elaborately portrayed?
3. How is the solution of the case prevented from appearing
melodramatic?
4. Would the Squire’s sacrifice have gained or lost power if Adam and
Sula were less irresponsible?
5. How do the Squire’s actions correspond to the tradition of his title?
How different are they from what might have happened in a like situation
in England?
6. Do you think Adam and Sula worthy of the Squire’s interest?
7. What stories growing out of this one remain to be told? Which would
be the most interesting?
GREGORY AND THE SCUTTLE
CHARLES HASKINS TOWNSEND, an ichthyologist of international reputation,
has been a member of many U. S. government commissions. His present
address is The Aquarium, New York.
_Gregory and the Scuttle_, translated into the literal, means 'How the
octopus came to the Aquarium.' In the literal version, the account might
have been buried easily and unregretfully in the dry-as-dust records of
the American Aquarium Society, or some such august receptacle of
information; as it is, it becomes the easy, chatty adventure of one who
proves himself human as well as scientific. Moreover, it behooves the
practical investigator of the educative process to note that, by this
sugar-coated method, various capsules of information slip down without
violent contraction on the part of him who will be only entertained.
_Suggested Points for Study and Comment_
1. How is the title of the story indicative of its general tone?
2. Would Gregory’s vision of the adventure have been an interesting one?
What would it lack that the scientist’s has?
3. When, if ever, does the scientist take the place of the story-teller?
4. What is the chief charm of the account? Would a series of such
adventures--with all necessary variation--be altogether as delightful?
IN NOVEMBER
EDITH WYATT was born in Wisconsin, and educated at Chicago and Bryn
Mawr. She has for years been a frequent contributor to the best of our
American magazines. Her present home is in Chicago.
While listening to Miss Brackett’s naïve recital of her personal
narrative, we somehow never lose consciousness of the interesting
environment created in the beginning paragraphs. In most stories where
the interest in surroundings is strong, we are chiefly concerned with
the setting in which the incidents of the plot take place. In this
instance, however, we are chiefly interested in the autumnal atmosphere
in which Miss Brackett’s ingenuous tale is told. Here is Lake Michigan,
all green and mist-blown, banding the whole horizon. There, in the broad
southward, lie the full contours of the forest-covered dunes. And over
all is the gray and purple sky of the late autumn. In the inner circle
of all this is the camp, with Elsie Norris vividly portrayed in the
centre. Her isolation is broken by the chance guest, who tells the
intimate personal episodes, so charmingly marked by the artless notes of
unselfishness. When the guest leaves and the other campers return, and
Miss Norris wanders off alone to gather firewood for supper, the
brooding influence of the pervading November scene is felt to be even
more profound and impressive.
_Suggested Points for Study and Comment_
1. What are the three or four most graphic touches in the story?
2. What, aside from the setting, is the most impressive element in the
story?
3. What comment can you make on Miss Wyatt’s feeling for style? What
effects does she produce?
4. Comment on the slight but suggestive glimpse of Baby’s character.
What other personages in the story show their sympathy for Miss
Brackett?
5. Was it worth while to say anything about Mrs. Horick? Why is she
mentioned? Do the slight details contribute to the interest of the
story?
6. Mention three or four items which might have been elaborated into
important incidents in the narrative.