ABSTRACT OF LECTURE XIII.

THE LANDMARKS OF SIR WALTER SCOTT.

IN

BY WALLACE BRUCE, NEw York.

R. BRUCE first spoke of the noble Gothic

monument erected in Edinburgh, in 1844, to perpetuate the memory of Scott; describing it as a fine work of genius and art, perfect in its proportions, and a credit to its designer and to Scotland. The immediate surroundings and the noble scenery and historical associations of the vicinity were described at length. In the midst of this blended history and beauty, it was befitting that a nation should testify its gratitude and appreciation by raising a memorial to him whose career was not only a romance, but also a positive benefaction to his country. After alluding to the inscription on the monument, the lecturer said it was especially befitting that this memorial should stand between the old and the new town of Edinburgh, for Scott stood emphatically between the past and present. He entered upon the stage of

literature just in time to rescue the romance of feudal times from oblivion.

After Scott turned his attention to prose composition, his romances followed each other in quick succession, one work seeming only an introduction to another. In his twenty "Waverley" novels and five great poems, we have a complete history of Europe from the time of the Crusades and Peter the Hermit down to the time of men still living. Let any one arrange these works in their historic order, and read them with care, and in them will be found the main events of seven centuries, together with vivid pictures of the everyday life of our remote ancestors. In these different works, taken in the order of historical events, we have instructive word-pictures of the struggles of the Crusaders; of the condition of Western Europe when it was emerging from barbarism into the light of Christian civilization; of Southeastern Europe when its civilization was sinking into barbarism; of the Saxons; of Bruce and his grandson; of the contests of clans; of the English war of the Roses; of feudal life on the border, in England, and on the Continent; of the state of Scotland during the civil war; of the times of Elizabeth, Ralegh, Bacon, and Shakespeare; of Charles I., James I., Charles II., and Cromwell. In "Old Mortality" we meet the old Scotch Covenanters. In the "Pirate" we have many superstitions

handed down by the Scandinavians; in the "Heart of Mid-Lothian," charming pictures of Scotch domestic life. The "Antiquary" takes us to the very commencement of our own century. So of all others of the works of Scott: in every one may be found important historical facts, and valuable and interesting incidents that long since. would have been forgotten had Scott not rescued them from the swiftly receding past.

Mr. Bruce then spoke of Scott's famous residence, "Abbotsford," which he called a wonderful romance of Scott's creation. He also spoke of Scott's generosity, affability, and the innumerable little traits that endeared him to his friends. He said Scott not only excelled in description of scenery, but also in a correct appreciation of life and its motives. His power of investing his characters with reality has never been surpassed by any other writer of fiction.

The lecturer showed that a good many of the thrilling scenes and descriptions in Scott's novels were founded upon actual fact and incident. Many of his characters had a positive existence, and some of the creations of his genius are even more real than the historical scaffolding that surrounds them. Another great merit in Scott was that his life was pure, and there is not an immoral sentiment in all his books. He was always consistent : he was pure, and in his works he teaches purity;

he was hospitable, and he teaches hospitality; he was patriotic, and he teaches patriotisṁ.

Mr. Bruce then spoke of the Scott Centenary Celebration in 1871. He drew a fine contrast between the career of Napoleon Bonaparte and that of Scott, greatly to the disadvantage of the former; and closed his lecture with an eloquent and enthusiastic tribute to Scotland and her distinguished son.

PRIZE ESSAY.

WHAT MAY BE FAIRLY EXPECTED OF THE AMERICAN COMMON SCHOOL.

BY GEORGE T. PACKARD, Brunswick, Mr.

HE signal officer at Washington maps out the weather probabilities by noting the aspect of the whole country. In his mind's eye he sees the areas of storm and sunshine distributed with impartial care throughout the land, — whole sections bathed in sunshine, whole sections dark with vapory masses; nevertheless, by averaging the returns from every prominent point, the weather prophet is able to declare that the outlook is favorable, the local disturbances being but slightly contradictory of the general tendency to clear, ripening days. The clear shining of the sun has the supremacy, though clouds and storm dispute it in numerous localities.

Our subject constrains us to look beyond New England, which, apart from circumscribed dis

*The Committee of the American Institute of Instruction, to whom was assigned the duty of fixing the amount of the premiums, arising from the income of the Bicknell Fund, to be given for prize essays, and to select subjects for the same, decided in March, 1881, to offer two premiums; one first premium of forty dollars, and one second premium of thirty dollars. A premium was to have been awarded to the best essay on each of the following topics:

I. A TRUE ORDER OF STUDIES FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.

2.

WHAT MAY BE FAIRLY EXPECTED of the AMERICAN COMMON SCHOOL. At the Annual Meeting of the Association in July the committee reported the award of the first premium of forty dollars, to Rev. G. T. Packard for this essay. No second award was made.