The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-09-02
SOME MEN HOOKS.
A New Latin Tara mmer.

Tho Arabs had a proverb that none but
oonsumm mate scholars were qualified 10 tnsruot
tno young It does not follow that Eras nus
should tpaoh village school, but there Ia no
doubt that elementary text books must be pre-
pared by men OF noe requirement, II economy
OF time and the acquisition Of right method are
to be fufthered. and not thwarted. Yet, OF tho
numerous ridimentiry works published VA tins
country and purportinR to facilitate the study
Of the classics, how few discover a reasonable
acquaintin with the progress OF modern exc
gesls. There are, Of course, some notable ex-
ceutions. The modest brochure, entitled
"Gre, Moods and lenses" put forth some
fifteen years AGO oy Prof. GOODWIN Of Harvard
College, Ia a work Of solid merit, and has been
recognized bv eminent En- ylish scholars as TAR
more helpful auxiliary to the student OF Attic
syntsx than the volumnous compilation by
Jelf, long used at oxford. 30. too. the German
or immar Of Prof. whitney 10 the mo lei OF an
Introductory manual, combining so much 10 I'm
Ing with 20 much simplicity. such TRANSPARENT
clesrness with such fecund suggestion, that
few men, probably, whatever the degree OF their
attachments, eau read the book without delight
and pront To the narrow list OF sterling school
books may be added the volume before US
Elements Of Latin Grammar, by GusrAvUs
.
It smbodies the latest results OF scholastic in
vestiRstion, and aims to place the Americi n
student on level with the pupils OF first rate
German ounndsta, as regards method and APP
psratus. In these respects 1t would be a. at
surd to COMPARE DIR. Fsoher's treatise with
those OF Bullion or Of Andrews and stoddard az
with tho old Elton grammar which IL still In
trenohed In many English schools.
The system OF pronunciation explained In this
volume Is that which has been lately adopted ut
Harvard and In the English universities, and
which mas long been practi'ed on the continent
OF Europe. The schoiirs Of past generation
and II awkward to talk OF Kikero aud Pom pc Jus,
but they must now accustom themselves to
| sounds which there Is ample ground for believ-
ing were really uttered by Roman mouths. The
| chapters on etymologv attest thorough ac-
| quaintsncs with the historical evolution OF the
Latin language, and substitute Ineligible and
| coherent principles for the old tumble OF srbi-
| trary rules Much that was seldom mastered
| without a wasteful expenditure OF time and
| pains under former methods Of exposition Is
here dlvested OF obscurlty and difficulty; fol
example, the case endings OF Listens IN tho so
called third declension and the Infection oil
irregular aud lmpersonal verbs. We would sus
gest. however, that DR.. Fischsr's analysis OF the
| copull, esse, might usefully oe made somewhat
fuller, As regards the prsterlte form atoms. Ths
| portion OF the volume devoted to syntax must
| have cost the author much labor, for II Is
| marked by no ordinary degree OF perspiclity
| and compression. We may cite especially the
| chapters on the Renitive case, on the subj unc-
| tive mood. and on the coordination OF SEQ
fences. DR.. Fischers remarks on the latter he A'
are not only we'll adjusted TO his modest pur
pose, but may be read With pront by those siu