New-York tribune., 1868-08-31
LITERdRY.
CAN TIE STUDY OF THE CLASSICS HAVE AM
TENDENCY TO IMMORTALITY

TENDENCY TO lMMOkALiii
30 the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: AS l notice a letter under the ABOVE cap
ton in this mornings paper am led TO assume your
oonrons ona, 10 sr.her notice OF the question. We're
tins only new snect Of the crusade that rs being led
nowadays against classical education eoulo nave
no patence 10 discuss II; but the young Graduate
has really foupd his virtue orumbng away before what
bte OF Terence aud Piautus appears III Ihe
OF an Amecau college. trust for the sake OF what rag
meDt he r1ay st possess that ne Wll sO take w iS
The classical writers are certainly no! impure. Ing
comedies Of Arstophanes, Plautus, and Terence, anu
even tbe tabOoed satres OF Juvena nowhere throw
halo around lceutOusness. challenge any one 1anai Ia
with their pages 20 point me single example " o t
morality, that prevail In Byron and the modern PI
nearly ali Of whom belong 10 the sensnous SenoV, e
wont las WAS shakespeare, their purest mltalorl
portray nature they found it-good OF oau,
ton They were purely O9efire writers. VINO i1Ig1 sr
themselves in their theme Whenever ~ w
aud unadorned with such deft ana de1uo9s PallnI
tons abound III sterne and CongLevei ~ mt M
hs unparuished and unadOrned deIOfiuy, cahhOt uut
pc repustve 10 the laxest moral sense IN tDe
classic poets, and IN me carrier Eugush SSuTer m
Pope and Byron, fnd nothing OF the clothing OF sn
m the dainty garb OF love; Nay dare 70 a
between love and lust. As. for example IN the Ahdtta
Of Terence where Pamphus is eXhOrted 10 east away
who is supposed 10 he hls mistress bat whom ne
continues 10 cherish and whose child he reaTs Decause
be loves ber and size Is mis- wife Tie devil always
tile devil until the mOdes taught him how 70 steal the
livery OF heaven III DR. MomInsen told that little story
about Alexander ne must have cited 1t argument
pro contra. Al any rate it initiates 80 stangtly
against " Graduates" theory that WOnaer no
quotes H. For IL only practised hbertne can
euioy lie merercious production that production GER
tanly cannot be charged with producing Ias'e 20 -
II seems must already exist III the reader anu ~, ~
the pure mind It brings no enjoyment 10 certainly o
And think it is evident that this is what the Doctor
meant by his own words that follow: " therefore, the
Roman citizens gradually acquired tasetOr these GeeA
tSat fh Roman wS citizens had become accomplished be
nes before ey irCye able 10 acquire, to pay ne PTee 1or
sen means rs it most assuredy is what he says WHAT
curious KIND Of an Pos tGeio W m
tons amount 70. Graduate" mas utterly mScVhoei'0N
'"V U'"' % ''i' P''S.' - ANOTHER "GRADULTE"
TIE STUDY OF THE CLASSICS
10 the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: | read with pleasure the criticism Oh
vour correspondent "a Graduate" on the moral ehuen
ies Of the Classics But 1t seems to me thab the age s
which boys are exposed to coTrupng influence from
this source is farther back than that Of IT, thorough
ber of Latin snd Greek desires OF course, that his
pupils should be wen yersed in heather antiquity ana
customs. But how seldom do we ma that any cOuntoi
check s ever attempted 70 the effect upon young Dno
Of frequent perusa OF the facts or hcton when so carry
excite curiosity aud feed tooeary dsordered lmagn
ton. In my school days We were required 10 % 70
thorough with both these things, that hours would DO
spent in the reading Of Old Leroiress Classlea DcoS
oy and when at last eXpurgated editions OF the C1as
placed ia our hands some older pupl was oI
ready to FIJI up for cr9ney the paris &
studies had be given upi BY no me ans But Una.
teaeheFs should feel the responsibility In this connections
and as matter of conscience watch anxiousy over tne
morals Of the youth entrusted 10 Their care anu NOT eNS
then 10 the ndcrmnate perusa Of works bearing upon
classical studies That they should be ever quick 70 cOu
teraet, by opposite lessons OF kindly insrncuon anu
warning the evil TO which they know their pupils are
posed aud to show them, by contrast through wOrus
example, the beauty and nobllty OF eharSle[ Eien h
Christian learning and civilization will produce, when
allowed TO exert its true influence With reference 10
certain books Terence. Plautns, JuvenG &C. betefet
them be reserved for study in mature years, than run
the rsk Of eorruptng the soul, and degrading human
being for time and eternity. flDEIIi'