tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2455126179375366490.post8573441193817188426..comments2023-12-20T11:32:15.997-05:00Comments on Billevesées: Sears R. JayneWilliam V. Madisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18120331095634473021noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2455126179375366490.post-63161540257960237912016-09-14T22:21:20.139-04:002016-09-14T22:21:20.139-04:00I was just thinking of Dr Jayne today. I was in h...I was just thinking of Dr Jayne today. I was in his renaisance Poetry class At Queens College in 1963. I wrote an imitation of a Spenserian sonnet that he loved. Fifty-three years later I am haunted by a stupid thing I did. He came to see an off-off broadway play I wrote at Cafe La Mama in New York. It was (somehow!) sold out that night and he had not made a reservation. Studpily, idiotically, I did not find a way to make space for them. I actually looked up his bio to write him a note of apology; and discovered to my great sorrow, his passing.<br />And gentle night is falling once again<br />And daylight slowly fades from all the fields<br />And stealthy shadows shroud the silent plain<br />And Phoebus to his gentler sister yields<br />Eftsoon one tiny eye of night's revealed<br />Who winking, seems to conjure others come<br />The purple pall of darkness now is pealed<br />Like bit of skin pricked in a silver plum<br />Enchanted with her sight. The night is stricken dumb.<br /><br />So sorry for being a young inexperiencedidiot that night, sir and not falling to my knees in gratitiude for your coming out to see my play.<br /><br />Hal Ackerman<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08362751162674642259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2455126179375366490.post-41315773719293972952016-05-13T13:38:03.575-04:002016-05-13T13:38:03.575-04:00As I walked the shaded periphery of a cloister in ...As I walked the shaded periphery of a cloister in an ancient church in Portugal, I was drawn back in memory to Professor Jayne performing Browning's "Soliloquy in a Spanish Cloister," as he crept from pillar to pillar in Manning Chapel in 1979. His voice was almost audible across the decades and his gleeful performance so memorable. I still have my personal poetry collection from his class and his notes. And so grateful to have had him as a teacher. Thanks for sharing these rememberances of your own. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12780192376126027408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2455126179375366490.post-89650978558486451052015-08-06T16:15:13.160-04:002015-08-06T16:15:13.160-04:00How ironic it is to have reread your "Billevi...How ironic it is to have reread your "Billevisées" entry today right after I had addressed an envelope to Mr. Jayne because I had finally gotten around to write to him for what would have been his 95th birthday next week. I had last written to him in 1998--and am ever so sorry to have been such a delinquent correspondent since then. I was his "last graduate student," as he put it, at Brown--I received my Ph.D. in 1974--and I had served as his research assistant in the summer of 1970 after my first year in graduate school: he had just been hired when I arrived in the fall of 1969, and the 16th-century course I took led me to take two more courses from him the following semester and enlist him as the director of my dissertation. <br /><br /> Both Mr. and Mrs. Jayne were wonderfully gracious hosts not only in Providence but also, years later, in London--and I treasure all his written comments on my papers and my dissertation, along with the various letters I received from him over the years. I have only myself to blame for being four months late, now, in writing to him one last time. <br /><br />My own experience of his inspirational teaching conforms to the experiences you and other commentators have memorialized. I feel privileged that he let me watch him teach a whole semester's worth of his Introduction to Drama course to Brown undergraduates--he knew that I was petrified at the idea of teaching, so he gave me the foundation I needed: I've now taught for 42 years at five college campuses in addition to my one year as a T.A. at Brown in 1973-74. <br /><br />Because much of what I do in the classroom I learned from him, I would very much appreciate it if you could let me know whether you're in touch with his daughter Emily. I've checked my email address below in case you're willing to write back.