Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-05-16
A Sjx-Cent Verdict for Triggs.


Chicago, a few years ago. and caused
no little amusement by comparing
Shakespeare and Rockefeller and by
declaring that neither LongfellOw nor
Whittier wrote anything worthy the
name of poetry. So aggressive was
he in displaying the emptiness Of his
head and the length of his ears that he
was a fat mark for the pert para
graphers Of the American press and
particularly for the shafts OF the
genial satirist of the New York Sun
who never misses such rich oppor-
tunity as Triggs afforded.
After losing his job and musing
on his grievances Triggs sued the New
York Sun. The jury that heard the
case brought in a verdict of six cents
damages. This decision is most re-
assuring to scribes with a tendency to
sarcasm and a fondness for fool-kill-
ing. The Sun editorials simply gave
Professor Triggs a dose of his own
medicine, which he should have taken
with a pleasant face. Doubtless, he
wishes now that he had done so, for
the Sun prints four columns of his
testimony under cross-examination
when will prove more damaging to his
professional reputation than the edi-
torial satire of which he complained.
Professors are more experienced at
giving than at taking examinations.
Professor Triggs's effort on the witness
stand was dead funk" AS pro-
fessor he was not half SO amusing as
he proved to be when a witness in his
own behalf, and his evidence is rare
study in nOn-knowledge. Remember
ing that he was an instructor of Eng
lish literature in one of the foremost
American universities, and a favoritc
lecturer before women's clubs and
other cultured bodies, let us read the
following extract from his cross cX-
animation:
o. You are "A student of Shake
spcare, are you not? A. Yes. sir.
O. You are very familiar with
Romeo and Juliet? A. Yes, sir.
G.. Who was Tybalt; do you know:
A. That is an examination i'll ltcra-
ture.
9. It is going to be such an OK
animation rs the court permits. VINO
was Tybalt? A. 1 cannot answer at
this moment.
=. Who was Benvolio? A. He is Il
character in the play.
Q. With which house was he con-
ne, ted? A. Now at this moment the
play is not fresh in my mind. sir.
e.. What were the two houses whose
conduct was there depicted? y. 1
said the play is not fresh in my mind.
G.. What two great houses? "A. l
can't answer.
O. Now I call your attention in Act
II. Who was Mercurio? A. \ char
acter in the play.
c. | suppose he was character IN
the play? a. At this moment l can't
give his relationship.
q. On which side was he? A. Well,
| can't say.
q. Was he on Romeo's or was he on
Tybalts? a. The play has passed
from my mind at the present time.
9. You cannot tell us that? A. No.
sir
O. Who wrote the words:
"For of all sad words of tongue or pen.
The saddest are these, it might have
been.
A. l am not prepared to say.
@. You cant tell us? Isn't that one
of the most familiar quotations? y.
Yes, sir. you will find it all
q. Yes. but here you are a profess
sor OF English literature? A. l do
not study literature i'm that way.
g. You are Il professor of English
literature? A. / do not profess to
study literature in that way.
&. a critic of Shakespeare. a critic
of Rockefeller. a critic of Longfcllow.
of Whittier? A. Yes, I am.
q. And you address young men OH
those great poets? A. Yes. I am.
@. And vet you can't tell me where
that quotation is? A. That is not in
volved in the matter at all.
q. But implies some familiarity with
the great poets. doesn't 1t? A. l do
not study literature in that way.
@. Can man lecture on Homer who
has never read his Had? Can man
lecture on Whittier and Longfcllow
who does not know their poems? A.
knowing is z various thing. sir. !
know when have the text. 1 have
hundred poems
O. Do you know where these words
are found:
And the lawyer smiled that afternoon
When in court he hummed an old love
tune
A. I can't place it. No. sir.
Q. DO you know who wrote these
words:
ZIP from the meadows rich with corn,
Clear in the cool September morn.
| The cluStcrd spires of Frederick stand
Green walled by the hills of Maryland
a. I really don't place the poem. I
| do not study it in that way.
Q. You do not? A. I do not. real
ly. That is aside from the point of
| my profession, sir.
The Coming Immigrant.