The author of this dissertation, Ernest E. Leisy, was born on a farm
near Mound Ridge, Kansas, December 22, 1887. He was graduated from
the two-year course of the Mound Ridge High School in 1906, taught
public school the following year, attended Bethel College Academy at
Newton, Kansas, from which he was graduated in 1909, taught public
school in 1910–11, attended the University of Kansas, receiving
his bachelor’s degree from this institution in 1913. He received a
University Scholarship at Harvard where he did graduate work in English
in 1913–14. From 1914 to 1918 he was Professor of English at Bethel
College, Newton, Kansas, taking out one year, however, for graduate
work in English at the University of Chicago, from which institution
he received his Master’s degree. Since 1918 he has been an Instructor
in English at the University of Illinois, devoting his spare time to
study toward the doctor’s degree. He has published reviews in several
journals and a short article in _Modern Language Notes_, but nothing of
importance.