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07241307624801177097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2455126179375366490.post-48580013631182898592015-07-22T03:55:40.876-04:002015-07-22T03:55:40.876-04:00I have sadly caught up with this web page again, o...I have sadly caught up with this web page again, only to learn that Sears had died just three months before. If he were to be starting his career in today's downsized university budgets, with his democratic attitude to the propagation of knowledge, he might very well live out his life from term to term as an untenured lecturer. ". . . and when he's old, cashiered." John Whitinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16170335248108710190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2455126179375366490.post-57432869935783877142014-02-04T21:05:30.826-05:002014-02-04T21:05:30.826-05:00Sears Jayne made profound impressions on me, init...Sears Jayne made profound impressions on me, initially painful and then, finally, positive. When I entered UC Berkeley in 1954 I was an immature seventeen-year old but I recklessly enrolled in the second half of his Masterpieces of Literature class. I knew nothing about how to study or how to write a blue book. On the first midterm I got a D—perhaps John Whiting was the reader!<br /><br />I'd never had a D in my life. In a meeting with Jayne he read it and said "Well, you were lucky—I'd have given you an F. What's your major?" Near tears, I said "English." He suggested I change my major. I fled before the deluge could start. <br /><br />Three semesters later, when I had filled quite a few bluebooks, I took the first half of his Masterpieces of Literature class. When the bluebooks were returned mine wasn't there. I told him and he asked my name. I told him. He said "Oh Kathleen—I kept yours as an example to show other students how I wanted those questions answered—I hope you don't mind." "Oh feel free" I airily answered and floated away. I still feel the impact of his lectures, the top of my college experience.<br />Kathleen Randall Van Heuitnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2455126179375366490.post-14682812922897806422013-07-26T00:12:59.172-04:002013-07-26T00:12:59.172-04:00Dear Rosamond -- a name that Prof. Jayne must have...Dear Rosamond -- a name that Prof. Jayne must have admired! <br /><br />I realize with regret that, although I posted the news elsewhere, I did not post here that I received a long and thoughtful message from Prof. Jayne some months ago. He is alive and well and living in Massachusetts, though he has endured significant loss of sight, as well as hearing, and even more significantly, the loss of his beloved wife. It is safe to say that he was moved by the many affectionate expressions of remembrance here.William V. Madisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18120331095634473021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2455126179375366490.post-65107515900528148952013-07-25T21:51:56.840-04:002013-07-25T21:51:56.840-04:00I read the comments tonight after an idle Google s...I read the comments tonight after an idle Google search wondering what had become of him. It was wonderful to find that others remember a fine teacher. From your descriptions of him I know it was the same Sears Jayne, although when I was in his class during one semester, as a freshman, it was in the forties, at University of Missouri. I will never forget his readings of Browning's poetry to us. I salute all you who remember him.<br />Rosamond Howe (Mrs. J. N. Warfield)<br />July 25, 2013.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2455126179375366490.post-5524617143846954282013-01-02T18:42:15.249-05:002013-01-02T18:42:15.249-05:00Thank you! I will never forget the chilling, surpr...Thank you! I will never forget the chilling, surprise final essay question in my final exam for his Renaissance Literature course, though I confess I forgot the answer I wrote; " which one of these books failed to move you, and to what personal defect do you attribute this?"<br /><br />I was and remain humbled.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16402535286109833837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2455126179375366490.post-49563663597540240252012-08-13T06:54:12.853-04:002012-08-13T06:54:12.853-04:00Thanks so much, Doctor! It's really a treat to...Thanks so much, Doctor! It's really a treat to hear from others who have known and studied with Sears Jayne; we may not all wind up in the same place, yet our journeys do resemble one another at points.<br />William V. Madisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18120331095634473021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2455126179375366490.post-73716931558954576332012-08-12T16:28:48.956-04:002012-08-12T16:28:48.956-04:00I was in Prof. Jayne's early English Renaissan...I was in Prof. Jayne's early English Renaissance Literature in 1966 in Hunter College--my first English graduate course. Jayne looked like my fantasy image of a classic tweedy professor: ramrod straight, not twinkly, but with a sense of humor. And yes, that voice: it really WAS a foghorn, wasn't it? Jayne introduced me to Sir Thomas Wyatt, Surrey, Sidney, and Spenser--and I became a lifelong lover of the English Renaissance because of him. I earned or conned a Ph.D. in the period's history and literature and inhabited it throughout my doctoral work up in Binghamton. Yes, Sears Jayne was an influence and I still feel his presence.Ken Wolmanhttp://awfulrowing.