Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1859-04-06

its turn requires q knowledge OF the Greek,
is indispensable to a thorough knowledge oil
our own language.
"Their influence in Christening the imagina-
ton, refining the taste, and purifying the die
ton, cannot be rivalled by any other studies.
"By crossing the threshold of this august
temple, We are introduced to the largest
brotherhood of scholars in the world, and are
brought into sympathy with the educated
classes of all ages, and of every land.
"There is another advantage had by the
Classics, which should be stated only in the
lucid language of him who suggested it:
"Expel,". says DR.. Arnold, "Greek and La
tin from your Schools, and you contine the
views of tue existing generation to them
selves, and their immediate predecessors
you will cut off so many centuries of the
worlds experience, and place US in the same
state as if the human race had first come
into existence in the year 800. For it is
nothing 10 say that few learned individuals
might still study classical literature; the
effect produced on the public mind would be
no greater than that which has resulted from
the labors of our oriental scholars it would
not spread beyond themselves, and men in
general, after few generations, would know
as little of Greece and Rome, as they do &C
tualy of China and llndoStan. But such
an ignorance would be incidentally more to
be regretted. With the Asiatic mind, we
have no nearer cunneXion or sympathy than
that which is derived from our common hu-
manity. But the mind of the Greek and
of the Roman is, in all tie essential points Of
its constitution, our own; and Lot only so,
but it is our own mind developed to all ex-
traordinary degree of perfection.
"Wdc as is tie difference between us, with
respect to those physical instruments which
minister to our uses, or our pleasures; al
though the Greeks and Romans had no
steam engines, no printing presses no mari
ner's compass, no telescope, no microscope,
no gunpowder; yet in our moral aud politi-
cal views, in those matters which most deter
mine human character, there is perfect re-
semblance in these respects. Aristotle, and
Plato, and Thucydides, and Cicero, and Ia
citus, are most untruly called ancient writers;
they are virtually our own countrymen and
contemporaries, but have the advantage which
is enjoyed by intelligent travellers, that their
observation has been exercised out Of the
reach of common men and that having thus
seen in manner with our eyes what We
canIiUt sec for ourselves, their Conclusions
are such as hear u1on our own circumstances,
while their information has nil the charm Of
novelty, and ali the value of a mass Of new
and pertinent facts, illustrative of tic great
science of the nature of civilized man.
"That the female mind is capable of pursu
ing these studies, is evident from the emf
| - So tIo
attained. / need only mention the names of
Madame DcStael, Mrs. Somerville, Harriet
Martineau, and Hannah Mure. Her capacity
is further shown by the proficiency of many
Of the pupil, III our higher institutions. If
she have the capacity, why should it be re-
pressed? If nature has endowed her with
the ability to tread the higher walks Of lit
eraturc, and to eni,y tue nublest thoughts
nf men, and the manifold works Of God,
Why should she lie kept forever drumming
OH the Piano, or making awkward black
marks on pastebnard ? Should she whose
soul swells with the majestic rhythm of Mil
ton, or flows along the cilaste and even levels
of Addison, he condemned all her days to
crculnscribe her thoughts within the limits
of button.hoe?"
On the subject Of the accomplishments
we do not entirely endorse our orator, al
Though his observations SAVIOR of decided good
sense:
81 do not utterly condemn accomplish
ments. Within proper bounds, they arc use
full and elegant. Where there exists spe-
cial talent for any Of them, it should be
highly cultivated.
"l}ut protest against requiring the whole
generation of females to run one giddy and
undertaking round of light and fantastic edu-
cation. Most Of them have no taste for these
things. The majority Of the people, both
men and women, that we meet with in this
everyday world, are made for more solid and
homely purposes. Few can hope to shine in
these aerial walks.
"Think Of the immense outlay Of time, la
Dor, and money, expended in learning music
and with what result You meet board
ing-school Miss, with the ink not dry on her
Diploma, ask lier to give you some music;
she is very difIident-can't play without her
notes the notes are produced with strain
ing mind and cramped fingers, she beats a
n huu-drum on the tortured instrument.
Yet ten years. thousand dollars, and in
finite toll have been spent in learning this
single art. What stores Of knowledge would
the same time and labor have acquired I!
What noble library would this money have
bought cannot perceive the peculiar fe-
licity of having costly Piano that the young
lady can't play on, and no books except O
half-dozen yellow backed novels Half the
money, and half the labor, would have fur
| L., L., nP hpolyc f,,p pao1 nd
plenty of sense to understand them.
at is an insult to the charming genius Of
music that 80 many Of her votaries pQrpetu
ally bring lame, blind, and halt offerings to
her Rlthrs,
"a, already remarked, where one exhibits
d special capacity Gor music, it should be cul.
tiyated to the highest pitch Of excellence. 1t
is a rare and il!ustriou5 gilt, and demands
our homage"
Again, in another part of the leaddress, al'u
sion is thus made to the accomplishments"
in their agency with the mother:
"Of what service arc her accomplish
ments" in the training of her boy? If she
should make use Of them, and imbue him
with passion for the Plan, and tue Easel,
| IL Will, Ill tuOSI CdScS, pIoNS w niH iuih 'oi
there is not one in q thousand fit to be
gooi musician, or good painter: she will
have made that controlling which should only
be subsidiary, aal substituted light alnuse-
ment for the serious business of life"
In all this, there is some truth and yet
the speaker overleapS himself little. Primo,
he is wrong in impressing the idea that only
the peculiarly gifted with talent for any Of
the fine arts should receive the facilities of
instruction therein. If this notion prevailed,
there would scarcely be a halfdozen pupils,
in music for instance, in school of hun
dred. How then would sic-teacher Of
any ability be paid2 The price Of tuition
in this department would have to be raised
so high as to place it entirely out of the
reach of poor though talented pupils.-But
there is better reason than this: A goodly