The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-12-27
FIVE SOCIETIES
HOLD SESSIONS


Continued from Page One,)
The next paper was that OF Prof. Dana
G. Munro of the University OF Wisconsin,
who spoke on the Renaissance of the
Twelfth Century" in part. follows
The 18th century was "A period OF won
derful development along many different
lines. The evolution or the spirit OF In
dependence was the most marked char
scteristic. A second characteristic was
the interest I'm science, which was often
pseudo-science; and astrology, for in
stance, was In greater vogue than astron-
omy.
This tendency illustrates "A third char
acteristic OF the age the practically. the
desire 10 turn everything TO immediate
use The study of geometry and archl-
lecture enabled men 10 build larger cas-
ties and the great cathedrals Society
as a whole adopted the new customs with
which 1t had become acquainted on It's
travels.
These changes were due, in large part.
10 the restlessness OF the age. Many
went on crusades and other great expe-
dluons. Wealth increased, new tastes
were formed and gratihed. learning ad-
vanced, life became fuller. the spirit OF
nationality was awakened.
The next paper was read by Henry Os-
born Taylor OF New York on an Instance
OF Medieval Humanism" in part, as
follows:
AS an example OF Mediaeval Humanism,
Henry Osborn Taylor spoke OF Hildebert,
bishop OF lie Mans. afterward archbishop
OF Tours, who lived from lOo6 10 ll3i. The
speaker referred to the conditions of
classical scholarship I'm France at the
close OF the 11th century, and sketched the
life of Hlldebert and his picturesque trou-
bes with William Rufus of England lie
commented upon his character and tenn
, perament and the excellence OF his Latin
style In prose and verse, read translations
from Hildebert's letters and gave exam
pies OF his elegiac verse.
h. agf tVfn In INafs~ M
the morning was that OF Louise Ropes
Loomis OF Cornell university. on the
Greek Renaissance In Italy" in which
she said:
The Greek Renaissance of the four
teenth and fifteenth centuries in Italy
should be treated as a continuation under
different auspices of the movement or the
twelfth and thirteenth centuries, during
which certain works OF Euclid and Pto-
temy and almost the whole OF Aristotle
had been translated into Latin and given
places OF prime Importance in the Uni
versity Curricula-
The predominant influence from an
tiquity upon the fifteenth century was
Roman or Alexandrian, rather than Athe-
nian. Ideas in art, in literary style, in
philosophy, were those OF the age OF Gle
ero or OF the Nes-Platonists Greek. Lit
erature was not extensively read In the
original, and when transacted was Ro-
manized as far as possible, the style made
ford and ornate, the matter freely para
phrased TO suit Humanlst stndards OF in
terest and Importance. The disciples OF
Platonis academies, for the most part,
chose TO accept their masters doctrines
as interpreted by Plotimus.
In short, the influence OF classical
Greek thought upon the period was ex-
tremeIy sighted. What writing was pro-
duced, comparable In force and acumen
10 the Greek, was inspired by independent
and original observation upon life. and
owed none Of it's essential qualities TO con-
tact with the spirit OF Greece"
A discussion OF general matters Of Eu-
ropean history by Prof James Harvey
Robinson of Columbia and Prof. Paul
Van Dyke of Princeton followed, setting
forth opposite views on some OF the moot
cd questions. The session then adjourned
for luncheon.