Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-08-25


'more than average attainments do not
"read with delight, if they read at all, and
do not study ancient classics as models
I" Of literature, is beyond question Clearly
then, with the present standard of at
"tainments, the present claim for the prom
inence of the ancient classics cannot be
Justified. But I deny the claim that the
90 Latin and Greek offer models in htera-
"ture superior to those afforded by mod.
''ern writers. Nay, more, l believe that
'sthe literature of Christian civilization is
"as superior to that of Greece and Rome
as the civilization of to-day is superior
" to that of the time of Pericles and Au-
"gustus."
In all this we agree entirely with Presi-
dent Reid. The study of the ancient
classics, whenever it is made to supersede
the study OF modern, and especially Eng
ish literature, is in our opinion for the
most part waste of time. Judged by its
results it certainly must be SO regarded,
for it scarcely ever produces more than an
ephemeral and apathetic acquaintance with
authors who are almost invariably dis.
carded by the student when he enters into
active life. The most harmful consequence
OF this study however is the consumption
by it of valuable time which could have
been SO usefuily employed in the acquisi-
ton Of those forms OF knowledge which
abide with the student, and which
strengthen his intellect and enlarge his
mental vision. The field of knowledge is
SO vast, the time for systematic study is
so brief, the Importance of g wise selection
of subjects is SO great, that there remains
hardly any room for studies which are so
barren of results as the ancient classics.
Nor is there any single thought or sugges-
ton to be cleaned from the authors of
Greece and Rome which cannot be found
in an English dress, while there are few
classical contributions to human knowledge
which have not been enr ched and bettered
an hundredfold by their passage through
the ripe minds of those modern scholars
who have dealt with them
The English language of to-day repre-
sents literature which stands at the head
of the worlds aggregations of knowledge,
and it is .facile prireeps. The student who
should devote birEself to this splendid body
of learning, imagination. poetry and his.
tory, could well afford to ignore the lit
erary productions al all other countries, if
the acquisition Of information and the dis.
cipiine of the intelligence bounded his
views. To keep himself abreast Of his
generation, to attain q broad and di9pas.
sionate view Of the world of his own time,
the study of modern languages and litera-
ture is necessary. But the scholar who
knows English, German. French, italian
and Spanish is as well equipped for the
work of life as any man can hope to be in
these days, and there need be nothing
worth knowing In science which with such
helps would be withheld from him. Presi-
dent Reid was disposed to admit that the
study of the classics may be maintained
for the sake of the linguistic discipline.
There is no doubt something to be said for
that view, but we question whether the
superior value of the results to be OBJ
tanned from the study of the modern Ian
guages does not more than counterbalance
any advantage the classics possess by reason
OF the more perfect systemization of the
helps to their acquisition.
The English language and literature, the
principal modern languages, and physical
science, constitute the soundest programme
for an advanced nineteenth century educa.
ton. This programme embraces ali that
it is necessary to know concerning the
ancient classics, and it assures the student
of useful results for the whole period OF
his university course. Aud when we con-
slider how little even of so apparently re-
stric.ed curriculum can be mastered dur
ing the few years set apart for education,
it seems more than ever pity to gquander
such precious hours upon the arid litera-
ture of Greece aud Rome. 1t is indeed
time that the world threw off the tgammels
of mediuvaiism in education that it broke
away from the grip Of the dead hand which
all these years has been holding it down in
the obsolete channels of outgrown condi-
tions and that 1t adapted its course of
instruction TO the times. Had the Greeks
and Romans been as servile worshipars
OF exotic literature as we have been of
theirs, they never would have pro-
duced works destined to survive through
so many centuries. We may well
take a lesson from them even while
bidding them adieu, and proceed to
rescue from nndeserved neglect, and
lift into well-earncd prominence, that
noble body OF English literature of which
every English speaking man and woman
ought not merely to be proud, but
to be intelligently so. How much
of the vapidity of Society would dis
~PP~aA "a ohS Va HlSu anu
women were nourished upon this robust
food, instead of being enfeebled by me-
chanical drill in dead languages We
know very well that it is far more the
paralyzing influence of tradition and habit
than any real belief in the value of the an.
cient classics, that keeps them in the van
of our educational programmes but all who
are for progress, all who are for sterling
methods OF instruction, all who believe in
the superiority of Christian over pagan
civilization, will honestly applaud the pro.
test Of President Reid against the further
clnonization of these intrusive deities OF
the extinct heather world.
THE CORNELL CREW.
We are not altogether credulous OF the