Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-08-24
BRATTLEBORO VT, FRIDAY, AUGUST "a, 1888

are untitled for the youth Of this century, yet
the college still lays chief stress upon the an
tquated curriculum, and the youth sees that
the college course which his own age demands
is of less actual honorable distinction in the
college than the studies of an earlier time.
Mr.. Adams cites tho study of the Greek Ian
guage as pregnant illustration of his posi-
ton, and, himself in the fourth generation Of
n distinguished family of college graduates
and Of eminent men, he declares that il was
of no service to them aud that he soon forgot
all that he learned Of il in college,
His criticism is not a vague general assault
upon college studies 1t is definite and con-
else. He is n college man, and not an icono
clast who strikes from n mean vanity and dull
jealousy. He comedies the preference to the
classic" tongues lie would not, nor in bis
opinion would the "modernists" as a class,
desire that German and French should take
tho place of Greek and Latin in examinations
for admission to college he asks only that the
preference for one should not be practically
prohibition Of the other The applicant
should be required to pass in Latin and Eng.
lish, and in Hebrew, Greek, German Spanish
or Italian, as he may prefer; and il, selecting
Greek, he can stumble and stagger through a
half page of Nenophon and few lines of the
Had let that suffice as now. But If, instead
of the Greek, he select modern tongue, al
though no mercy be shown him in the exami-
nation, let him not be repelled contemptuously
as now. The orator would not object to de.
manding two of the modern languages in
place of the ancient, and an examination ade-
quate to show that the applicant has command
of them as working tools.
As he ended his clear and strenuous plea,
the worthy son of Harvard and of sons Of IIar.
ward might well have said IF that is treason,
make the most of it," But his demand was
not mere protest, it was the ripe and ripon-
ing conviction of many who heard him, and
who feel that mere tradition has been too pow
erful in regulating the college course of study.
The Phi Beta address of Mr. Adams was but
another voice of the spirit which has within
generation changed the head Of a college from
an elderly clerical recuse to an active man Of
affairs. The change is symbolic and prophetic
of that which he advocates, and which must
not be taken as & demand for easier and more
superficial studies.
On the contrary, his argument and that of
the "modernists" is that nothing is more shall
low, sloppy and superficial than the present
college study of Greek, and consequently
nothing more ludicrous than the solemn asser-
tion that it is an admirable intellectual disCi-
pline. Accuracy and thoroughness are inds-
pensable in any method or pursuit which is to
train the mental faculties but these he in
ssts, are the fatal want of the college study
Of Greek, and it necessarily depletes Instead
of disciplining the intellectual powers. Those
who are familiar with Mr.. Adams's interest in
what is called the Quincy system of common
school instruction know that he states the aim
Of that system to be accuracy and thorough
ness. Its strongest criticism upon the ordi-
nary system is that it neglects that very pre-
cision and cearness of apprehension which is
the essential condition of really available
knowledge - Geo. VIM curtis IN Septom5cr
HlyDey'S