American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-05-10

--lo.hor n was Charles X. of Sweden or Charles
y Of Germany who said, that "with every Ian
ouape a man learns he acquires new soul"
However this may be, it is universally agreed
that no single study is more improving to all
the faculties than the study of the languages,
ancient and modern. Poetry gives us wit
natural philosophy, depth; moral philosophy,
gravity; history, knowledge of mankind; logic
and rhetoric, the power Of disputaton; but it
seems to be acknowledged by all, that nothing
is 80 conducive to the general improvement of
all the powers of the mind as the study Of Ian
guage.
But apart from this, we have in this country
still stronger reasons for turning our attention
to this study. Although facilities for the acqui-
sition of all kinds of knowledge are becoming
every day greater, yet it is not every one who
can devote much time to books for the mere
purpose of strengthening and adjoining the
mind. We are very utilitarian people. Our
motto seems to be, business first, and pleasure
afterward."
The continually improving facilities for COM
munication are bringing countries that were,
few years since, far distant both in space and
feeling, closer and closer together; and the time
will soon come when the remotest regions of
the globe will be almost as near neighbors, for
all purposes as the States of our Union. The
constant immigration of the people of Europe,
amounting now to about one million per annum,
is giving to imaginary nearness "a local habi-
tation and name" What was once but theory
is now reality, as we find our cities crowded
with foreigners, whom we meet Mt every turn;
speaking German, French, Italian, and Span
ish in all their incomprehensibility In view
of this, we repeat, the study of languages, es-
pecially the modern, is growing more and more
useful, or even necessary. The interests of
trade require free communication between mer-
chants and business men of all kinds.
There are many tradesmen and mechanics
who would willingly apply themselves to the
study of the languages, if they could do sowith-
out serious detriment to other pursuits their
only objection being, that they have not time
If they could be convinced that the study of
language takes but short time, when the proper
method is pursued, most of them would be found
to apply themselves to it. And why should not
the ancient languages, too, be studied by me-
chanics? As a means of improvement in our
own rich tongue, which has received, and is
still receiving, so many contributions from them,
they are invaluable The old systems of study
are, almost without exception, full of Imperfect
TONS A new era has begun. Men of expe-
rience have been turning their attention to the |
means of facilitating the requirement of all the !
various branches of knowledge, and language
has ~ haa Ell.
commended as the best method of studying Latin
and Greek, when complete course is impossi-
BILE: Take some elementary work, in which
the rules of grammar are given in the simplest
form, illustrated, at each step, by full exer-
cises such, for instance as Brookss or Nc
Clintock's Latin or Greek Lessons. Do not
burden the mind with grammatical rules with
out seeing their immediate application, for
much time is thus lost. Proceed in this until
well grounded in the essential principles of the
language; then, with good dictionary, and
complete but simple grammar go on to trans
late, noting carefully the grammatical relations
of every word, and the peculiarities of the Ian
guage. Take notice, that every word is to be
thoroughly learned. Let nothing be passed over
slightingly. BY pursuing this course for half
an hour each day for eighteen months or two
years, any one of tolerable memory can acquire
very respectable knowledge of Latin, and a
sufficient acquaintance with her less approach
able sister, Greek.
In learning the modern languages, the method
of Ollendorf, which has, Of late years, come so
generally into use, is superior to all others.
Indeed we think improvement in it an impossi-
bility. We viii confidently venture the asser-
ton, that one hour each day for six months,
devoted to the study, by 0llendorf's system, of
any of the modern languages German, the
most difficult, to Spanish, the easiest-will make
any one thorough in the grammar, able to
speak with facility all he has met with in the |
course, and fully prepared to acquire com
plete, critical knowledge Of the language, in
very short time, by judicious course of prac-
tice.
We should like to see our young men turning
their attention to this subject. The hours that
are spent by hundreds every day in idleness, or
something worse, could be proftably employed
In this manner. A short time would show that
we are right in saying, that it would enable
them not only to store their minds with useful
knowledge, but to "put money in their purse"
Young men should not initiate the parsonage SO
well described by Neal in his "Charcoal
Sketches" who was brought to the gutter by
his desire to be considered " whole-souled fell
low" they should rather court the reputation
of wholesouled" and "many-souled," in the
sense Of the royal or imperial Charles.
-----
The flowers dropped until the sun got high
this morning: and then-arch little beauties as