The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-07-12

me CoIIrEVIo rse.


The CoIIrEVCo rsu.
A Boston correspondent Of the New
York Tribune says Of Nj. Charles Francis
Adams, JUS Phi Beta Kappa address, that
4. "has created sensation, and is fertile
topic Of conversation among thoughtful
people" From the position Of the man,
the topic he selected aud the occasion he
chose for the utterance Of what may be |
called revolutionary sentiments, this much
was to be expected.
But the correspondent adds "The We've
presented by Mr.. Adams meet with very
general comnendStion, and college gradu
ates, who might be supposed to oppose his
views, II any class would, generally iadoEst
his sentiments" TO endorse Mr.. Adams
sentiments Is to do as he has done, admit
for themselves that a great part Of their
college time was wasted on Greek now for
gotten and never put TO usc-time every
moment OF which ought 10 have been
made 10 count. Perhaps il required that
the admission should dist be made and
made fashionable by COllege-bred man Ql
high standing. A step further brings us TO
the college Presidents, and with these too
Mr.. Adams finds some encouragement.
President Eliot oil Harvard, says:
The practical measure proposed BY Mr..
Adams, namely, IN option between Greek
luVNUVtIfgn ~ the examination
for admission 10 the college, seems 10 ME n
judlCious one. indeed, proposed ten
years ago 10 tho academy council VI lIAT'
ward University, but il then Attained tue
votes Of only one.lOurth OF NIL the profess;
orr, those Of the Scientific and Medical
sahools included. Since 1873 think there
has been sons change oil opinion upon the
subject, but there Is still great ielr lt1,t
Greek lapse intOtue condition OF Hebrew,
unless ali boys who so To college are force u
10 study IL. The unsubstan!lGl character
Of the study oiihe mUd:rn languages, IS
commonls>paaSaYd In lhiS,coHntL!, IS also
aserious obstacle to tho adoption Of the
proposed option, but IN tins respect MI.
Adams sets his standard very nigh.
believe the measure would advance true
scholarship In all departments OF leAtnihS,
and iuctcess the influence Of universities,
Its Just possible that Mr.. Adams knGw
President ElIiotts mind on this subject
before he trained his guns on the Univers-
ity course.
President Bartlett, Of Dartmouth, does
not agree with Mr.. Adams, but what he
says may be taken as liberal view on the
other side. I-'
Ny conclusion Is that his criticism apply
10 the undue excess and the iDRicqnA:s
and barren methods oil classical study, aud
no further. Criticisms OIL this kind have
been for years in my own mind, and Ihave
sndeayored TO pref. by by them in aGyo.
eating wiser modes Of classical study. !
have deemed II proper und necessary to
recognize tho existence Of these strong
preiQdices in the minds OF many highly
intelligent men so lar AZ to Sec0ra ths ILL.,
PRODUCTION into the curriculum OF DAri-
mouth College some four years ago Of j
Latin. scientific course, which onlts the
study OF Greek. have converted win IN,
telligent men Of all professions Oh thiIEun
iect, heard and considered all the Objec'
tons, and been u constant ntd careful OBJ
server OF the two styles Of education con-
trasted by Mr. Adams, and my conclusion
is that for an education broad, developing
and eleyAting, au education that shall
make q man thoroughly master Of him.
self and all his faculties at tllCir best,
an education that shall H. him Tor
any specific calling he may choose, an
education that shall give him the highest
and widest influence III whatever specific
calling, there has yet been found no RGe'
auate substitute OF the wise study OF the
two classic tongues. The precise Influences
and agencies by which this Is brought
about are too various ind complicated IOT
me to state here in detail, and they may
be, to a great extent, lost by merely me.
chanical and perIuOctory tnsthOd OF
teaching, which Is TOO frequently main.
tanned 10 the very end, Ant II Mr. Adams
hard blows can tell effectively toRard
higher and better methods, NC shall have
reason TO DO greatiul for the interesl. he
awakens. But the study Of science, OF oil
French and German, cannot, in ms jldg-
ment, confer the benefits derived from tue
wise use OF the ancient classics, and while
conceding the l,Atin-scientItlC Colltse, do
not deem II the best; and here, bcltuve, |
express the somewhat unanimous opinion
Of the faculty Of Dartmouth College, dc.
rived from observation.
President Robinson, Of Brown, thinks
that Mr.. Adams has not sufficiently quail
fed his statements, but admits that there
Is much truth in what he says:
American education is in great danger
OF being TOO rigid. IL IL not desirable to
compel all young men to 50 over the s2me
amount Of Latin and Greek. II is largely
q matter Of taste and capacity, and have
no doubt that a great deal Of tine is vast.
ed In pursuing the study. Of Greek. For II
thorough education think that certain
amount Of Greek is Necessary. do not
think Mr.. Adams fully appreciates the ben.
eft TO be derived from The study OF this
language, aud twill be sad day when
We entirely discard 1t in our colleges.
There Is ia certain amount Of trimming " be
obtained in the study Of Greek that can
not be obtained elsewhere. Our lilerl.
turc Is moe or less rooted III Latin
and Greek. More attention should 10 CIV.
en- TO the English Language, for there are
few students to-day who have graduated
from American colleges who can speak
their own language Alenlly and Ut tue
same time correctly. There IL urge elias,
Of men who wish to follow literary pursuits
after their graduation, anil for them per-
haps an'extenslve study Of Greek IL dEsif.
able. But for the average graduate do
not believe it profitable 10 pursue it to such
an extent ~ has been the ease in sumo col.
lsges Brown University has made the
study OF Greek and Latin AZ well ~ nahG.
mates optional after tho close Of the Stu
dents second year in college, aud the tins
may come when it would end with the
hrst year.
All this means that while educators 10.
fer as to the value Of particular studies t.e
general aim is TO ct young men for actual
work; that Is to cay the colleges desire 10
be progressive. They arc, however, em.
barra&ed by tradition, which has marked
out an intlexible college couse which, is
wrongly assumed to, DO applicable to all
minds, useful for all pursuits, NRd tho bNsi
that can DO devised. These diactSions arc
helpful because they bring upou this stand
experts, whose testimony is Of value; and
because they set the people TO thinking.