Woodstown register. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 187?-1892, 1883-09-04
No. 80
either or both Of these languapes.

AdSIo
SO far as this. the demand Of the sciep.
ti6c men can be me without the sacrifice
OF Creek, and we agree with Mr.. Adams
in thinking 1t should be met; but this
does not satisfy Mr.. Adams, neither would
1t satisfy the 'modernists.' They have
never yet been able to perfect a method of
mental training which they are unanimous.
or anything like unanimous, In rec m
mending as a substitute for one which has
been perfecting for centuries, and whic
they themselves confess Is perfect for 1t,
purpose. But yet the most perfect part
the very cap~Stone of this old system
which they cannot replace, they would
throw out-not altogether, Mr.. Adam.
says, but for some students, for those who
wish 1t; not facing the possibility, thu
probability, in fact, that, if the choic
were given to boys of fourteen to lesv,
out Greek from their school course in IA
ver of the modern languages, FIVE in six
would leave it out fr3a purely superficial
observation-disclosures they had heard
at home that Greek was a dead languaye
ana would soon be iorgotien, if learned,
or because a Cousin had been in Europe
or because a sister WIS reading a FrencL
novel, or because the father was riding a
hobby. Nc one who does not Come into
frequent Contact with the American youth
knows how largely he decides for himself
these points In his training, or how little
his parents have to do with the decision.
he question would very o have to be
met, 1t boys were allowed this choice
not how few would take advantage OF it.
out whether any considerable number
would be left to take the other course
and then the other question would come
up afresh, as it has already in Germany,
and at more than one of our American
colleges, of the relative disciplinary value
OF the two courses-a question which
no child. or unskilled person is capable of
deciding. 1t is better to settle that cues.
ton first, and Mr.. Adams contributes to
the settlement next to nothing except his
owp~Snement Adams-like assertion backed
up by the family history, which assuredly
Is as much against as for his argumen
mis- IS all we need to urge at present.
IT. -
Inc burden of proof always lies with the
reformer, and it should be overwhelming
when the reform threatens to become rad.
zeal. The old system needs renovating
ana reinforcing; 1t may be it should be
discarded: but it has shown a great pow
er of accomplishment in the widest sense,
while the new, if there Is any new, has
shown power mainly in one direction. 1t
has cultivated the microscope and built
railroads. The old has, by universal
agreement, trained the highest faculties
well. 1t has cultivated the heart, the i'm.
agination, the reason, the expression, in
the few years it has demanded out OF q
man lie. 1t has given repose and ele-
walton and breadth, laying the world of
intellect open to the student. Certain
arts of every system In time become use
less and even provocative of inhl I'M atoms.
like certain parts of the body, and science
may cut them off if she can prove the ad-
vantage of 1t. But if she proposes to cut
of the whole head, she should prove, t
by assertions, buI by demonstrations Will. a
she can herself accept, that she has some
thing better to put in the place OF what
she destroys. The galvanic battery has
worked many excellent reforms, but it has
never yet kept the heart alive for any
practical good.-T. II. Morse in tie
Critic.