The Portland daily press., 1883-09-04
A Summer School.
Professor Sauveur's Language College at
Amherst, Observation-Disclosures of the
School-Pleasant Reeolleetions of the
Last Session by Pupil.
To the Editor of the Press:

To the Editor of the Press.
The summer session of Dr. Sauveur's
Language College has drawn to a close and
the three hundred students that for the last
six weeks have met daily on the lovely hill
of Amherst are, most of them, scattered to
the North and South, the East and the West.
know 1t seems hardly safe TO write Of it
now so soon after leaving the beautiful
town. The memory of its purple hills is yet
TOO distinct, and the delightfully."- refreshing
influence of going to school again has not
yet passed away. 1t may be that enthusi-
asm will take complete possession of my
pen, and in the race that follows may dis
lance good, steady-going judgment. But
yet, after all, it is quite fitting that enthusi-
ASH. should write little eulogy of the sum-
mer school, for if there is one sentiment that
inspires both teacher and scholar during the
whole session, it is simply enthusiasm of the
happiest kind.
In the first place, Amherst is itself so
beautiful, and is such a perpetual surprised
Nature has gifted it so richly, drawing
around its horizon most varied line of hills
and training its elms Those elms that form
the glory of this part of Massachusetts, in
graceful and majestic forms. 1t is surprise
because, although it has but four or five
thousand inhabitants, it is 80 different from
many towns of that size. Elsewhere in
America such villages are often collections
of farmhouses, and in Europe they are like
portions of crowded city, cut of, and set
down in the midst of beautiful landscape.
Unless one were princely an d could live in
the castle that dominates it, would not life
even in Eisenach be wretched? But here
little Amherst has the well-ordered shops,
the comfortable walks, the fine residences,
the art museum, the library of the city, and
at the same time the fresh, pure air, the rich
ness of grass and tree, and the wide open
spaces of the country. 1t is fitting place
lat least this year when the clerk of the
weather has moderated the heat that is
sometimes here excessively for pleasure-seek-
ers and rest-seekers to prefer to-yes, to
Saratoga.
This summer Prof. Sauveur has been as
sisted by most able and popular corps of
teachers. Of course all their instruction is
given according to the Sauveur method, but
this is not stiff and infexible, and it leaves
room for the expression of individuality in
the teacher 1t has been misunderstood in
some respects. 1t does not claim to teach
any language in six weeks, it does not ex-
clude study of the grammar, but at the prop
err time requires it. should say that the
central idea of the method is this: Any for
elan Language is to be taught and learned
ttyouqh the medium of that language ITSELF
At the beginning not one word of English Is
allowed to either pupil or teacher, for one
word makes small but open door through
which others may creep in. The instructor
must mention at first only simple things or
actions, which the learner understands eth
er by the tone, the accompanying gesture, or
by the maligned but happy power of guess
ing. 1t is system that entertains the pu-
pill and brings the hard work upon the
teacher. l have heard the professor launch
the arrows of a cutting scorn at the stupidi-
ty of some teachers, and remember story
he told of pompous Frenchman who came
to him for certificate. "First must know
If you can tesch," said the professor.
"Begln now. Give me lesson" "Voila
la table," said the Frenchman, pointing to