The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-07
PROF. F. D. LOSEY
ON SHAKESPEARE

University. July e-(special) PROF.
Frederick D. Iosey, professor of rhetoric
and public speaking in the University of
Alabama, began a series of lectures be-
fore the summer school of the university
yesterday morning with an address on
1.-THE Approach to Shakespeare"
Professor Losey began his lecture with
recital of the awful records of the
United States in crininality, which ex-
perts attributed to social vengeance, a
barbaric philosophy that Is threatening
the very existence of the nation"
Il feel" he said. "in addressing a body
Of teachers who are, as all teachers ought
to be, also students, that I should call
your attention to the real and crying de-
mand which the state and the nation
are making upon You. In a democracy
like ours, with public school system like
ours, the responsibility for every disease
in the body polite must be borne in some
measure by the teacher. 1 know perfect
ly well that 1t Is customary for teacher
IN talking to teachers about education to
speak with a bland and oily optimism
about our marvellous advances in educa-
But my experience and observation and
training lead me to the conclusion that
when in state or nation crime Is increas-
ing three times as fast as population
there is something wrong in our common
schools. Nor do 1 take much stock in the
boast that we have the finest school sys-
tenn In the world when we at the same
time enjoy the unenviable distinction of
being the most criminal nation on earth"
Professor Losey regarded the cause of
the common schools shortcomings to be
the failure to develop and cultivate the
imagination of the pupil. He declared
Shakespeare to be the highest represen-
tative of that great body of imaginative
literature which is wholesome and salu-
tary in its refining and cultural effects
upon society. He said that the proper
approach to Shakespeare was through the
imagination and advised it's study through
this means for all ages from the child of
10 years on. 1t Is not until our schools
cease dissipating their energies, he said,
and insist upon fewer studies and upon
teachers who can kindle the imaginations
of their pupils that we will graduate
generation of youth who will safeguard
rather than endanger the existence of the
nation.
1T Is because l believe that the only
true approach to Shakespeare is through
the Imagination, which when we read him
is concerned primarily with character and
conduct, with human relations and the
outcome of human actions; and because
the imagination is the hand maiden to
sympathy and federation, which are not
consonant with a 'barbaric philosophy
which advocates social vengeance'-it is
because 1 believe these things that l am
content to devote the rest of my life to
forming closer acquaintance with him, and
to bringing others under his magic in
fuence. For when a man has reached
the hill-crest in his brief life journey and
surveys the road he has come and looks
forward and downward into the valley of
the shadow, he will, If he be honest, seek
to build some eternal shelter, or mark
some unfailing spring, where others
passing that way may find rest and re-
freshment. Such shelter, such spring
Is Shakespeare
Professor Losey gave the teachers sug
gestions as to the methods of approach
ing Shakespeare with practical instruc-
ton in the study, Interpretation and read
ing of his plays.