The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-03-02
AMERICAN LITERATURE.
FiAst of n Series of Lectures by Professor
w. l.. Phelps.

W. ALs Il AAolPSs
Professor William Lyon Phelps gave
the first of the series of lectures on
American Literature under the auspices
of the University Extension center in
Warner hall last night. Although
somewhat indisposed because of a re-
cent attack of the grip, the lecturer
talked, as usual, most entertainingly
and instructively for over an hour. The
large hall was we'll filled and all pres
ent We're doubtless much edited and
entertained. His subject was Jonathan
Edwardsaand Benjamin Franklin. The
speaker compared the lives and doings
of the two men, looking at them from
several different standpoints, showing
in just what matters they differed and
how great was this differentiation. He
said that many students of American
literature were greatly handicapped by
the fact that there was no genuine
school of American authors, and the
only thing that caused their work to be
at all similar was that they were born
and lived at about the same time Prof
Phelps characterized Franklin as being
one of the greatest Americans that ever
lived and that in future years the name
OF Franklin would be one of the bright
est. lie said that If Franklin lacked
anything it was spirituality and every
thlng involved in the meaning of that
word. He was not a Christian in the
religious sense, though he was always
going about doing good. He was a man
with no liking for tradition and was
never satisfied with anything unless he
inquired into it with the utmost care
fitness. This quality was one of those
which caused him to be so great and
which raised him to such a high plane
in life. This is why he invented so
many things that have been and are
now OF so much Importance to mankind.
Franklin did not believe in being rich;
he only thought that man should have
enough money so that he would not be
a burden on his friends and be able to
live comfortably. He was a typical
American, but did not have the ner-
vousness that is SO common among the
Americans Of to-day. In his writings
he copied the style of Addison's Spec
tator to very great degree. His auto
biography was written in manner that
is catching and can be read over and
over again without becoming tiresome.
The beauty of his style was it's simplic-
ity, with short sentences and words.
There was considerable humor in his
writings but many faults of rhetoric.
AS treatise on the art of living, his
autobiography is invaluable and unap-
proachable. He was not the founder Of
any school of literature and never SEEM
ed to have longed for literary fame. He
was a scientist and a statesman. He
was far in advance of those who lived
at his time and foresaw many things
and problems which are confronting us
to-day. Some of them We're great and
some small. One of them was the CUES
ton that is being greatly agitated
among instructors of the young-that
both hands.
Franklin also discussed the question
of arbitration. He spoke of war as be-
ing a folly and said that all questions
should be submitted TO men of honor !
and reputation for settlement. OF the !
lessons which can be drawn from his /
life is the one which shows what can |
be accomplished by industry, He was /
successful because he was a genius. |
He was reared in poverty and obscure |
ty but he stood up with the greatest
men of his time and was first and fore
most in all matters of great public con- |
Germ.
The next lecture will be given on next /
Thursday night. March 8, instead of on |
Wednesday as previously announced.