The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-04-13
MR.. RABILLON'S FRENCH REA

MIR. RABLLLON'S FRENCH READING.
This gentleman, who is well known in the circle
of those who appreciate French studies, as
compished teacher of the language and as writer
of fine taste and judgment, has, learn, been
induced by the solicitation of number of those
who have profted by his private tuition, to pro-
pose to the public an evenings entertainment, in
reading few selections from of the most
popular of the French authors His advertisement,
which appears in all the papers, invites an audience
to hear him on Saturday evening next (the l4th),
at Reese's Hamilton Hall, in Madison street.
We desire to invoke the attention of our COM
munity to this enterprise, in the hope that the pre-
sent experiment of new and pleasant form of in
structon may meet with such success shall
induce the worthy author of it to undertake its
repetition and establishment recognized and
popular mode of diffusing taste for the elegant
language Of his country, and of cultvatng its ac-
| quirement. A proficiency in the French language
| is so universally acknowledged as a necessary
qualification for much of the business of life, opens
| so wide field of intercourse with the inhabitants
of other countries, and offers such store of useful
science and literary excellence to the scholar, that
| its attainment has become, of late years, a most
| predominant and indispensable demand in our sys-
tenn OF education. No school, academy college,
for the culture of either SEX can be regarded as
fulfilling its proper function, if this study be
omitted. Indeed, the instance of person claim
ing to be well educated, and yet ignorant of the
French language, has grown to be almost as ex-
ceptional in America as in Europe.
We advise all those who wish to test their own
progress in the requirement of the language to
avail themselves of this opportunity for the trial
There is no better mode to obtain competent ac-
| IL.
practice of listening to its utterance by teacher
to whom all its varieties of infection are familiar
One must learn a language through the ear. Many
who think they have mastered the French by the
aid of the grammar and dictionary, and by con-
slant exercise of writing, will be startled, if not
amused, to find, on attending the delivery of dis
course, how much they stand in need of that dis
cipline of the which is essential to make their
previous study available; and it will be, in no less
degree, gratifying to them to perceive how rapid
y persevering practice of listening to the spoken
language will render it easy and familiar both to
the hearing and speech. A systematic course of
public readings in French will be valued more and
more in proportion as it is tried, and will soon be
acknowledged to be worthy of the highest en-
| enlargement. 1t is in the hope that all students
OF French in our city may be brought to the per-
| cepuon ct this fact, that we rejoice to see Mr..
Rabillons proposal to initiate the system, and we
should be gratited to find that his experiment of
| next Saturday may result in such encouragement
| from our community as may persuade him to pro-
vide fer continuance of the readings of the
established resorts of that numerous portion of So
| ciety, both young and old, who find advantage or
pleasure in the mastery of a language which, next
to our own is the most important in the affairs OF
the world. We repeat, therefore, our admoniton
| to those who would like to ascertain their own
proficiency, to attend this first experiment. and we
particularly commend it to the attention of the
many young ladies of. our community who have
reason to pride themselves in the success with
which they have qualified themselves to enjoy the
instruction Mr.. Rabillon now offers them.