# The Dial/Volume 15/Number 171/The Auxiliary Congresses

THE AUXILIARY CONGRESSES
The space at our disposal in the last issue of The Dial was so fully taken up with the account of the Congress of Authors that we were obliged to postpone our report of the four other Congresses held during the week ending July 15. The subjects of those Congresses were, as our readers have already been informed, Philology, Folk-lore, History, and Libraries.
THE CONGRESS OF PHILOLOGISTS.
The Congress of Philologists embraced the regular annual meeting of the American Philological Association, specially appointed meetings of the Modern Language Association of America and the American Dialect Society, a meeting of the Spelling Reform Association, and a number of general meetings for the consideration of papers not presented by the organized bodies of philologists above mentioned. The Congress assembled, as a whole, what was probably the most important gathering of philologists that ever met in the United States; and there is likely to follow, as one of its consequences, a series of biennial joint meetings of the philological societies of the country. The American Philological Association usually devotes the first evening ​session of its annual meeting to an address, upon some subject of extra-philological interest, by the President for the year. Professor William Gardner Hale, of the University of Chicago, has occupied that position for the year just ended, and his address was given Tuesday evening, July 11, the subject being "Democracy and Education." It was a scholarly exposition of the particular perils to which the higher education is exposed in a democratic environment, and, in the case of our own country, opened a fairly hopeful outlook upon the future. Among the papers read before the Association at its subsequent sessions we may mention the following as of special value: "The Language of the Law," by Mr. H. L. Baker; Vedic Studies," by Professor Maurice Bloomfield; and "The Remote Deliberative in Greek," by Professor W. G. Hale. On Wednesday and Friday mornings, there were held two "general sessions," devoted mainly to the papers offered by distinguished European guests of the Association. These papers included "The Connection between Indian and Greek Philosophy," by Professor Richard Garbe, of Konigsberg; "Helles and Dunkles I im Lateinischen," by Professor Hermann Osthoff, of Heidelberg; "Indogermanische Ablautprobleme," by Professor Wilhelm Streitberg, of Freiburg (Switzerland); and "The Scientific Emendation of Classical Texts," by Professor E. A. Sonnenschein, of Birmingham. Other papers read at these sessions were: "Some Problems in Greek Syntax," by Professor Basil L. Gildersleeve; "The Relation of Philology to History," by Professor M. Bloomfield; and "The Ethical and Psychological Implications of the Style of Thucydides," by Professor Paul Shorey. A paper on "Unpublished Manuscript Treasures," by Mr. T. G. Pinches, of the British Museum, was presented at one of the sessions. Mr. Pinches had made his preparations to be present at the Congress, but was, at the last moment, detained in London by a vexatious lawsuit. A paper sent by Professor Michel Bre'al, of the College de France, had for its subject "Canons of Etymological Investigation," and was made the basis of an interesting discussion, opened by Professor B. I. Wheeler. Another discussion, led by Professor M. Bloomfield, had for its theme the "Importance of Uniformity in the Transliteration of non-Roman Alphabets." The Association, before adjourning, transacted its regular business, and elected Professor James M. Garnett, of the University of Virginia, as President for the coming year.
The meeting of the Modern Language Association comprised two sessions, both on Thursday, July 13. Among the papers presented were: "The Language of the Sciences and a Universal Language," by Professor F. A. March; "German Philology in America," by Professor M. D. Learned; and "The Training of College and University Professors," by Professor A. Rambeau. The American Dialect Society and the Spelling Reform Association had one session each.
The sessions not held under the special auspices of the philological organizations were seven in number, and offered a preponderance of papers upon subjects in the department of oriental archaeology. These papers were collected by Mrs. Elizabeth A. Reed, and to this lady is due a special word of praise for her efforts in behalf of the Congress. Dr. Max Ohnefalsch-Richter, of Berlin, lectured upon Cypriote archaeology; and Professor W. H. Goodyear, of Brooklyn, summarized the line of argument, based upon a study of prehistoric ornament, that has made him a firm believer in the non-Asiatic origin of the Aryans. Both these lectures were illustrated with the lantern. Other speakers and papers comprised in the programmes of these miscellaneous sessions were: "Old Testament History in the Light of Recent Discoveries," by Dr. William C. Winslow, who represents the Egypt Exploration Fund in this country; and "Cleopatra," a lecture by Dr. Samuel A. Binion, of New York.
