Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-29


THE ASSOCIATION IN THE PAST YEAR AND WHAT
WORK IT HAS AccoMPLIsKED-soME OF THE
MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE.
The first session of the convention Of the
Modern Language Association of America was
held In the lecture room of the Columbian
University last evening at 8 o'clock. There
were but two items Of business on the program
OF this, the inaugural session of the ninth an
nual convention of the association. One was
the address OF welcome by President James c.
yelling and an address by Mr.. A. R. Spofford
on the characteristics of Style
Prof. r. W. Hunt Of Princeton University
was the presiding officer, and the meeting was
opened without any formality whatever. Upon
ascending the platform he simply announced
that in accordance with the program the first
speaker was Prof Yelling whom he thereupon
introduced to the audience. The attendance
was by no means large, but it included num-
Der OF the leading literary people in this city
and some from abroad.
PRESIDENT wELLINa's WELCOME.
President Yelling in welcoming the men,
bers Of the association to Washington said that
it was really work of supererogation TO well
come American citizens to the capital of the
nation. Yet he said that he would bid them
doubly welcome because of the work upon
which they were engaged and because of their
connection with modern languages In saying
this he did not wish to be understood rs dCpre-
eating the ancien. tongues. because there is a
common bond of union between literature ard
all languages. Literature is the heritage of tho
race, and its choicest and.bcst possession. In
the introduction of modern languages and
literature as q study in our schools u benefit
had been renlered to ancient tongues and lit
erature as waR, for it had brought with it q
better method of study.
Mr.. sPoFFoRD's PAPER.
Mr.. Spofford, in commencing his paper on
characteristics of Style" said tia. it was I'M
necessary TO lay stress upon the value of style
in addressing an audience of such scholarly
people. The books that have lived. he said,
are those that have been marked by excellence
OF style. The three principal requisites of {.
good style are clearness, simplicity and
strength. and the greatest of these is clearness.
The reason that SO many books have failed to
attract any attention is that they have been
written by scientists or ignoramuses who are
entirely unfamiliar with any ease or force of
style.
Mr.. Spofford made an earnest appeal for
more simplicity and clearness in writing. main
tanning that large words and long sentences,
instead Of expressing thought clearly. are con-
fusing. and render the matter top-heavy and
uninteresting. Verbosity and extravaganza of
expression are often thought by the young
and inexperienced writer's to be tine synonyms
for force. So far from this being the case,
they are often the chief elements of weakness.
Mr.. Spofford then went on to compare the
different modern languages with respect to
these characteristics of style and the greatest
writer's in each language. lie said in the course
OF his interesting and scholarly paper that if
we would see the best of which our own
language is capable We must 60 back to the
writers of the time of Elizabeth. The greatest
OF all of these was, Of course, Shakespeare. who,
II he was not always natural, yet came nearer
the simplicity OF nature than any other. An
effort has been made to account for his won
derful power and versatility by fathering his
works upon Lord Bacon, writer who can be
contrastcd with Shakespeare, but who can never
be compared with him. Any one who il con-
yersant with the writings of Bacon can we'll be-
lieve the statement that Bacon could as well
have made this planet as have written
Hamlet"
Continuing. Mr.. Spofford said that one ele-
ment OF style that is often ignored is the effect
i've bringing in Of names Of people and places
70: the purpose OF illustrating the discourse.
In support of this ground he quoted from the
writings Of Macauley and then went or to speak
OF the charac teristics OF style as shown in the
works of Ruskin. George Eliot. Charles Reade,
Dickens and number of others, notably
Thackeray, to whom he paid an eloquent tribute,
referring to him AS great-hearted, thoughtful
critic OF mankind and whose Henry Esmond is
u masterpiece Of fiction Mr.. Spofford con-
cipal writer's that this country has produced,
beginning with Cotton Mather and coming
down to Howells and Henry Jame9.
THIS MORNINGS SESSION..
There was a good attendance Of members
when the acting president, Prof Kent Of Ten
nessee called the association to order this
morning at 10 o'clock in the lecture hall OF
Columbian University building. The report
OF the secretary, Prof, A. Marshall Elliott OF
johns Hopkins University. read, which
gave resume of the proceedings of the meet
secretary also read the report Of the treasurer,
DIR Henry a. Todd of Johns Hopkins who is
now in California.
An invitation was read from the secretary OF
the Forestry Association to attend the sessions
of that body. and also it was announced that
the privileges Of the Cosmos and University
clubs would be extended TO the members Of
the association during their stay in this city.
WORK OF THE SOCIETY.
statement was made by the secretary rela-
tive to the increase in the membership, which
now numbered $780, During the last year the
publications OF the association amounted to 400
pages, not including the proceedings Of 81
pages. Reference was made to the gratifying
reception given to the publications of the asso
cldtlOn DOM IN ILLS country ana III Europe
The president then announced various com
mittees, and the business having been dis
patched, the reading Of the papers was began
LOWELL AS PROSE WRITER.
The first pape- read was by Prof. TIL W.
Hunt Of Princeton College on 'James Russell
Lowell" After calling attention, in brief, tc
Mr.. Lowell's life and literary work, Prot. Hunt
took up at once the discussion Of tho chief
merits Of his prose writings. These he stated
to be clearness. directness, naturalncss ar
tistic finish and mental vitality. Special
stress was laid upon Mr.. LOwel'i
good English, his fondness for old English and
his superior work as literary critic. Current
objections to Mr.. Lowells critical ability were
stated and discussed the question was raised az
to the final effect and probable pcrmanence OF
his prose, while Professor Hunt, in closing,
emphasized the literary type of MI. Lowell
personality and work, and the Irreparabie loss
that modern letters had sustained in his death.
The paper was discussed by the members
The next paper was entitled .Diminut,es in
ing in low German" by A. F. Chamberlain OF
Clark University, Massachusetts,.
THE AFTERNOON PROGRAM.
At the session this afternoon the papers as
signed to be read were as follows: 1. "Augustini
Sendebrev til Cyrillus. and Jeronymi Levnet''
(Gl. Kong. Saml No. 1886, Copenhagen. DR..
Daniel kilham Dodge, Columbia College. New
Az l. ".