A NEW TRADITION

The first lecture of the series which Gilbert Murray is delivering as Charles Eliot Norton Professor of Poetry has been given and, thus, there is officially attached to Harvard University with its manifold heritages of custom and convention--a new tradition. For no doubt can exist as to the future of this greatest gift of one who was an ever generous alumnus of Harvard College Year after year, men who have established a round claim to literary accomplishment of that kind most nearly approaching Longinus' definition of the sublime, will give of their personality their particular genius, to the often stressed but seldom realized summum bonum of college life, intellectual inspiration.

One need not soliloquize upon the merit of this first incumbent of the Chair of Poetry: even the public prints recognize Professor Murray's addition to English letters. Yet certain merits in the choice of such a personality for this position may be commented upon. Not the least of these merits is taste. This age like all others has many writers of verse, many creative minds in literature. Unfortunately, too few of these men possess in addition to their native ability, the mental poise which disallows the indiscretions of mediocrity. Not content to pray to their own muse, they wantonly and with an often unintelligent iconoclasm destroy the temples of other muses. Such men, obviously, cannot stride the twin steeds of Pegasus and Propriety. Nor is this an ability remote from greatness. Bulls in so many china shons, they are often futile in conversation and vulgar in wit.