Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1872-07-13

Tor Classical Education published
but permits us to make the following
cts.--EDIToRs CHRONICLE.
The love of knowledge for its own
sake, is the great distinction between
man and the lower animals. They
can abstract, and reason on their abb
stractions and draw correct conclus-
ions, as is proved by the hare, who,
when pressed by grey hounds, which
follow her by sight, runs through tan
gled thickets, and when by barriers
courses the open places, when the
scent, which guides them will be less
strong But the lower animals will
use their really great powers only for
practical purposes, with an eye single
to their private advantage. They are
the highest type of the utilitarians,
doing nothing except for some tangi-
BILE benefit expected. Whereas man
loves knowledge for its own sake, and
finds beauty in wisdom above and
beyond the more amount of private
gain he will win.
If men, armed with guns, enter a
house near her nest, the crow will
count correctly till all have departed ;
but on her nest, or in safety she would
never care to exercise her mathemati-
cal powers. Why should she? Count
| ing would neither feather her nest nor
provide food for her young. If man
is thus to bring his mind in complete
subjcction to his bodily wants, and
care nothing for mental culture be-
yond the money he can make by it,
we will be tempted to believe there is
some truth in Darwin's theory, and
that the human race is nothing but a
higher development of the crow, the
hare, and the monkey. The love OF
knowledge for its own sake, is much
nobler motive in study than the desire
of the pecuniary gain it may bring in
after years.
This is an age Of so-called progress
IF any institution has stood the test Of
time, has endured the shock of ages
and come forth stronger and more
powerful as the centuries go by, II
must be destroyed to prove the supe
riority of the nineteenth century. II
ism wonderful then, that the anciel
languages have not escaped the fierce
attacks. The fact that they have helt
high place in collegiate education fol
hundreds Of years, is reason enough
why they should be attacked and ridi
culed by every penny-a-liner, wht
fondly imagincs himself the embodi
ment of the Spirit of the Age"
In attempting to give brief p!ei
for that classical culture, which has
lately been virulently assailed in some
high quarters, it seems desirable tC
notice first the arguments and motive!
of those who would Danish Latin ant
Greek from their time honored place
in collegiate education, and substitut,
in their stead only more c5pious edi
tions of the sciences, In most argu
ments brought against this branch o
study, the principle reliance is place.
in the alleged fact that the scholar
lhowover proficient he might once hav'
been, soon forgets his classics afte
leaving the lecture room and becoming
busily engaged in the ordinary pur
suits of life. 1t is true that men yer.
seldom think of rule in Latin Gram
mar, when busted with the ordinar.
pursuits of life. But does this prov
that he has derived no benefit iron
his study Would sensible man
after having crossed the broad Allan
tic affirm after being landed, thatship
were of no value? The chief use o
books consists in their bearing the sou
across the dark gulf of superstitutiol
and ignorance. And so with classics
though we should forget every rule il
the Latin Grammar and every lette
of the Greek alphabet, yet the bencfi
dgrivcd from learning them will las
us through life.
Another reason given to any grea
extent, by these modern rciormers Is
that more money can be made by
knowledge of other things They d.
not put it thus plainly, but say, "othe
studies will best fit men for the dutie
and responsibilities of future life !;
but all the golden calf is there for. al
the dccorous veil which covers it.
deny the right of the world TO hold u
dollars and cents, as a motive to tn
rising generation, ii is injurious in it
influences. contracted in its aims an,
dcbasing in its tendencies There ar
higher things in the world than wealth
noblcr indictments to cxertion thai
Ipccuuiary gain for selfish aggrandize
mcnt. Mind, in itself, is the highcs
thing upon earth, and the one grca
aim in all culture should be, to enabl
us, when life is ended, to return thi
jewel He has given us-polishcd Il
the uttcrmost.
1t is affirmed that We derive no val
liable fact from the study of the elias
sizes. Let us grant this; yet in al
honesty, | declare to you that tn
|t,l.,,, lor;,.os bonoGts c,r oroo,o