Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1883-07-10
I.ayaUAoE srUDY.

LANGUAGE STUDY.
Charles Francis Adams Jr. delivered an
at the recent Harvard commence
meut before the Phi Beta Kappa ~frater-
nity. the burden Of which was to prove
hat the study Of Latin and Greek in
college is useless and should be replaced
bv the study of French and German. A
good many Eastern journals c~riticise the
address favorably, while many others
take Mr.. Adams to task for it.
The controversy is quite old, but it
comes up afresh at least once a year as in
this instance. That the best informed
persons should differ in regard to its
merits is not singular. It affords con
siderable room for difference, but even II
this were not so there would still be
volumes spoken and written on the SUBJ
ject every year. There are two sides to
every proposition that is not self-evident,
and there is no lack Of controversy some
times v when the proof Of the propo-
sition is in the naked statement OF its
terms.
But therei is less room for argumentin the
matter referred to than there may seem to
be. There would be less difference
among those who discuss the COMPARE
tive value of the study Of the ancient
and modern languages as . means OF edu-
cation if . very important consideration
were not disregarded in the outset. Mr..
Adams speaks of a knowledge of Greek
and Latin acquired in the colleges as
useless" The context Of his address
shows his idea to be that such . knowl-
edge of the ancient tongues is OF no use
for practical application to business. Ii
this be admitted Of the ancient, is not
the same admission necessary in TACT
with reference to the modern languages!
It is comparatively seldom that linguistic
attachments Of any character are OF any
value a. the immediate instrument OF
money getting. Such opportunities are
80 rare that as q rule to study specIti-
cally with such . utility end in view
would be . waste Of precious time n
energy that might be better given up to
the study of some one Of the mechani'
cal trades to be followed as a direct
means Of livelihood. The emergency
seldom arises in which the use OF any
language spoken or written as such Is OF
any money value outside OF the coun-
try to which it is the native tongue
The few instances of use for foreign Ian
guages by teachers and interpreters and
other persons whose services are needed
for similar purposes do not affect the
rule Of education, which is general. SUCH
instances are only the exception.
The primary aim of all study IN the
schools is to develop the mind, to quicken
and discipline the faculties, to cultivate
the power of logical thought and rhetori-
cal expression. The schools are not
looked to for q store Of information.
knowledge must be acquired by post
collegiate research and by contact with
men. Drill in the broad principles Of
things is what il needed in the schools,
the deepening and broadening OF the
mind. School discipline should be d.
rected towards enabling the student
to think logically and speak with
power. In other words, the young
should come out of college not learned,
but prepared to learn, not informed at
all points, but strengthened to meet diff
culties and to acquire information after
wards in any sphere for immediate use.
This is the view with which, under
the rule, the languages are taught. The
same is true of any other branch OF
study, mathematics, metaphysics or any
science or art, all tending towards the
symmetrical and perfect development Of
the powers Of the mind, the acquisition
Of knowledge or technical information
for immediate application being alto
gether the work Of after years. Speak
ing by comparison, the college graduate,
never mind how great the honors he
may have won in the curriculum Of four
Year, study. knows nothing, but he has
acquired . power to learn which enables
him to work out with facility the most
difficult problems that are encountered
in the Affairs Of actual life.
There can, Of course, be no COMPARE
son between the study Of any Of the
modern languages and the study Of Latin
and Greek a the means Of mental discip-
line. The superiority Of the latter. in
this respect. is conceded by all scholars.
To give the reasons for this superiority
would require the reasssrtion Of facts
that hays been already repeated 20 often
that they seem now to the educated n
90 many worn but truisms.
And certainly, - far ~ the study Of
Latin il concerned, there can Be no
doubt that . knowledge Of it, rudi-
mcnts at least il essential in order to the
complete mastery Of orr own tongue.
That this IL true need not be insisted
upon in addressing persons Of liberal
culture. while the attention Of others Of
less culture needs only be called to the
literary growth Of our language upon the
dead language Of the Romans for Gen.
turtles, and to the fact that 30 per cent Of
all English words are derived directly
from Latin.
II il evident that Mr.. Adams, ~ . rep.
resentative Of . large class of gentlemen
who allow enthusiasm for things called
"practical" to do violence to their better