Quasqueton guardian. (Quasqueton, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1856-1858, 1858-02-18
For the Guardian.

ter. Tho shut out from enjoying these
feasts of intellect" am deeply inter-
ested in the prospect that something of
the kind will soon become an "institu-
ton among us. | have the best of evil
dence that there have been some half
dozen well-digested. wellwritten essays
well read before audiences that well APP
preciated their value. The last of these
was the essay on Ancient Latin and
Greek, by DR.. BrDwELL. 1t seems that
the DR.. did himself and the occasion
great credit; that he kicked the pagan
humbug" into its proper place among de-
funct and effete rubbish This will ap-
pear all the more creditable when it is
known that he has enjoyed all the sup
posed advantages of "the regular Clas-
sic course" as provided for in the AGA
demic, Collegiate and Professional Insti-
tutions of New England. He certainly
knows whereof he speaks, and it is fair
to pit his opinions and the opinions of
men educated as he has been, against
adverse opinions of men similarly educa
ted. When the DR.. " finishes" his lee
ture, 1 hope he will explain to us ore
fact. viz how happens it that every
college interest, and nearly every pro-
fessional digniary, whether Dr., D. D.,
or LII. d., is loud in protested devotion
to the =" Regular Course ?" Is it posi-
BILE that money has anything TO do with
this matter? Do the i" fixed Salaries"
lie endowed professorships," the vast
investments, DC, add any JUNCTION to
The devotion Is it possible that "gen-
tlemen of the CLOTH, or of "the gown"
are disposed to throw two or three years
of useless toll between the poor student
and professional life," in order the
more efectually to prevent /" the calling"
f:om becoming crowded ?"
One argument is SO frequently thrust
forward in discussing this subject that
| am tempted to examine it briefly
With apparent triumph it is asked :
" Are not all the distinguished men of
this age-of any age of enlightened Eng
fish History-classically educated ?''-
Yes, verify that is the rule. The only
open road has been the only travelled one,
OF course. But now, my classical oppo-
nent, you have chosen your claw" and
marshaled your intellectual host, l will
marshal an equal number. Mine shall
be the "graduated ounces" the scho-
lastic " dead heads" The " helpless ca
ses' that adorn the professions. Cow
per describes them thus -
rssScn hrm roHfe. Itstia ap4l arc once week, -
And having done we think the best We can,
Praise his proficiency and dub him man."
If the /" Classics have done so much
for your specimens, what have they done
for mine? Do the "pills" work differ
entity on different subjects You tell
me, perhaps, that mine were "hopeless
cases" from the start. | ask, Were not
yours hopeful cases from the start =? AT
ter all, are you quite sure that your cases
are not what they are in spite of the
classics" instead of on account ofMem !
Beside, the exceptions to your rule are
far more numerous than many suppose.
This is no time to fish up illustrations
A few must suffice. Shakespeare knew
absolutely nothing of the "Anciedt Clas-
sics' aud ridiculed their claims. Milton,
whose claims as An English classic no
one will dispute, though profoundly
learned in some dozen languages, dead
and living, declined to encourage his
daughter TO study latin by saying one
language is enough for any woman. -
Byron's scof at the claims of Latin and
Greek is notorious. To come nearer
home, what oratory has proved more
effectual than that of Patrick Henry and
Henry Clay? What writers have more
distinguished themselves than John G.
Whittier, Thurlow Weede, or Horace
Greeley? To claim that the old classic
road to knowledge and distinction is the
only one practicable, because most of our
distinguished men have Travelled it, is IA
most shabby begging of the whole ques-
ton. Let other methods be first fairly
tried. Let the Natural Sciences and
English L'scrature--now efpowcu INTO
the corner-have their Legitimate position
IN course of study" and then we
shall be better prepared to Judge of this
whole matter. L. L. TURNER.
The Postmaster General has recently
decided that if pos.maslers do not give