Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-09-18

all, however different III taste or III Gistinci'on'
On the other hand, in England the great
schools a,owedly teach nothing but Greek anG
Lain, s. that frequently 10 such o way as not
en- 10 awaken the taste for the beauties Of classic
models. Al Eaton, for instance, even writing
and arithmetic are no part OF the course oil IN
s,ruc lion. but are TO be obtained only by the
aid Of private instructors. |
The man Of science may forget his latin ana
eschew his Greek, blu, the study OF them VIII
have left It's indeliabIe impression upon MS
written and spoken language, and II n. exam
inc the action Of his own mind, he will IND tha1
whatever Of easy and graceful diciion, OF Ian,
guage pregnant with meaning he may have Inc
mower of uttering, he can trace TO his early Gas
sic Studies as a source On the other haea'
the mere literary man may ascribe 10 early
mathematical studies, the power OF combi"'
iug thought and reasoning justly. while in the
mote elevated sciences he will find the most ap'
and 6t illustrations To embeilish and adorn his
STYLE. But in those pursuits which are more
general I'm their character, and IN particular
where eluouence is a valuable accessory,
the study both OF science and OF literature
mus, have united TO form him who can com
rnand the auerlion Of an intelligent auditory.
In our country, every man ought to prepare
himself for taking 4 part in her public ousl-
ness. Should he never aspire TO q seat IN her
state or national councils, he yetowes II a duty
to himself and his 2ostrriiy, 10 lei any talent he
may passes appear Of least in her primary as
| semblics. We, for the want oil general diffusion
Of liberal education, The whole business oil our
legislative assemblies is abandoned 10 those
whose bursuits make them takers by profession,
and who, in the habi, of arguing with equal in
,eres, upon The wrong as upon he right side,
lose the nice discrimination which ought to be
the aftribu,e Of he statesman. Two different
sets Of studies may then be considered the ha-
SIS Of all knowledge, TO whatever purpose II
NAV be applied in future life. These arcs
classical literature, and elementary ma,hemat.
les. Those who look only to their direct
application 10 The business Of life, are apt
to undprvalue bo,h while those who devote
Themselves exclusively TO either, frequently lose
The faculty OF perceiying the advantage OF the
other. We have often heard he question ask
ed why so manv years Of life are devoted 10
studies in themselves incapable Of yielding a
direct prof. /? and have 10 remark with pain.
the disputes Of the initiated in relation TO the
respective importance of their favori,e study
/ But The cavils Of the first class, and the con'en-
lions Of the second, are alike uhfounded, The
mind Of The young requires a regular and pro.
gre ssive training for the active business Of life.
On tie first developement OF lis powers, Nh"
memory is that which is mos, readily MADE
he o object Of cultivation; and the Ignorant or in,
dulgebt instructor will not endesvour 10 awak-
en- any..o,her. Thus we find it to be a favoriie
system TO assign tasks To be acquired by mem
oIy alone, and which require TO other exertlon
in the teacher, ,han to keep his eyes on the
lesson and open his cars to the recitation This
:. --. ell .s,... Ion ,yhep tt. ~, n N r,. ie
thus strengthened, il is always at he expense of
the reasoning powers. A study, which Will
il rests for its success more Immediately upon
The first oe those faculties, bat which as i, adj
vances calls al every step Tor the aid OF the o'h>
er, is of all the most appropriate. Such a study
is tina, Of another language, and Of all languages
the Latin is perhaps the b. 81 adapted to this
purpose II i far more philoso 2hical and reg
ular in its structure than any modern language,
and therefore more easily IT ducibie 10 fixed
rules; i, forms a link of connection between cur
own tongue and the Greek, as we'll as idioms
Of more remote antiquity: it is, besides, the key
and root of all the languages OF southern Eu-
rope, The whole of which may probably be &C
quired along with the Latin, and through
its, aid, in a shorter space OF ,,me than
any single one, if studied separately. Its
study accompanied by proper exercise in
UOuDtt tTdUSidNIOu, ~ tHC S'p VSt q W u
knowledge Of tie grammra and structure Of our
tongue i, besides has a value Of its own, in
opening access TO a literature, which, if inferior
to the Greek, is not equaliel in any modern
language, and whichfurnishes models pure and
worthy Of imitation in almos, every species Of
composition May we add, that all the science
Of Europe, from the revival of learning Gown
10 the middle Of the last century, is conveyed
in he Latin tongue.
\. French c%,iiic, celebrated for the elegance
or his style, was asked how his manner Of conn
position WAS formed; he replied, Shy reading
Cicero in the original" aud the example is well
worthy Of imitation by those who use the Eng |
fish language.
cannot better illustrate the value of the study
of the Latin language, than by a fact, for the truth of
which we can youch, which occurred in the school of a
very intelligent teacher Of English. He had, in con-
sequence Of a demand for classic learning among his
more advanced scholars, formed a conuexion with a
- e aDl D-a ~ H.. .t.-. n |