NOTES AND NEWS

Professor Rudolph Schevill of the University of California was in Spain during the last summer as American delegate to the first meeting of the Sociedad Menéndez y Pelayo, organized by Hispanists in Spain in honor of the great Spanish literary historian and critic, Marcelino Menéndez y Pelayo. Professor Schevill is a member of the board of directors.

Professor Pedro Henriquez Ureña of the University of Minnesota has been given a leave of absence for 1919-20 to enable him to continue his studies in Spanish literature in Spain. Professor Ureña has lately published his Tablas Cronológicas de la Literatura Española, a pamphlet that will undoubtedly become a cade mecum of students of Spanish literature.

Professor Federico de Onís of Columbia University, chief editor of Heath's Contemporary Spanish Texts, spent the past summer in study and travel in Spain.

Dr. Alfred Coester, secretary-treasurer of The American Association of Teachers of Spanish, and specialist in the literature of Spanish-America, has accepted the post of Assistant Professor of Spanish at Stanford University.

Mr. Antonio Heras y Zamorano has been appointed instructor in Spanish in the University of Minnesota. Mr. Heras is sent to the United States by the Junta para Ampliación de Estudios, of Madrid.

Professor J. Warshaw, formerly of the University of Missouri, has been appointed Professor of Romance Languages in the University of Nebraska.

Mr. Felipe Morales de Setién, instructor in Spanish at Leland Stanford Junior University during the years 1917-19, has been appointed Professor of Spanish Literature in the University of Southern California.

Mr. Laurence D. Bailiff, instructor in Spanish at Leland Stanford Junior University in 1918-19, has been appointed Assistant Professor of Spanish in the Texas College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts.

Dr. Erasmo Buceta, formerly of Johns Hopkins University, is Associate Professor of Spanish in the University of California.

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Miss Gertrude Espinosa of Albuquerque, New Mexico, is instructor in Spanish in the University of Wisconsin.

Mr. José Hernández has resigned his post at the University of Michigan to become Professor and Head of the Department of Spanish in the University of Oklahoma.

Mr. George Lawrence is now professor of Romance Languages at Whit man College, Walla Walla, Washington.

There are 1040 students taking first-year Spanish at the University of Ohio this year.

There are this year at Indiana University three South-American students, two men and one woman, who have received from the university a scholarship that includes both free tuition and a stipend to cover expenses:

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Mercedes Manosalva, Francisco Aguilera and Wenceslao Vial. The first two have been students of Dr. J. M. Gálvez of the National University of Chile, and have come to the United States to study at his instance. Señorita Manosalva is taking Education as her major subject, while Señor Aguilera has chosen as his major subject the Spanish Language and Literature. Señor Vial is working chiefly in Political Science.

The University of Chile has arranged for an exchange of professors with the University of California. Professor Charles E. Chapman is the first exchange professor from the University of California, for 1919-20.

Our distinguished friend and benefactor Don Juan C. Cebrián, of San Francisco, California, accompanied by Mrs. Cebrián and his two daughters. the Misses Isabel and Beatriz Cebrián, sailed from New York early in November, for Spain. The Cebriáns will remain in Spain for a year or

more.

At the meeting of the New Hampshire State Teachers' Association, held on October 23, Professor S. M. Waxman of Boston University, read a most interesting paper entitled "The Teaching of Spanish in Our Secondary Schools."

Señor Antonio Castro Leal, young Mexican Hispanist of note, and professor in the Escuela Nacional Preparatoria of Mexico, is now visiting in the United States for purposes of travel and study, with headquarters in New York.

Professor Ford of Harvard University, has just published a book of great interest to students of Spanish literature, Main Currents of Spanish Literature, a series of eight lectures given at the Lowell Institute of Boston in 1918.

The friends of Spanish culture in California have formed a state organization which will undertake to raise funds for the restoration of the Franciscan Missions, some of which are in ruins. The work of restoring these landmarks of Spanish culture in California is most praiseworthy and Hispanists all over our country will welcome the plan enthusiastically. The chairman of the state committee in charge is Professor Herbert E. Bolton of the University of California, one of the highest American authorities in SpanishAmerican history.

