New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-09-11
Washington. D. O., Aug 81. 1883.
TIE CLASSICAL EDUCATION QUESTION.


TO the Edttor Of The Tribune
SIR: Mr.. CHARLES Francis Adams, IT., in his
address before the alumni c Harvard College. speaks
out hut the real question is whether the label Bacheior
of Arts shall any goods not tnged ~ least III
Latin and Greek II Is an old label ana Low tnat tue
arts changed from what they were SOUNDS on"
a. the title OF whose next title IN course Is 20 ne
Master OF Arts -master of speaking, reading writing.
arithmetic music In 4 ord OF grammar as the ancents
understood gramInatics These, however are sui tue
highest and the deepest arts and II they cannot DC
mastered without knowledge OF Latin ana GreeK theh
our coeres right In insisting upon lsth anu 'reeh
I'm can adates for that degree provided the degree
worth preservirg AS label OF certain quality OF goods
manufactured II there Is further demand or need
for such goods the public may we'll ask for their aOo-
lion as well as the LABEL but II they are yet g0od IL can
require only truth in the label; and tae individual VINO
has not in him the STUFF to take the Latin and Greek aye
essential to that particular quality called Master OF
Arts must make himself into something eisc' anu oo
labelled accordingly.
A. between the colleges and the public, then the ques-
tlor simmer. down this whether the colleges shall
continue to the Old article or shan get ne"
machinery and become mills for the mHhaoture o
the new article commonly called "Scientl9t or
specialst To this question, some OF the ola mis-
answer: Yes we viii do this. We will turn out such
coods also but they shall bear the old trade marx :
others reply: No. you want t-at knd OF co'h DniIu
you mill or 20 where they make II; our iouh"a'loh y
far anoiuer purpose" The just complaint oil MI ADAMS
ia uow that If Latin and Greek furnish the only genuine
dve-,na he intmates that German and French would
he fu As GOOD even for royal purple styled Master
of Arts the goods need mordant to make IL suck
and are scarcely half dipped at BEST and MS iutther
comua,nt il probably ust-for the date to which ne
| refers lsJG aud previous year--tnat pretty much az
Tho mills biz aud ltttlc would manufacture hothihs ouo
Master OF Arts" matter wh4t sort Oh ma'eIia was
brouc IN 10 mill; that there were no mills Tor other BOOu
and h,t thus the choice to be woven mo inc roy al
nurple or 10 De cloth. tue latter being lho
rest " tn such Mr. Adams, VINO "ouIu not ah oou'u
moi take INTO and through their wool the PIcsc'locu
| Lain and Greek dye. l., ~, ALBANIA tbo,
! NV n anpcars To be conceded by Dit Adams that
,hnro il urculiar gloss and finish about hume spe 81
men rare indeedl OF the kings cIhn, "hGm 'eT Th no
can feel and appreciate although coior-olinu' us
Irch shows that Mr. Adams has tue elements OF
ligous nature but apparently IL leI UNCONSCIOUS "
.h fnIIns.s a: the godnead Owing TO tho poverty OF
awarican colleges and TO the youthuiness Ol tue
nntrv a. IL true that title which imports great ueaI
| techuicay has come 10 signify but httei so tput IN
unfa 10 credit with classical learning every one VINO
haarl Iatin diploma from incotpor teu ana iePut-
sbIe college or unyersityt being dOuottu whether no
n readtbe certificate itself The foreign critics are
Ill, in cans rs shallow, superficial anu oOmDastloi
hon,h mi. does not apply to our foremost schOl trs
nf The fact that we egnning to acknowledge tner
and to estimate ourselves as tney osmho
ns Is hopsiu sign. When this sense oi Ia
| snincientlr humbed u.s. may be whung 10 learn OF
them 70 adopt their method with stln ana creek anu
inns furnish to lTersltles stuuens neu ~
,anSuss ms Mr. Adams would have them ntted IN Ger
,ns5 Ersneh spanish-aDle to read, write ana speak
thr before they college nsteha Oh pelhH haoie
| 10 forget the alphabet after graduation =, -
| Nee York, Aug. 20, 1883. JULIAN "ALAIH' H. ~