New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-03-27


REFLECTIONS FROM THE LETTER. Of THE
YOUNGER PLINY. Edited with Notes and Index,
by Csc. o. EoLBRoOKE Z, NJ. A., Professor OF Latin IN
TIT i,ny College, Hartford PIP 2lo' bos'On' 'oD'
It is to be hoped that Professor Holbrooke, who
has just resigned his professorship at Trinity Col
lege, will continue to edit the classics on the lines
marked out in this modest volume There is IN IL
none of that pedantc and useless parade OF readings
and authorities which was the great feature OF
editions of the classical authors twenty-five or
thirty years ago. All college men remember the
mystifed disgust with which these od-timc COM
nentaries used to inspire them with their intermina-
bic discussions of the arbitrary preferences OF some
German scholiast with an unpronounceable name
The notes too either copious as to paralyze
effort on the part of the pupil, or so turgld as TO
render them useless as aids to translation.
Within the last few years, however, the methods
of classical teaching have been vastly improved.
The study of comparative philoogy, ethnology.
and archaeology, the approximations which have
been reached in recent years toward making his
tory science, and not mere catalogue of uncon-
nected events, and above all. the patient critical
spirit of modern schoarship,-all these facts have
done much toward revolutionizing the study Of
Latin and Greek.
Professor Holbrooke's book is product of the
Dew learning In his notes his aim appears TO be,
nrst. to help the student to make for himself a
nervous and idiomatic translation of the authors
words, and secondly to lead him out of the nine
teenth century backward into the proud, vicious, i'm
perial and imperious Rome of the days of Pliny
He explains incidentally the passing illusions to
the personages, fashions and foibles of the day,
which have given the letters of PlIny the younger
their chief value to posterity AS random instance
Of this quote the following:
Lacking the prnting-press, Asinus Polio IN
vented the plan of publishing works by reading
them aloud 20 as many friends as he could gather at
his house, Poorer authors hired hail. or were
accommodated at the house Of patron. Friends
were invited by word OF mouth, or by tickets lc0di.
cil containing the name of the reader, with hour;
the redtdti0nes fol his own works. and seduouSy
attended those of friends' the duty was usually
considered rksome.
Many budding but unknown genius since then
has hired hail." and many Of US, who as friends
have felt Obliged to attend the untimely birth of
original lucubration, have had good reason to
consider the duty "irksome." 1t is by investing
the past in this way with human interest. and by
skilfully concealing the ropes and pulleys of the
critical apparatus, that the study of the classics
may be made fascinating even to-day. Aud the
letters of the younger Pliny have special interest
for u.s. as approaching closely to modern modes
Of thought than the earlier Roman authors. He
lived at turning point of Roman history, when the
earlier classical ideas and methods rapidly be-
coming Anticipated, and the atheistic soothing of the
philosophers was undermining the traditional belici
In the gods. The old age was dying its ideals were
poiishing-killed by wealth. idleness and sensualty.
The new age was coming, first to destroy the old
with food of barbarism and then TO build again
with the religion of Christianity. Such period
well merits the careful study of the scholar and
Professor Hobrookes edition Of Piny's letters will
lie practical aid to those who engage In It's nvest.
cation.