There has been an unprecedented demand during the last year for the 24-page pamphlet published by Professor John D. Fitz-Gerald. The Importance of Spanish to the American Citizen (Sanborn & Co., 1918). This brief account of Spanish literature and culture is one of the most admirable expositions of the subject witten in recent years. Professor Warshaw's article in the November number of HISPANIA of this year. The Spanish Program, is equally worthy of praise, and continues to combat the ignorance which still exists among us about things Hispanic.

The Modern Language Journal, published by various State Modern Language Associations, and formerly edited by Professor Bagster Collins of Columbia University. has now passed into the hands of another editor. Professor A. Coleman of the University of Chicago, a French scholar. There are eight numbers a year, and the subscription price of $1.50 seems very

moderate, considering the high standing of the journal and the interest it has for teachers of modern languages.

A new Spanish grammar, complete, a book of reference for teachers and students, is announced by Sanborn & Co., to be prepared by Professor Olmsted of the University of Minnesota, and Professor Adolfo Bonilla y San Martín of the University of Madrid.

Professor Charles A. Turrell of the University of Arizona has just published Contemporary Spanish Dramatists (Richard G. Badger, Boston, 1919), which contains English translations of Galdos' Electra, Linares Rivas' La Garra, Quintero's La Puebla de las mujeres, Marquina's Cuando florezcan los rosales, Zamacois' Los reyes pasan, and Dicenta's Juan José.

The most recent and perhaps the most important and best general encyclopedia in existence is now being published in Spanish by Espasa, Barcelona. This monumental work treats of all the arts and sciences, is up to date, scholarly, well illustrated, and excellently printed. A few volumes, geography of Europe, Germany, etc., are yet to appear.

THE LOCAL CHAPTERS

NEW YORK CHAPTER. The first meeting of the year was held October 4 in Room 306, Mines, Columbia University. Mr. Max A. Luria, the retiring president and a zealous worker in behalf of the chapter, opened the session and introduced the new president, Dr. Alfred Coester of Evander Childs High School. In a happy manner President Coester paid tribute to the able service of Mr. Luria and briefly outlined the work of the chapter for the present year. The first speaker, Miss Carolina Marcial Dorado, treated the subject “Una española en California." Miss Marcial spoke enthusiastically of her impressions of California and declared it the region of the United States most closely linked to Spain by history and tradition. Mr. Lawrence A. Wilkins, president of the National Association, followed with a message of fraternal good-will from the teachers of Spanish of the Pacific Coast to those of the New York Chapter.

The meeting of November 8 brought a speaker of world renown, Señor Vicente Blasco Ibáñez, the distinguished novelist, whose message of inspiration to the teachers of Spanish will be cherished as a bright memory. The second speaker, Sr. D. Cesar Zumeta, ex-Minister of Foreign Relations of Venezuela, discussed "The Mission of the Layman in America" from the viewpoint of a Venezuelan.

LOS ANGELES CHAPTER. In conjunction with the Spanish section of the Modern Language Association of California, a regular meeting of the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Association of Teachers of Spanish was held at the Polytechnic High School, Los Angeles, on November 1. The vice-president, Professor R. E. Schulz of the University of Southern California, conducted the meeting. The following numbers were greatly appreciated: "Blasco Ibáñez y sus contemporáneos," by Professor Felipe M. de Setien of the University of Southern California; Canciones españolas y mejicanas. Señor Samaniego.

About fifty members were present and were unanimous in the opinion that more frequent sessions should be held when such excellent talent is available in Southern California. The meeting adjourned to the School Cafeteria, where a delightful luncheon had been prepared.

NORTHWEST CHAPTER. On Saturday, November 1, the Seattle Chapter held its first meeting since organization last July in Denny Hall, University of Washington, under the presidency of Professor George W. Umphrey. A most interesting address by the Mexican Consul, Señor Ismael Garcia, on "La lengua española en los Estados Unidos," was followed by three helpful pedagogical papers: "Importancia del constante estudio del castellano," by Prof. Luis A. Santander, University of Washington; "Aims and Preparation of the Teacher of Spanish," by Prof. Emilio Goggio, University of Washington; "Predetermination Tests for Modern Language Students," by Miss Edith Johnson, Stadium High School, Tacoma.

