The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1849-08-04
(wRirrEN Fox THE ABBEvrLLp pANNER.)
CLASSICAL EDUCATION.

yoo"S, so ooiWe deiIght TO wander back.
through the dim vista of years--to the time
when theworld was young, and hold sweet
con verse: rs il were, face 10 face, with the
leaened and great OF antiquity. Tha, thi.
disposition is not only natural. but at the
same time, commendable, we take it, will
not Re denied. Taking this for granted we
conclude that it should be cultivated and
strengthened.
| The mind experiences kind of wild,
chimerical pleasure, in penetrating beyond
the gloomy vale that fuiurity lets down be-
fore ii, and there penciling out in brilliant
colours, scenes of delight yet to be enjoyed
but weared with its endless flight over the
dark ocean Of euturi,y, andfncsSg nothing
substantial on which to rest, it is forced a.
gain to seek refuge in the slow sailing ark of
the present. While the contemplation of the
| sl,afiords substantial pleasure, and pro-
fltable exercise 10 the mind AS the man'who
has,ravelled extensively, return shome cloth
ed with an air of Independence, and selEim-
portance calc Ila!ed to draw forth the admi-
ration OF those whose perigrinalions have
been less extensive; so does the mind re-
turn from the contemplation of the past ex-
panded: and elevated; and lays down at
the feet OF an adlniring world its gleanings
from The wrecks of Antiquity. There is a
feeling OF pride and se!Edependence gener-
ated by familiarity with the past, which
OF IIseIi is sufficient to justify all the labor,
generally bestowed on this department OF
education. But how can this love for, and
familiarity with the pas, be bes, insiiIIed in
10 the mind? 1t must be done by the study
ofthc Classics. Shal these productions be
Studied il the language OF the authors OF in
that of translaGon2 Shall wc look upon
the oIigina Eor Its portrait o.. Now so far as
the labor 10 concerned the task would eyi
dently be madeligh,er to read >5maft,s flor
ace thanAnthon's -And.perhaps Smart has
given more correct, and more beautiful
Translation of'f1orace than we could possibly,
give but still we. believe that any student of
respectable capacities, with moderate effort
can CLEAN as many ideas from an ode in Ho.
race as Gamble gathered fromI translation:
from the fact that it is impossible in many
cases 10 convey in our own language the
exact meaning ola Latin sentence. But if
the Classics are studied alone or even prin-
cipally for the though. they contain we
would say burn the original and translation
in the same fine. This however we do no.
conceive 10 be the design. While it is al
together advisable that we preserve anv
thought we may chance to meet, the great
object 10 be accomplished, is the mental ex-
erciSe and training consequent on this kind
Of labour.
But il may be said: throw away Greek,
and Latin and, substitute in their place
more extensive course of Mathematics.
Now that the PRACTICAL importance of
complete mathematical education if confin-
ed 10 very small number c4s,-ffse. be deni-
ed. So we see that the study of this branch
ls important to the great majority Of stu
dents only SO far as it serves 10 strengthen
and discipline the mind. And with equal
propriety with those who say IL is better to
read Pope's translation of the Iliad than to
rack the brain in translating for ourselves,
we would say il is better to solve the prob.
lens in Smyley's Arithmetic, or Days Al
zebra, with key spread open before US. for
bo,hare labor saving systems. Now ifathe
importance of each branch of study de.
ponds onthe exercise and training it taffords
the mind, which is better adapted to expand,
and invigorate it2 In the solution of q
Mathematical problem the Judgement, and
memory are brought into exercise, while IN
demonstrations we believe in general, the
memory alone, is active. But in the trans.
lation of q Greek or Latin sentence the
judgement is exercised in the eonsirnction,
the memory in applying thp rules, and at
the came time the taste is aysatlyimpEoyed
in the selection Of languags, and Abe pyepsf
ayrspsemept of she ssqntsacsS Hat itssis
MD Att nll asf ~ ara mol ahie "a
ffaal tl61 dnuSn 80 g lllss + M teuseaSsf
daency But who that has sYSr 4endsd