New-York tribune., 1868-08-27
cry THE STUDY or THE CLASSICS HAVE
Any TENDENCY 10 IMAORALIITf
20 ne Edt,or of The rrf6une.


SIR l think | have somewhere seen the
opinion expressed that the classics, studied ln our
colleges have tendency 10 undermine the morals Of
young men, As 20 most Of the Latin aud Greek authors
whose writings form part OF the college course TINS
opinion admitted TO have no foundation; but in
regard % the plays OF Terence and Pautus, which are
regularly read at Harvard College there may well be
some doubt The comedies Of these two writer's trans
iaous or rather adaptations, from tine later OF New
Comedy" Of the Greeks. At the time OF the production
OF tins later comedy, the Athenaus had become thor
ouChy corrupt. and, inevitable consequence the
thcatcr reflected the popular immortality When Ieen'e'
Plautus, and tho other Roman p,aywriShs turned 'o
Attic comedy into Latin, aud reproduced lt IN I"y'
Rome had not yet become degenerate. Inc cIecI ul m
fauh.iayizigs the Romans with tho corrupt nliloi
The Aucuaus Is thus depicted Dy DI: Moi1Dl'0l' '"0
az, therefore, tine literary h'SjorlIn' ~!Hc I"lly
acknowledging TIE very respcrlabt litL9 %. ,l'D ~ ,
comedians cannot recognize lh i4et NEE s.tcA O' y,
ltlou, product either artiouclly Important or ARTIST
icaly pure the Judgment OF history IeeyINs it7 mo- a.
aspects must necessarily be iar more severe lne
comedy which formed its basis was morally OF little Cou.
sequence uasuuch as h was simply on the same level OF
corruption with its audience Dut tIe hVhan ul'ta una
was at an epoch when men were wavtrng between the
old austcuty ana the he" corruption te great s'oo az
Ouce of lie.ensn ana oi vice Inc AtleoOm CON, %
edy with It's prostitution OF body ana soul usuipug the
name of loye-cquuy immoral in sAaIueiessueSs ana IN
nimy, with It's uniform Qualification Of a lie oi ae'
bauchcry, with It's mixture Of rustic cCarseness ana
e!eu lchuemeht Was one cohuhuous lesson ol - I.
Hellenic Generalization, and was ielt as sucL -
IL may be dudcC that even In the rare instances OF noI
comedies. the morality only OK character au"l
20 rldlcule innocence more surely VINO can uOuU. =
these dramas gave practical impulse 10 cuttupuoH
when Alexander the Great derived no pleasure from !"
comedy OF this Sort which us author ItHd oeOTe Hliu
the poet excused himself by saying at the ttul Jay nU
with hm hut with king that IN order To ItlSh such
piece, q man must ne lh lHo Ha"y VI va "V3'7 V53',.7,
revels aud Of giving ana receiving b""s
in an intrigue Tho man knew his trade. IL therefore
the Roman citizens gradually acquired ta,te IoI t"2o
Greek CouJulus We see 40 what price lJ was pourH'
The Roman Government was 10 blame not loi upis 80
tocraug an Vice, indeed Is powerful even Win
pulpit but that is 40 excuse Tor the erection oi
pulpit 10 proclaim n.y. -,
IHomn.seu's History Of Rome, Eng. ed. vol. T., 4u.
Having read some OF the CuutuIeS OF IeTthcc ana
plautus while i'm college, and witnessed some or me
effects Of t.cr perusa on those Who studied lheln WIN
me and believing that NeW-Engaud is suli superior h
morality even TO the Rome which 80 mob ana success
fully resisted Hannibal cannot but feel that the Woiua
of Dr Mommsen have some application 10 me CoHcEcs
which, m our day, put this yllcr than FaIsdh COMEDY
into the hands OF boys OT IL. By giving TINS am insertion
gon viii rlii,e a GRADUATE.