, but not issued until January, 1920, contains "The True Americanization of the Foreign Child", by Professor Herbert Adolphus Miller '99.

"Low Arterial Tension", by George Van Ness Dearborn '90, appears in the issue of the Boston Medical and Surgical Journal for December, 1919.

Beardsley Ruml '15 is the author of "The Need for an Examination of Certain Hypothetheses in Mental Tests" in the Journal ofPhilosophy, Psychology and Scientific Methods for January 29.

"Words that Sing to Your Pocketbook , by John William Rogers, Jr., '16, has been reprinted from the October issue of the Atlantic Monthly.

Edwin O. Grover '94 is the author of "Back of Bear-Camp Water" in the February issue of the Granite Monthly.

Recent publications of Rev. Gabriel Farrell '15 are "The Church School Program", in The Leader for November, reprinted in pamphlet form; "Mobilizing the Boys and the Girls", in The Young Churchman for November, 7, 1919" Reuben Kidner, A Tribute" in the Churchman for December 13, 1919; "The Drama Movement in the Church", in the Theatre Magazine for January, 1920.