Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-11-14
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pears, that in this respect, ii makes no mate
rial difference how accurate a knowledge
how perfect Misunderstanding lls may posse
OF any elementary or other work, if he be nes
gIiied with an accurate memory, thiS knoss.
edge "profte,h him nothing's TO eyervsfca. .
sonable and candid mind, the ofiects Of th,,
part OF the system must be extremely iniuriori
oupposs tho standing of every man in sociesy
were regulated entirely by an accurate memo
ry, few men indeed would be exalted TO- spIaecs
OF honor and distinction. Now if we can per,
ce've no possible advantage arising from ibt
preference conceded to memory, we must cor
cludo this part Of the system TO be founded
upon false theory. Q al, -, -. =
Another peculiarly which appears Ia exist
IN this system, is the confining the student ap
unnecessary length Of time upon any particu-
lar author. Ii this author should lay down
rules and important FIRST principles, il is the
duty OF every student 10 render himself thor.
oughly acquairtoi with them. This propos;-
ton seems, however, to assume different
shape. when, after laborious cxeriion and toll.
Some labor, these principles are firmly fixed in
the mind, they are then all controverted. and
declared to be totally false and unfounded. = 1t
may then be asked with pc cular emphasis. v hat
benefit all this is TO be 10 us We can see none.
Here then, it seems, that this part of the sys.
tenn is productive Of no corresponding adyan-
tage, TO recompence us for time. labor, and
attention, and seems expressly designed 10 pro-
mote tho ambitious views AMI designs Of tho
inventor. Now let us see the effects of this
NO man OF sense will affirm, that a person, in
order TO have a correct understanding Of .anv
author, should study this author so wears. <
man can acquire sufficient knowledge of a
work, by reading it ottentiueiy, and rot bv
getting The connection in which the words sue
cead each other In this manner he may have
some remote idea Of the sense, by connecting
IN his mind, few words of the author, when,
at the same time, he knows nothing of The sub
Ject. These, IT any man can call them advap-
tages, are those only which arise from this pc-
cullnrlty of the system. According, therefore.
to this, man may spend four years in a Uni
versity, and have handled four authors. II
can DO proved that this is another of tie re.
| culiarties Of this system, namely, that man
must spend his whole collegiate life upon four
authors. Now, as this 10 iustly considered az
| exclusive, what can a man ever expect TO profit.
Surely it canpot be considered as a prenara
tory to the arduous duties of public life, or o
elevatins man in the scale of inellectua
existence. CANDOR.
Having complied with our promise, it barely
remains for US 10 say, that the subject, of which
our correspondent speaks, is one, which is far
from being interesting to the generality Of our
readers; and that as the indulgence Of il
would give rise, to a long, tedious, and unin.
terestng controversy, which we are deternin
, ed to avoid, it may not bo expected, that v,
enbiish the future remarks which sCandor' la,
offered to afford u.s. AS 10 the subject matte
OF literary instruction, it is our opinion, tina,
few if any real Improvements have been mad.
/, to the science, and we are still further of op;n
ion, that most Of the innovations that hay,
been made on the old method have never beer
productive of any good. The human mind
may be compared to vegetable matter; some
plants are susceptible Of culture, and some ar,
not - so L is with the mind Of mainland il i,
folly TO attempt to cultivate the" head" of ar
: ldeot. TO form a scholar, several ingredient,
arc requisite; first, talents, capable Of re ceiv
ing; thirst after knowledge, industry, ambi
ton, and perseverance,, and without these at
tributes, the head that was once chswder.
head, will always be chowderhead, and i
is vain to attempt hammer within its cranirm
the benefits OF educ alton. 9t