Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1871-02-16
ATHENS LETTER.
Athens.-The Un1versity.-Rev. J.
n. Eads' lectures.

AthenS.-The Un1versity.-Rev. J.
r. Eads' lectures.
Editors Herald and Tribune: The dull
routine of daily lessons is again upon us.
| The labors of the present term are open
ing up in earnest. Butfew mere students
will enter this term-quite a number OF
new ones are present-several old ones
did not return, so that the average will
differ little from last term. think there
is more enthusiasm on the part of both
teachers and students, than any proceed
ing session. The NEW teachers are at
their posts, laboring earnestly, L guess.
On the night of Thursday the 9th inst,
we were favored with a lecture from Rev.
J.. r. Eads, of Knoxville. Subject
"Good English" There being a fee
charged for entrance, the audience was not
so large as it otherwise would have been.
After some Introductory remarks, the
lecturer spoke in appreciative terms of the
audience, and proposed a plain, practical
talk on the proper use of the English Ian
guage-said he would point out some of
the most common errors in written and
spoken language.
He laid down the proposition that it was
a matter of prime Importance that we
should be well grounded in the use of our
own tongue. We do not speak, write. or
even think in any other language. The
long years of laborious study spent in the
acquisition of other and ancient languages,
is after all. only to facilitate the use OF
our own. He made allusion to the many
young men from the best Institutions of
the country, who had mastered the Greek,
understood the Latin, yet who were sadly
deficient in the only language in which
they can communicate their thoughts to
others. Such young men would go into
raptures over the beauties of Homer and
Virgil, but could find no charms in the
English poets-could find no beauties in
the exquisite touches of a Shakespeare
no beauties in the sublime conceptions of
ia Milton. while Longfellow and Tennyson
wrote their sparkling thoughts in beaute-
Gus verse all unknown to them.
He spoke of the reflex influence of words
how that words were freighted with life
meaning. and how they were often so ex-
p~ressive of the real character of the indi-
vidual using them. He here urged the
Importance of precision in the use of Ian
guage. Speaking of language as an index
to individual. social, or national position,
he believed that only a noble soul would
strive after a chaste, elegant, form of ex-
pression-that the condition of society
spoke out in it's language and that the
English language has had more to do with
the formation of the Anglo-Saxon charac-
ter than philosophy has ever dreamed of.
Laid down the proposition that when a ma
ton was advancing in civilization, it was
continually improving its language, but
when national character ~degenerated, Ian
guage went down with it. He supported
this proposition by a liberal reference to
nations of both ancient ard modern times.
He here urged the necessity of a constant
improvement. If we, as a nation, would
be great, we must study the use of words
must be powerfuli in the use of language
so full of the inspirations of truth and
freedom-must find out that power In
every word through which heart will speak
to heart, and soul to soul.
He referred to the origin of the Eng
lish language. 1t did not spring into
place and power at once, nor was it hoary
with age-had met with opposition from
the earliest moment of its history. 1t was
formed from rude dialects and had receiv-
ed valuable additions from nearly every
known tongue. Spoke of Bacon's writings,
and quoted the words of that author "that
he entertained the hope that the books he
had written in the Latin language would
live as long as books live, and regretted
that those written in the English language
should die so SOON" Daniels, a poet CO.
temporary with Shakespeare, lamented
that the use of the language-the one in
which he wrote, should be confined to the
British Island. That language found an
outlet. 1t came with the Plymouth Colo
ny, and though begift with dialects, even
more rude than those from which it was
formed, though trembling, apparently,
from it's own weakness, and bowed down
by the curse of priestly domination, it has
triumphed over all and has spread itself
over a wider extent of territory, than any
other spoken language. With it the Phi
losopher defines his cold, dreary abstrac-
tions-the philanthropist rouses humanity
to sleepless vigilance. In its strange, yet
simple accents, the remotest Islander hears
the tidings of salvation. Again he spoke
of the high moral obligation resting upon
3,those who would speak or write in such a
Plabgpagc.
etnder the head of vulgarisms, or COM
mon errors, he referred to some of the
host common errors in spoken language,
and mentioned them in such a way as to
make them appear really ridiculous. He
also made reference to errors in written
. language-cited standard authors, and
I showed the improperly of allowing such
ERRORS to creep into our style of writing,
Ieves though sanctioned by high authority.
He spoke of the requisites for acquiring
a good style. No one must think of sue
cess in the matter until he has first thor
oughly mastered English Grammar. He
must make a constant and liberal use OF
some standard Dictionary. Spoke in high
terms of WofcestofiS,,but gave Webster's
the decided preference ,Crabbe's Syno-
nyms, were almost Indispensable. Recon-
mended a work entitled >t"Five Hundred
Mistakes CorrectedI' He Recommended
the reading of recent authors-said If a
man would speak or write to the people
with any degree of success, he must adapt
his manner of expression to the tastes of
that people-their tastes were constantly
changing. improving-hence the propriety
of studying recent authors. de advised
the keeping a memorandum of every
doubtful expression, and consulting au-
thority on it-criticise and invite criticism
correct every fault in pronunciation-
shun every Notwithstanding half SO
bad-was the kind of advice with which
he closed.