by Mr. van Nouhuys, are noted. The following note is of curious philological interest:
"What might interest English readers is the appearance of a little book of Professor Bulbring, the well-known philologist from Heidelberg, who lately was made Professor of English at Groningen. The oratio inauguralis of the Professor of English at a Dutch university was delivered in—German! The professor's predecessor was never heard speaking English in public, nor will the present professor address his audience in that language. As Professor Bulbring discoursed about 'Wege und Ziele der Englischen Philologie,' it is rather curious that he did not prove by example that speaking the language is one of the aims of English philology."
Contemporary Russian literature is treated at some length by Mr. P. Milyoukov, who does not, however, find many important works to mention. What he says of the literary tendencies of the last decades is highly interesting.
"The 'men of the eighties,' who made a virtue of their want of principle, have been silent. It is not so long ago that they were making a stir and causing people to talk of them, although by no means formidable; but latterly, although certain publicists belonging to the party still continue to pour out the vials of their wrath, nobody pays them any attention. Again, during the 'seventies' a curious movement sprang up which was called 'going among the people,' and consisted in an adoption of the life of farm labourers by educated and cultivated young men, who thus established colonies amongst the peasantry which served as centres for the spread of socialism. During the 'eighties' these settlements succumbed to the prevalent tone, and, cutting themselves off from their surroundings, devoted themselves, partly under the influence of Tolstoy's teachings, to the work of self-perfection. To-day they have taken a new departure. They have recognized that this self-centred work of internal improvement leads inevitably to mysticism and sectarianism, and deprives them of all wider influence. In a word, the rise in the social temperature, which I recorded last year, continues unmistakably. The Russian social movement is clearly preparing itself for fresh and increasing efforts. To begin with, after putting aside the programme of the 'men of the eighties,' we have commenced an active survey of the social programmes of preceding periods. This is, indeed, the meaning of a renewal of the controversy between our liberals and our radicals, or party of the people; for in a country where eighty-eight per cent of the population are peasants, radicalism is bound to be popular."
A few of the publications mentioned by Mr. Milyoukov are the "Village Communes" of Vorontzov, an "Essay in Russian Historiography," by Professor Ikonnikov, and a volume of "Sketches and Tales," by Korolenko.
Mr. Adam Belcikowski, who writes of things Polish, calls our attention to "Lux in Tenebris Lucet," and "Do We Follow Him," both by Mr. Sienkiewicz, and both showing signs of an encroaching mysticism which we hope will not make of this great writer a second Tolstoï.
"Charcyzy," a historical novel by Mr. Rawita, and "The Annals of the Western Slavs," by Mr. Bogulawski, are other noticeable books of the year. Mr. V. Tille, the Bohemian correspondent, reports much Comenius literature, two volumes of poems and one of essays by Mr. Vrchlicky, the first part of Mr. Vlcek's "History of Bohemian Literature," and a general tendency towards realism. Herr Leopold Katcher, writing from Hungary, praises "The Gyurkovics Girls," by Mr. Ferencz Herczeg, the True Stories " of Dr. Adolf Agai, Mr. Gracza's "Life and Work of Kossuth," and the "Social Economy" of Professor Földes. Mr. Jokai, also, has published a novel, "Brother George," in five volumes. This popular writer is soon to celebrate "the half-centenary of his literary activity"—or rather it will be celebrated for him by the publication of his collected works in a limited édition de luxe. Last of all upon our list comes an article from Greece, by Mr. S. P. Lambros, who tells us of Mr. Karkavitsas, and his tales, called "Diegemata"; of "The Eyes of My Soul," by Mr. Palamas, and "The Singer of the Village and the Fold," by Mr. Krystallis, both volumes being verse. With these notes we must bring to an end our digest of this very valuable series of articles, referring our readers to the pages of "The Athenæum" both for other titles and for further details concerning the books that we have singled out for mention.
THE AUXILIARY CONGRESSES
The space at our disposal in the last issue of The Dial was so fully taken up with the account of the Congress of Authors that we were obliged to postpone our report of the four other Congresses held during the week ending July 15. The subjects of those Congresses were, as our readers have already been informed, Philology, Folk-lore, History, and Libraries.
THE CONGRESS OF PHILOLOGISTS.
