The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-07-01
CIR. Adams's Onslaught on Latin and
Greek.

In the address which he delivered on
Wednesday before the Phi Beta Kappa So
ciety OF Harvard College. Mr.. CHARLES
FRANCIS ADAMS, Jr., made bitter attack
upon the study Of Latin and Greek, espe-
cially upon that of Greek. as conducted in
our American colleges This study, he con-
tended, was OF no particular value in dis
ciplining the mind. and for that purpose
German and French would be quito as use
full Nor did its results in producing
familiarity with Latin and Greek au-
thOrs compensate for the waste OF time
and labor 1t involved. The admiration OF
classical literature which educated men pro-
Tess Is, no broadly limited, mere profession,
and the masterpieces OF the ancient are not
TO be compared for beauty to those OF modern
authors. He therefore suggested, rs prac-
tical refsrm in college training. that German
should be substituted for Greek. and French
for Latin. Besides being equally serviceable
as an intellectual exercise, the acquisition Of
these modern languages would enable the
student to become acquainted with German
and French works. and to enjoy freer inter-
course with the inhabitants Of foreign lands.
What Mr.. ADAMS said on this subject has
not the merit Of novelty. 1t Is only repeti-
lion Of the objections to classical studies
which have been made over and over again
for certainly two hundred years, II not
longer. Nor did he give 1t any additional
weight by his own personal testimony. He
confessed that he was not taught Latin and
Greek thoroughly, that he cannot read them
duently, and that he can form an opinion OF
books written In them only by tho help Of
English translations. Here are his words:
"rhirty yeara ayol say after careful search Of my
memosy-thoroushnesa Of training in any reafs sense
Il the term unknown In those branches of college
education. with which came contact. Everything
vss taught - Latin and Greek were taught"
"ror myself. am obliged say have forgotten
ne Greek alphabet, and cannot read all the arsek
characters II open my HoxEs."
I'm any event. this thing hold to be ndlsputabis: Of
those who study the classic languages not one In hun
ired acquires that familiarity with them which
abies them to judge whether . given literary compost
Non Ii masterpiece or not"
"Leaving practical richness aside, thcre in the
slasaic masterpieces any bits Of literary workman
chip which take precedence Of what may be picked out
u smAxssrsAln and NiLroN and BuSvAN and CLARsS
and Appisss and swivT and GoLpsnISM and GaAy
and BuREn and aissox and SMILEY and BuRSs and
NAcAuLAy and CARLYLE and HAwrRoRxE and faAcEERAs
hnu IbNNrsohE IL Snere are any eucu uAhecehoeh'
bits, only say that finest scholars have failed
most lsmentAby In their attempts at rendering them
Into English"
Alter these frank Acknowledgements Of In
competency, Mr.. ADANss Judgment OF the
artistic merit Of Latin and Greek writings
cannot DO takon for much. Against him we
have only TO set the scholars OF all ages and
patiOns who have enjoyed and still enjoy
with delight the rich imagery Of HOMER
the. dainty sweetness Of ANAcRKoN and
THEocRIrUs, tho majesty Of EscHYLUs, OF
SopHoCLEs. and Of EURIrIDEs. the elegance
OF VIRGIL, the delicate fancy OF HORACE, and
tho swelling periods OF CICERO, to say nothing
OF othcr classic writers, each OF whom has
his peculiar excellence. Mr.. ADAMss tnsin'
uation that tho admiration Of these writer's
Is proton,lod, and not real, Ia US absurd as
would 10 tho conclusion of blind man tina!
the people who say thoy admire paintings