"It must be so.-Plato, thou reasonest well. ""Tis the divinity that stirs within us; 'Tis Heaven itself that points out a hereafter, The poem, "The Dying Christian to his Soul," by Alexander Pope, was read by one of the members. "Vital spark of heavenly flame." The society contemplates publishing an abstract of some of the papers and discussions, in pamphlet form annually or oftener. LETTER FROM A CORRESPONDENT. My Dear Sir: I notice in the May No. of NOTES AND QUERIES, that on January 1, 1893, a “New Lord's Day," there was born in your city a new society composed of men and women who have been prompted to unitedly join hands and efforts in the work inaugurated. Hail! I say, to the ARJUNA SOCIETY. In it I see the possibilities of a potent factor which sooner or later will develop into an institution or giant exposition of what is needed in this age-researchand which has been unjustly ignored. What we want is literary and original research for cues in fields of science and philosophy which have been consigned to oblivion in the twirl of worldly excitement, without warrant ; and we want literary evolution from the cues thus obtained by research, so that the requirements of this exalted age can be met by human agency. Let it be hoped that some of those who have been favored by a guiding providence to figure as instruments through whom can be expressed the ordinations of Jehovah's will, will succeed in bringing about the desired conditions of intellectual supremacy. I shall await the proceedings, papers, and discussions, of the society, and will propose myself for membership, if eligible, and assist in its objects and desired results. New York City, May 11, 1893. CHARLES DEMEDICI. WHO WAS ARJUNA ? This question promptly comes from a correspondent. We reply in brief that Arjuna literally means "white." The third of the five brothers Pandu or the reputed sons of Indra. A disciple of Krishna, who visited him and married Su-bhadrâ, his sister. During the war between the Kauravas aid the Pândavas, Krishna instructed him in the highest philosophy, while serving as his charioteer. Procure a copy of "The Bhagavad Gîtâ" and read the whole Book. (See N. AND Q., Vol. VIII, p. 219 223.) The Homeric Club of Manchester, N. H. The following works, in addition to those previously announced in May, are in the Library of the members of the Homeric Club, which have greatly helped the readers in understanding the epic poet: A Burlesque Translation of Homer in two volumes; fourth edition, by Thomas Brydges, London, 1797. Homer's Iliad; a Burlesque Translation by Thomas Brdyges; revised and modified by George S. Smith, Philadelphia, 1889. An Essay on the Original Genius and Writings of Homer, with a comparative view of the ancient and present state of the Troade, by Robert Wood, 1824. Greece in the Time of Homer; an account of the life, customs, and habits during the Homeric Period, by T. T. Timayenis. Introduction to the Study of the Greek Classic Poets, by Henry Nelson Coleridge, M. A., 1830. Letters Concerning Homer the Sleeper in Horace, by Kenrich Prescot, D. D., 1773. The Iliads and Odysses of Homer, translated out of Greek into English, by Thomas Hobbes, of Malmesbury, with a large preface concerning the virtues of a heroic poem, written by the translator, London, 1844. On Translating Homer, by Matthew Arnold, Boston, 1882. The Origin of the Homeric Poems; a lecture by Hermann Bonitz, translated by Lewis R. Packard, New York, 1880. The Iliad of Homer, translated by T. S. Brandreth, two volumes, London, 1846. Examination of the Primary Arguments of the Iliad, by Granville Penn, 1821. THE CASKET HOMER. An edition corrected by Aristotle, which Alexander the Great always carried about with him, and laid under his pillow at night with his sword. After the battle of Arbela, a golden casket richly studied with gems was found in the tent of Darius and Alexander being asked to what purpose it should be assigned, re plied: "There is but one thing in the world worthy of so costly a depository," saying which he placed therein his edition of Homer. |