The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-08-27
roo .mUCH L.qTL.va.N.D GREEN.

| programme OF stuuy Wncl snal cut loose
from the traditional Greek and Latin is a step
in the right direction. 1t Is perhaps to be re-
gretted that the University insists upon so
much Of the classic PREPARATION because it
/ forms an excuse for keeping in the High
School even more than is required for the
practical education OF the day. Oar colleges
are, in this regard, Iun by tradition rather
than common sense There is an idolatry OF
the classics which makes it difficult TO reason
with those who worship them. Fer purposes
of mental discipline, as well as for their ltera-
ry treasures, they are exalted above all other
methods, not excepting the mathematics. More
than three out OF the four years in college, aud
Ave or six out OF the seven IN academy, school
and college, are largely devoted to the study OF
Greek and Latin.
The German poet, Heine declares that II the
Romans had been obliged to stop and learn
Latin they would never have had time to con-
quer the world. And much OF the actual use
lessness OF college education for the duties OF
active life, as well as Of the prejudice which
practical men feel toward college bred men,
arises from tins exaggerated study Of Greek
and Lain.
The English language and literature are neg
iected for the sake OF these studies Many
college students, probably the majority OF
them, leave college unable to write terse.
clear English composition, good lnteliglble
business letter, or short paragraph for a
newspaper. Many OF them know scarcely any
thing OF the origin OF the English language,
have little acquaintance with it's masterpieces,
and have read or known very little OF current
literature, and are equipped principally with
the classic machinery with which dictionaries
and grammars have provided them. If they
have studied these things outside OF the regu-
lar classic course, 1t has been at the expense OF
the classics and for their pains they are re-
garded and graded by the college authorities as
indolent and unscholarly; they generally grad
uate without honors, and are looked upon as
the vsgabonds and idlers OF their classes. In
deed, Yale College looks upon the mother
tongue with such contempt that Its professor
OF English literature uIites with his duties as
teacher those of the United States Customs
Revenue, which, az Collector of the Port OF
New Haven, he collects in the off-bours when
not engaged in teaching English literature.
score or more years ago this was the weak
ness OF the instruction in the French schools.
and Edmund About in his latest novel, "Fhe
Story of an Honest Man. in describing them,
says that "history, geography, arithmetic, and
even French were sacrificed 10 Latin. To
translate ten lines OF French into Latin, then
ten lines of Latin into IFrencb, was or seemed
to be the whole object Of life. learned by
rote pieces OF mediocre or doubtful Latin just
as duckling swallows all that is thrown to it.
also recited long pages OF grammar without
understanding even the first word. My father,
with his sound good sense, sometimes per-
mitted himself to critclse the collegiate pro-
grammes. | do not see where they are lead
ing you said he, with oil this Latin. 1t seems
| too, that little En- ylsh or Ge rman would do
you more good above oil II little drawing and
great deal OF mathematics were added. And
meanwhile you become slmpleton into the
bargain; you whine In recitng, you employ
| the same tone in reading fable as one OF
Bossuet's funeral orations, as il you did not
understand what you were saying Ny father
vas not the only one to ask how bis son would
make bis way through the world without any
other gulde-post than Latin"
There is mi ny youth, who understands the
decensions and conjugatons, the use OF the
different cases aud other lntricacies OF Latin
and Greek. but who does not clearly under
stand the nature OF the town, State or national
government under which he is to cast his first
vote. And there are many students who, ia
mihar with the history OF Rome and the story
OF its politics and It's wars, know little or
nothing OF the origin OF the American Govern
ment, the character of its Constitution, the ca
reer OF its eminent men, or the purposes and
general conduct of its administrations.
III for this classical nowledge-which, how
ever interesting and ornamental 1t may be,
should be subordinate and superfluous branch
there shall be substituted modern system
of study, the effect cannot bat be wholesome.
Indeed it will soon be necessary. For history
is making itself so rapidly that it will become
we'll nigh impossible for any human mind to
include classical and modern study in its &C
quirements. One OF them must be dropped,
and the ancients will have to so. Sooner or
later Greek aud Latin will be deemed no more
essential to practical modern education than
Sanscrt and Icelsndic. In the language Of the
day, they are only "scallops"-mere fringe and
antique lace, old CHINA and rm-eaten furni-
ture which many affect simply because they
are the "rage" and fashion.
How TO LEARN TO READ.--if an educated
man, observes a late writer, wants to learn
foreign language he begins, as soon as he can
read at all, with something shat he expects to
find interesting. He reads novel, unless he
has dlstaste for novels, and then he reads
poetry, or some author whom be has hith erto
known only by repute or by u translation. The
motive Is the same in all three cases. He
wants to have the necessary drudgery Of mas
terng a foreign language Ightened and he
chooses books which he thinks will tighten it.
Precisely the same course should be taken with
children in elementary schools. The first ques-
ton asked about the reading books in use in a
school should not be whether they contain
scraps of science or morality but whether they