Page:The Dial vol. 15 (July 1 - December 16, 1893).djvu/297

THE DIAL Journal of ILiterarg Criticism, J9i0cu00ton, ano Information. No. 178. NOVEMBER 16, 1893. Vol. XV. CONTENTS. ENDOWMENTS OF CULTURE IN CHICAGO . . 285 FRANCIS PARKMAN 287 ART AND LIFE ONCE MORE. John Burroughs . 287 BALLADE TO A BOOKMAN. Francis Howard Williams 289 COMMUNICATIONS 290 Concerning Literary Art. D. H. Wheeler. Newspapers and their Constituencies. Geo. Henry Cleveland. A Worthy Journal. Frederick Starr. LOWELL'S LETTERS. E. G. J. 291 AMERICAN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. G. T. W. Patrick 293 BOOK-HUNTERS AND THEIR VAGARIES. W. Irving Way 296 SALVINI'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY. James B. Bunnion 298 BRIEFS ON NEW BOOKS 300 Germanic criticism of Dante. The new Provencal Troubadours. An entertaining literary medley. Tales from Shakespeare, new and old. A pictur- esque narrative of the Chicago massacre. Fifty years of good fishing. Pen and pencil in Gipsyland. A book of "Drolls." BRIEFER MENTION 302 NEW YORK TOPICS. Arthur Stedman 302 LITERARY NOTES AND MISCELLANY .... 303 A fragment from Austin Dobson. The Wagner cult in Paris. The versatile and insatiate Mr. Lang. Newly-printed letters of Mrs. Browning. New uses of the university library. TOPICS IN LEADING PERIODICALS 305 LIST OF NEW BOOKS . . 306 THE ENDOWMENTS OF CULTURE IN CHICAGO. Mr. Marshall Field's magnificent gift of a million dollars, for the establishment of a pub- lic museum in Chicago, will add one more to the lengthening list of the city's endowed in- stitutions. It is true that the gift is made con- tingent upon certain conditions, but they are not onerous, and it is already practically cer- tain that they will be fulfilled. Mr. Field's offer is made upon a plan that has found much favor with recent philanthropists. He stipu- lates that half a million dollars more shall be raised by subscription, and that a further con- tribution of Exposition stock, to the nominal amount of two millions, shall be made by its holders. As the probable value of this stock will be from ten to fifteen per cent, of its nom- inal value, the Columbian Museum will have a total endowment of one and three-quarters millions. It is probable that the Museum will acquire the most beautiful of the Exposition structures the Art Building, designed by Mr. Atwood for its permanent home ; and thus, placed in the midst of an attractive park, eas- ily accessible, yet far from the bustle of busi- ness life, it will be ideally situated, and will stand as the worthiest possible memorial of the great Exposition once held at its doors. An incidental advantage of this situation will be found in its proximity to the University of Chicago, a proximity which will considerably enhance the educational possibilities of both institutions. It will, of course, be many years before the collections that go to make a great museum can be brought together, but probably no insti- tution of the sort ever had so much material to start with as is already assured the new en- terprise. Great liberality in this matter is be- ing displayed by the governments and individ- uals represented in the Exposition that has just closed its gates, and valuable offerings from many such sources have already been accepted by the trustees of the Museum. American an- thropology and archeology will be richly illus- trated by the collections already owned by the Exposition Company, and to be transferred to the custody of the Museum. The natural re- sources of this country, especially in woods and minerals, will also be abundantly displayed. Art will be represented by valuable collections of casts and photographs, at least ; as for orig- inal works, we must be content to wait awhile. The collection will, of course, be very incom- plete and unbalanced for some years, but a ju- dicious expenditure of the income from the en- dowment fund will accomplish wonders. But we must still remember that a museum, like a library, is not to be had for cash, and Chicago must be content, for a century or so, to be over- shadowed by the British Museum and a few other European institutions. It may be well to glance for a moment at the provision already made in this city for what