New-York tribune., 1867-06-13

of the race and an encouraging feature of the re-
form that it has not been made at the expense OF any
thing valuable in the acquisitions of the past The
wide circle of knowledge embraced within the scope
of true education s admirably described by Pro
fessar YOumans in the following paragraphs:
Thediscpline and the knowledge conferred by stndy
Of the preceding group OF sciences physooSy ad 2 Pss
Of studies, mental, moral political ana Iu9iy W' t
,oiIetfs not tIG course oi pv n sciences these e%ten
siye and important subjects are cohs.hn.y pScotIs s
and scientific in their concepuohs anu meth
oIs and hence form the natural sequel of systematic
scientific culture. Physology passes lhscnsloy Into
psychoogy fc central science, upon which hinge loc
sociology political economy, history, ethics Ishetcs
aud literature. Mental phenomena are % ~
through a knowledge Of the former therefore ~ pos
sible tO reach true understanding ot thc Ialer iogc
of the laws Of evidence and proof ny wheh uhgS
and their relations are truly represented In Thought
Sociology considers the relations among hminan D,igs
and the forces which act upon mem N so SOL, %J
hence only becomes possible through FIor khowEtS9
of tho vital and mental organization Oi man poItcai
economy, branch 0i TINS sune9. @ treaS % W - @
and commercial questions, depends upon tho sane % co'
tions History record OF tie COURSE VI @ n t t III
ence IN its muOrm phateS ana NC KY w 40 80 . ,h
ntcpreta is that knowedge of the ehactc 10 oi ,o
and the circumstances OF action which II IL te pre-
science determines the principles when shou sue lle
right ruling Of conduct and depends upon oyely seiGyo ill.,
the evolution of the emotions, ana the limits o Ihoas
liberty and Responsibility imposed Dy le eoi,onS o'
physical organization social circumstances hsietcs
which NgaFds the beautiful in nature and gives rise 10
bty. ns principes are founded IN the constitution Of
human nature, and win probably be yet re9aceu TO
scientific system TO work out Us great IDEAS 0 UNITY,
harmony" "propoItion." aud the laws OF beauty ~
awaits better sycholog and decPc&r & hoa ~
expression OF thought npon vast Tney pi ,o cn
and accuracy ~ knowledge 0f the iruth OF things III
Thus does scientific culture reach It's ultimate and ex
ated ends Its course is along line of connections
which causal and dynamic; It's IDEAS constantly now
ing aud widening ont until they embrace an M Lie
q
o dependence O facts and principles must mere peid
t.ycly determine the iric order Of study. To pass
directly from languages ard mathematics Ia the complex
questions of man and society IS 10 violate the cohlnm
OF Natures logic 20 carry false methods of reasoning au
Judgment into the highest spheres OF thought ana 10 pro
vide for those errors of theory and vices OF pIcce
OF social ana public affairs only by that scientific dis
cplnc which conors steadfast faith IN the uniyersay
o law, and only as the discipline of mathemallc,i anu
physical studies is corrected aud amphed iy iaInaIty
with biological conceptions VIII be- possible 10 secne
questions which tic best welfare Ofsocety is involved
The culture afforded by these higher subjects y ai,o
varied coWouS aud Puickcnlng' ih'y give Dl',a,n' si
adavc"ss, and enlarged eject 90 the discipline oi ne
pr garatoIy sciences and cultivate mental pancy readl
ness OF judgment. and practical sagacty.
The Arguments brought by Professor Youmans
against he uldue importance attached TO the study
of the classics ard ot mathematics IN most OF onr
college systems have great weight and for some time
past have received the anxious attention ol the
friends OF educational improvement. lie controvcrts
tie comulou opinion that classical and mathematical
learning constitutes the most favorable means OF
mental discipline. The influence Of this study on the
memory for instance Is not 20 be compared 10 that
Of the natural sciences IN the acquisition Of Ian
guagc, the memory cultivated is of the lowest kmd
The relation b,twe,n the words aud the ideas OF
which they are the signs, Is accidental and arbitrary
while The ideas presented hy science are arranged in
q natural order Of connection and dependence The
outlay Of effort in acquisition is thus reduced. aud
4 N,r ne
afforded by the grammatical study Of the structure
Of language is insisted on do the ancient languages
possess any advantages n this respect over tie YER
bacular tongue. Tie influence Of mathematical,
study likewise isusually oyerratcd Ina subordinate
place % - invaluable but Il made too cngrossiug II
becomes inuilou. Mathematics help TO form habits
of continuous attention by dealing with trains oi
proof to enable thc Imagination 10 grasp abstract
relations and 90 ilmiiarilc the mind with system
Unnecessary truth. But they do not afford complete
exercise. nor the bet exercise of the reasoning
pow,rs They give us 10 aid in the establishment OF
pf,nisc. from which 10 reason and therefore leave
theircutivatoIs to a onc,idcd and cuatic JudgmcIt
Of aaairs. An exclusive discipline must,
aoo,,,linsly 10 hold actual disqualification for
the work OF life.
Indeed Professor ioumaus contends that the prey
a!,nt idca OF pursuing certain branches of study
purely as a discipline Of the mind rests a falla-
cions conception Of the true purposes of culture.
Tie Lasi, Of education il to De found in the physical
organization Tie brain is tie organ of the mind,
and is affected 10y every process of thought and feel
ing. II is law of the nervous system that all iui-
pItssous are strengthened AMI made lasting hy
repetition The capacity of the brain limits the
power of acquisition, aud hence the Importance Of
economy IN mental effort Reason may be defined as
the power II using old facts under new circum
stances and this is the secret of the production Of
vast effects with limited resources. The extent of
mental attainment thus depends on the order of rcla
tons among the objects of thought II the methods
Of study occasion wide breaks Ia the action of the
mind 80 that past conceptions are not carried in
consecutive development there is a loss of mental
power. We can make steady and rapid progress
only in continuous ranges Of effort The fallacy of
the yicarous system Of discipline is thus exhibited
in a strong light. The studies which employed
for this purpose DO not enter into the intellectual
Ike of the man; they present a foreign body Of
thought. which is hostile 10 the unity of the mental
career The Young student is detached from his
early associations Transported 70 the atmosphere of
Greece and Rome for course of years. becomes
charged with antiquated ideas. aud then returns To
resume his relations with the current of events IN
his own age Having faithfully mastered his colleg
ate tasks he finds that his acquisitions are not avail
able in the world Of action He has To leave them
behind and begin anew, if he would not lose the
wealth of modern knowledge aud dilute his intel
Iectual lie with the thin nutriment of classical
memories.
The remedy for these evils. according To Prof
Yonmans is to be found in iudicous course of sci
entiGc education. The ideal of the higher culture
demanded 10y the present especially in this coun
try. is plan OF study which while it represents the
present state of knowledge and affords variousand
ougcuin disciuluc shall M the same time best pre-