Modernity Key-Note of Advocate

If one were searching for a single adjective to characterize the Senior Number of the Advocate one might well turn down the page at "modern." From the editorial announcement of officers for the ensuing year to Mr. Dazy's rediscovery of Spenser, the contents are what the advertisers often call "up to the minute." Now modernity may cover a multitude of sins, literary or otherwise, but it precludes dullness; and the current Advocate is anything but dull.

The leaven of the number is Mr. Barlow's "Religion of the Beautiful." Though this aesthetic theorist hangs his philosophy upon the identity of beauty and fitness, between which Aristotle once made a serviceable if relatively forgotten distinction, his eagerness gives his article a readable quality which cannot be credited to some other writers on the same subject.

Of the verse, Mr. Barlow also contributes the graceful "Of Age." Mr. Dazey's "On Mt. Ranleigh" is, unfortunately, uneven; contrast "we felt the magic of far spaces" with "Its fields were divided into squares of many colors," a phrase neither pleasing nor exact. It were better, perhaps, to regard this bit as experimental or imitative, in the light of some of Mr. Dazey's previous work.

"Point of View" is a one-act play of ideas, based on the ever new subject of the dual standard. It is as good as many undergraduate plays; indeed, it is better than most. If the climaxes were at times less sudden and the dialogue a little more flexible, the work would gain.

Together with the pungent and capable editorial on the Speakers' Club, Mr. Thayer's story "Defense de Cracher" possesses distinguishing merit. Here, too, the manner is as modern as the matter. Mr. Thayer tells the story of the tubercular concierge with exactness of tone and economy of material. One is tempted to say that there is not a word too much. The judicious use of such recurring details as the companionable hen and Fraeulein Goldschmidt's "It would not have happened in Germany" give the impression of skill and sureness of touch. Indeed, the author achieves the seemingly impossible in telling the story in the first person and still keeping it detached.

The Senior Advocate, then, is pleasing, and one writes it down a good number.