The Osceola times., 1877-04-28

/ mucn VIII ltI Inc DOy tnOuEnt not
and Trswel pursued his quest elsewhere
sometimes elicIhng five shillings as tn
possible figure. Certain ! am that tn
aggregate number of pence received b,
any one boy during any one quartz
never approached half a crown.
When | say that we seemingly die
learn Greek under the auspices of DR.
saunders, some readers may be of opinion
that l contradict myself. But tn,
opinion will cease when they learn wha
an utter sham our Greek was. A Scotci
element, from some unknown reason o.
other, prevailed in the school. We haC
DslzePs Greek and Ruddiman's Latir
grammar, while our contemporaries looked
up to Eton-all had enough when com
pared to the elementary books which, il
obedience to German impulse, are con
stantly published now. We had, also
Dalzel's "AnaLecta Mnora," made up o
presumably easy Greek experts; but the
crack book was Glasgow edition of An
acreOn.
| | suppose this book is still in vogue OF
the other side of the Tweed; for when
ever have referred TO it in the course
| OF conversation with north-country
friends, | have invariably found that
they recognized the article. 1t WAS 9
very thin volume, clad in that irrepressi
BILE sheepskin which was once regarded
as the proper clothing for spelling books
and tutors assistants" and at the bot
tom of each page was literal prose
translation of the Greek above.
Now, only imagine two years Of Greek
study eliminating with Anacreon
There is no need to inquire here how far
the pretty poems attributed to the old
debauchee of Teos are spurious; but any
one who knows anything about the mat
ter knows that, if there is one author
least fitted among others to famliarize a
student with the recularities of the
Greek language, that one is Anacreon.
But with our Latin, Of course, we did
something. Did we? As far as ! my
self am concerned, can safely report
that, il the Greek learned was little,
the Latin was still less ! had learned
no Greek at Mrs. Jacksons, and | will
do DR.. Saunders the justice to say that
under him did learn the alphabet but
as for Latin, all could do was to keep
up the amount had brought with me
from the preparatory establishment. In
cultivating the language of Cicero-to
whom, be it remarked, not the slightest
allusion was ever made-we were bound
tight to that eminent classic Eutropius,
with occasional deviations into the sec.
ond book of VirgiPs Eneid, in which
latter region we were most literally as
sisted.
All respect to Eutropius Within the
last few years he has shot up into some.
thing like celebrity as the historian who
in the most lucid manner, recorded the
foundation of the Dacan colony by Ira
jan, to which the Roumanians trace their
origin; and of late the Danubian pro-
vinces have fgured among the threads
which are entangled in that great knot,
the eastern question. But halt a cen
tury ago there were no Roumanians
bearing that name, and the youth
of twelve must have been a marvel of
geographical erudition if he knew any.
thing about Moldavia and Wallachia in
connection with ancient history. The
fact was, Eutropius, still known as very
useful in his way, is remarkably easy,
and was made even easier by the addi-
tien of an O,yio; that is to say, an ar
rangement OF the Latin words in English
order, placed under the proper text, but
but the Ordo, and this, be it repeated,
was our crack book. There was vague
tradition that somebody had once
studied Cornelius Nepos; but set that
down among the myths OF the place.
Many books were not purchased but,
thanks to the financial genius that per.
vaded the establishment, and which, !
think, was embodied in the person of
Trowel, some of those that were sold
must have fetched high prices. The
boys, as rule, were of that happv-go-
lucky kind who, when they quit school,
do not care to be burdened with remi.
niscences, but leave their books behind
them. In that case the volumes were in
vs-iably sold over again; and he was a
lucky youth, on the fly leaf of whose
Eutrorius the name of former school
fellow was not inscribed.
There are many worthy people now
living who are of opinion that, at our
great schools" too much time is ex-
pended on the dead languages; and if
they have followed me to this point they
are probably admiring DIR. Saunders tor
the quantity of sound, useful knowledge
that he ditluses while thus lightly skim
ming over the surface of Greek and
Latin. II 80, they are egregiously mis-.
taken. II the reverend doctor aspired
popular pieacDef, II WAS to the Character
of a promugator OF classical lore No
head master at Eton or Harrow, in the
good old days, had stronger views in this
matter than he. We all, indeed, learned
writing and arithmetic under the guild
ance of an authorized assistant, but when
some ill.fated wretch was compelled, at
the request of his ignoble parents, to
solve few problems in Bonnycastle's
Geometry" l well recollect with what
contempt the pursuit was regarded by
his fellows. Geometry was all very well
for future carpenter, but what possible
interest could be taken in it by any one
who aspired to the character OF a gentle
man? Of course the vulgar science fell
into the province OF the assistant, for
never would the august DIR. Saunders
been seen with pair of base mechanical
com passes in his hands. Did they think
highly of mathematics at Cambridge
II 50, 80 much the worse for Cambridge
But the roval road to French discov
cred by Rev DR.. Saunders was n ast7r
piece. Two of lie were placed eide
by side at a desk, with an old fashioned
French novel (warranted harmless) ly
ing before us. This We were expecte'
simply to puzzle out together, wi,hou