BIBLE AND SHAKESPEARE EXAMS

In the pamphlet which is issued by the Divisions of Ancient and Modern Languages explaining the nature and purpose of the Bible. Shakespeare, and ancient authors examinations the hope is expressed that no one shall graduate from Harvard without some familiarity with the greatest authors in the history of the western world. Yet if the words of many Juniors who are now busily cramming for these exams, which occur at the beginning of next week, have any weight, it appears that the exams are failing in their attempt to give students any liking for the men on whom they are soon to recite. For by placing the examinations at the very beginning of the fall term, the Division has made too remote any work on them in Sophomore year and, for purposes of examination, useless, while there is hardly any time in the opening week of the term to make adequate study of the subjects. Thus the only time to get up the reading is in the summer holidays.

There might as first blush seem to be some reason for putting this work into the recess, since it hardly requires any formal instruction, and, for anyone who can give time to it, it is universally delightful. The King James Bible is what Professor Lowes calls the noblest monument of English prose," while the name Shakespeare speaks for itself; and the reading in the ancient authors, Homer and the like, is hardly less attractive. Yet to expect the student to take time off from his regular summer pursuits, whether it be a job or travel or merely routine of outdoor pleasure, and to fill out his days with reading that had better been done in term time, is unfair to the student. And it is unfair in two ways, since it imposes on his time in the summer, and it causes him to lose much of the genuine pleasure which he might get from this reading if he were to have adequate time to do it in college. And for men who are working in vacation, it is a particular imposition.

The best remedy for this condition would be to stage the exams in the spring of Sophomore year. Already the History and Literature Department holds its quizzes on the Bible and Shakespeare at that time, and it would not be overburden-some for the language students to have all of theirs then too. Sophomore year is especially fitting, since many students come into contact with the material in tutorial, and to do a thorough job on it at the beginning would clear the way for more advanced work later on. And mild exams in the spring should equip the Sophomore with a state of mind more ready to deal with Junior and Senior divisionals when they turn up at their inevitable time.

It is obviously too late for anything to be done this year. But it is not too late for the Divisions to make plans to change the curriculum for other classes, and their summer holidays will not be imposed upon, and that they may have the best possible chance to enjoy the works of the authors on whom they are examined.