The following papers (the writers not being present) were among those sent to be read at the Congress: "Greek Ceramography in Relation to Greek Mythology," by Miss Jane Harrison of London; "Schliemann's Excavations," by Mrs. Schliemann, of Athens; "Assyrian and Babylonian Libraries," by Professor A. H. Sayce, of Oxford; "Babylonian and Assyrian Archaeology," by Mr. Hormuzd Rassam, of London; and "Koptic Art and Its Relation to Early Christian Ornament," by Dr. Georg Ebers, of Munich.
THE CONGRESS OF HISTORIANS.
The Congress of Historians was called to order by Dr. W. F. Poole, on Tuesday morning, July 11, and was organized by the choice of Dr. James B. Angell, of Michigan University, as President, and Dr. Herbert B. Adams, of Johns Hopkins University, as Secretary. These gentlemen hold the same positions in the American Historical Association, and nearly all the contributors of papers are members of the same Association. The sessions were continued morning and evening for three days, the afternoons being devoted to the Fair at Jackson Park. Notwithstanding the fact that five Congresses were in progress at the same time and under the same roof, the history sessions were attended by several hundred interested auditors, and the Congress was regarded by all as a complete success. Universities and colleges were largely represented in the scheme of exercises. Of the contributors of the thirty-three papers, three were presidents of universities and seventeen were professors, most of them professors of history. Of the other contributors, ten were well-known historical writers, and four were ladies, whose papers were among the most interesting read. It will be seen that amateur historians and sensational theorists had no place in the programme. President Angell was the reader of the first paper, his subject being "The Inadequate Recognition of Diplomatists by Historians." It was listened to with great interest, ​and set forth the eminent services of diplomatists, whose names, in connection with these services, are rarely mentioned by English and American historians. French and Continental writers have a better appreciation of historical justice. The discussion of "The Value of National Historical Archives," by Mrs. Ellen Hardin Walworth, of Saratoga, was one of the ablest and most practical papers read at the Congress. It depicted in eloquent and forcible terms the need of such a department at Washington. All the other great, and many of the smaller, nations of the world have departments of archives, and the United States has none. The student of American history must go, or send, to Europe, or to Canada (which has an excellent department of state papers), to find documents which should be in Washington. Mrs. Walworth concluded by offering a resolution to the effect that a committee be appointed to memorialize our national Congress to establish such a department. An earnest discussion followed, supporting the resolution, and it passed unanimously.
Dr. James Schouler, of Boston, and Dr. Charles J. Little, of the Northwestern University, happily discussed "The Methods of Historical Investigation" and "The Historical Method of Writing the History of Christian Doctrine." Dr. Fred. Bancroft read a paper on "Mr. Seward's Position toward the South from November, 1860, to March 4, 1861." On Wednesday morning, "Pre-Columbian Discovery," "Prince Henry, the Navigator," and "The Economic Conditions of Spain in the Sixteenth Century" were ably treated by the Hon. J. P. Baxter, of Portland, Me., Prof. E. G. Bourne, of Adelbert College, and Prof. Bernard Moses, of the University of California; and Prof. Lucy M. Salmon, of Vassar College, read a good paper on "The Union of Utrecht." In the evening the Hon. William Henry Smith, of Lake Forest, and Mr. Reuben G. Thwaites, of Madison, Wis., read interesting papers on "Early Slavery in the Northwest" and "Early Lead Mining in Illinois and Wisconsin." Thursday morning opened with a scholarly paper by Dr. L. H. Boutell, of Chicago, on "Roger Sherman in the National Constitutional Convention," in which he replied to the claim made by Dr. Charles J. Stillé, in his life of John Dickinson, that Dickinson was the author of the provisions of the Constitution concerning the number and choice of Senators. Other excellent papers were read, which we have not space to mention. The time, during the six sessions of more than two hours each, was fully occupied, and it was necessary to omit the reading of papers when their writers were not present.
