French Lecture

M. de Regnier completed the series of eight lectures on Modern French Poetry last Saturday afternoon. The lecture was on "The Future of French Poetry," including an extensive discussion of the prose poets.

These writers, expressing themselves in prose form, chose themes of an essentially poetic nature. The leader and best example of this school was Chateaubriand. Although his writings treat of historical or philosophical subjects, they indicate a poetic cast of mind. In common with Beaudelaire, he gave expression to all his hopes, sympathies and ideas in a manner which reveals the true poet.

This school of poets in prose, of which M. de Regnier discussed the most important members, has made important changes in the French language. It has always been an instrument readily adaptable to elegance and precision of expression, but these prose poets have brought to light an old musical quality, which is now in a state of development, and which will have an important bearing on the future of French Literature.