After a full discussion of the papers there was a short business session. The election of vice-president and secretary, postponed from the organization, resulted as follows: Vice-president, Miss Edith Johnson; secretary, Miss Emilie Fuller, Kirkland High School, Washington. Thirteen new members were welcomed to the chapter at this meeting. The next session will be held the second Saturday in January, 1920.

THREE CHEERS FOR KANSAS! The Kansas Chapter of the American Association of Teachers of Spanish was organized in Topeka, November 7. 1919, with a membership of thirty. This is the eighth local chapter of our Association. The following are the officers for 1919: President, Professor Arthur L. Owen of the University of Kansas; vice-president, Professor Ruth Kingman of Washburn College; secretary-treasurer, Miss Mabel Duncan of Arkansas City High School. An address in Spanish was given by Professor José M. Osma on the subject, "La nueva era española," in which he deprecated the over-emphasis often laid upon the romantic features of Spanish culture and the corresponding neglect of its solid and serious elements. The enthusiasm of the meeting was increased by the circumstance that holding it at all was a triumph over a certain element among the teachers of the state who are opposed to the acquirement by Spanish teachers of the impetus and espíritu de cuerpo that accompanies a recognition of the independent identity of their subject. Unusual efforts were made by this element to prevent the organization of a Kansas Chapter of our Association.

NEW MEXICO, A second local chapter has been organized in New Mexico, the Albuquerque Chapter. The president of this chapter for 1919 is Mr. Atanasio Montoya, who is also president of the New Mexico State Chapter, organized in Las Vegas last July. The other officers of the Albuquerque Chapter are: Mrs. Theresa Butts, vice-president; Miss Lydia L'heureux, secretary-treasurer. The first regular meeting was held on November 10th.

REVIEWS

Cuba y Las Costumbres Cubanas, by Frank C. Ewart, Colgate University. Ginn & Company, New York. 1919. xiv + 157 pp.

Professor Ewart says in the preface of his book: "In harmony with the action of the Modern Language Association of America in recommending that the text-books (of Spanish) embrace works dealing with the geography, history, and customs of Spanish-America as well as of Spain,' one purpose of this book is to furnish such information with reference to the Spanish-American republic whose relations to the United States are the closest, and concerning which, above all others, we should be informed. The endeavor has been also to show to a greater or less degree what the United States has done for Cuba."

This purpose is alone sufficient to justify the publication of this text. Beyond question our instruction should include the use of "realia" books concerned with Hispanic American nations. Especially should interesting material be used that is related to the life and customs of those countries of Spanish speech that lie nearest to us geographically.

But not only in geographical propinquity, but also in commercial and even political relationships, are Cuba and the United States in close contact. The report of the United States Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce for August, 1919, shows that for the eight months ending August, 1917, August, 1918, and August, 1919, our imports from Cuba were 205, 220, and 298 millions of dollars, respectively, and our exports to Cuba were 113, 188, and 210 millions of dollars, respectively-sums remarkable both in size and in proportion of increase. One also thinks of how Cuba declared war upon Germany the next day after the United States took that step, and how the control of German espionage in Cuba throughout the war left little to be. desired on the part of the Allies. The story of what the United States has done for Cuba is a matter of history and constitutes for both our own citizens and for enlightened Cubans a common ground of mutual understanding and esteem.

Cuba retains in her traditions, customs, architecture, and art the best things of Spanish civilization. Despite our intervention in that island, and despite its nearness to us, the people are at heart Spanish, and their point of view and ways of thinking are those of the mother country, Spain. One gathers this, in fact, from the chapters of Mr. Ewart's book. And this fact should, it seems to me, be a matter ever borne in mind by the teachers of Spanish-that the Spanish countries of America, though greatly differing in many respects one from another, and though more or less isolated one from another, nevertheless have one overshadowing community of interest and point of contact, namely, the common heritage of Spanish civilization. Indeed, should we teach the life and customs of Cuba, of Argentina, of Chile, of Costa Rica, and so forth; indeed should we give to our students the best things of the literatures of these different countries (there is altogether too