THE FOLK-LORE CONGRESS.
It is quite impossible to summarize, in any detailed way, within the limits of the space available, the results of a Congress that cost months of active preparation and extended through six busy days. Only the barest outlines can be presented. The Congress was planned and held in the face of opposition and discouragement from organized bodies in London and Boston—the American Folk-Lore Society's Secretary declaring that it would be impracticable to hold a World's Congress in the United States at this time. In view of the phenomenal success of the Congress, these elements of difficulty and discouragement should be noted; as should the fact that the success is very largely due to the untiring labors and enthusiasm of Lieut. F. S. Bassett, chairman of the committee of arrangements. This was the third International Congress of Folk-lore ever held, and really the first to which all nations were invited, and in which representatives from nearly all civilized peoples of the earth participated. More than thirty nationalities were represented, one hundred persons actively participating in the literary exercises, and more than a hundred in the concert. Twelve sessions were held, at which sixty-eight papers and addresses were read and forty-seven separate songs were sung, in addition to the phonographic chants. The geographical range of the essays was unrestricted. The folk-lore of all lands was treated at the hands of those who were natives, or who had lived in the lands of which they spoke, from Corea to Dalmatia. Many distinguished folklore scholars from abroad assisted personally in this exposition of the folk-lore of Asia, Africa, Europe, and the two Americas. Among these were the Hon. John Abercromby, Vice President of the English Folk-lore Society; Mr. Michel Smigrodzki, of Poland, a member of the Paris Société des Traditions Populaires; Mr. Vucasovic, of Dalmatia; Mr. Mihic, of Servia; Mr. Beers, Secretary of the New Orleans Society; the Hon. Lorin Thurston, of Honolulu; Dr. V. I. Shopoff, of Bulgaria; Mr. Paul Groussac, of Buenos Ayres; and Mr. Ludwig Krwyzinski, of Poland.
The scientific range of the papers read was also remarkable. No branch of folk-lore was unrepresented. Myths, legends, customs, superstitions, religions, songs,—in fact, all branches of folk-speech, folk-wont, and folk-thought, were dealt with. Particularly were the legends and customs of the American aborigines treated at the hands of such experts as Surgeon Matthews, Lieutenant Scott, Dr. Eastman, Mr. James Deans, Mr. Quelch, Lieutenant Welles, and Mr. Groussac. Dr. Matthews's wonderful collection of phonographed Navajo songs, and Lieutenant Scott's exposition of the sign language, were especially meritorious. Nor was the black man neglected. He carried off the honors at the concert, and in the hands of Miss Owen, Mrs. Watson, and Mrs. Sheldon, his superstitions and customs and his strange literature were ably represented. Many of these essays were made more popular by the objects from strange lands used in illustrating them,—as, for example, Dr. Matthews's "Navajo Rites," Mr. Stephen's Hopi pigments, Mrs. French-Sheldon's African charms, Mr. Smigrodzki's tablet of the Svastika, and Mr. Quelch's South American musical instruments.
​The bibliography of folk-lore has never received the attention here given to it. Signor Pitré for Italy, M. Sébillot for France and Creole literature, Señor Rodriguez for Venezuela, and the Rev. J. C. O'Hanlon for Ireland, fully presented the folk-lore bibliography of those lands. What may be called literary folk-lore received excellent treatment in Dr. Prato's exhaustive article on "The Symbolism of the Vase," Mr. Field's charming poem, Mrs. Catherwood's Loup-garou story, Professor Dragomonov and Mr. Head's "Taming of the Shrew," Dr. Carsten's analysis of Longfellow's "Golden Legend," and the Hon. John Abercromby's magic Finnish poetry.
