The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-09-12
Summer Study in Amherst.

Our little New. England is so full of quiet
hooks where one delights to rest, or resorts
where the truly sublime in nature may be en-
Joyed In its grandeur. that one is prone to pass
by our many charming villages as something a
little plebian and hardly worth ones study for
the summer months; but once domiciled in an
elm-canopied street, with hazy mountain
ranges in the distance, and holder peaks rising
with individual characteristics in. the fore
ground, based by soft stretches of meadow
land, a feeling of satisfaction and content
creeps over one, so lasting in its effect that
even thelgorgeous coloring of October finds one
lingering, still 10th to return to crowded streets
where business reigns supreme
Such surprise, such satisfaction has the
tree adorned village of Amherst been to mem
bers of the French Normal Institute as
sembled to follow DIR. Sauveur through
course of study of six weeks dura-
lion; not simply a study of the French Ian
guage, although that has been accomplished
with results the most satisfactory; but to study
The Living Method" of teaching the Ian
guages; for here, side by side in daily operat-
flon, have been classes in Latin, French and
German, under the guidance of able professors
themselves directed by DR.. Sauveur and en-
, bracing class of pupils rarely convened for
common tstudy; professors from Amherst Col
lege, Vassar. Dennisons University, Normal
College, N. Y, Packer Institute, Phillips Acad-
envy, etc.; earnest to make this system their
own for the modern languages, and eagerly
watching the results of the Latin class-the
key note Of reform for the dead languages:
and who can help sharing the faith, the belief
absolute of its inspirer? 1t is, it must be a
success, reform that shall make in time the
Latin and Greek kaaoaon languages in place of
studied languages. The enthusiasm with which
1he representatives of the school and system
await the coming of another summer, when
the reform of Greek will be commenced. and
the Latin class will have become sufficiently
advanced to discuss intelligently Latin authors
is delightful.
The school wil!also comprise three classes of
French and three of German, a class of italian
and also one of Spanish; the corps Of teach
ers having been selected-I use the word Sc
lected adyisedly-by DR.. Sauveur, to insure the
best results.
What is to be the nature of this instruction?
Examine the admirable works of DR.. Sauveur,
"Causeries avec mes Eleves'' "Entretiens sur la
Grammaie, and particularly his last work
rabies OF La Fontaine' "a textbook for schools
which Will prove new weapon in the hands
OF the teacher, to combat the prejudice of the
disciples OF the old system; work in which
the author has stored mine of thought, and q
fund of knowledge, aside from the lessons OF
the great fabulist,
Do you wish to see for yourselves the actual
workings of this system in other hands thar
Or. Sauveurs? 1t is with the greatest conf
dencelI refer you to the many successful teachers
In all our large cities, among them Miss Brown
well and favorably known in your city, an en-
thusiastic disciple of the system, and a teacher
OF great power, who will thoroughly endorse my
belief that this reform is like an Old-fashionei
acrostic, read it whichever way you will. 4
spells the same word-Success! H, &c.
Amherst, Mass, Sept1S77.