July Monthly Credit to New Board

The last number of the Monthly for this College year does high credit to the new board. The work throughout is of an almost universal excellence, in quantity as well as quality.

The leading article is on "Euripides and Mr. Barker," by Mr. R. H. Sessions, emphasizing the vitality, as opposed to the "classicism" of Greek drama. Mr. Sessions, however, takes it for granted that too much of Mr. Barker's productions is "emotionally rather than archaically correct." No doubt the costumes of the barbarians were fantastic to the point of humor; but why the caviling at the temple? The temple was not a Parthenon, certainly; it was of the Minoan stage of culture, and as such it was quite correct.

Mr. Mitchell also contributes an essay. "Montaigne and the Modern Age" is a dignified defence of the spirit of scepticism. Cynicism and scepticism figure in this issue of the Monthly College men seem at times to fear sentiment and as a result they are apt to plunge to the other extreme. But Mr. Mitchell's essay is not of this type. His arguments and ideas are thoroughly sincere and well worked out in a spirit of toleration much needed in these troublous times.

There are two contrasting stories in this issue: "The King," by Mr. Cummings, and "Fools," by Mr. Morse. It is not too much to say of "The King" that it is one of the very best stories published for some time in any college dream type; taking advantage of the form to blend richly poetical prose with a delicate sympathy for a child's fantasies. "Fools" is better than its abrupt title might lead one to expect. It is a realistic tale of a country flirt and her two admirers--one of them the village idiot. The climax is a really admirable touch of cynicism.

There are five poems in this issue, all of them above the usual ideal of space fillers. Mr. Hillyer contributes two; a "Song" and a "Threnos." The "Song" is an exquisite bit--rhymeless, but using the same terminating words for each stanza. The "Threnos" is a sudden cynical outburst of still more interesting form; the lines of the first stanza become successively the refrains of the following stanzas. Mr. Cummings contributes a "Ballade of Soul," a true ballade--of a more complicated type, however, than generally seen. Yet Mr. Cummings, for all the limited number of rhymes, makes his poem sound perfectly smooth and unforced. "Sunset," by Mr. Damon, is a brief impression. "To a Child," by Mr. Code has at times an amateurish ring. Nevertheless Mr. Code goes a great way in expressing the typical charm of a child--and it is often these simplest things that are hardest to express.

Book reviews and editorials complete the issue. Mr. Dos Passos gives a review--or rather impression--of Joseph Conrad's "Lord Jim," one of the most important books of the year. The editorial on the Dudley Gate is too cryptic for ready comprehension. Does it refer to the sculptured lines of verse on the two seats? If so, it is justified both in form and spirit.