The Portland daily press., 1898-03-10
HARVARD COLLEGE.
Especial Correspondence of the PREss.l

the mid year eXaInlna'loh7' AAo D'lAhH
there remain some few things OF the t1rst
half and there are some few things yet
tn come which commend themselves for
comment. If you can summon patience
to read should like to touch upon these
few things or at least such of them as
have shown remarkable or interesting
qualities. Let me lose no time in leading
up to them.
Lite has still one or two pleasures even
after long, not encouraging examina-
ton period. The reaction has brought us
an exceedingly entertaining course of
lectures by Mr.. Copeland, lecturer on
English literature. These lectures treat
of the development of the English novel
from Richardson and Fielding down
through Thaokary and Geo. Eliot. Short
informal talks have been given supple
mentary to the lectures. Previous lee
lures and readings have bean open to the
public and the lecture room in Sever hall
has invariably been crowded to sutfoca-
ton. The present course is the sole
property of University members.
The same gentleman this year conducted
the first observance ever made by Harvard
college of Lincoln's birthday. The plan
was suggested by member Of the class OF
'97. The exercises were talk on Lincoln,
and anecdotes of his life, followed by appro-
pirate readings from Walt Whitman,
Longfellow and Lowell. The meeting
broke up amid enthusiastic cheers.
Scarcely less adequate was the observance
of the following holiday when out of re-
speot to Washington every body suspended
college work for a whole day and in the
evening blew off his pent up enthusiasm
at the theatre.
A series of lectures which seems to bs
meeting with general approval is that
given under the direction of the Cercle
Francois. This society mas fund when
enables it to call to Harvard each year
some member Of the French Academy.
Last year NJ. Brunetiere, editor OF the
Revue de deux Mondes paid us visit.
The present lecturer is Nd. DouInio, liter
AIRY critic of the same magazine. NJ.
Doumic gives eight leotures on French
Romanticism. Yesterday afternoon
elbowed through the dense crowd that
poured into Sanders theatre and WAS for
Junate enough to secure q seat which
afforded me a chance to see and hear the
man as he rolled off his discourse. M.
D5umic speaks with great distinctness.
He is Withal trifie sarcastic, very droli
and he drives his utterances homo with
gestures that few could initiate
Harvard in the year 1898 will have had
presented two plays in the French tongue
Moliere's L, Medecin IN algie lui is now
in preparation by the Cercle Francais.
Racine's Athalie was produced last De-
cember by the French department. 1t
was surprisingly good. Both costumes
and scenery were brilliant and the acting
deserves all the praise that can be given.
do ,iob- WI
direction the play was produced has re-
ceived from the secretary OF the French
Academy letter of thanks for his SER
vices as an instructor of French and for
his translation of Athalie into English.
That very de irable but equally elusive
en- erprise, The University club seems now
we'll in sight Without any explanation
it will be remembered that this is to be
n rendezvous for the whole student body
and ia intended to strike q blow at that
lack of fellowship and unity existing it is
said among US. One of the speakers re-
marked at he student mass meeting that
there were so many clubs that it almost
seemed to him as if every man went of
and formed q club by himself. The pro-
posed University club will draw all the
eccentric societies together and form one
great compact society. At the mass meet
ing last fall committee was appointed
to canvass the college and sound the
blue books have for some time been hang
izs in prominent places and from the
Sag lists Of signerS l conclude that col
lege feeling has reached an intensity
strong enough to warrant serious projects
for the club.
more excitement in Harvard square thar
any event since the Yale game. A null
Uiplicity of disasters crippled the depart
1nent SO seriously that before they got into
working trim the crisis was passed. That
the fire did not end in tragedy was
due to the presence OF nina OF those
students who caught one of their fellows
in the life net as he jumped from the
fourth story window.
It has since been pertinently asked
whether our college dormltorles are prop
erly provided with fire escapes. Many in
deed have only rope escape and this is
of course of use only when away from the
flames. Such an escape If at hand, would
have done good service at the Hi ton
block fire. Brick sidewalks and pave
1nents are unsympathetic things to alight
upon from on high, and the thought of
being suspended by clothes line from
the fifth story window with flames lick
ing the rope overhead is disquieting even
to the daring temperament and high
courage of Harvard man.
With keeneSt regret was received the an
nouncement of Professor Morton's retire
ment from active work as an instructor.
His two great courses Fine Arts III and
" have been more sought for purposes of
pure culture than any other courses in
college. One course is on Ancient Art,
the other on Roman and Medieval Art.
and they have been given in alternate
wears. Few fellows have left Harvard
Without electing one or both, and many
find their plans upset Tor next year. Tn
happy ones however can find solace in the
To 70 10 tn bQ
Professor Norton devotes one evening
during the week to the reception of visi
tors. Every Christmas eve it has been his
custom TO throw open his home to all
members of the University. 1t WAS my
GOOD fortune to be among those who
ayailed themselves of Professor Norton's
not forget the warm greetings extended
by Professor Norton and his family to
that bodv of Harvard and Radcliffe stu
dents, of whom many were far from
home.