New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1845-05-12

l. L..
CHI 81. 1915.
The author says in his short preface-"lt will be
perceived, from an examination Of the present vol
ume, that the exercises contained in il have been
arranged in such way as to form regular and
progressive course; and it is believed that, after
the student has been carefully taken over The en-
tire work, he will be fully qualified 10 enter upon
the task OF original composition IN Latin verse, al
accomplishment which forms decidedly the uuest
and most enduring ornament of classical educa
ton" Such an accomplishment Is, indeed, OF
great value TO one who can estimate lis bearings,
or who, in receiving the discipline its attainment
brings has not forfeited others Of far greater impor-
lance. A growing prejudice prevails in the more
living and larger portion OF our society against the
boosted advantages Of Is classical education
The man brought up in familiarity with outward
nature, and 10 use OF his own bodily and instinc-
tive powers feels a contempt for the purbllnd scho
lar who cannot see through his spectaclcs what is
impera,lvely required by young and growing life
like ours. The man whose mind has been cult
waited not classcaly. nor IN classes, but by earnest
seeking and graspng on every side for what is de-
maGded by the wants OF his individual mind, doubts
wheherth there ID time, amid the vast new oonquests
oil science, the proiuse fruits of modern literature
aud arts, the needs in great novel life OF original
thought and methods suited 10 the period, for
careful attention 10 the making of verse in the dead
languages. He doubts whether the boy whose
eyes have been during his best years turned too
exclusively 10 the past will ever see clear into the
present aad future as his neghbors, less schooied
in the classics but better in nature and the spirit O
the times.
Yet there s beautiful proprlety in referring back
10 the Greeks and Romans, could this bat be done
with Intelligence and in harmony with the other
branches of culture. Ii is only pedanlry and indo
lence that makes this dangerous. The honey Of
Hymc,ius need not spoil the taste of the American
wild bee, but only teach him not 10 content himself
with the coarsest flowers when he might do better.
Those nations brought some things to periec-
ton that the world will probably never see again.
We must not lose the sense OF this greatness be-
cause our practice is ia different sphere. For this
II is that marks the true eclectic, that he need not
cling 10 the form because he Teveres the spirit that
informed it, but treasures the seed of each plant
that ever boomed in the garden of Humanity, with
out demanding their fruit when the season ls past.
At Christmas he no more desires rosc
Than asks for Ice 'mong Junes new tangled shows"
The metres. the methods Of verse that grow up
in nation are one of the highest expressions OF
lis spirit one of the finest organizations OF It's liie,
The rules which arc derived from them give the
science of that life as far as il can be understood
from ,cithout Genius mt eds Not TO learn, but will
take pleasure in examining them. To make verse
according to rule will enable no man 10 write one
, word OF poetry, but II may make hun m~re deeply
familiar with the sense in which poetry has been
written, by refining the taste and culivallns the
ear To know these Greek and Roman writers
critically, 10 initiate by rule their methods, has The
same benei for the mind, that external associa-
ton with graceful person does on the manners
A deeper intimacy may arise; mind may speak 10
mind, and grace 10 love; but, unfortunately,
the way in which acquaintance Is begun more
frequently binders than iurthers this higher be-
ne6l The little girl initiates the graceful lady
and thus spois her own manners. instead Ell, by
Intelligent sympathy, awakening within herself
tha, soul of beauty from which graceful manners
flow The boy learns how the great poets wrote IN
measure and copies the cadence Of their feet but
neither by his tutor is he taught, nor OF his own
seeking mind does he learn, that metres are nothing
except the harmonious movements OF mind deep
" conscious of the universal harmony, and that
only by adoring and studying that can he really
emulate them Were this otherwise, were the
spirit made known with or through the Letter, elias
steal education, and this branch Of II especially.
would be of true and deep value, and demand Tar
less time TOO than i, has hitherto for the mind rans
quick when ii apprehends the goal *