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2455126179375366490.post-55227692359346405982011-10-13T12:06:21.256-04:002011-10-13T12:06:21.256-04:00Lisa -- Your name is incredibly familiar to me, to...Lisa -- Your name is incredibly familiar to me, too, though I can't grasp the reason. (On the other hand, I've had only one cup of coffee so far this morning.) I was Class of '83, active in Film Society, as well as theater and some other stuff that was less public and probably prevented me from finding gainful employment as an adult.<br /><br />Now that I'm back in the U.S., I hope to do more to track down several of my professors, following up (for example) on reports of Sears Jayne's whereabouts. I'll post any discoveries in this space.<br /><br />Thanks for writing!William V. Madisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18120331095634473021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2455126179375366490.post-21195904217820533142011-10-13T04:05:33.065-04:002011-10-13T04:05:33.065-04:00Bill, seeing your photos, I'm feeling we must ...Bill, seeing your photos, I'm feeling we must have met at Brown, or at least had a number of the same friends. And I was an American in Paris from 1993-2004. <br /><br />In any case, glad I found your blog. Looking forward to reading your notes on Providence and Paris. <br /><br />Lisa Rothstein Brown '82Lisa Rothsteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04995258919527584970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2455126179375366490.post-5110536726510844302011-10-13T03:52:28.410-04:002011-10-13T03:52:28.410-04:00He was one of my favorites too. I graduated in 82 ...He was one of my favorites too. I graduated in 82 and only got to take one course with him before he retired...or at least that's why he said he was leaving. (I recall it was a huge personal tragedy at the time.) <br /><br />I tried to look him up afterward but never found a trace. I googled him tonight and your blog post that so beautifully describes him turned up. Where is he? Is he still with us? What really happened to him to make him leave? He did not seem ready to retire to me.<br /><br />Thanks for any news.Lisa Rothsteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04995258919527584970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2455126179375366490.post-42204677654485688102010-11-04T17:02:53.558-04:002010-11-04T17:02:53.558-04:00What a terrific story, John Whiting! It really doe...What a terrific story, John Whiting! It really does illustrate the kind of invention and playfulness that characterized Sears Jayne's teaching when I studied with him. Thanks for sharing your memories.William V. Madisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18120331095634473021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2455126179375366490.post-56036358302265288832010-11-04T14:18:50.895-04:002010-11-04T14:18:50.895-04:00The weirdness accelerates. I've found this web...The weirdness accelerates. I've found this website by accident. I was a reader for Sears Jayne's lower division lit course at Cal Berkeley in the early 1950's -- that's before he was denied tenure and booted out for being too popular. He used to entertain his students in small groups in his Berkeley hills home. One legendary lecture began with him turning out the hall lights and reciting Milton's sonnet on his blindness.John Whitinghttp:/www.thankyouoneandall.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2455126179375366490.post-81060357142175667452010-09-22T02:54:55.893-04:002010-09-22T02:54:55.893-04:00Greetings in reply. I don't have an address fo...Greetings in reply. I don't have an address for Sears Jayne, but I am planning to write to him in care of the English Department at Brown University, Providence, RI, with the idea that they'll be able to forward correspondence. (This ingenious plan occurred to me only recently.)William V. Madisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18120331095634473021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2455126179375366490.post-60210651945256966042010-09-22T02:51:43.288-04:002010-09-22T02:51:43.288-04:00Greetings. I have recently been reading Dr. Jayne&...Greetings. I have recently been reading Dr. Jayne's second translation of Marsilio Ficino's Commentary on Plato's Symposium, which seems to me an absolute masterpiece of humanities scholarship. I wanted to write to him to thank him for this magnificent work. Do you happen to know where