The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-10-29
KING ALFRED's MILLENIAL.
Appropriate Celebration at Yale Uni
 yersity Last Night.

 versity Last Night.
 | The celebration of the millenlal o1 King Alfred took place last night in the 1 large lecture room of Osborn hall, un- 1 der the auspices of the Modern Lan- ! guage club of the university. Con- siderable interest was manifest and the meeting was very well attended. The several addresses of the evening were unusually interesting and closely Hs- tened to by all present. Professor Thomas R. Lounsbury opened the exer- i cises with few remarks of the great est of early English kings who died | 1000 years ago. Soldier, statesman, re- vivor if not creater of literature, AL fred well won the title which the world has given him. He said that it was fitting that we should pay tribute to this many sided man.
 Professor Arthur M. Wheeler of the historical department then introduced to all the story of Alfred as king. The speaker said that he felt sorroWful for Alfred because not much was surely known of him. He did his whole duty and did it well so much so that he was far above the other kings of his time. There is no evidence that his< <contem- poraries thought him great and in con- sequence it was many hundred years after his death before he was given the title. We get only glimpses of him and his life but all these are interest ing. The real Alfred we can't bring be- fore us but have instead two other AL freds, one during the middle ages. the Alfred of the Legends. and the mythical Alfred, which is growing in this cen- tury among scholars.
 Some critics state that Alfred formed the English navy, but it is more gen orally accepted that he did not foresee what was coming and thought only of the needs of the hour. He was statesman in a way but not the states man his panegyrists say and the speaker then quoted from Frederick Harrison to illustrate the gross exag- geration of Alfred's virtues and deeds, and that such manifold greatness is not possible in one human being.
 At the conclusion of his address Pro- lessor Lounsbury said that Afreds historical side having been pretty well pulverized they would now turn to the literary side and he accordingly intro- duced Professor Albert s. Cook. He said that he accepted Assers' story of King Alfred's life as prime authority. The next was the Chronicle and in AL freds own handwriting. The speaker said that this was the two hundredth anniversary of our university but the one thousand of the educator king. He appears on the scene as the hero of TO- nance like David, the youngest of his brothers and the fatrest of them all and beloved by all who knew him He loved music, old English song and poetry. He also spoke of his religious nature and sense of duty which he learned in the old English poetry He showed his military valor as second In command at the battle of Ashdown when he fought while his brother king prayed for success and won the day. Professor Cook dwelt on his character, especially as philosopher and artist. Marcus Aurelius was the first philoso- pher king and Alfred was the second. The servant of all foremost in danger, indefatigable in labor, here both kings were alike. They differed in that the
 
 fred was it's chief support in England of his time. Alfred was man of sci ence as we'll as a philosopher and as translator has given us vast amount of work His work as educator, for 1t was as educator that he became translator, shows the comprehensive grasp of his mind. In literature his style and diction improved as his work went on and his translations have much original thought in them. How ever he did not excel as poet though he loved it so, but the finest side of his artistic temperament was that of king craft.
 Professor Lounsbury closed by say ing that the audience had heard the view and the counterview and that they could retire to their homes and think it out.