Professor de Sumichrast's Lecture.

Professor de Sumichrast's second lecture on the Psychological Drama in the Seventeenth Century, delivered yesterday afternoon, was thoroughly enjoyed by a large audience.

It was the Hotel Rambouillet with its assemblage of wits, afterwards so well painted by the pen of Moliere in his Precieuses Ridicules, which was called upon to render judgment upon the new play "Polyeuctes" by P. Corneille. Though even these dry, narrow critics were carried away by the power of the play, they felt that it would never do to encourage so original and imaginative an effort, and accordingly they condemned it because its author had had the audacity to introduce the Christian religion as an important factor in his work.

This judgment has been deservedly reversed by more recent critics and Polyeuctes is now classed, if not on an equality with Shakespeare's greatest works, yet as one of the greatest works of the human brain. It is essentially a dramatic work; those only accusing it of lack of dramatic interest who are unacquainted with, or incapable of appreciating, the beauty of the French Drama. Such opinions are generally the result of false impressions gathered from poor translations, or utter ignorance of the subject matter.

Professor de Sumichrast mentioned in detail the many points of interest throughout the tragedy, touching upon the depth of character and strength of will of the various personages with a deep appreciation and sympathy which greatly enhanced the value of the subject. He called particular attention to the contrast shown in the manner of Pauline towards Polyeuctes at the time of the return of Severus and the meeting in the prison. In the first place her whole soul is occupied by her great love for Severus, there is no room for more than mere affection towards Polyeuctes; she is utterly blind to the greatness of his character. But in the prison scene after Polyeuctes has made his offer of sacrifice, Pauline for the first time seems to feel the grandeur of his being, it is no longer in words of cold sympathy, but with vehement love, that she addresses him.

The next lecture in the series will be given next Monday afternoon at half-past four o'clock. The subject will be Racine's Phedre.