The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1884-06-12

derived from the Latin and Greek,
subsracting these from 125,0oO
words which the dictionary of to
day contain, we have 10000
Anglo Saxon words. Now the
negative will have YOU study
Latin and Greek to master 30,-
600 words, rather than English
and master 10000. Would not
10000 give a better training for
the mind than 35,0O02 Then if
10000 contains the majority, why
not stndy the language of the
Anglo Saxon in place Of Latin or
Greek ? 1t would look more SEN
sible-it Won d show more sense.
Did the Greeks. in order to
learn their language. study the
Hebrew or the Eyptians 1t is
well known that they did not
they studied their own and moth
ing but their own, and as a result
brought this language to perfec-
ton. And so can we by study
ing the Anglo Saxon language,
bring cnrs to perfection.
Again, it is well known that
best classical students are fire.
quently the poorest in modern
culture, and that those who know
liltle about Latin or Greek are
sometimes the best masters of
English composition. AS an ex-
ample Of The former, probably
Samuel Johnson. We al know
what duh. distasteful style he
has and how hard he is to read,
because of the long, compact SEN
tences and the deep and involved
thought that can scarcely be
comprehended even by the most
intelligent minds.
But just compare him with
Shakespeare, a man who knew
little Latin and less Greek. Yet
he stands head and shoulders
above any other writer Of the
world. His perfect language, el
egant expression and harmony of
his sentences all combined with
his good sense and humor, have
given him the fame Of being the
best writer the world has ever
produced.
The negative may refer 10 the
ability of some of the ancient au
thors. such as Horace, Homer.
Cicero, etc. In answer to this
question, l would repeat what
Prof. James said: ''We find the
classical agreeing. however, that
the study Of modern languages
may also be made valuable. that
modern literature is adorned with
names that rival in luster the
greatest of the Greeks and Ro-
mans.
Mr.. Porter, President of Yale,
the negatives main authority.
has written many productions ia
voring the classic. and has every
tine been defeated by the argu
ments of those favoring modern
culture, and the ambition of him
and his followers to succeed, have
lead them to 60 beyond the
bounds of truth, as was shown by
their false Interpretation of the
classical question in Germany
Shakespeare, in speaking of Shi-
locks fair Interpretation of false
thing, says: ''The devil can cite
Scriptures for his purpose. A
apple rotten to the heart.
Oh, what a goodly outside false
hood hath.''
Prof. Eggert, of Iowa State
University, says: cat presen
there are many books. both as re-
gard to form and contents, are
better for the instruction of young
people than the Latin and Greek
The fine classical scholar, ac-
complished master Of both prose
and poetic English, Walter Saw
age Lander, In a letter to an au-
Ihor, observed: "If we wish to |
write well we must keep our
Greek and Latin out of sight,"
Since Greek and Latin have
failed to give the results depend
ed upon, and require a great
length Of time from the exclusion
Of more practical and beneficial
studies, and where mental dis
,ipline can be got as effectually
rom other sources, we maintain
he affirmative.
An now, if we are inferior TO
he ancients, If our language is
lot so beautiful as theirs, if our
morality is inferior to theirs. if
Dur sense OF beauty is less keen,
{ our intellect be less accute, if
)ur manhood be below the Attic
let us resolve to ad-
but not in a backward
way, through Greece and Rome.