The San Francisco call., 1904-11-20
STUDIES
Og a BibIiOlater

e HOMAS MARC PARROT Of the
chair OF English literature at
Princeton has produced a book Of
critical essays upon some Of the max
e,s Of English classic literature and
their MASTERPIECES which merits atten-
live reading by all students Of the best
that is in our bellies lettres. Studies Of
a Booldover" he calls his volume. Eight
random critiques upon the character
and literary influence Of his several
subjects comprise the sum OF his work
Professor Parrot approaches his task
not from the standpoint Of dogmatic
conviction or carrying the assumptions
Of a controversialist: on the contrary,
he bur attempts to bring upon common
subjects Of literary knowledge the per-
sonal Interpretation Of a close student
and a booklOver. He would find In the
vell-worn aspects Of literature some
new and refreshing thought TO broaden
our conceptions OF the esthetic value Of
the classics. He would likewise give an
insight into the personalities Of the
great writer's as reflected, consciously
or unconsciously, in their works.
The Poetry Of Matthew Arnold the
most intensive Of the authors studies,
shows scholarly appreciation Of this
part Of the great writer's literary ef-
fort. usually overshadowed in popular
estimation by the weight Of his prose
writings. The greatest Of our critical
poets is Arnold, according TO Professor
Parrott's estimation; didactic also in
the powerful expression Of his philo-
sophical conception of life. In his ap-
preciation Of Arnold as q lyric poet
PARROT departs somewhat from
accepted belief in claiming
classic excellence for his sub
5ect IN that meter as well.
believe the time viii come" says the
writer when critics VIII not only rec
ognize in Arnold's lyrics the loveliest
flowers in his garden Of verse but VIII
pronounce any anthology Of English
lyrics incomplete which does not con-
tain more than one or two Of these
priceless blossoms Of pure poetry"
IN the light OF this claim il is difficult
10 justify PARROTS admissions OF Ar
nold's palpable faults. He lacked al
most entirely richness OF color and ap-
probation OF tuneful words, according
10 this commentator. He was dehclent
in the power Of judging true rhythm
and the delicacies Of rhyme. The fac
ulty Of transporting into fairylano OF
imagined substance, such as Shelley
revels in. is not Arnold's. There re-
mains then the cold purity the simple
ness and directness Of the poets lyrics
10 warrant PARROTS claims This would
seem scarcely sufficient
In his essay upon The Autooiog-
raDhv OF Milton" the writer advances
the novel and suggestive idea that SUCH
2 work could be compiled Dy g dis
eliminating student from out OF the
mass OF Millions many and diverse
writings because Of the self-consclous
attitude which the blind poet always
maintained. An egoist he was un-
doubtedly who could pen in his SON
net addressed 70 Cyriak Skinner that
he had lost his eyes;
IN frssr4ys defense. my noble tash
OF witch al Europe rings from side to side.
BY RfTtnG extracts IN free translation
from BIiltcu's little known "Defensio
gecunda" the author shows the Rreat
Purt4au's naive seif-esteem and his
unhesitatinE way Of expressing the
sEma-
PARROTS essays upon The Person
Atty Of Dr. Johnson" and THE Charm
Of Goldsmith" have little originality in
them. They simply give In brief the
familiar outline OF these WORTHLESS Of the
famous Kit-Kat Club-the OK and the
Frasshopper, fesrsoms the one and low
able the other. "Old Edinburgh and
Her Poet Laureate" deals with Robert
Ferguson and his circle Of iterau
'The vitality Of Browning" serves the
esEayist a. a happy topic for discus
sion Browning II never dull. he
brought TO his poetry an extraordinary
grasp upon the passions Of mankind.
upon the realities OF life; q lasting in
nuenoe ia his. SIR Walter Scott. ''the
last minstrel" is for Parrott greater
poet than we are won't 10 consider him.
A comparison between his essay upon
6cotr'B postry and a critical review Of
the same subject By Arthur Symons
IN the current Atlantic Monthly
shows that Professor ParrOttE egti-
mate Of soctt In not concurrsd IN By all
the critics.
(Jaunes Pott q Co. New York; Il
lUstrated; price 81 2S)
N