I could write to him? Thank you for posting your memories of him. Kheir FakhreldinKheirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15644652289241543964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2455126179375366490.post-12730032463963361082010-09-19T22:21:53.140-04:002010-09-19T22:21:53.140-04:00Thank you for writing: my mind is officially blown...Thank you for writing: my mind is officially blown! Sears Jayne’s brother was one of the Darlings? And as a matter of fact, I was Barbara’s roommate for nearly a year in New York, while I worked on the Broadway musical <i>Rags</i> — yet I don't think I ever heard about Rolla. (Is she going to be angry with us for posting this classified information in such a public place?)William V. Madisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18120331095634473021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2455126179375366490.post-38682263222225029482010-09-19T21:00:31.932-04:002010-09-19T21:00:31.932-04:00Wow, Bill, this is kind of weird. I am Matt Diebel...Wow, Bill, this is kind of weird. I am Matt Diebel, married to an old Brown friend of yours, Barbara Zakin. I got to reading about Sears Jayne when reading about his brother Mitch Jayne, who also was an incredible man. I am sure you can Google him for the full details, but, briefly, here is his resume. He was an English teacher who somehow ended up teaching in one-room schoolhouses in the Ozarks, where he documented the Elizabethan English then still being spoken by the people in the backwoods. He then got a radio show -- he was an incredible raconteur -- in the small lead-mining town of Salem, where he discovered three boys playing bluegrass, the Dillards. Joining them -- he learned to play the bass and banjo from them -- they picked up and went to California, where they were almost immediately discovered by someone from the Andy Griffith Show, where they appeared for several years as The Darlings, a regular feature of the program. Eventually, Mitch moved back to Salem, which is where I met him. He was an incredibly warm and gracious man, and I was invited to one of his "picking parties" -- I play bluegrass and country (badly). This was 27 years ago and I still remember everything about it. He was one of those people who made everyone around him think he was interested in just them, pretty much as it appears his brother did, as well. He must have thought, "What the heck is this English boy doing here in the Ozarks trying to sing and play country music?" but if he did he never let on. Another coincidence: Barbara comes from Rolla, the next town over from Salem (Rolla is a corruption of Raleigh -- the people had brought the names along with them from North Carolina). I met her in New York and am pretty much the only person who knows her home town. That's it!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2455126179375366490.post-68025112302696527602009-10-03T02:33:26.928-04:002009-10-03T02:33:26.928-04:00It is I who thank you. For one thing, I realize no...It is I who thank you. For one thing, I realize now that it may be a <i>good</i> thing that neither of my grandfathers ever wrote me a single letter. My paternal grandfather (who so resembled Mr. Jayne) died when I was young, as I say, and my maternal grandfather held some pretty obnoxious opinions that would have been harder to gloss over in writing than in conversation.<br /><br />But the comments section of a blog is a lousy forum for discussions of family. I'd be very grateful to you if you found a moment to get in touch with me: I'd love to know more, and I'm quite pleased already just to know that your grandfather is still around. If you think it would be appropriate, I'd like to write to him myself. He's been a tremendous influence on me.<br /><br />To thwart spamming programs, I don't publish my e-mail address in conventional form, but it looks much like any other, and I hope that, if you see this, you'll reply:<br />billmadison AT mac.comWilliam V. Madisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18120331095634473021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2455126179375366490.post-90584921927340831252009-10-02T22:46:52.304-04:002009-10-02T22:46:52.304-04:00Thank you! I needed to read this. I haven't ...Thank you! I needed to read this. I haven't corresponded with my grandfather in many years...not since I took issue with something that he wrote in one of his lengthy letters to me. Your words about him have encouraged me to get back in touch. Out of curiosity (and perhaps boredome) I Googled him and found your blog entry. Your imagery of him looking down on my mother in the bath reminded me of the value of family. I regret that he has never met my daughter (Linnea Jayne Fairfield). I am going to try and correct that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com