Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 7.djvu/555

 10 s. VIL JUNE s, 1907.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

459'

Historical German Grammar. Vol. I. By Joseph

Wright, Litt.D. (Frowde.)

PROF. WRIGHT, having disencumbered his shoulders of the great ' Dialect Dictionary,' takes up a new burden with unabated energy. The volume before us, which treats of the phonology, word-formation, and accidence of the German language, is the first of a series of historical and comparative grammars which he hopes to produce for the benefit of students who desire to make a scientific study of language. His own method is the strictly scien- tific one of the newest school of philology, and though it claims to be considered concise, the volume fairly bristles with facts and compressed information. Its fullness may be inferred from the Index, which registers over four thousand words, the morphology of which is discussed with more or less detail. The editor has secured the co-operation of Dr. Fielder for the second volume, which will deal with historical German syntax.

The Nineteenth Century begins with three Indian articles, and ends with two concerning Irish politics. Mr. Julian S- Corbett considers the important ques- tion of 'The Capture of Private Property at Sea, 'in which the theory of international law so often yields to the exigencies of the moment in war time. It does not seem likely that the Hague Conference will do much towards a practical settlement of the

Koints in dispute, though it may foster a talent for igh-sounding ideals like those of the Emperor Alexander of Russia at the meeting of the Powers to settle the affairs of Europe after the fall of Napoleon. ' Orchard Cities ' is an interesting article by Mr. F. A. Morgan, but we protest against the sub-title, 'The Gardenisation of England.' People of education should not use these ugly, impossible words. Mr. Morgan has been an editor, too. He suggests that Ireland is suitable for fruit-growing, and that "thousands of acres of apple, pear, plum, and cherry orchards should be laid down there," in place of the usual potatoes and other unprofitable crops. Herr E. Konig has a stiidy of the writers who have treated the legend of ' The Wandering Jew,' beginning with a book dated 1602. Mr. A. G. Hyde has an article on ' Reviewers and Reviewed,' which steers clear of personalities, and conveys a good idea of the general habits and manners of the ordinary critic of to-day. Miss Eva M. Martin makes good fun out of 'Children's Competitions,' from which we gather that accurate spelling is a rare gift among the young. Naivete and freshness are not wanting, though the humour of things mis- understood arid misspelt is rather tedious when there is much of it. Mr. W. Tweedie, speaking of ' The Dogs of Baghdad,' mentions that ten years' residence in that city brought to his knowledge no case of rabies, in spite of the extremes of tropical, or sub-tropical, heat.

To The Fortnightly Review we always turn with the certainty of instruction and entertainment. Besides the usual political articles, it has a literary and scholarly side which offers good reading to a public overfed with sensationalism and arid actu- alities. Here we find a most interesting summary by Mr. W. S. Lilly of 'The Newest View of Christ,' i.e., that of Prof. Pfleiderer, one of the rationalizing professors of Germany. " Hallucination, individual or collective, is, in short, the Professor's explana- tion of the alleged appearances of the Risen Christ." Many who read this sentence niay go no further ; but they will lose valuable criticism of the real

weaknesses and difficulties of the Gospels if they neglect the work of such scholars, which is gradually being made available to English readers. They can r for^ instance, get a succinct view of Prof. Schniie- del's contributions to the ' Encyclopaedia Biblica ' on the person and teaching of Christ for sixpence. W e commend from every point of view some study of this new theology, for it has shown us how to get new data, from which we are free to draw our own conclusions. Mr. Stanley Lane - Poole has a well-written and temperate article on ' The Irish Battle of the Books.' The opening of his article shows his appreciation of the difficulties of the subject. Mr. St. John Hankin has a capital subject in ' Mr. Bernard Shaw as a Critic,' and. has made a most capable survey of his author. He is clear and trenchant, and essentially sound, though we object to his statements here and there. ' Concern- ing Garden Books' is rather a poor article on a hackneyed theme by Ethel M. M. McKenna. Was ' The Garden that I Love' "the initiatory book of this ^ modern literary development"? What of E. V. B.? To class in this category George Gissing's ' Private Papers of Henry Ryecroft ' is ludicrous ; and to say that "a strong sauce of personality" is needed is a commonplace. More knowledge of humane letters in general and of the essay is needed than is shown here, nor have the best modern ex- amples of the real "garden book" been cited. They are, possibly, not the most popular. M. C. de Thierry dwells on the ' Colonial Influence in Eng- land,' mainly in reference to the nobility and gentry. Mrs. Stopes has a learned article on, ' Elizabethan Stage Scenery,' with especial refer- ence to the opinions of Mr. William Poel as pre- sented by the Elizabethan Stage Society. She shows that the Elizabethans have left in their written records traces of scenery. Tapestry and "the player's house" will readily be admitted as customary by those who know the period well.

The National Review, after its ' Episodes of the Month,' opens with an article by Capt. Mahan on ' The Hague Conference : the Question of Immunity for Belligerent Shipping,' which should attract attention. Mr. T. M. Healy has a pungent dis- cussion ' Of Mr. Gladstone's Legatees ' regarding Ireland. Mr. Healy is of opinion that "had Mr. Birrell consulted the first ciuay-porter who handled his luggage at the North Wall, he would have been spared the pains of introducing the Irish Councils Bill." The ordinary man wonders at the quick change of ministerial duties, and thinks it a pity that a man who has just, presumablvi mastered the difficult subject of education, should be passed over to another special sphere of which he knows little, , or nothing. 'Missing Chapters in "The Garden that I Love " ' is a pleasant return to an excellent book. ' The Unemployed Gentleman,' by Mr. Basil Tozer, discusses a question which is daily becoming more acute : "Anew calling for men of culture and good education is badly needed." Mr. Tozer gives, some striking examples of considerable powers which meet with no monetary equivalent. It is justly remarked that the system of "remittance men" has prejudiced the colonies against the ordinary gentleman. Miss Eva M. Martin has a melancholy poem in blank verse called ' Footsteps,' in which a young wife speaks of the approach of death. The rest of the magazine is mainly concerned with politics, being, as usual, able and rather intran-
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