376 the president's address. 



"with regard to the past to be subjected to a raking cross-fire. Much 

 has been shown to be unworthy of credence, but the separation of 

 the wheat of history from the chaff, as far as it has been accom- 

 plished, has been a "work of great value. 



In the study of languages also the scientific method has been 

 adopted. But perhaps the most remarkable thing to which attention 

 can be directed in this connection is the rise contemporaneously with 

 the scientific and democratic movements of last century of a race of 

 poets manifesting a sympathy with nature in all her moods never 

 exhibited before. It has often been remarked that the feeling for 

 the beautiful and the sublime in the external world is much stronger 

 in modern than in ancient poets. It has often also been remarked 

 that there was a great revival of the love for external nature in the 

 poets who flourished in England at the end of the eighteenth and the 

 beginning of the nineteenth century. Ruskin, for example, has 

 noticed that the sense of colour is more highly developed in modern 

 than in ancient writers, and in speaking of Scott, he directs attention 

 to the way in which he looks at nature " as having an animation and 

 pathos of its own wholly irrespective of human presence or passion." 



It has, I believe, never before been suggested that this is connected 

 with the great development of the sciences of observation. Yet 

 there is some reason for thinking that it is. I must not, however, 

 be understood to say that the greater intensity of this particular 

 poetic feeling is the effect of our scientific progress. It may be to 

 some extent its cause ; but it would perhaps be more correct to 

 speak of both as different phases of, and alike due to the influences 

 which have given its special characteristics to the intellectual growth 

 of modern times. 



Not only, however, are modern poets distinguished by a deeper 

 feeling for the aspects of external nature ; they also observe it with 

 a minute and scientific accuracy. Read, for example, the beginning 

 of Enoch Arden : 



Long lines of cliff breaking have left a chasm ; 

 And in the chasm are foam and yellow sand ; 

 Beyond, red roofs about a narrow wharf 

 In cluster ; then a moulder'd church ; and higher 

 A long street climbs to one tall-tower'd mill ; 

 And high in heaven behind it a gray down 

 With Danish barrows ; and a hazel-wood 

 By autumn nutters haunted nourishes 

 Green in a cup-like hollow of the down. 



