The Washington times., 1906-05-13
JOHR STUkpT MILL
RO2Y M4Y 20 BOO

hG CSlCDIdllOh VI dhhA-
Yersaries has become a
habit of the times. Now
the world recalls this
statesman or general,
now that author or artist, or again
some event, historic or religious,
as the case may be. To see in all
this, however, only a sign of re-
version to the Complain worship of
mere humanity, is not to look deep
enough. The completed century is
more than just a convention; it is
distinct educational convenience. 1t
is not that the men and women so
brought back TO the thought of to-
day are in any danger of being for
gotten. but that il rs good for a
busy present to snatch a moment
from pursuits not always too i'm
proving, to look back, with the
steadier, juster judgment which
comes with years, at those figures
which still stand out. clear and ad-
mirable, among the dead and gone
workers of another time
Nineteen six offers many Just
such opportunities. In the main
they are historic, for in various
"naught skies" came the creation
of that splendid MOngol Empire;
of the Scottish rebellion under the
great Bruce; of Marlborough's VIC
tory at Families; OF the final pass
ing of that Holy Roman Empire.
which Voltmre objected to IN that
ii was not holy, nor Roman. nor an
empire; and, especially. of that
wear of Napoleonic achievements-
Ragusa, Naples, Szalfeld. Auerstadt'
Jena, Erfurt, Halle, Berlin, and
Napdeburg. all written on its scroll
But literature plays no incOnslder-
able part in these remembered
dates. No less than fifteen of the
sons and daughters of the muses.
OF letters propose themselves Tor
anniversary honOrs. while the point
is scarcely stretched too far TO add
five other past events, which have
so closely "aided and abetted" that
same art as to warrant at least
mention:
In 3O6 B. c. Epicurus OF Gargettus
first began TO teach his philosophy
ut Athens.
In 1906 the Talmud was first
translated into the Arabic
In 1906 the tyranny of Gessler
produced William Tell.
In 1906 (on May 2o) fell the death
of Columbus. while in that same
wear was founded the University
of Franl1fort-on-Oder.
Five of the fifteen dates of
greater import than these have al
ready passed, though 1t was but
thin honor that was paid the mem
ories of EVELYN and Buchanan. The
diarist of restoration and revolu-
tion DAYS in England-who offers,
perhaps, the most obvious instance
in letters of the way IN which writ
ten words may derive their sole
value from the purely external side
of their source-died on February
27. 17O6. One single university (his
own Oxford and couple Of ar
ticles in the British reviews, this
was the sum of what England did
to recall hiui. The name of curious
old George Buchanan, whose quar-
tercentenary fell in that same Feb
ruary, was allowed to pass prac-
ticalIy unnotIced, yet he was an
eminent writer of prose and quite
the best Latin poet of his time.
Even now it is interesting to re-
call that he was royal tutor both
TO Mary, Queen OF Scots, whom he
hated. and TO James / of England,
toward whom he seems to have
cherished no warmer a feeling than
of half-contemptuous tolerance.
Was il not he. who, when charged
with having made a pedant of that
eccentric king replied: That was
all that could be made of him ?"