Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-03-28
PROF. CLARK'S
CLOSING TALK

The series Of dramatic lectures CIV
en- hy Prof. Clark Of Chicago univer-
sits closed last night before "a thronged
house. and at The end The distinguish
ed lecturer was warmly congratulated.
lie was advertised to speak ON the
poets hero King Heny V of England,
ana there was much disappointment
because the schedule was changed
However. Prof Clark announced yes
terday afternoon the probability OF hls
return later In the year for another
series of lectures, and az that time ne
would give Henry v, The afternoon .fe
ture was devoted to oral expression ana
literary Interpretation topic OF rs-
pecial interest 20 teachers, and W0iah
vas listened to with profit by The many
teachers present.
In the evening Prot. CLARK gave
dramatic reading OF Ulysses, "a drama
and prologue In three acts by stephen
Phillips This decentralization ls
masterpiece, and IT'S intrinsic Value
was wen brought out and its beauties
displayed with marked effect by the
elocuuonst In his Introductory re-
marks the professor stated ihal ne ald
not object at all 20 applause given lot
worthy sentiment but be- asked mat II
be reserved fofshe close OF the lecture
lie observed that an interesting lecture
might be given on the psychology OF
applause
Taking up the theme of the evening,
The speaker said we have tonight
character who was tried as no one else
is tried in fiction and he finally M
umphed The history is the romlnuc
drama OF triumphant VIII I'm the llad
the gods give opportunity IN plenty Tor
cheice Of action Ia the Odyssey
ulysses is made the architect Of his
own fate--he Is supreme in ms own
win. Tie was a spiritual and practical
success. II at the end his viii had been
thwarted. his success would have been
achieved Just the same. II is marvellous
hoW ft'S of Ms know the worlds great
epic poem, the odyssey, and yet u ls
simpler than Shakespeare. Ulysses WIS
the contamination Of wisdom and craft
he WIS really the head OF the move
ments before Troy"
Prof. clark sketehed the principal
events distinguishing the closing of the
war, aud the scheme Of the wooden
horse by which entrance was gnined
TO the besleged city by the allied
forces. and the falthfulness Of Pencil
ope, the wife OF Ulysses. during all this
time was pictured in graphic form.
Prof Phillips drama Is Intense In
expression and portrayal Of thought
and sentiment and while but an
epltome OF the Homeric work, Il groups
in compact, striking form the thrilling
episodes that mark so wildly the eX-
pefiences Of the Ithacan hero's return
TO his home, and 10 the arms OF Qne
OF the most devoted and faithful wives
history or fiction has ever recorded.
And this one thing the dramatist has
ever kept in clear and perspicuous
yiew--this most unusual instance OF
oonjuga fidelity and witely devotion
that made even the mere memory OF a
long absent husband dearer than all
the personal, regal and financial allure
ments offered by the throng Of princely
ultors who thronged the place OF
Penelope month after month. year after
year. OF course. the furnishing Of a
complete plot relieves a dramatist OF an
immense amount OF effort but at the
same time II places on him the 0nus
of developing the same In artistic
dress, conformably to the dramatic uni-
tics OF time. place and action and
clothed IN sentiment and language that
iqfl bring out IN the most striking and
effective manner the underlying spirit
and Intention OF the plot. Prof. Phil
lips has shown himself In this most
dramatic drama, 20 be a literary art
ist In fact, so clearly so forcibly and
with such literary such poetic irrl-
descence does he portray situations
that their spirit may De easily sensed
without the spectacular accessories Of
the stage In the hands OF a trained
elocutonst like Prof Clark the lnher-
ent beauties Of Prof. Phillips presen-
tatlon Of the HomeriC scheme are
brought out so that the genius OF the
great Greek poet and his marvellous
knowledge Of men and effective group
ing of events are strikingly brought
home to the comprehension Of any au-
dience
Prof. Clark showed his unusual elo-
cuitonary powers TO marked advantage
last night IN his dramatic reading Of
Ulysses and the concluding passages
depicting the riotous actions Of the
suitors IN the banquet hail and the
sudden appearance aud most tragic
action OF the returning hero In making
known his presence, were powerful In
expression OF pathos, OF action. beauty
OF sentiment and sublime conception
and conclusion Of long sustained uncer-
tainty that captlvated the large and
appreclative audience. Prof Clark viii
be welcome visitor when he comes
this way again