Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-28
KING LEAR ANAlYZEO,
Second Days Session Of the Modern Ian.
guage Association.
Several Interesting Papers Read and
spsars's Methods ana Results.

The second days session OF the conven-
ton Of the Modern Language Association
commenced at 10 o'clock this morning, in
the lecture hall Of the Columbian Univers Ity,
corner 14th and H streets with Prof March
Of Lafayette College In the chair.
The proceedings were opened with the
reading OF paper by Prof. Thomas r.
Price Of Columbia College. New York, on
king Lear; a study in Shakespeare's
method OF dramatic construction" Prof.
Price said that the first necessary element
in criticism Is the ability of the critic to
understand the difficulties which it is neces-
sary for the artist to overcome in his work.
To criticise painting the critic should know
enough about art to appreciate how hard
1t Is TO draw the figure. Shelley has said
that King Lear is the most perfect speci-
men OF dramatic art in the world. Prof
Price did not agree with this statement. ex-
cept In 80 far as it is qualified by the fact
that Lear is the most perfect drama in point
of technical difficulty Of construction.
Prof. Price held that King Lear cannot
rank with "Agamemnon." with ''othello"
In point OF dramatic quality, yet IL rises
above all in technical difficulty of compost
ton and the technical skill necessary to
overcome the difficulties OF it. The story of
CLING ends OF the old Celtic traditions CEN
tertng about King Rene. Prof. Price ana
lyzed the character of Cordelia, and eulo-
gized 1t in the highest degree. recounting
her virtues. her qualities of soul. Of heart
and mind. Her virtues are the highest
that can exist in the human soul" said
Prof. Price, land IL Is here that Shakespeare
reveals his comprehension Of feminine ma
ture." he added. He then proceeded to an
analysis Of the character of Edmund, and
portrayed his abilities of mind and his base
ness OF heart. picturing the tragedy of his
death and the collapse of his ambitions
which. he said. was due I'm part to Edmund's
inability to understand the power of the
love OF the two women he had won.
Turning to the character of Lear himself.
Prof. Price said that his misfortunes were
due to his giving away entirely to his rul-
ing passion for the love OF his two
daughters and the subordination of all else
In life to that passion.
Prof. Price described the ever widening
scope OF the results of Lear's folly and the
visitation OF its consequences, first upon
himself and then upon those he loved. Prof.
the dramatic construction OF the compost
ton.
Prof H. e. Green of Johns Hopkins Uni
versity was called upon to discuss Prof.
Prices paper. Prof. Green dwelt upon the
fondness Of Shakespeare to subordinating
everything in his plays to character study,
and quoted Much AGO About Nothing
an example of that and Of Shakespeares
practice Of bringing the main plot of play
into vivid contrast by delineating a minor
plot Prof. Green said that Prof. Prices
Paper IL a valuable one. and held that Il is
impossible to ma Ike a dramatic study with
out first making a complete character study.
DR.. Magill OF Swarthmore College also
paid compliment to Prof. Prices analysis
Of King Lear, and said that it lends re-
newed interest to the play.
Divfdink n Day.
Owing to the absence OF Prof. Baskervill
and Miss Hanscom, who were next on the
program, two numbers were omitted. and
ErAdarfrk ~ 81 Uarr1 Ca1
lege was called upon to read his paper of
The Anglo-saxon Daegmael" This paper
was q history OF the regulation of the
Anglo-Saxon day. the canonical hours. the
rubrics OF the Anglo-Saxon gospels and the
feast days and fast days.
The paper was a learned and technical
dissertation upon researches into the origin
Of Angio-Saxon terms and definitions of
the divisions Of time In the twenty-four
hours which make the day. DIR. Topper
explained the method OF his researches. and
gave list OF the ancient books which he
used as authorities.
Prof. March complimented DR.. Topper
upon the value of the paper, and he was
enabled to appreciate IT. for ne had made
researches in the same line OF study.
AfternoOn Session.
The afternoon session convened at 3
o'clock and was opened by a paper on The
Life and Works OF Charles Sealsfield Carl
PostD. by DIR. A. b. Faust Of Johns Hop
kins University.
That was followed by a discussion of
William Vietor's paper in the Educational
Review on "A New Method OF Language
Teaching
DR.. A. Rambeau of Johns Hopkins Uni
versity opened the discussion with a paper
on The Value of Phonetics in Teaching
Modern Languages"
He was followed by Prof. Starr W. Cut
ting OF the University OF Chicago, who de-
Tended the proposition that the elementary
study OF grammar should be inductive.