The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1874-11-19
GENERAL READING.
THE Study CT THE CnAsSsCs.
ARTICLE II.

!
Latin or Greek affords similar display 70
the mind of the student, differing onl,
in this respect that his invention an,
sagacity are improved more but his judg
ment and taste less since he may gen
orally judge Of his own success when
translating from the Latin or Greek int,
his own dialect, but when from his moth
er tongue into either of the former, it i.
necessary for professor to point out hi.
errors. AS for the memory, that has al
ways been conceded to be improved by {
study of the classics In no other sub
ject, to which the student may bend his
attention, is there to be found an exercise
for the mind as whole. Geography, OF
history calls into action the memory. In
obtaining knowledge of grammar, the
mind is nearly as inactive. In the study
of mathematics, it is true. the reasoning
powers are proftably and Wig orously ex-
ercised but they are dormant to all other
relations but those Of mum Der and guam
tity. By giving attention 10 physics, a
great deal of useful knowledge may be
acquired, and the talent of observation
improved, but these are the only advan-
tages it can offer This fact. that differ
ent studies exercise different faculties of
the mind, explains the reason why one
person succeeds in one, and another in
another branch Of study, as each cult
Yates the faculty, with which he chances
TO be best endowed. Now, if the study
of the classics trains and developcs every
department of the mind, is it not reason
able to assert, that he who is proficient
in them is more of genius, and is in
tellectually stronger, than one who Is
merely a mathematician, or can only
boast of any other single requirement.
It may be triumphantIy objected, that
there is nothing in ancient history to au-
thenticate our concluding that an acquian-
lance with the languages of other people
was necessary in the education Of the
Greek. This argument, however, in
stead of proving anything to the contrary,
makes evident the great advantages re-
suIting from the study of the Greek
language; for the different dialects, as
Doric and Eolic, and their accents, fur
nished the Greek with ample exercise for
every faculty of his mind The Romans,
in the most fourishiug period Of their
literature, gave close attention to the
study of the Greek. Just as in England
or Germany the requirement of French
is thought to be essential to a polite edu-
cation, so among the Romans every man
Of letters ma le himself master of the
Greek tongue. 1t may be, again, adj
vanced as an argument, that the study
Of any moGern language other than our
own, will accomplish the same effect, rs
a devotion to the classics. 1t is very true,
that a similar effect may be produced,
but not like degree, as the modern
languages ere learned so much more rca-
div than either Latin or Greek, that no
great exertion Of the mind is required,
and, hence, not so etficacious an effect;
for as many months as it would take one
to become conversant with the French
language, the same number of years
would be consumedin learning the Latin.
Having pointed out to you, how, through
a study Of the classics, every mental IA
Guilty may receive the best training of
which each is susceptible, let Us consider
some of the other fruits to be gathered
by an intimate connection with 1t. Ia
the first place, no one can thoroughly
know and understand his own language,
unless he has some knowledge OF the
Latin and Greek. Why? Because no
one is complete master of any t'n9ue,
unless be knows the etymology OF 1t; and
the etymology of most modern lal urges,
especially the Romance, depends more
or less upon the Latin and Giro. Is, SINCE
many of their words are .trIv. Il directly
from them. In .ar4. the * nance Ian
guages,-the I,aIila, the French, the
Spanish, and the Po-tuguse, are bu
corruptions of the Latin tongue. Again.
all the Latin AMI Greek writings Ii 1
have escaped tEc ruinous hand of tin ],
and are still eXtauf, are, with few eXcep
tions. the best specimens of the language
In which they are written; and thus
it is. when we read any of them; we have
before us model of style and fine wrl-
ting. which will benefit whoever endea-
yors to initiate its simplicity and beauty
and if a close attention be given to the
classics, it is sure corrective TO the ten
dencv of falling into the false sublime.
But it might be said, and, probably, with
reason. that We can enjoy the beauties
and simplicity of Greek and Latin works.
through the transIations that are made of
a great many of them. To some degree
we can; but there is always certain at
traction and peculiarly Of writing
written originally IN certain Language,
that is possessed only by that language,
and on being translated into another
this beauty and pungeney departs. As
an example, no French reader can thor
oughly appreciate the beauties of Shakes
peare when he reads it in his own tongue.
There is a certain charm, and distinguish
inc feature which this great work en-
bodies in itself in the English language,
which evaporates when converted into
another. Telemachus and Gil Bias. when
translated into English though very in
teresting, have a far greater charm to him
who reads them in the French.
III. L. EDWARDS.
Nov. LIST, 1874.