The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-07-26
DR.. SMITHS BROWNING CLASS.

The Knoxville (Tenn.) Sentinel gives
place on its editorial page to an apprecia
tive communication on Dr. Smiths
Browning Class at the Summer Normal
School at Knoxville, Tenn. The article
Is follows:
Or. c. Alphonso Smiths Browning
class is the literary event of the summer
school. 1t is by all odds the most popu-
lar with Knoxville people, and has drawn
numbers from other classes, on the hill.
The class-rool is rumored to number be-
tween four or five hundred 1t is interest
ing to look over tn audience and observe
the differing element of Knoxville society
drawn to this common focus of interest
Old and young, the serious and semi
frivolous, the poetical and the practical,
from every section of the city are sprinkleI
through the audience.
DIR. Smith, of the University of North
Carolina, at Chapel Hill, is one of the
good things this summer school has re-
turned from last session. The delightful
impression he made at that time has gone
far to fill his seats this year. His classes
of last summer have been walking adver-
tisements for him ever since.
''Dr Smith has a delightful address.
,
even with Browning He is an exception
al reader, dramatic in the true sense, of
clearness and incisiveness. His interpreta-
tions are not only lucid. but illustrated
in everyday English, terse and idiomatic
To this, more than any other fact, Dr.
Smith owes his Illuminating gift as lit
erary Interpreter.
1.-The text of Dr. Smiths lecture is to
show that Browning touches life at more
points and more vitality than any other
writer of the century
"Dr. Smith treats the poems topically
This week his lectures have been confined
to dramatic monologues, having to do es-
peclally with the construction of the
monologue
Beginning on Monday OF next week, he
Will discuss Browning's love poems,
analyzing particularly the varieties of love
the poet portrays.
Perhaps the most generally known of
Browning's short poems, Andrea Del
Sarto was discussed Thursday. 1t is con-
coded to be the greatest art poem ever
written. DR.. Smith interpreted it particu
larly as a character study, giving prorni-
nence to the artist, rather than the man.
Andreas reputation for faultlessness in
philosophy of perfection. Hence the poem
is critical enthusiastically acaur-
ate. of the weakness of Andrea-not only
In his relation to his wife, but in his art.
His wife is not only out OF touch with
art, she is too stupid to realize what the
praise Angelo has given him means. or
TO feel pride in his popularity. Her one
idea is to urge him to paint for money
Jvh w DIVA IN h0r. nr
Smith refutes the general idea that An
drea is a great soul in clutch of infatua-
ton for an evil woman. Browning meant
to show his weakness, as inherent for the
soul, and not to be remedied even by a per-
feet marriage.
''As Andrea's monologue drifts to his art
he shows he is no longer an artist, for he
is no longer an ideaEst. He can conceive
no form of beauty he cannot execute. His
brain and hand are equally paired This
has given him his belief in his own per
lection, and this belief has robbed HIM OF
a higher dream toward which he can
work. The heart of Browning's meaning
in writing the poem lies in this golden
line, one of the greatest the poet ever
wrote:
"a mans reach should exceed his grasp
or what is Heaven for?''
Though Andrea lacked idealism, hi
knew where the trouble lay. He coulC
draw the arm better than Raphael, bur
he could give it no grasp, no soul Will
weak reproaches he blames his wife-onll
tofmore weakly excuse her as he reminds
her if she had only once looked encourge
ment to him he might have caught tl4,
0f arf1 hot bur,
in France. When away from Lucretia h,
painted with the incentive of appreciativ
environment. The sympathy Browning
draws out for his imperfect relation will
this woman is not intended to lay blam
upon her for Andrea's lack of the ideal.
His lack went deeper; it was that o
principle and will-power. He had mis-