Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-12-15
Two Kinds of Culture.

zoe eSiGeacG OF inc Increasing l1tercSt WHICH
is beiog taken io educational subjects is seen
10 TIE attention which they are receiving from
men and women OF! acknowledged prominence
10 the literary world. Twenty five years ago
complete ana,iy prevailed oa these questions
except in higher circles, aud it was difficult to
draw together large audiecce TO hear theories
advanced which were deemed at bea. abs.ruse
and mpracticate. Now We tind that hcth
platform, pulpit and press are prts3ntlng their
varied views, and that their Oplulons are not
only being carefully lisened 20, but followed
up by practice. True, there will always reualn
4 diversity OF opinion as to what really constl-
tutes practical education, but the ventilation
sshich ts;s subject is now receiving will have
tendeucy 10 uaitc men closer 90 the furda.
menta principles although .Ley may differ 90
lhe nlost cxpeGcnt means OF carrying them
out successfully.
Two educational addresses delivered lately
!y we'll kncwo literary men so exhibit The eX.
.gemos iDto which advocates OF particular thso.
f:as and codes are sometimes led that they are
worthy Of Reproduction. James Anthony
5'roude is famous both as critic aud histcrlac;
while Grant Duff, NJ. p, and formerly English
Under Secretary of State for India, has been
identfed with royal commissions ou educa-
ton, aud is one oil the most earnest supporters
of higher intellectual training iOT women.
Mr. Froude, in an address which be recently
delivered in the city Of Edinburgh. gave utter
apce to sentiments which must have been dl-
rectly In opposition to the views OF many oil
his audience. who still claim Tor their city the
title of the "Modcra Athens. His argument
virtually amounted to this Intellectual edu-
cation as taught Quay was u failure. The cul:
ture which produced nothing practical and did
not hello men in their cpdcavcrs to gain live
iihood was no culture at all, aad the only train
ing. which, in his opinion, ought to be en-
couraged was that which had a special adapta-
ton for the business OF everyday lie, and
which had regard simply TO the trade or pro-
tession which its posSessor was to follow. Va
the same day Mr.. Duff, in presenting the
prizes to the successful pupils at the Liverpool
institute, took an entirely different view OF the
matter. His idea was that every boy and girl
should be taught the best III literature, science
and art. He would even extend the existing
courses of study. Less time should be gwen
10 moral philosophy, logic anl mathematics
and more to physical science, modern languages
history and literature. The claims when phys
;cal science had upon public attention were
sneciallv dweIt upon, but his main argument
was that education should be many. sided, and
that instead of merely training any particular
one of the faculties, the whole moral, lnte'lec,,
tual and aesthetic paris of our nature should
be thoroughly cultivated.
Such wide divergence OF opinion is re-
markabe. yet it seems that the true prla'
ciple which should be adopted lies be-
tween these two extremes. Much time is uu-
doubtedy spent at our schools and colleges 10
subjects which have 10 practical bearing upon
future professions or avocatiops. Extended
exercises ia Greek aud Latin prosody may be
iustanccd as cases in point, aad verse making,
whether in Epgish or Lat'D, will neither make
the youth poet DOR assist hun 10 conprehena'
iug rightly the relative value ct tue Two lan'
guapes. But, on the other hand, ile does not
alono consist 10 making money. There arc
MANY men who haze amassed wealth, and yet
who are miserable on account OF the lack OF
that very culture which Mr.. Fruudc condemns.
The ability to read tragedy OF Sopbccles in
the original will not detract from man 5 sue
cess as merchant or al architect. Aud II
through his energy and perseverance he amass-
esa competency and tue doors OF society are
thrown omen to him it will add to bis pleasure
and his fame if he can leave the counting room
and the desk behind him. and drink from the
lore left as a legacy by those dead klngs who
vet rule the world from their urns We have
still to meet with the man who, Tor pecuni-
ary consideration, would part with the knowl'
edge be gained in his earlier years, aud we
cannot help but think that the culture which
Mr.. Froudo received, aud which he fluids so
useful to him az historian. would have been
equally SO even if he had been humble and
unknown citizen.
Bu. as opposed to this, Mr. Dua's theory
has in it too little o! practical nature. The
education which ne recommends, if carried out
10 lis integrity. would consume tho greater
portion of mans lie and render useless that
very period when the business faculties are the
keenest and the clearcst. The system which
strikes happy mean between these two ex'
trenes will be the one best fitted for this mat.
ter of fact age, aud while developing the ideal
part OF mans nature, it will at Tie same time
tit him rightly for filing the worldly vocatiops
to which he may be called.-Bah Am.