Evening star., 1938-01-23

noted poets of Latvia came from the
working people, whose lives were hard
and bitter, but who had a longing for
the more spiritual things Of life, as
shown in their determinat ton to edu-
cate themselves and rise above the en-
vironment into which they and gen.
erations of their forebears had been
born. This note of sadness is notice.
able in very beautiful poem--the first
in the little volume, "Trimpula"-a
song in praise of Trimpus, an imag-
mary Latvian Bacchus:
The Daugava's waters race seawards
and roar;
Sheer Staburags' gray tears are fall
ing,
And thunder Of oak forests sweeps the
dark shore
The gods and our fathers are call
ing!"
And then bursting into a ioyous
song: Come, lassles, with Pickering
branches and vTeaths . Come, lads.
with your cans and the brewage that
seethes :"
The Latvian and Lithuanian Language
Lend Themselves to Poetry.
Mr.. R. o. G.. Urch, a journalist of
Latvla and correspondent of the
London Times, in his book, "Latvia. :"
its country and people, is very illumi-
mating when he writes of the language
OF his country, and after reading it
one can better understand its litera-
ture. He says: The fact is that Lat
wan and its slster-language Lithuan-
ian are together a gem of rare value,
which has only in recent years become
really accessible to the serious ex-
plorer of comparative grammar.
These two ages-survivors of
the Baltic group" in which the now
extinct Prussian had a place-have
living examples of ancient forms which
belonged to the original parent stock,
but are not shown in what has come
down to us of Indo-Iranan, Greek.
Latin. Slavic, Celtic and other
branches of the 1ndo-European fam
lly.' He adds further-Which throws
much light, it would seem, particu-
larly on the poetry of the country,
as well as the drama" the
differences of quantity and intonation
nave been preserved here Gatvian
and Llthuanian more perfectly than
IN any other living language"
Secretary Hull Is Boomed
for Nobel Prize.
Several of the South American
countries and one or two European
countries have expressed the hope that
Secretary Cordell Hull will be the next
recipient Of the Nobel Prize. They
seem to feel that his conduct of the
Department of State. his foreign pol
Icy and his attitude in the present
world crisis has been outstanding. It
seems since 1927 IS Nobel Prizes have
been received by the United States.
as against l3 by England. 10 by Ger
many and seven by France. Denmark.
Sweden, Switzerland, Norway and Hol-
land are, however, the Nobel laureates.
Cutting Lectures
Draw Large Crowds.
Senator La Toilette, Mr., Edward
keatlng and particularly New York
ers. who are on the committee for the
sponsoring of the Bronson Cutting
memorial lectures, are very much
pleased with the interest shown In
the opening lecture of the course of
three lectures at Constitution Hall
last Monday night The hall accom-
modates about 1000 people, and it was
found that 1t was about two-thirds
full. Mr.. Bruce Bliven, editor of
the New Republic. talked about democ-
racy and public opinion. He seemed
inclined to be critical of both, not
withstanding it is part of his business
to influence the latter. The next lee
ture, on February Z. will be "Democ-
racy and Foreign Policy" by Edwin
Borchard of the Yale University Law
School, and the final lecture of the
course will be Democracy and Edu-
cation" by DR., c. A. Dykstra, president
Of the University of Wisconsin. 1t is
said that Mrs. w. Bayard Cutting of
New York, mother Of the late Senator
Cutting of New Mexico, was anxious to
at first try out a memorial program
OF the kind being given, before max
Ing any permanent arrangements for
carrying out her wish to make an ac-
tive and live memorial to her son.