New-York tribune., 1905-03-26

erences for degrees disclose the practical ten
oencies Of the time. The lists of candidates for
the triposes of the next term show that the clas-
sizes have the fourth place. Science is at the
top, with 1S4 candidates for examinations IN
first and second parts, while history is IN Sec
ond and law in third place. The classics claim
the preferences of 126 students, against GA for
mathematics and theology is at the bottom.
Cambridge has become a great science school.
yet II has no degree distinctively set apart for
the largest contingent OF students devoting
themselves to special studies and a minimum Of
Greek is compulsory for the entrance exam
ination even If the requirement be so low as to
involve only superficial era. ming for It. The
conservatives may rally for the defence Of "the
humanties' and retire in triumph from the
voting urns with the consciousness of having
Vindicated the superiority Of classical literature
by compelling all candidates for degrees to
know something about Aristotle's ethics and to
have smattering of Greek philosophy and
tragedy, but the students are taking lines of
their own and specializing their work in a prac-
teal spirit Those going in for scientific studies
are well aware that the time occupied in cram
ming Greek for the little go" might be
usefully employed Certainly they would be
equally well equipped for discovering a new
chemical element. or inventing an electrical ma
chine, or building steel bridge. If they had read
good translations of Plato or Sophocles In place
Of the original text. just rising young genius
would be prepared to make'a name in literature
even If he had not been compelled TO write
Latin verse at public school.
Mrs. Humphry Ward having exhausted in her
new story the parable Of the great Lord Mel
bourne's unfortunate marriage and Lady Caro-
line Lambs filtration with Byron. is to repeat
the process in another novel. Lady Caroline
Lambs portrait was drawn by Cheeseman, and
consequently the author may have been re-
minded of Romney; but at any rate his story is
to be recast for another period and under
other name, and possibly Lady Hamilton will
appear In a similar masquerade. In drawing
from biography and reproducing incidents in
famous careers she is following the example Of
Mr.. George Meredith whom she considers the
master Of modern English fiction. She takes the
precaution, however, of going further back In
time than he did in adapting real life to hc-
uon, and also avoids making Of contro-
versial Incidents. In "Beauchamp's Career
Mr.. Meredith has always been understood to
have sketched his own brother-in-law Ad-
miral Maxse. the hero but IN 1.-THE Tragic
Comedians" he went much further In direct por-
traiture. and told the story of Ferdinand Las
sales romantic adventures as an evangel Of
socialism; and IN ''Diara of the Cross Ways" he
made use of a well known legend Of journalism
that Mrs. Norton. Sheridan's granddaughter
had betrayed Cabinet secret-Sir Robert Peers
conversion to Cobdenism. There was no pro-
test from Lassane's socialist friends. but there
was a short decisive controversy over Mrs. Nor
toms alleged breach OF confidence, and convnc-
ing proofs were produced that she was entirely
innocent. Mrs. Ward is more discreet IN her
selection of subjects for redrawing and trans
position. Disguise becomes impossible when she
iS 1foz r,rrf+E
Melbourne Lady Caroline Lamb. Lord Byron
and Romney, and the interest in such diversions
with ghosts of the library does not consist so
much in the analogies OF careers or characters
as in the art Of reproduction with new scenic
surroundings and fresh coloring L ". 2.