But it was in folk-song particularly that this Congress excelled. Besides the full collection of Navajo songs made by Dr. Matthews, and the really beautiful folk-songs of Mr. Smigrodzki, Mr. Mihic, and Mr. Cable, a concert consisting of more than forty solos and choruses, and embracing folk-music from Japan, India, Ceylon, Turkey, Africa, Sweden, Norway, Russia, Poland, Bohemia, England, Italy, Scotland, Spain, France, Wales, and North and South America, was rendered by natives of those lands in the costumes and languages of the countries, and accompanied frequently by their own strange instruments. This concert, made possible only by the presence of specially-organized World's Fair choruses, and by the courtesy of various foreign commissioners, was given free to the public in the two great halls of the Art Institute, to more than six thousand people, the numbers given in one hall being repeated to the audience in the other immediately after their performance in the first. Mr. Frederick W. Root, who arranged the concert, deserves the greatest credit for successfully accomplishing this task, without a rehearsal, and with no precedent to guide him.
In the Folk-lore Congress, as in others, women played a very important part. Very much of the success of this Congress was due to the admirable tact, perseverance and effort of the acting chairman of the Woman's Committee, Mrs. S. F. Bassett. Eight essays were contributed by women, and much of the success of the concert was due to them.
THE CONGRESS OF LIBRARIANS.
The annual meeting of the American Library Association, which is always an occasion of very great interest to all persons engaged in library work, was merged, this year, into the Congress of Librarians,— the papers read and subjects discussed taking, in consequence, a somewhat wider range than is usual at the meetings of the Association. The Congress was opened on Wednesday morning, July 12, by the chairman of the local committee, Mr. F. H. Hild. Mr. Melvil E. Dewey, President of the American Library Association, who was selected to preside at the first day's Congress, delivered the opening address, in which he comprehensively reviewed library progress in the United States during the present century. He was followed by Mr. Frederick M. Crunden, Librarian of the St. Louis Public Library, who read an interesting paper on "The Librarian as Administrator." The second session of the Congress, on Thursday morning, was presided over by Mr. Samuel S. Green, Librarian of the Worcester Public Library, who read an able paper on "State Library Commissions." Mr. R. R. Bowker, of "The Library Journal," followed with a paper on "National Bibliography," and the session closed with a paper by Prof. R. C. Davis, Librarian of the University of Michigan, on "An Over-use of Books." On Friday morning Mr. Frederick M. Crunden called the third session of the Congress to order. The first paper was by Mr. Charles A. Cutter, formerly Librarian of the Boston Athenæum, who spoke on "The Note of the American Library." Mr. E. H. Woodruff, Librarian of the Leland Stanford University, read an admirable paper on "Present Tendencies in University Libraries." He was followed by Dr. Emil G. Hirsch, President of the Chicago Public Library Board, whose remarks on "The Public Library in its Relation to Education" were listened to with the greatest attention. Among other papers read at this session were one on "The International Mutual Relations of Libraries," by Dr. Carl Dziatzko of the University Library of Gottingen, and one on "The Direct Interchange of Manuscripts between Libraries," by Dr. O. Hartwig, of the Royal University Library of Halle. Both of these papers were read by Mr. E. F. L. Gauss, who had made excellent translations of the German originals. Two excellent papers were presented by women librarians; viz., Miss C. M. Hewins, Librarian of the Hartford Library Association, on "The Pictorial Resources of a Small Library," and Miss Jessie Allan, of the Omaha Public Library, on "The Library as a Teacher of Literature." The closing session of the Congress, on Saturday morning, was presided over by Miss M. S. R. James, Librarian of the People's Palace, London, who read a most interesting paper on "The People's Palace and Its Library." Mr. Peter Cowell, Librarian of the Liverpool Public Libraries, addressed the Congress on the subject of "How to Popularize the Public Library." Mr. E. C. Richardson, Librarian of Princeton College, read a paper on "Library Science and Other Sciences," and was followed by Miss Tessa Kelso, of the Los Angeles Public Library, who gave an animated address on "Some Economic Features of a Library." Mr. William I. Fletcher, Librarian of Amherst College, spoke on "The Library Catalogue of the Twentieth Century," and Miss Katherine L. Sharp, Librarian of the Armour Institute, read in conclusion an interesting paper on "The Library Exhibit at the World's Fair." For want of time, some six additional papers on the programme were read by title only before the Congress adjourned. Following the four sessions of the Congress, the American Library Association held six meetings, at the various libraries in Chicago, during the week beginning July 17.