Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 1.djvu/98

 78

NOTES AND QUERIES. [io* s. i. JAN. -23, MM.

After a few opening passages on the relation of dramatic art to other arts, Dr. Mantzius proceeds to find in the artistic phenomena of primitive tribes the origin of theatrical representations, and points out analogies between the Greek drama, poetical and perfect in form, and the religious festivals of the Indians of the North- West or the Melanesian peo- ples. In the proceedings of the secret societies of the Polynesians, notably in the Areoi, he finds the original type of a touring company of actors. Thence he passes to the Chinese, Japanese, and Indian theatres, pointing out in his progress that in Japan- ese art the ideal representation of men consists in " a sharply drawn exaggeration." When we come to the Greek stage the most interesting portion of the author's labours is reached, albeit it is that in which he encounters the keenest competition. By the aid of numerous illustrations, many of them of great beauty and value, he supplies the most com- pendious and illuminatory account of his subject to which the student can turn. Recent discoveries concerning the acting of plays in the orchestra instead of on a raised stage are briefly and lucidly explained. The general construction of the stage is shown, and suggestive conjecture is supplied as to the suspension of the deus ex machine*,. The phallic nature of an exhibition is depicted in the illustra- tions. The situation of the spectators and many interesting facts concerning points such as the remuneration of the actors are brought forward. Neither less comprehensive nor less trustworthy is the account of the liturgical drama and the mediaeval stage generally. Rather elaborate de- scriptions of the scenic phenomena of representa- tions of the ecclesiastical drama are given. We had marked for approving comment scores of passages, but our limited space prohibits our deal- ing with them. We can but add that, so far as it has gone, the work may be recommended to the student as the handsomest, most trustworthy, and most readable to which he can turn.

A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles.

Edited by Dr. James A. H. Murray. Outjet

Ozyat. (Oxford, Clarendon Press. ) THE new year's instalment of the great dictionary consists of the letter O from Outjet to the close. In order to complete the letter the part has been enlarged to one hundred pages, the rectification of the excess being charged to forthcoming issues. When the three volumes now in progress under the respective charge of Dr. Murray, Dr. Bradley, and Mr. Craigie are complete the alphabet from its beginning to the end of S will be in the hands of subscribers. Already, in the species of folk-phrase it is our wont to chronicle, " the back is broken " of the task undertaken. The old rate of superiority over previous vyorks is, naturally, maintained, and 11,146 illustrative quotations are opposed to 1,463 in the ' Century Dictionary,' which furnishes the nearest approach to rivalry.

Very nearly the first quarter of the instalment is occupied with the completion of the compound words in out, many of which have high interest, while of some, as is stated, the history is now told for the first time. Outrigger it is thus shown was anticipated in the language by outligger, of which it may be in part an alteration, an out-lygger being, in the 'Howard Household Books, 1481-90,'

associated with " a pompe j. tope mast ; a chest

with gonne stones." Outrigger, meanwhile, is not encountered until the eighteenth century. Out-

lander, probably suggested by Dutch uitlander, appears as an equivalent to alien in Verstegan, 1605. Very valuable historical information is sup- plied under outlaw: and outlawry. A column of special interest and importance is furnished under the latter word. Under the former we recall dimly in a glee, we believe by Bishop, the lines The farmer, the farmer, may sow, The bold outlaw must reap.

We are not assigning any philological importance to this quotation, which is only of the last century. What is said under clandestine outlawries is specially to be consulted. 0^ay=expenditure is of 1798, while outlet=Sii\ exit dates back to 1250, and outline =lines forming a contour to 1662, Evelyn being responsible for its use. Outlook as a verb is earlier than as a substantive. Under outnumber Keats's "Past kisses to outnumber" ('Ode to Psyche') should be quoted for its literary value. Out of is interesting in connexion with in to, as well as in such forms as " out of date," "out of doors," "out of the way," &c. Beaumont's ' Psyche,' 1648, is responsible for outplay in its customary modern sense. Outrage has an important history. Under outrance Dr. Murray naturally brands as erro- neous the phrase a V out ranee.. i9<>'e=extravagant has the authority of Fielding. Outrooper was at one time the specific name of the common crier of the City of London. Outspan reaches us from South Africa in 1824. Outspoken is of the last cen- tury. The combinations of over are scarcely less numerous. In overhear and ocertake the sense of the over is said to be difficult. Words with this prefix are not, as a rule, of great antiquity. Over- flow is an illustrious exception. Not before have the meaning and history of overslaugh been given, though the word has been in the language for one hundred and thirty years. Much that is new and valuable will be found under overture. See espe- cially under the verb, sense 2, relating to the supreme Presbyterian court. Few parts of the work repay study better than the various uses of owe and own. In connexion with owl and owlet the reader should see also Owl-glass, the English equivalent of the German Eulenspiegd. Among the various scientific and other words in ox the reader will do well to note the word oxlip, of which the definition and history are alike excellent. Oyer, oyez, and oyster merit close attention. Under ozokerit we would fain see, though we could scarcely expect to find, the lines, parodying Tennyson,

When bright through breadth of public prints

Flamed that great word ozokerit. Ozone, 1840, and its compounds, all, with a single exception, later, close the part, except for or.i/at, an illiterate spelling of orgeat.

Memoir of Benjamin Franklin Stevens. By G.

Manville Fenn. (Printed at the Chiswick Pres&

for private distribution )

To many readers of ' N. & Q.' the name of Benjamin? Franklin Stevens, as also of his brother Henry, may be familiar. This memoir is due, as Mr. Fenn testifies, to " much long and patient assistance in the selection of papers" by the executors, Charles J. Whittingham and Henry J. Brown. The result must be to them an ample reward, for in these pages we have a perfect record of a good and useful life. Mr. Stevens, born on the 19th of February, 1833, was the tenth of eleven children of Henry Stevens, of Barnet, Vermont, who was " one of