PREFACE. ORIGINATING in a pleasantry, the discussions republished in this volume soon took a serious turn. Most of the papers are reprinted from the Dial and from Modern Language Notes. They were published in those periodicals in 1893,-4,-'5, and '6. I hope the collection and reprinting of these papers will not be taken by anybody as evidence of exultation on my part in supposed victory, for I am not sure that the advantage will be found altogether on my side, though to have kept down somewhat the score of such an adversary as Dr. Hall is something. But it is much more that knowledge of literary usage as to the points considered has been increased. That certainty in regard to some points once questionable has been reached can, I think, be fairly claimed. I do not know of any other replies or reply by Dr. Hall to my criticisms than these here reprinted. My grateful acknowledgments are due, and are now tendered, to all who have shown an interest in these discussions. Of those who have expressed the opinion that their republication would be useful some are mentioned below, but not as judging the controversies: Professor Adams Sherman Hill, of Harvard; Professors Albert S. Cook and William Lyon Phelps, of Yale; Professor Brander Matthews, of Columbia; Professor Theodore W. Hunt, of Princeton; Professor James M. Hart, of Cornell; Professor Fred Newton Scott, of the University of Michigan. |