XXXIII. A NEW MASTER AT COVERLEY HALL.

138. Motto: "No one ever had a system of life so well established that circumstance, time, experience, did not bring him new knowledge, new aims: what we think we understand, we find ourselves ignorant of; what has seemed most desirable, on trial we reject."-Terence: Adelph., Act. V. Sc. 4 (Spectator, No. 544).

138 20. For the conversation of, i.e. for intercourse with. 139 3. Beings, abodes.

139 15.

Getting into some being in the world, ¿.. getting established in life, getting some means of regular support.

139 26. Put out, bind out.

139 27. Infant, the legal term for a person under the age of twentyone; a minor.

139 31. Journey-work, the work of a person who has learned his trade, as distinguished from the work of an apprentice; the term also means day labour for hire.

139 32. His securities, i.e. those who became surety for him.

139 25-32. In cases where, etc. It is difficult to determine the exact meaning of this statement. The statutes and customs regulating the system of apprenticeship were many. A fee of fifty pounds or more seems to have been given when the "infant " was bound out, except in the case of "poor apprentices." In the case mentioned, Captain Sentry lends the money for the fee. According to an act passed in 1562 (5 Elizabeth, Cap. 4, Sect. 31), no person might lawfully exercise any "art, mystery [¿.e. trade], or manual occupation” who had not served seven years as an apprentice. This act was not repealed until 1875 (38-39 Victoria, Cap. 86, Sect. 17).

140 17. Glorious events. See chronological table in this volume. 140 28. Colonel Camperfelt. See note referring to p. 8, 1. 30. 141 9. Tully. See note referring to p. 7, 1. 20.

QUESTIONS.

QUESTIONS ON THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND.

1. What is party feeling? Tell in detail what had happened in the past to make this feeling so bitter in Addison's time.

2. Mention instances of party feeling in the United States. Which is worse, in a democracy, strong party feeling or lack of interest in public affairs? Enlarge on this.

3. Describe the reading public to which the Spectator appealed. What was a new element in it? Name the various classes that make up the reading public in our own country today. Keep in mind the scores of magazines.

4. What was the aim of Addison and Steele in the Spectator? Was it realized? Why did they exclude politics?

5. The writers of the early eighteenth century in England were not in the same class with Shakespeare and Milton. What great quality did they lack? What was their special excellence?

6. Tell briefly what you know about Swift, Defoe, Pope, Addison, and Steele. Which of these wrote often for a political party?

SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ON GROUPS OF CHAPTERS.

CHAPTERS I-IV.

1. Is there usually a man like the Spectator among those who write for our large newspapers today? What in general does he write about, and what are his qualities? 2. There are six members of Sir Roger's club that we know something about, if we include the Spectator. Tell about each of these, and explain why the writer of

the Spectator chose these particular persons. 3. What classes of persons are frequently mentioned in a modern newspaper or magazine? Name all you can think of, and then see if you have included the classes to which the members of Sir Roger's club belonged. Do you find that certain kinds of people are prominent today who were not mentioned or perhaps who did not exist — in Addison's time? Enlarge on this. 4. What strikes you as oldfashioned in these first chapters? Does the writer go too slowly at times to hold your attention? Do you feel that he lived in a world where people traveled in stage-coaches?

TOPICS FOR THEMES.

1. Sketch of an Eighteenth-Century Lady reading the Spectator. 2. My First Impression of Sir Roger.

3. Party Feeling in Small Affairs.

4. A Group of Eighteenth-Century Characters.

CHAPTERS V-VIII.

1. Show that you appreciate the humor in Addison's description of Leonora and her surroundings. 2. Sir Roger at fifty-seven is called "old," whereas in our day that term is rarely applied to a man of sixty. Explain as fully as you can the conditions that have caused this difference. 3. What do you think of the relations existing between the squire and his servants? Would such a state of things be possible in America today? Would it be desirable? What made it possible in Addison's time? Discuss this question. 4. Will Wimble was poor; his brother the baronet was rich. What was the reason for this? Who introduced into England the law which made the eldest son heir of all the real estate? Can you imagine the advantage of such a law in the eleventh century? 5. Can a wealthy American arrange by will to have his real estate descend in his own family indefinitely? 6. How would Will Wimble have been treated by his relatives and his aristocratic friends, had he gone into business and made a fortune? What professions would they have considered respectable?

TOPICS FOR THEMES.

1. My Week-end at Coverley Hall with the Spectator.

2. A Country Lady's Home.

3. Leonora tells a friend what she thinks about Sir Roger.

4. Reply to a person who maintains that the Squire's dependants were in every respect well off.

5. Will Wimble, his father having died, thinks matters out; an intelligent American boy, with no money, does the same.

6. Brief Study of an Interesting English Word - the Word "Humor." (Read the note on " Humorsome,” p. 147 of the Notes, and that on "Humorist," p. 154 of the Notes. See what Addison means when he calls Sir Roger a "humorist." Illustrate the various uses of " humor, as verb and noun, and as adjective in "humorhumorous.")

some

" and 66

CHAPTERS IX-XII.

r. Describe the squire's ancestors. 2. What did the old knight mean when he said that the man who "ruined everybody that had anything to do with him" was considered "the finest gentleman in the world"? Explain as fully as you can. 3. Why was Sir Roger ashamed to acknowledge that the "citizen" of the name of Coverley who saved the estate was of his own blood? Was he wholly to blame for his narrow views? 4. State the Spectator's attitude in regard to ghosts. Are there still haunted houses in the United States? What circumstance is likely to give a house or a locality this reputation? 5. What do you think of the relation between Sir Roger and his chaplain? Why did the chaplain willingly submit to the squire? Do you despise him for occupying this subordinate position? 6. If you can do so, contrast the position of the chaplain with that of the Puritan minister among the colonists in America, at the same period. 7. What strikes you as out of keeping in the account of Sir Roger and the widow? Do you think the love affair natural?

TOPICS FOR THEMES.

1. The Old Knight in Church.

2. Sir Roger's virtues were his own; his faults were due to circumstances. (Argument.)

3. Sir Roger and his Chaplain.

4. A Haunted House.

5. Old-fashioned lovers contrasted with modern, in stories.

CHAPTERS XIII-XVI.

1. What relation is there between exceedingly bad roads, such as Addison was familiar with, and horseback riding? Contrast old and new ways of getting from place to place, and explain why good roads are of the first importance. 2. In Chapter XIII Steele advocates something like the modern budget. What do you think of this for the average family? for the individual? 3. Should you call Sir Roger's hunting exploits "laborious industry"? Would the average American enjoy hunting of this kind? What would he call good sport? 4. After reading the note on "Witchcraft," p. 163, you will realize how late it was before people ceased to persecute supposed witches. Is it strange that the colonists in Boston, Salem, and other places had the same ideas that had led to the persecution of unfortunate persons in England?

TOPICS FOR THEMES.

1. A Budget for an Individual.

2. Old and Modern Ways of Getting About. 3. Sir Roger as a Sportsman.

4. Ancient and Current Superstitions.

CHAPTERS XVII-XX.

1. The old knight's estimate of Leonora and your opinion of it. 2. Do you notice that in his article on "Rural Manners" Addison is in a way a preacher, or reformer? Tell what his aim is, and illustrate his tact. 3. What characteristics does the squire exhibit at the Assizes?