At the time of my husband's death there were among his writings some uncompleted studies. The most important among these was "Some Chapters Toward a History of English Balladry," of which six chapters had been written. They had not received the author's final revision, and are, I realize, in no sense representative of his finished work. Many of the original sources of this material are wholly inaccessible to me, but I gladly assume all responsibility in printing these chapters, feeling that in the larger interest of scholarship they should be preserved in permanent form. Worthy scholarly attainments are often less than final, and those most nearly complete are likely to rest upon the serious efforts of many seekers after truth. Therefore it seems but just to those interested in this field of study that I should make accessible this contribution to the history of balladry. DORA RENN BRYANT I INTRODUCTION N the death of Professor Bryant was a tragedy such as has not been written, the shadow of I which will not soon pass; but a tragedy in which there is triumph also. In the memory of it there must be deep pain, but in the memory of him a pride no less deep. For this man had already, almost without his own knowledge, and entirely without anticipation on his part, made his mark; before his work was more than fairly begun, his name was known to linguistic scholars almost everywhere. All who were near him knew of his quality and of his promise, but not all knew what there had been of actual performance, and that real accomplishment had proved in him a mind of rare order and had made certain that time, if granted, must bring to him rare distinction. It is this which students, associates, friends, should know; and it is of this that they may find satisfaction in speaking. Few words are needed for the story of life and deed. Frank Egbert Bryant was born at Grand Rapids, Michigan, March 15, 1877; and he seems to have come by inheritance into a cultivated taste and a love for exact science that are not always found together; these fostered by the training and companionship of his father, Mr. John Bryant, student and naturalist, whose collecting Professor Bryant loved to share in as a favorite recreation. Indeed his first ambition was toward a purely scientific career; but the English teacher of his high-school days, Mrs. Cornelia S. Hulst, turned his mind toward literature, and helped to shape the ideals toward which he soon came to direct all his energy, and in devotion to which he soon received the further aid and inspiration of Professor F. N. Scott. These two, guides, teachers, and always among the nearest of his friends, from the very first recognized his capacity and foretold his accomplishment. He was graduated from the Grand Rapids high school in 1895, and from the University of Michigan in 1899, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Letters, a diploma for special work, and a teacher's certificate. After his graduation he taught English one year in the Ann Arbor high school, then reëntered the University and received a Master's degree in 1901. During the academic year 1901-2 he held a fellowship in Yale, and was reappointed for the following year; but declined reappointment to accept election to an assistant professorship of English at the University of Kansas. Since that time he has twice obtained leave of absence for special research, once for the year 1905-6 and once for the half-year ending in January, 1909. This time was spent at Harvard; the first period as holder of the Austin scholarship for teachers. The summer of 1905 was spent in foreign travel and in study at Oxford; that of 1908 in the library of the British Museum. In January, 1909, he was elected to membership in the recently organized chapter of the Phi Beta Kappa society at the University of Michigan. His doctorate thesis on "Some Chapters toward a History of English Balladry" was completed and submitted in May of 1910; in June he passed his examinations with distinction; and on June 29, 1910, Harvard University made him a Doctor of Philosophy. In September of 1910 he became Associate Professor of English at the University of Kansas. His last published work was a |