The University daily. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 18??-????, 1880-06-07
dation. Aswe purspe allstudies tl,rough

slation. As We pursue llstudies through
language. if we have not made chat nedi-
i'm our study, we dash our feet against
stumbling blocks as inevitably as il we EN-
gage IN business without monetary me-
dunn, But while il IS agreed that Ian
guage must be studied, il IS often said
let Is study our own language just Al
the Greeks studied their own
This might suffice, were English, like
Greek, developed from its own roots.
but well-nigh All hard words il English
have grown from classical roots. Hence,
We initiate the spirit Of the Greeks only
when We follow the stream Of our Ian
guage to its spring heads, though beyond
The Alps.
But il IS said again, that our best writ
ers and speakers when they wish to ex-
press themselves strongly and tersely, use
Saxon words. Webster IS given as an ex-
ample. But his characteristic words are
Of another origin. What was hea The
expounder and defender of the Constitu-
ton As representative and senator in the
halls Iof Congress Which Of these words
are Saxon. Mark the classical words he
crowds into the close Of his reply to
Hayne They are these: .Dishonored,
fragments. glorious, state, discovered, civ
| i, fraternal, feuds, gorgeous ensign. re-
public, honored advanced, arms, trophies,
original lustre, single, obscured, erased.
polluted, motto, miserable, interrogatory.
delusion, ample, characters, sentiment,
liberty. union, inseparable = Thirty-three
Of them, lall within fifteen lines, and
comprising most Of the important words
in this most Websterian outburst Of Web
ster. 5
N Scientists and artists have need Of clas-
steal study. Their vocabulary is not Sax
on. but classical Science and liberal arts,
being introduced from classical nations,
have retained classical Technology.
Classical study clarifies literary allu-
sions even more than il does scientific
terms. You cannot read an hour in any
standard writer without meeting referen-
ces to the fair humanities of old relig-
ion, " or to the signatures stamped by an
Gent genius on plant, flower, fruit, the
phenomena Of nature, and the changes of
life. Such sidelong glances, pervading
modern literature, glorify them asYeins
of gold enrich the vulgar earth. Dim is
this gold to eyes untouched by the classic
wand. How many n-classical men care
for Milton?. How much Of Shakespeare
must they find sealed with seven seals!
Classics are. the master key to illusions,
which like stars for number bestud mod
ern literature,
# you would learn any language of
southern Europe, your best auxiliary is
Latin, to which they all owe nine tenths
Of, their vocabulary. H. A..
Says Marsh: "Hes who has mastered
Latin has learned one-half of what he has
to learn in acquiring any continental Ian
guage."' r.. .&....%#s
Considerations such as these satisfy us
that classical studies are an anvil which
will wear out every assailing hammer.
And if occasionally students be possessed
by an anti classical mania, they will soon
be cured Of this. disease by the conviction
that the best foundation for high attain
ments in all knowledge, is a mastery Of
language, that it is indispensable and can
not be SO well acquired in any other
way. 4: