Hunter College - Wistarion Yearbook (New York, NY)

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story. It brought them into personal relations with Him. They imagined themselves living His life and sharing His sorrows. They love Him now. An historical novel has made the life they have always known seem real to them as nothing else could do. It has been said that Mrs. Stowels novel, ff Uncle Tom's Cabin, did more toward rousing the North against slavery than any of the most powerful articles published in the magazines of the time. Why did this book so excite the people? It was because it brought them face to face with men and women who could think and feel as they thought and felt. H Uncle Tom's Cabin awoke in them the spirit of brotherhood, the realization that all men have equal rights in the sight of God, and the determination that all men should have those rights in this mighty republic. , Can it be questioned further that the historical novel, so con- ceived as to awaken the spirit of brotherhood in man, and so dedi- cated to the glorious work of uplifting man by giving him lofty ideals through noble examples, can the value of such an historical novel be questioned? As Mr. Carpenter has said, Whoever can tell a manly tale of noble struggle in a noble cause will ever find his way to our hearts. Q 60

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Echo Prize Essay I g The przhe of ten dollars offered by Ike Echo for Ike besf essay was won 'by Grace Bafes, 'OI - ' . A THE VALUE OF THE HISTORICAL NOVEL. I HAT is the aim of the historical novel? Is it to teach the facts of history? Surely facts can be more- accurately f determined by reference to a fact-book on history. Can its aim be to exactly portray past times? Who has seen the past? Who can hope to portray it? Professor Matthews has very aptly said, No man can step off his own shadow. What, then, is the function of the historical novel? . M . A r I Man is not sufficient unto himself. There is a great bond of brotherhood and fellow-feeling uniting man to man. 'The little islands feel they were parts of a mighty continentf' It has always been so. The soul of man responds and always will respond to the soulof his brother. ' Herein' lies the value ,of the historical novel. It is valuable for the ideals-and ambitions it awakens in us. .From the ideals of all ages the modern ideals have been evolved. Fidel- ity, loyalty, true friendship, courage in the face of great danger, these have been and always will be of supreme interest to man. These ideals are as precious now as they were in the days of long ago. When reading The Guardsmenf' how heartily we admire the intelligence and penetration of Cardinal Richelieu, and how we love the musketeers for their noble friendship. I Dr. Van Dyke says that the nearest approach we can make to a fellow-mortal is through his personality. Why did Ben-Hur take such a hold on the people? It brought them face to face with the man who has shaped their laws of moral conduct. 'How they love Him now, how they feel for Him! Chapters of Scriptural facts could not have touched the heart of the people as did that simple 59

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