The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-06-12
IN THE FIELD OF LITERATURE.

siHSe W ionB article IN leading french
paper reviewing the philosophy OF the
Humanities.' work by Prof Thos. Fitz.
Hugh OF the Texas State university, Aus
| TIN The Belgian Revue des Humanlties
has in the April number come out with
another interesting discussion of the doc
trlnes presented in that work, this time
by the pen Of Prof. j. Keelhoff OF the
Athenee Royal in Antwerp. Below is given
an outline Of Keelhoff's review, which will
be OF general literary interest:
Prof. Fitz- Hughs Philosophy OF the
Humanities is an original and remarkable
work. Once more the excellence OF hu-
manitarian studies has been demonstrated.
The work is divided into three parts:
l. the evolution of Ayran civilization; ?.
the pedagogic aspect Of culture-evolution
q the organization OF the Latin humani-
Ties in secondary education.
First, the culture of the Ayran race
has passed through five successive stages.
ta) the hunting and fishing stage. CD the
homadic or pastoral stage. Co the agri-
cultural or political stage. (dl the artistic
or creative stage. and (e) the philosophic
or reflective stage
the province or the humanities is con-
hned to these three last stages The life
or cultured humanity is first political or
social. then artistic, and finally scientific.
In Studying the growth OF a civilization
we meet first the institutions of Its public
or private life; secondly, the product OF
It's creative activity in the domain of
poetry. music, painting sculpture and
architecture, and lastly Its works in the
realm Of philosophy and science. These
stages follow not only the biological, but
also the psychological order; hence this
Is the pedagogical order of Humanitarian
studies.
III the physical environment is the basis
OF physical education, the ideal Is the
basis OF intellectual culture.
Second, the Latin humanities In the
university should be organized according
to the philosophc principles set forth in
the first part of the book The ultimate
purpose OF humanistic instruction is to
humanize. To humant2e is to enrich the
heart and mind of the student by leading
him 10 live over In thought and feeling
the complete intellectual development of
great people by reviewing n iuagna
tion the growth of their religious laws,
their political and social life, their poetry
and their art their philosophy aud their
science. Thus the study of a complete
civilization viii put the student in touch
with all the active forces of people, with
all the factors which go to make up the
history of human culture. He will learn
the influence OF physical environment on
the life of humanity, he Will feel also the
strong influence OF tho ideal on this same
life. He will observe the growth of the
institutions OF public and private life, he
will search out the sources of art. he will
understand the beginnings of philosophy
and will see how all this separate sciences
spring from them. FINALLY he will in
carnate the pure spirit of humanity;
Homo sum- humani nil me alienum
puto.
THE author then sets forth a double
literary grammaticol programme for the
study of Latin, which, on account OF It's
length, we will not be able to reproduce
in this synopsis. These two programmes
develop successfully "a the social-politi-
cal stage, (2) the artistic stage and 80 the
reflective or phllosophic stage.
The distinguishing feature in this pro-
gramme Is the fact that it constitutes an
organic whole, founded on a philosophc
principle.
Third in this last part the author ap-
plies the same principles to secondary
education, and compares what is being
done in Germany to the status quo in the
United States.
ut is not in the spirit OF vain dilettaate-
ism that he recommends to his country
men the study of Latin. He is convinced
that of all languages the Latin language
is best fitted to discipline the mind, and
he holds that OF all literatures the Latin
literature is the one best suited to the
humanizing OF the mind, that is, to cause
it to pass over the same steps that the
evolution OF human culture itself has
taken
Prof, Fitz-Hugh's argument is both
profoundly sincere and convincing"
~
In Paul Carah, Cornishman," the att
thor, Charles Lee. has made a story of
the Cornshman, with his superstltions,
loves and hates, which is full of rather
animal sentiment and pathos, but will not
fail to leave an impressionabe reader
close TO tears. The characters are COM
monplace, but the author attributes to
them breathing personalities and very
human frailtles. so that, in spite OF their
orudities, one comes to like them yery
much. Paul Carah Is a self satisfied and
good naturedly selfish Cornishman. who
returns to Portvean after seven years ab-
sence In the States" prepared to make
his old friends open their eyes and reform
their ways over his exposition of the SUI
perior merit OF the American civilization.
But Paul's missionary spirit wins MIN
more enemies than friends, though, in
his blind vanity, he doesn't see that till
too late, When nearly the whole COM
munity is against him. Ben Jose receives
him into his house, along with the deaf
and dumb Dummy and the weird little
lenefer, 1t is Jencfcr who worships this
laundering idol, but Paul accompllshes his
fate, and departs for "loway," waving a
=aheerful goodby MS he goes. without no.
ticing the silent homage which has been
offered him. It often happens that way,
even in Cornwall,
~
The outlook publishes annually in June
a special illustrated Issue called It's Rec
reaton Number" This year the eleventh
of these numbers appears. As usual It
Is devoted chiefly to oGt-of- door topics,
and includes many illustrated articles OF
seasonable interest. The GolHug Wom-
an by Mr.. Van Tassel Sutpheu. is a
warm plea for golf. as, above all otner
games, a sport in which women can play
on plane OF real competition with men,
because OF the handicap possibilities. There
are portraits OF Miss Hoyt, Miss Griscom
and other famous women players, and
several picturesque golfng scenes.
The Youths Companion for the week OF
June S publishes an article on Authors
and Animals by Andrew Lang. The
ffiendshins betWeen many famous authors