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The Monthly.

The Monthly for November appeared on Saturday. The number opens with an interesting account of the Latin Play by Professor James B. Greenough. The author does not confine his remarks to the presentation of the "Phormio," which has been planned for next spring, but gives much valuable informotion about the New Comedy in general, to which the plays of Terence belong. Outside of the classical department, there are probably few who are familiar with the characteristics of Latin comedy, and even fewer who know anything whatever of the peculiarities of the verse employed in it. To the large majority, therefore, Professor Greenough's article will give new information which is absolutely essential to the intelligent appreciation of the play on the nineteenth of April.

"Persian and Jew," by John Rathbone Oliver follows "The Latin Play." It is an exposition of Omar Khayyam's theory of existence as shown in his great poem, the "Rubaiyat"; and the author draws attention to the errors in this doctrine by comparison with that of Isaiah, whom we may regard as the antithesis of Omar in ethical teaching. The article is very well written.

The remaining two contributions are in lighter vein,- "A Virginian," by Henry Copley Greene, and "A Story with an Immoral," by Charles M. Flandrau. Of these, the latter is decidedly the best, perhaps gaining some-what by contrast with the only other piece of fiction, but at least showing clever character painting and a rather pleasing style. The hero of the story indulges in vices for the sake of the experience to be gained from them; and from fancying himself safe in his own virtue, finally yields utterly to his passion for gambling. His fall, and the weakness of character which led to it, are very well suggested in the story.

Of the editorials, one is a rather lengthly consideration of the developement of a literature in the East and the West of our country; the other refers to the football at Springfield. Both are interesting.

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