in such a message of the love of God as an angel would delight to hear. It was deed as well as word, for that night before they parted, Brooks gave Curry a goodly sum to be expended at his judgment in the way of relief.

Curry made a stepping-stone out of his own stumbling-block. He was constitutionally nervous to such a degree that it was painful to listen to him and one's attention was diverted from what he was attempting to say to the way he was saying it. Again the School of Theology came to his help. The temporary quarters of the school in those days were in the top of 36 Bromfield Street and were so crude as to be nicknamed "Garret Biblical," but in the faculty was Lewis B. Munroe, teacher of vocal expression. It was as if he concentrated his genius upon the most hopeless of the class. Suddenly Curry found his life vocation. He might not preach himself, but he would teach a thousand theologues how to preach most effectively.

Talking of copy-books, he threw the "copy" method of "elocution" into the discard forever. He protested against imitation. His contention was that one should express, not exhibit. He used Schlegel to say man can give nothing to his fellow man but himself. The student should not be like his teacher but like his own best self, his faults, which Curry called "warts," removed as far as possible, but his distinctive characteristics preserved. Curry's aim was the conveyance of thought from one mind to many minds by the best vocal expression of that thought possible. In this he dug down to a fundamental principle, scattered the debris of the false methods of a century of elocution," and became the first, foremost scientific teacher and exponent of "expression." A college president well known said the other day that before a decade the "Curry method" would be universally adopted from the kindergarten to the university, and that any other would be rated absurd.

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On this principle Curry founded his institution, giving it the happy and significant name "School of Expression." At this juncture he married Anna Baright, herself a postgraduate of expression. Their relation and cooperation was as unique in expression as that of Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett in poetry. Mrs. Curry was a graduate and later an instructor in the Boston University School of Oratory and has been dean of the School of Expression since its foundation. Their industry has been phenomenal. Besides conducting the regular semesters, they have organized summer schools in various parts of the

in Boston University, Newton Theological, Harvard University and Harvard Divinity, Divinity of Yale, Columbia, and several other institutions. He was also busy with his pen, as a score of spirited and valuable books on his science indicate. Shailer Mathews pronounces his Vocal and Literary Interpretation of the Bible the noblest volume of the character to be found in our language. His versatility is indicated by The Smile and How to Add Ten Years to Your Life, poems, and his contribution to the war, Hints to Officers on Giving Commands.

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Dr. Curry was inveterately opposed to commercializing his art or his school. Money was necessary, and he could say with Paul Laurence Dunbar, Checks am pleasin'," but even a slight acquaintance revealed the fact that this was not just a new quest for the almighty dollar. He drew no salary, and as there was no endowment the entire revenue was turned into the increase and betterment of the facilities. His support came from the summer schools and the royalty on his books and his instruction at universities, but in emergencies even this independent income was subject to draft. This sincere, disinterested devotion to his ideal was his strength. It won and held for him such a circle of friends as few men could boast, among them, not to name the living, Phillips Brooks, Sir Henry Irving, W. D. Howells, T. B. Aldrich, J. T. Trowbridge, Alex Melville Bell, and Governors Gaston, Rice, and Ames. It also drew to him discriminating students from every section, class, and profession-in fact, ten thousand of them! It is not commonly known, but he incidentally rendered a valuable public service without thought of remuneration when he invited the public school teachers to bring any pupils who had special difficulties in speech for free examination, advice, and help. The teachers themselves were also invited to come for suggestions as to how to use the voice in the schoolroom and how to avoid sore throat and kindred maladies. How well he illustrated his own saying, "There is no rest in art"!

"Honor and shame from no condition rise;

Act well your part, there all the honor lies."

Dr. Curry was born in Chatata, Tennessee, November 23, 1847. He was graduated in 1870 from the University of Tennessee with the degree of B.A. In 1878 he took his M.A. at the same University, in 1879 his Ph.D. at Boston University, and in 1905 Colby bestowed the degree of Litt.D. upon him. He was Snow Professor of Oratory at Boston University from 1879 to 1888, was Acting Davis Professor of Elocution at Newton Theological Seminary from 1884 to 1919. He was instructor of Elocution at Harvard University from 1891 to 1894, at Yale Divinity School from 1892 to 1902, and at Harvard Divinity School from 1896 to 1902. He was also lecturer on Art at the University of Minnesota in 1905, at the University of Chicago in 1908. In 1909 he was lecturer on the Principles of Dramatic Expression at Teachers' College, Columbia University. From 1891 to 1909 he was librarian of the Boston Art Club. He was Assistant Instructor at Union Theological Seminary, New York, from 1919 till his death.

HIS BOOKS

Dr. Curry's published works are, Classics for Vocal Expression, published in 1888; Province of Expression, 1891; Lessons in Vocal Expression, 1895; Imagination and Dramatic Instinct, 1896; Vocal and Literary Interpretation of the Bible, 1903; Foundations of Expression, 1908; Browning and the Dramatic Monologue, 1908; Mind and Voice, 1910; Little Classics for Oral English, 1912; Spoken English, 1913; The Smile and How to Add Ten Years to Your Life, 1915. At least two other important works were nearly ready for publication at the time of his death.