The University daily. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 18??-????, 1880-06-07
DEPARTMENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY
The Chair Of Prof. r. e. Berkeley
Ancient Languages.

The Greek and Latin are pursued
Through the Freshman and Sophomore
years. They are optional for the loniOr
and Senior years Students generally
take the MODERN languagss instead
The texts read in the first two years
are, Latin, Virgil Bucolics and Georges.
Horace Odes and Epodes. Cicero
De Scnectute and De Amicitia, Horace
Satires and Epistles Ivy Prose
composition extends through the entire
course. Gildersleeve's Exercise Book
and Grammar are used.
In Greek the following texts: Herodo-
tua. Homer's Iliad; Homer's Odyssey
Xenophon's Memorabilia /; Plato sIA polo
gy and Critic, and Greek prose oomposi-
ton continued throughout the course.
Itsweuld seem from the fact that elias
steal studies arc pursued in welllnigh-a all
higher educational institutions through
out christendom, and after So many un-
answerable defenses of these studies have
been written that itihad become unneces-
sary ere this to say anything in behalf Of
the study Of these branches, but the null
titude Of lazy boys and utilitarian men are
still heard attempting to bring them into
contempt, 50 il IS necessary again and
again to review the advantages Of their
study.
In one New England State the pioneers
voted TO be governed by the laws of: Mo
ses Till they could find time to make bet
ter; and similar Difference to educational
preccdcnts will be natural from those who
anywhere inaugurate UNIVERSITIES. Most
men viii walk in the highway till the by
wayis proved better. Classical studies
claim attention as asmeans of mental dis
cipline, What faculties do theycultivate I
Memory without controversy, partly that
arbitrary kind whichis the basis Of all 9TH
Iers, and fastens in sure place lingIal
roots. and partly that philosophical kind
by which the laws of association among
ideas are shown in the sequence of mean
ings. No Darwinian development is more
philosophicalthan that Of language.
Classics bring out capacities where they
lurk and would otherwise sleep. How
are men reused to originality experience
answers, mot through gazing at external
nature. for then the wild man Of the woods
would be the greatest original. but through
communion with, original mind We say
~, man IS lknown8 BY his company. Z
Why1 Because he IS made BY his cornpa-
ny. Fire is kindledby fire; iironis sharp
ened BY iron.
But what shall we say Of Shakespeare
That the only path to originality lies
through the classic models IS not our po-
sition. But when a student pleads
Shakspearc's Ignorance jas antexcuse for
neglecting classics. let US ask him, are
you Shakespeare I" If he thinks he is,
lie is above or below, advice. Besides.
As # certain Shakespeare had no classical
training Hallam, De Quincy and Nc
CHM declare '.the phrases and expires
sions. whichioccur copiously III his plays
70 be unaccountable onthe superstition Of
his ignorance = Whatever your eoneiu-
sion regarding this myriad-minded marvel,
i cannot BE doubted but that majority
Of modern geniuses have communed
with classic dead in classictpngues.
But besides being disciplinary, classics
prepare for other studies a te,ya FINN foun-